4x4 Storage Accessories

October 4, 2024

You're packing for a trip in your trusty 4x4. You've put all the gear on the drive, ready to stow in the vehicle. But what should you put where? And what options have you got for optimising and maximising storage space?

At Wheeliams we're all about increasing the capacity and capability of campervans, overlanding vehicles and 4x4s. In this post we look at a few ideas and options which could help you pack smarter, saving you time and stress further down the road.

Top Tips: Cargo Carrier, MOLLE Panels, Jerrycan Bracket

Roof Rack Storage for Your 4x4

Packing kit onto your roof rack is a great way to ensure it remains accessible, whilst leaving more space inside the vehicle. Make sure you know what your vehicle's roof-load limit is, as well as the carrying capacity of your rack. Don't forget that the roof-load limit includes the weight of the rack - not only the gear you pack onto it.

It's also worth remembering that some vehicles have seperate limits for static roof-load and roof-load while driving. This might be important if you're using a roof-top tent. In this instance the weight of the inhabitants should be accounted for only while the vehicle is stationary.

Many of the lightweight items which are regularly stowed on roof racks can also be bulky, such as tents. This can result in increased wind resistance. In turn this will impact your vehicle's performance and fuel economy. A good option can be to install a more aerodynamic roof box, which will reduce drag, protect your kit from the elements and improve security.

Make sure you securely fasten roof-top items to your rack. If you're going to be tackling bumpy terrain items could work their way loose, ending up lost on the trail or damaged.

Storage Boxes for 4x4 Vehicles

Boxes are a great option for organising gear and making it easy to find. If you're stacking boxes in the boot then we'd recommend installing a cargo barrier. These can be used to seperate heavy items from your vehicle's inhabitants, preventing accidents. They also make it easier to stack boxes efficiently, enabling you to store your kit all the way up to the roof. Most cargo barriers are made from a steel mesh. This can lend itself to having objects attached to it using bungee cords, cable ties or carabiners.

Storage boxes can also be used on the outside of your vehicle. There are loads of great options on the market. Some are designed to bolt onto a roof rack or roof bars. Others can be mounted on specially designed backracks.

At Wheeliams we've designed a modular BackRack. This product is available for a variety of campervans, including some 4x4 models. Whether you want to carry boxes, bikes, Jerry cans or other accessories, this solution makes sure you have fixing points just where you need them. Moving the horizontal aluminium rails gives you ultimate flexibility when it comes to rear door storage.

Once you've got your BackRack installed a variety of options offer loads of storage flexibility:

Add our Universal Bike Fork Mount and to carry your bike with you
Increase flexibility by adding a BackRack MOLLE panel
Bolt on some secure storage boxes like these, or this

Spare Wheel

When it comes to mounting a spare wheel, 4x4 owners aren't short of options. Most off-road vehicles will come with a 4x4 as standard, but it doesn't always need to stay where it's put! Some older Defenders have the spare wheel mounted inside the vehicle, for example. While this is more secure than mounting it externally, it can make it difficult to get to if you've packed loads of kit around it.

If you've installed a roof rack then a popular choice is to put the spare wheel there, out of the way. There are also plenty of rear door mounted wheel carrier options available. These keep the spare wheel accessible, should the worst happen. And while we're talking about spare wheels, don't forget to pack your tools where you can get to them.

Cargo Carriers for 4x4 Vehicles

If your 4x4 has a spare wheel mounted on the rear door then you'll know that this creates a load of dead space. At Wheeliams we've come up with a couple of products which turn this into useful storage space for yet more kit.

Our Cargo Carrier mounts onto the spare tyre, using positioning pins and ratchet straps to lock it in place. Once installed you can use it to carry more gear on the outside of your vehicle, keeping it accessible and saving space inside.

Like all our products, these Cargo Carriers are designed for the real world. Our friends @expeditionrove took one of our Cargo Carriers on their trip across Africa, on the back of their lovely orange Defender.

Cargo Trays for 4x4 Vehicles

Another option for making better use of the dead space around a spare tyre is our Cargo Trays. These are the smaller version of the Cargo Carrier, with a load area of 500mm x 270mm. We've mounted one of these at right angles to our main Cargo Carrier, and then attached our LifeSaver Portable Water Filter to it.

Both the Cargo Carrier and Cargo Trays have plenty of holes in them - by design! This reduces their weight while offering plenty of options when it comes to fixing kit to them. Our Cargo Carrier and Cargo Trays are the perfect accessory for any 4x4 vehicle with a spare wheel mounted on the rear door. They open up plenty of opportunities for carrying more kit externally, keeping the mud on the outside!

MOLLE Panels for 4x4 Vehicles

MOLLE stands for Modular Light-Weight Load-Carrying Equipment. We've designed a bunch of MOLLE panels which are suited to specific vans, as well as some universal MOLLE panels. These can be attached internally or externally.

Once installed, boxes and bags can be affixed to them using bolts and brackets or clips and carabiners. Perfect for smaller items which don't stack well and need to be kept accessible. Our MOLLE Hooks are designed to fit onto our panels, making it really easy to stow lightweight items like wash bags.

When kitting out your van, 4x4 or overland vehicle a well-placed MOLLE panel can revolutionise your storage systems. All those odds and ends which end up in the foot well or stashed out of sight and forgotten about can be made accessible.

If you need a panel of a particular size feel free to get in touch with our team for a quote.

Carrying Extra Water on your 4x4

One last consideration, particularly for those heading off the beaten track. Are you carrying enough water, or the means to safely filter water you might find on your trip? We've been blown away by the LifeSaver Portable Water Filter Jerrycan we've had on our van for a few years now.

We recently created a unique bracket for the LifeSaver Jerrycan, making it easy to mount onto almost any vehicle. The mount is simply screwed or bolted onto a suitable surface, such as the rear door of your 4x4. The Jerrycan can then slides onto the two spindles. A locking plate and handles are attached allowing you to secure your LifeSaver Jerrycan in place.