A Storage Shelf Built Into a 1998 Toyota 4Runner

Last week I got an email from SUV RVing reader/viewer Galvain (Chasin’ Simplicity on YouTube) saying that he’d built a shelf in the back of his 1998 Toyota 4Runner. He then sent over some pictures and a video of his build and gave me permission to share them here. The shelf is based off of the one that I made in this video. Great job, Galvain! You can also check out his blog here.

Here are the pics:

Storage shelf build in the back of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner
Fitting the shelf in the back of the 1998 Toyota 4Runner
Storage shelf build in the back of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner
Adding bins and legs to the shelf
Storage shelf build in the back of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner
Adding a top to the shelf
Storage shelf build in the back of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner
Attaching the top of the shelf to the rest of the shelf with an adjustable cable tie
Storage shelf build in the back of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner
The shelf from inside the 4Runner
Storage shelf build in the back of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner
The plywood sleeping platform that goes over the gap where the head goes when laying down to sleep.

You can see Galvain talk about his builds (the plywood head platform and the shelf build) in his video here (click here if you can’t see it below). The shelf portion starts at 6 minutes 27 seconds.

3 thoughts on “A Storage Shelf Built Into a 1998 Toyota 4Runner

  1. Nice. It’s simple, easy, elegant, and it kind of flips the usual thing you see of a sleeping platform with storage underneath. The benefits of this setup include more headroom when you’re sitting in bed and better access to your stuff. (I’ve always wondered how people with conventional sleeping-platform-with-storage-underneath access their stuff in pouring rain or driving sandstorm.)

    1. I agree, I think this is a much better setup than having a sleeping platform underneath you in every way except storage capacity, obviously. Thanks Connie!

    2. I went camping out in the green swamp last night to try out the new setup. Having the shelf is super super useful. If you are inside your suv just to sleep the sleeping platform would be great but you are extremely limited. I can see the pros and cons to both. Now I am going to try it with my mini trailer! I appreciate the idea Tristan. Thanks Connie for your comment.

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