Lack of Driver Accessible Storage

We are getting ready for our first extended roadtrip in our new 4Runner Trailhunter. Driver accessible storage is going to be grounds for divorce if the passenger must do everything; that includs helping the driver wipe his nose). I would LOVE some ideas from everyone here. I’ll post pics of things that will help on our first road trip. I’m guessing this will evolve and many here can improve and expand on this.

What I have noticed while running errands etc. is a lack of driver accessible storage. I am not stopping to get a Kleenex, hairbrush, or whatever from the back. Guys, my husband needs more things while driving so…. He shoves his stuff over on me.That is not happening on an extended road trip.

That teeny tiny little drink area, and center console area, IMHO, sux. It provides minimal space for 1 person. Don’t bring a passenger - seriously. They won’t ever want to go on a roadtrip in your very expensive luxury car.

Here are a couple pics of my initial solutions to keep marital harmony. The last pic shows what the driver will have access to. That friggin 30 year old Coleman Cooler is a God send, a blessing! It is more than perfect. It fits very snuggly and won’t slide off. In fact, those aftermarket company’s will have a best seller if they should make a comparable product for the 4Runner. I looked and couldn’t find anything like that.

So the driver can wipe his/her own nose, or grab a paper towel, or other personal stuff, the bag hung on the headrest hooks will works for now. The passenger will have their own bag as well. The guys who experience prostrate issues already know what else is needed without explaining that in detail. You really don’t want to ask anyone for help with that! We laugh but this is real world road tripping.

 

I’m posting another pic of the cooler so you can see how the lid works. It slides and you can choose if you want a flat or drink side up.

 

It sucks that the designers wasted usable space with a grab handle and a giant 4WD knob and buttons right where you would want to store things.
It’s luxury car prices for a non luxurious car.

 

My spidey sense detects a molle-compatible Kleenex box carrier in the works….

 

The 5th gen doesn’t have a ton of space either. It requires a bit of planning. It’s helpful to select of the right size water bottles that fit the both in the door and center console, so you can move them around for space as necessary.

I also ended up permanently mounting a little bag on the side of the center console that goes into the passenger foot well area.
It doesn’t really get in the way when I’m seated in the passenger position and can also be accessed from the drivers seat. You could try experimenting with mounting something similar on the molle panels the 6th gen has on the center console.

 

One of the things I quickly noticed coming from a Tacoma to my 5th gen 4Runner, is the Tacoma has 5 cupholders on the center console, while the 4Runner has only two. To address this deficiency, I got one of these wedged between the passenger seat and center console:

$23 Car Seat Organizer Cup Drink Holders,Multifunctional Gap Filler Storage Box,Insert Organization Helps Reduce Distracted Driving&Holds Phone Mount Mug Bottle Cellphones Coasters Wallet Cards (Black)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T9CGCR9/
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07L1DG1CP



The faux carbon fiber starts peeling after a year, so I just peeled it off leaving the black plastic showing.

 

Giant 4WD knob is carried over from 5th gen. 15 years of wasted space.

 

I have a lever and the area around the lever works well for storing small items.

 

^I too have the 4WD lever (takes up a lot of space). The shallow coin tray is useless. The narrow slot is maybe good for French fries.

 

I grabbed one of these (maybe from a different seller though)

$20 TACOBRO Armrest Hidden Compartment Tray for 2025 Toyota 4Runner – Center Console Organizer with Touch-to-Open & Close – Premium ABS Material, Easy Installation

https://www.amazon.com/TACOBRO-Armr...4&sr=1-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY

 

You don't plan on going down the road with the can of Pepsi in the open position do you? Maybe our roads are worse than yours. We have a Coleman just like yours, we just love our little Coleman, and when we go on extended trips we use 20 oz. bottles, but not sure if the bottles fit. I was wondering what kind of prostate issues you're speaking of? I had prostate cancer surgery 2 years ago, and enjoy driving our 4Runner on all kinds of trips, to town, joy rides etc., no problems(issues). On those long extended trips we like to get out periodically to stretch, go to the bathroom, nibble on a snack walk around for a min., just refresh. Maybe we'll stick with our 5th Gen.(2020) for a while until they sort out the storage problem in the 6th Gens.

 

I purchased a nicely made plastic drawer for the silly cubby in front of gear selector on ebay.
Both sizes offered by a few produces.
Not much space but for little things works great.
Mine needed a little filing & sanding because some edges were too sharp. Fit perfect.

 

Have him wear a fly fishing vest, plenty of pockets to hold a personal sized Kleenex and assorted necessities right there on him! Switch drivers? No problem, all of his stuff moves with him!

