My Stuff Won't Fit

Coming from an Astro van to a 2023 4Runner Limited has left me with storage anxiety. I could get a lot of shit in the van, but not in the 4Runner.
I'm thinking about either a roof box (I'll need cross rails) or a rear cargo carrier for the hitch.
I'm 71 and 5' 8". Decent shape, considering.
Who uses what? Pictures welcome. Thanks.

 

Roof rack for the lighter overflow gear. Personally not a big fan of the receiver hitch cargo carrier.

 

Both options create unique challenges.

Rooftop box you have to climb up to, increases weight up top changing center of gravity, reduces fuel mileage and creates wind noise, limits access to parking garages.

Hitch carrier can create hatch access issues, limited to shorter items, puts cargo weight far to the rear changing handling, makes parking more difficult due to increased length and is vulnerable if you get rear ended.

Roof top boxes tend to be more secure unless the rear carrier is a closed box.

Take your pick. I don't really care for either but if I had to choose from a bad lot I would go with the rooftop box.

 

What are you trying to get in the 4R, a 12' ladder? Maybe less is more?

 

If there aren't any passengers in the back, remove the seat bottoms. I have and there is a lot of usable space there.

 

Or build a shelf.

 

I agree with several comments here. 1) Carry less.. 2) I have had several different roof boxes and currently have none. They are a hassle for the reasons stated above. I found that I was filling them with all the stuff I "may need", and never actually getting any of that stuff out of them, except for the rare times when I needed something and it was a pain to climb up and get (and I even have a ladder). The downsides of MPG and more importantly, limited parking garage access just made it far more of a hassle than it was worth. The trailer hitch boxes were a total non-starter for me. I'd never have a large, bulky thing dangling off the back of a vehicle, and they just scream "national lampoons vacation" vibe. I definitely don't claim to be a "van lifer", but my pup and I did live with all the worldly possessions I own out of our 4Runner on the road between the US and Mexico for several months, and I discovered that more than half of what I "needed" was just excess crap.

For me the solution was carrying less and removing the rear seats and seat bases. It's an incredibly easy modification, and gives you loads of room. I'm a single guy with a dog, and it gives me tons of room for her crate and a bed plus storage for me.

 

For camping or what? Why are you carrying all this stuff around?

 

I bring a lot of gear on road trips, especially if the purpose is reach a backpacking trailhead. Whenever possible, I remove the rear seat bottoms. I use a rooftop basket when necessary, but as others have said, access can be awkward and a loaded rooftop makes for white knuckles on winding mountain roads. Thus I travel with the basket lightly laden, using it mainly stow gear overnight while I sleep in back. If my wife isn't with me, I'll skip the basket and let the gear sleep in her spot.

 

I have a hitch carrier and don't use it much. I bought it for hauling stuff I don't want in my 4Runner, rather than stuff that doesn't fit. Like a harvested deer, or a muddy bag of gear. It works great, and I used it the same way when I had a 6' bed Tacoma.






FWIW, my 6'3 Son has a nice Thule roof top he uses on his Subaru Outback. I'm 5"10 and also 71, and I've helped him install it several times. I don't think I could install it myself without risk to the vehicle, and wouldn't use one for my purposes.

 

I have to agree I went from a Jeep Grand Cherokee to the 4Runner and lost a lot of interior storage space. The Jeep had room in spare tire well, and also an under seat storage. I am still trying to find places for stuff that has been left out.

 

The Grand had more interior room? For some reason I always thought they were smaller than the 4R. How did you like the Grand, btw? Every once in a while I think about them because Hemi.

 

I really liked it, however Jeep's are plagued with drivability issues. Fuel pump relay issue to cam position problems....not dependable. Jeeps are not like they used to be. As being a former Jeep Dealer Service Manager, it makes me sad to see how much they have gone down.

 

How about a trailer?

https://www.northerntool.com/produc...e3c4e5abe0d01eed5c1a83d5531354de&gclsrc=3p.ds





$700. I'm planning on getting one and painting it "terra" to match my 4R and painting the rims black. And change the coupler to accept a 2" ball.

 

Gorgeous Cherokee!;

It's a shame to hear your Grand was problematic. I used to have a 97 ZJ. It had a lot of smaller issues, but was for the most part solid. I owned it for 12 years & 165k miles and it never left me stranded.

I really want to like the WK2s because of the Hemi, but it doesn't sound worth the risk. My sister had a 2012 with the Pentastar that was somewhat problematic, and someone I know from a Toyota group had a Hemi Trailhawk that gave him endless problems. He got it for the same reason I want one, but ended up trading it for a 200 series.

 

Folding hitch carriers are great. And coming from the Tacoma, the added length doesn't bother me, but everyone's experience will be different.

 

OP: I feel your pain, having had an Astro to use on the past.

I would deal with this in 3 stages:
1. Pack less (like many others have said)
2. Hitch carrier as needed (I like this because it's also easily removable or folded out of the way once you've unpacked). This is also good for coolers or similar weatherproof stuff, chainsaws, etc.
3. Put stuff on the roof as a last resort.

 

Hatch will open with that setup

 

Dang, front and rear carriers. Usually I just see one.

And that's a Mid-Atlantic setup if I've ever seen one (I was guess outer banks before I saw you're in Virginia).

 

Is that the new Grand Wagoneer? I really like it, kinda retro.

 

1978 JEEP CHEROKEE CHIEF

 

I miss my ASTRO VAN 4X4

 

Wow, it even has a really cool retro name!

 

I was in Hampton at the time of the photo but had a house in Salvo for over 50 yrs. That rig and many before it were only used on The Banks. In fact the rear rack was from one used by my Dad on The Banks. In fact it was on a Cherokee like in the post here.

BTW my beach buggies
1 VW super beetle
2 Waggoner
3 Cherokee
4 Jimmy
5-8 4Runners

 

It’s amazing you still see those things running around. I wish they made a body on frame van like this nowadays. Perfect form factor for a 4x4 as well, if you ask me!

I would have guessed it’s smaller than a 4runner too. But it probably has more storage because it’s a unibody. Much easier to design a shell that takes advantage of every possible space to add in a nook, cranny, or well. The stow-and-go seating of a town and country, being a perfect example. I rented one of those minivans for a trip to yellowstone, the packaging of the interior was magical! That minivan felt great on the road too!

 

I have the rollo hitch carrier for the same reasons and the thing is solid. So solid that it weighs a ton bringing it from the shed and installing it. I usually avoid using it every time I can get away without using it because it’s a PITA to carry and install due to its weight.

 

I really liked my ASTRO it was a 2004 4X4. I got it from a bank that closed up. They used it to shuttle money! It only had 30K on it.

 

That looks just about perfect! How long did you have it? What finally made you sell it?

 

My first time seeing a 4Runner fitted with a hundred smoke grenade launchers. I'm sure glad my adventures don't take me anywhere that risky.

All joking aside, what's the purpose of the pipe organ thing on the front? Why all the vertical tubes, just curious?

 

We have a 2019 SR5Premium. Holds 2 large suitcases, a third suitcase of medical "crap" (C-Pap, meds, etc. = I'm 74). Printer paper box of snacks & a lunch or two, electric ice box for insulin and iced tea., gifts, winter clothing (if needed), maybe fishing rods and tackle. Camera bag and full-size binoculars within reach. Roof top basket carries tug strap, shackles, a large First Aid kit, toolbox, shovel and a CB radio. A garment bag for dirty clothes goes inside with boots is needed. We usually take a 2-3 trip from North Central WA State to Seal Beach, CA and over to Flagstaff and maybe up to Denver then back to WA.