Forum Discussion

Naio's avatar
Naio
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2015

Seeking solutions for storage situation

In my minivan, the passenger seat and seatwell are a major percentage of my available storage space.

But having a bunch of stuff piled in there looks so messy. I have things in bags, but some things still end up tossed on top and crammed into gaps.

I don't want to remove the seat, because sometimes I have a passenger!

So far, I have been handling this by covering up the junk with a nice sheet. But I am hoping you folks might have some better ideas.

Frankly, I am a naturally messy person, which means that a solution can require some initial setup, but has to be super low effort on a daily basis. I like to build things, but don't allocate time to routine tidiness :).
Seeking Advice

10 Replies

  • BurbMan's avatar
    BurbMan
    Explorer II
    Jun 04, 2015
    Have you considered a small lightweight trailer that your minivan could pull easily?

  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer II
    Jun 04, 2015
    Cargo carrier out the back on a hitch.

    They make a ton of different styles. And you can put a ton of different sealed containers on top of it.

    And if you have that much extra stuff you can add a hitch to the front and add another cargo carrier out the front.

    Here is a webpage to 'give you an idea' how to carry stuff.
    http://www.discountramps.com/cargo-carriers/c/5110/

    NOTE: you do NOT have to pay those high prices on this website either.

    Go to Tractor Supply and pick up the cargo carrier that is always on sale for around 50 bucks. Weight capacity is 500 lbs. THEN go to Walmart and pick up an enclosed container.

    For under 80 bucks you can create any one of those high priced enclosed cargo carriers yourself. :W
  • CC_Crabman's avatar
    CC_Crabman
    Explorer
    Jun 04, 2015
    Get a roof rack (or two) and move a bunch of rarely used stuff out of the van. I like Thule but would check Craig's to see what you can get inexpensively. Anything that goes in the roof rack that isn't used in 3-6 months can be removed from your inventory.
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Jun 03, 2015
    mabynack wrote:

    It depends on the size and shape of what you're trying to stow and how readily available it has to be.


    I have there:
    All the cooking stuff, plus things that need to be flat (against seatback). Lawn chair, messenger bag of paperwork, cookstove, pots and pans, hotplate, jugs of water and juice, crockpot, cans of tomatoes, bags of potatoes and fruits...
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Jun 03, 2015
    MrWizard wrote:
    you know how some hatch back cars, have a shade cover that pulls over the cargo to hide it
    why not goto home depot, lowes, OSH.. and find a colored window shade that matches up to your upholstery , attach at dash pull up to seat top to cover whats there ?
    just a thought, maybe goto an upholstery shop and have them make a matching cover ? instead of the roller blind shade cover


    Oh, wow, that is a nice idea!!!

    I could make something. I think there is a handle on the dash I could hook onto (for the passenger to grab during crazy driving, I guess.)

    The advantage to this idea is that, when I open the door to access stuff, I would not have to remove the cover, I think. I could position the cover so that I can see the side mirror from the driver's seat, and it would also give me an indication of how high I can pile stuff. (Sometimes when I get in the driver's seat to go, I see I have to move something.) It would be like a 'fill line' :).
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Jun 03, 2015
    you know how some hatch back cars, have a shade cover that pulls over the cargo to hide it
    why not goto home depot, lowes, OSH.. and find a colored window shade that matches up to your upholstery , attach at dash pull up to seat top to cover whats there ?
    just a thought, maybe goto an upholstery shop and have them make a matching cover ? instead of the roller blind shade cover
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Jun 03, 2015
    Thanks, toedtoes! I didn't know those existed!

    Does anyone know if a thing I am imagining can be found somewhere? You know those cloth-covered-cardboard bins that fold flat? Is there something like that, but soft, maybe foam, so it can flex into a space that is not quite square? But not as floppy as those hanging closet shelves?

    Something like THAT, I could stack in the front seat and stuff into the footwell.

    gbopp wrote:
    It's time to get rid of some of your stuff.
    It's not the answer you wanted but, that's the best place to start. :(


    Always!

    But I am living for 7-9 months at a time in a minivan. It's not even full (there is some empty space). And that front seat is great for stuff I access daily.
  • toedtoes's avatar
    toedtoes
    Explorer III
    Jun 03, 2015
    Packing cubes work great. You can fit a lot in them, yet they don't take up more space than what is in them (unlike crates). They come in many sizes and colors, so you can differentiate between supplies (e.g., kitchen gear in blue, towels in yellow, etc.). They add little to no weight to your gear (again unlike crates). Because they are soft-sided, you can pack them in tight and into odd shaped areas much easier.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Jun 03, 2015
    It's time to get rid of some of your stuff.
    It's not the answer you wanted but, that's the best place to start. :(
  • mabynack's avatar
    mabynack
    Explorer II
    Jun 03, 2015
    Plastic Totes work for a lot of things. I use an old gym bag to keep tow straps and bungee cords in.

    It depends on the size and shape of what you're trying to stow and how readily available it has to be.

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