 

What are the hooks in the first few pics and where did you get them?
Fully understand the prostate reference and living the dream now.
Just turned our ‘23 TRD ORP 4R with 60+k into the second vehicle and new few days old LIMITED into primary trip vehicle. We had not much storage in the ‘23 and like you are saying really not much in this Gen 6.
Both vehicles we put steel console safe in for gun safety and as small as it was didn’t lose a lot.
Your post got me thinking how at each stop to switch drivers all the stuff that switches doors holders for my wife.

Will follow with interest. Need any help for space.

 

Like many men (and women), and not necessarily seniors, frequent urination and can’t hold it. For men they can stand and pretend they are looking at the scenery. However, that is an issue in populated areas. In Europe they don’t care who is watching but us Americans typically do care lol.

 

Amazon. It worked. Each of us were able to access the bag I hung on the back of the seats - a his and hers lol.

$10 Amooca Headrest Hooks for Car Adjustable 4 Pack Vehicle Seat Back Organizer Storage Hanger Holder for Purse Bags Universal Fit with Clip Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3Q3KLGB

 

Just ordered. Thank you very much.

 

The storage, and only 2 cup holders were a PITA. My husband frequently has more than 1 drink (who knows?). Each of us have glasses/sunglasses, keys, and a phone (I never had a place to conveniently store my phone). The center console requires the driver to move his arm, so that’s kind of a pain.

So, off to Amazon again. This armrest may work, but it’s a little pricey. It would only work on the passenger side. After measuring the hump behind the console (about 8 7/8” from console to back seat) the only thing I could find to fit that space was an

$30 xiaoniu Car Armrest Storage Box With 2 Drink Cup Holders, 7 Colour LED Lights Car Console Organiser With USB + Type-C Charging Port, Universal Small Car Storage Organizer Front Seat

arm rest thing. I can put my phone and drinks in it. I would use Velcro on the bottom to keep it from sliding. I also found

$24 KINGBERWI Leather Car Trash Can, Luxury Car Organizer, Leakproof Garbage Can for Car and Trucks Black

trash can that woul fit. It could work for storage but it isn’t great. It’s a trash can! It is leather but… I’m thinking about the options that I’m currently aware of. None are ideal. I was hoping to find a drink/storage accessory for that hump that was taller so I could easily access it. I’ll let y’all know if I find something better.

 

PB4WEGO vanity license plate.

 

Just finished radiation (42 treatments) July 7th. We travel Texas/Florida a lot and my ‘23 4Runner has 64k miles (mostly road). Just now getting to 45 minutes between peeing which on a long trip is problematic.
Just bought a ‘25 Limited 4Runner and not made the trip yet in it. But can tell you from 50 mile trips this Gen 6 has way more comfortable seats and the ride is far superior to the Gen 5.
Sorry but they will not sort out storage problems. Be like the rest of us and get hints from nice ladies like the OP and get Amazon on speed dial.

 

I have this cup holder. It is kinda pricey, but it works great, even on Moabs knarliest trails.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1868086893/4runner-cup-holder-insert-cuprunner?variation0=5099411773

Other stuff for storage. Some I have, some I don't.

$28 Linskip Center Console Organizer Tray Fit for 2010-2023 2024 Toyota 4Runner, Gear Shift Storage Tray for 4Runner Accessories, Driving Safety-Does not Block Legs(Matte Black)

https://www.amazon.com/Linskip-Organizer-Compatible-2010-2023-Accessories/dp/B0CLLM9KWJ?keywords=toyota+4runner+accessories&qid=1703822587&sr=8-294&th=1

$26 JDMCAR One-Touch Hidden Storage Box Compatible with Toyota 4Runner Accessories 2010-2023 2024 Center Console Organizer

https://www.amazon.com/JDMCAR-One-Touch-Compatible-Accessories-2010-2023/dp/B0CC99SDH3?crid=1XRZ98KD0QFZT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.85X7gKqDFwJn3H5CqarVHLiKRixtLlW7rBJVNDGo2wAwuwTUfR3Arwo0kMk3GOazd8W-kvRZR_tpD1sJLG98eiOWEriY3_rj-ZKEyfQcLXD63l70v4JOPYl8R26BLFLRLcIaYoZ6G0Qoq-HnAIc5uOoVrg_87YwB1VxXuic_SeUxpCcCbAuu_6IM2UBitECK-aA3HfPrdz7IwsOmhwL8-3zX4PoXq5F9i5Sw2bhqiwSY5Cke83RyEQ3uR8ShdzavngpGOJFu2wafXiyeWT7XD5EHM5dfT4fnrNQftzIiEW0.05dNhvDSkHFhHlvaqsjceQRDl3pb2Nf442heaJulcHc&dib_tag=se&keywords=4runner+accessories&qid=1757610189&sprefix=4runn%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-17&th=1

