1st Generation Toyota 4Runner; Bed Side Storage Area, Part 3

1st generation Toyota 4Runner, making use of a hidden storage area in the side of the bed.

On the passenger (LHD) side, this area is accessible through the access hatch at the back of the bed. On the driver's side, the factory bottle jack and rear window washer pump blocks access to the area ahead. When I pulled off the plastic bed side panel, I saw this area and decided it would be useful for storage, a resource in short supply in the 4Runner. But it has an one front that could allow stored items to slide forward and drop down in the area beside the rear seat. While still accessible, it would be difficult to retrieve items from that area. So some plywood pieces would be fit to create a more contained storage space, along with adding an access door in the roll bar area.

Final step was to fit the bed sides and check out the storage area with the added access door. I tried to use some of the same design features as the factory access hatch by keeping the same corner radius. However, I used hinges and a latch for the door as it would be hard to duplicate the factory hatch. The door hardware as well as the hardware to fasten the plywood panels to the bed side are all black.

Materials used:
1/4" plywood
No. 10 machine screws and 1" x 1" x 1/16" aluminum angle for the corners
1/4-20 and #10-24 socket head cap screws to attach the panels to the bed side
M8-1.25 socket head cap screws to fasten the rear seat back latch hardware in place

#4Runner #bedside