We were forced into getting a new (to us) vehicle when some younguns took our Outback for a terminal joyride a few months ago    [smiley=censored.gif]   

Our old dog had passed away and wasn't a danger anymore. :(  They admitted they never would have tried it while she was still alive!  One (undesirable) young acquaintance was at the front door distracting teen while another came in the back door and took the keys off the hook in the kitchen.  Lesson learnt, car & house keys are now tucked away out of sight when not in use!


We've now got a Rodeo RA dual cab and have since fitted a tub liner, Rhino bars and Sunseeker II awning.   [smiley=tank.gif]

Foxwing vs Sunseeker...
I considered getting a 'foxwing' type awning that goes around the back as well, but thought I might have trouble putting that up on my own if I had to.   So we went with the little 2m x 2.5m Sunseeker which I can manipulate solo with a bit of wriggling and jiggling.

WOW, what a great bit of gear.  After all these years of not having an awning we sure noticed the difference last week.  Briliant being able to pop into some shade for a lunch break without having to set up a gazebo tent. A couple of minutes up by myself (and I am a little bit height challenged), less to roll away   ;D  Don't have to stress about no shade to sit under, no matter where we are!

Ute canopy storage...
We looked at those storage drawer thingies for the back of the ute but nothing I've seen suits my desires.
Most of them seem to cut the car in half and since everything in my life seems to be 1" too short or 1" too long, I know I'd run into grief with something not fitting properly    ;)   (that would be about 3cm to the Gen Xs & Ys)

I think I will get Chief to make me a full width 'false floor' instead - just above the wheel arches. 
We've got plenty of square steel tubing so a frame wouldn't take much to knock together.
I can put stuff underneath and have the frequently accessed stuff on top during camping trips.
At the same time, when running around town I still have the flat floor for groceries and knick knacks.... shopping is serious business you know! 

To access stuff under the floor...
Tossing up whether to use crates tied with ropes like train carriages, or have 'hatches' or 'doors' in a plywood sheet floor.  OR both.. don't want to have to unload the car to get to the repair tool under the floor etc. 
It is a bit difficult for either of us to 'climb into the car' to get stuff so I'm thinking half 'n' half.
Have doors/hatches for under floor access to stuff we won't use much (if at all) like the spare fan belt etc up towards the cab, and have pull out crates at the tailgate end   :-/

Flatbed trailer and storage box...
Chief has half completed a frame to go over the flatbed trailer so I can easily chuck a cover on it during wet weather.  If he hadn't been lazing around in hospital this week it would already be painted and in place  ;)   :D

http://s2.postimg.org/6n28gtfit/sm_Rodeo_2.jpg http://s2.postimg.org/idg5y78b9/sm_Rodeo.jpg

http://s2.postimg.org/tr2p9eitx/sm_Trailer_Storage_Box.jpg http://s2.postimg.org/fm1hlbz6d/sm_Trailer_frame_01.jpg

Congrats on the new truck LG. It seems you are setting it up well for your needs. We are undergoing a similar process here at present. It's very easy to spend money on them. ;D

Jeff

You're not wrong there Jeff   ;D

I have two lists running.... the "I want" and the "I need"
Seems the "I want" is 10 times longer than the "I need" but both are just as finance consuming as each other!   ;D

LG wrote on Apr 12^th, 2013 at 12:25am:

You're not wrong there Jeff   ;D I have two lists running.... the "I want" and the "I need" Seems the "I want" is 10 times longer than the "I need" but both are just as finance consuming as each other!   ;D

The exact same problem I have. ;D

Jeff

LG wrote on Apr 12^th, 2013 at 12:25am:

I have two lists running.... the "I want" and the "I need"

I think if I did that my first want would perhaps be a bigger truck  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Sounds good though.  I am currently mulling over in my mind how to install some shelving in the back.

Derek, do you have your fridge in the tray or the back seat area?

We have a mobicool which is a bit squishy to take in and out of the back seat area... we need to take it out to run it on gas of course.

The 30+ year old Engel can go in the back seat area no problem, it's narrow enough to get in the back doorways easily. But we don't have solar (yet - refer to "I want") so sitting still for a few days is an issue at the moment.

So we have to make sure we leave enough room for the Mobicool in the tray area when we put the false floor in, if we go that way. 

Not sure yet if it would sit in a 'hatch' or if he will make the frame go down the side and around the back of the fridge.   :-/    Lots of logistics to work out before we start cutting and welding   8-)

Yep ......getting your gear into vehicle can be a challenge .........I built around what I carry.....I couldnt have draws as I need to access the under floor area for storage

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd116/Smokeydk1/Pajero/shelf1.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd116/Smokeydk1/Pajero/shelf2.jpg

Nice job there Smokey!   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]   Is that marine carpet you have covered it with? 
 
I guess we will have the advantage this time round not having a 'basement' spare tyre - it is actually under the car itself. So whatever we do, it won't have to come out for any reason (touches wood)

I'm thinking rails going right across from side to side at the top of the wheel hubs height - covered with ply board
This is where the fridge becomes a problem, it is taller than the wheel hubs. So either cut a slot for it or build a L shape to go around it.

But I'm also considering a rectangle in between the wheel hubs (like yours) as that would give me 'jerry can' spaces on either side.  Same problem with the fridge though.   :-/

Chief will just twiddle his thumbs til I finally decide what I want... with many repeats of 'yes, dear' in between.  hehehehe

I may even decide I want a 12v plug on the back of the flatbed trailer and the fridge can go on there instead   ;)

Poor Chief is in for a rough time in the coming months   ;D

I had an RA Rodeo. Bought it new in 2007 and traded it in last year. An the only reason I did was because I needed a bigger towing capacity truck. Nice Ute. Cheers Brian.

Looks good Dave.  Couple of questions.

How did you lock the drawer?

Is the fridge on a slide?

My shelving needs to be high enough to get the generator under it.

Thanks

Thanks Brian ... we think so too.   :)

We have the 05 Automatic this time round. 

A few years back we had a 2001 and loved it, but being Manual it was becoming difficult for Chief to drive
His left leg becomes very painful/goes numb sometimes making braking and changing gear an issue.

At least with the Auto he can do it all with just his right leg. 
I prefer the auto too since it is easier to get around the gazillion 'roundabouts' in our town, which are really just garden beds in the middle of the road   :-?

The person we bought it off was also upgrading (to a diesel Colorado) due to towing
"A humungous caravan - 'doing the trip' " as their granddaughter put it  ;-)

Since his Rodeo canopy was already set up the way he wanted it, he took the new canopy off the Colorado and put it on the Rodeo, and kept his old canopy for the Colorado.  I think we got the better deal there since the new canopy has security bars on the sliding windows!   8-)

Derek.....cause I needed to get under the floor....I cant have a fridge slide....so I removed the shelf above the fridge now can get in fridge and put a temporary one in when not needing the fridge.......and bought a rubber with 2 hooks to keep draw closed from Bunnings

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd116/Smokeydk1/Pajero/DSCF5015.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd116/Smokeydk1/Pajero/DSCF5016.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd116/Smokeydk1/Pajero/DSCF5017.jpg

It works for me

Dave

Yes LG....its marine carpet...glued on

Thanks Dave.  Well done.