$24 Center Console Organizer Compatible with Toyota 4Runner 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2010-2019, Car Interior Accessories, Shifter Storage Box, Gear Shift Console Side Tray, Coin Change Holder, Black

https://www.amazon.com/Center-Console-Organizer-Compatible-Accessories/dp/B0CFZVM1XP?crid=2AP1NZYFMUHZ1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.85X7gKqDFwJn3H5CqarVHLiKRixtLlW7rBJVNDGo2wAwuwTUfR3Arwo0kMk3GOazd8W-kvRZR_tpD1sJLG98egkrWpZA34q2d-YdUtV6Dbk_VMLxw6E_eBnc1Ci9mq6duFcUqPVXuqZ4WHqrV0n-mtHBsjUwec_fYqDyls2aRdUxpCcCbAuu_6IM2UBitECKoVY3t1RZK9amcZMFdcZhJjTQdVfL7drg9RUZupHejX2Y5Cke83RyEQ3uR8ShdzavngpGOJFu2wafXiyeWT7XD4q4j6JL6l5j9j1XzDz4e5Q.uHkAhF9SdOTFAnIlKJWpWTUmuPlU0mYyXRyqIiTXiz4&dib_tag=se&keywords=4runner+accessories&qid=1757610259&sprefix=4r%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-9&th=1

$22 LBNCOBAG Center Console Storage Drawer Compatible with Toyota 4Runner 2014-2022 2023 2024 5th Gen Accessories Interior Front-Mounted Extra Insert Storage Box Center Center Organizer

https://www.amazon.com/LBNCOBAG-Cen...=_q42k2m6Hf1DE&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY

$24 Qyebbk Center Console Organizer for 2010-2024 Toyota 4Runner Hanging Armrest Box Storage Tray for 4 Runner Interior Accessories(Center Console Hanging Armrest Box/Fit 10-24)

https://www.amazon.com/Qyebbk-Organizer-2010-2024-Interior-Accessories/dp/B0F52LKLRP?crid=H0PQWRBUQC37&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.85X7gKqDFwJn3H5CqarVHLiKRixtLlW7rBJVNDGo2wAwuwTUfR3Arwo0kMk3GOazd8W-kvRZR_tpD1sJLG98egkrWpZA34q2d-YdUtV6Dbk_VMLxw6E_eBnc1Ci9mq6duFcUqPVXuqZ4WHqrV0n-mtHBsjUwec_fYqDyls2aRdUxpCcCbAuu_6IM2UBitECKoVY3t1RZK9amcZMFdcZhJjTQdVfL7drg9RUZupHejX2Y5Cke83RyEQ3uR8ShdzavngpGOJFu2wafXiyeWT7XD4q4j6JL6l5j9j1XzDz4e5Q.uHkAhF9SdOTFAnIlKJWpWTUmuPlU0mYyXRyqIiTXiz4&dib_tag=se&keywords=4runner+accessories&qid=1757610450&sprefix=%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-41&th=1

$20 Voodonala for 4Runner Side Door Storage Box Glove Organizer Tray Door Handle Storage Compartment Bin for 2010-2023 Toyota 4runner Accessories, ABS Black 4pcs(Doesn't fit limited)

https://www.amazon.com/Voodonala-4Runner-Storage-Organizer-2010-2020/dp/B08CK3GWFP?crid=H0PQWRBUQC37&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FQxmyP1l9oOTFHpDv-Tk5LT6y8Uf03ILqH-1975E9bNvynb5_k_UgGhCUy1EmkgCClelGXAPnzN-ee5I_YS-rs32rcZpDpDCEYk0jm3G-uTzfS7SPB4uTi2zpfc1l6NDujjhmqKs4IpCAUuu_nr5q6bTljWHKUMwA4lvdy9FjzC-IsWwneOIKb5qidBdmja-SzyyxnfDT7tIt4ZRRD7WqWqEuy7Adh7HZVJE5F42u-c0bkmqQkVH954PnmiIve_4pbSWRfmcL4MwI6KXMn8wEnaND1irC2ci79XN08WDvV4.wIWL0IxoXr9jvwQFcmN-XdJ3Yx-ewYRLiL9YE7zkz-s&dib_tag=se&keywords=4runner+accessories&qid=1757610615&sprefix=%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-85&xpid=ZijorBz1bCDKR&th=1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3056678703...1291&msclkid=4a00c0a6e77d1c9ad4caa865e1af0bd6

 

Ya, I had 40 rounds of radiation, the stopping and peeing every 45 mins. isn't really the worst thing in the world. It's a major inconvenience for sure, but small considering what we Beat! I'm getting set for a fishing trip, and we'll have to stop a couple times on a 6 hr. trip, no bigee. As far as the storage thing in the 6th gen., we have both, an organizer for the glove box and the center console on our 5th gen. that we got off of Amazon, maybe they have a 6th Gen. organizer? Good luck.

 

I put some sun visor molle panels on both my Tacoma and now my 4R. Nice for easy access of paper work, Kleenex, Sunglasses, etc..