We were forced into getting a new (to us) vehicle when some younguns took our Outback for a terminal joyride a few months ago       

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.   

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     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     

You're not wrong there Jeff   

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!   

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


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

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

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

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.