Unusual build situation

I just bought a 2017 SR5 premium forerunner for my family to go on vacations with. We have been using a minivan with KO2 tires on it to do a little bit of offloading, but my in-laws that we go camping out into the boonies with got a Jeep Wrangler and put a rooftop tent on it. My family of six people are planning on going with them in our new 4Runner. The only downside that I have found with the forerunner is that it has almost no cargo space if you’re using all of the seats.

Time to get to the point. I am hoping to remove the driver side, third row seat and put in its place some sort of organizer. Everyone that I have asked, just says to measure everything really well and use plywood to make some shelves. I was kind of hoping to buy one of those systems where you get to mollepanels on the rear windows and a shelf that goes across the top, but I have to preserve one of my third row seats and I haven’t seen any sort of build or product online that would achieve that for me. we backpack a lot so we have plenty of gear that is small and we can definitely put two weeks worth of stuff in that one seat space but I’m hoping to do it right the first time so that I don’t have to revisit this set up every year and making changes. Any any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Honestly 6 people in a 4R to go camping is a lot.

I would just get rooftop stuff and call it a day.

 

I am putting a roof rack on it, and all but 10.5” of it is for the roof top tent that I am getting.

 

When I go camping its two people max and a truck full of gear.

Get a small trailer>?

 

I agree on lack of interior space! My last vehicle was a Grand Cherokee and it had more interior storage without losing seat space. I have gone with full roof rack with 2 cargo boxes on top. I liked the Jeep but it had constant bugs....fuel pump issue [recall] cam position sensor etc. issues.

 

Can you describe your vision of this organizer and list some of the things you’d like to put in it?

 

Receiver hitch basket is another option

 

Thanks for all the interest. That was fast.
1. Were already doing a roof rack and only have 10.5” to spare.
2. With some of the places we are going I don’t want to do a trailer.
3. A hitch basket it a possibility but I mainly need to secure the stuff that is going inside the back.

What I have in mind is sort of this, but only half of it.

 

I'm confused. You said family of 6 but yet you are getting a RTT and trying to fit in the back of the 4R?

Really think you should just get a regular tent and use the top for storage. 6 people is a lot for a 4R.

 

Perhaps you need to put passengers on roof.....

 

This.

Dillusion is right. With 6 people you’re putting up a ground tent anyway. Might as well ditch the rooftop tent and put gear on the roof.

Edited to add: if one of my kids was seated next to gear in the third row, I’d want that gear stowed in a nice soft duffle bag and not a steel molle erector set that he’s going to be bumping his head on.

 

I know it isn't feasible for everyone but I would get a trailer at that point. The RTT brah can go on that.

 

buy or rent a small trailer

 

If you are strictly camping you might want to do a trailer or a receiver hitch basket as has been mentioned above. If you want that molle solution as has been suggested above then perhaps you could get one like the image then, where it splits you could purchase a molle panel and attach it vertically. Maybe if you talk to the CALI RAISED people they can help you get something to meet your needs.

 

Question regarding trailers. Often campgrounds are segregated into cars and motorhomes. The car section is usually more charming, while the motorhome section is a big dirt lot with generator noise and mercury vapor lighting that stays on all night.

If your 4Runner is towing a trailer do you get relegated to the motorhome lot?

 

Others have said it: ditch the RTT. I still don't understand why those are a thing. They are big and heavy, don't seem any nicer than a tent, can't move your vehicle, semi-permanent because they are so heavy and takes away all of your storage space up top, and they are not cheap... to each their own, but I laugh almost every time I see one driving around San Diego.

Get a big tent that can fit 2-3 air mattresses.

 

Check out the many posts about sleeping platforms for some ideas. You can build a plywood shelf in the rear cargo area using pipe fittings for legs. Size it properly for putting cargo boxes underneath.

 

I agree with most the users here.
1. Hitch basket could add simple storage if you're not worried about off roading and departure angle.
2. Consider a small overland trailer and if not:
3. Ditch the RTT. Go with one of the large Gazelle tents. The roof rack is now open storage for the tent and everything else you want to take for you and the fam!

https://gazelletents.com/collections/6-8-person-tents/products/t4-tandem-1

Here's the tent I would recommend

 

Not into camping because 1. the wife isn't (Well Marriott/Hilton Camping to her) 2. I don't sleep well even @ home let alone camping. But If I were to especially in your family's "head count" I'd go W/nice ground tent. I did my share of camping & it's been from basic 2 man pup tent to basic log cabin to Camper trailer. I prefer the A/C when hot. nice toilet/showers. And been to some camp grounds ( very few because we don't camp) that had very nice /clean shower facilities. Good luck & enjoy!!Be safe too!!

 

At most of the places I camp, you can still park a travel trailer in the tent camping areas, as long as you don't require power hook-ups. This is my preference for the exact reasons you described.

 

Yep been there & agree%100 sir!!

 

Remembering our family road trips in our trusty 06 Sienna 8-seater, it was pretty full with 5 people total…and one of the side- center seats out for more room. And we weren’t even camping. The 4-runner just doesn’t have the storage space that can be designed into unibody vehicles. And it’s just a relatively small vehicle to begin with to have three rows. It’s think it’s a tall order for a camping trip for 6 without a trailer or roof rack storage.

But for sure skip the molle panel idea. Even with nothing stored on them, it’s way to much sharp steel to be around anybodies head, especially considering air bags would be deploying behind those panels in an accident. It’s a complete gamble what would happen to someone seated close to the panels when the bags go off.

 

Maybe a build-out using Milwaukee Packout boxes:



Now, I think it's stupid, but this guy seems to think it's the cat's meow. Might work for you; although, I think you're using the wrong tool for the job.

 

Achti WaWa!! I love the Milwaukee M12/18 line of tools! BUT Unless I'm a dealer/Sales Rep, ah NOT on my dime,eh!! P.. Has to be Dealer/Rep.?

 

To be fair, roof tents have their good points. Especially if your itinerary has you on the move and setting up camp every night and breaking camp every morning. Many RRT’s set up and break down in a couple of minutes. The time it saves on the camping trip is well worth the trouble it takes to remove it and store it between trips IMO. Being up off the ground there’s at least a perception of security from wildlife, which can be the make-or-brake factor with a reluctant spouse.

But in OP’s case, with 6 people it’s the wrong choice for sure.

 

What about trading the 2017 4R in on a 2005 Ford Excursion with the Triton V10?

 

Same with me. If the OP hits up the KOA's and dry camps/boon docking he can park the Travel Trailer there. I use to park my Jayco popup that way. The only downside (well, the main one), you can't take it to certain campsites. Because of bears/predator animals, they insist you have a hard side wall camper.

This is what I recommend for the OP. Like everyone else in this thread, I think the RTT's are worthless and laughable.

Get a popup camper like this. They're easy to tow, can sleep 4 - 6 people and models like the one shown below have outside storage. That should help with storage issues in the 4Runner.

 

Some roof top tents have racks on top that you could put some sort of storage, maybe even up to 100 pounds.

 

I’ve spent 30 nights in my RTT this year, from Maine, Vermont end of winter, Florida, and a handful of states between. They have their place and with OPs camping partners getting Jeep and RTT, I’m not sure many KOAs will fill their calendar. However, Family of 6 requires more than an RTT, so I’m not sure I’d go that route, we waited till our kids were older, working summers and able to stay home with out us.