Last Updated on April 13, 2023 by Paul S.
While your Tacoma is a very versatile vehicle with its truck bed, amount of passengers it can hold, and offroad capability it still needs assistance to get the most out of it. In this article, we review some of the best storage ideas for your Toyota Tacoma in order for your Tacoma to reach its full storage potential.
We provide great ideas for the bed of your truck, the center console, and the glove box. What these products do is help you get your things organized so you can camp, work, and travel efficiently.
So when you are looking for that one thingamajig you will be able to find it because your things will be put away properly.
Read on if you want to organize your life by starting with your Tacoma!
Table of Contents
Toyota Tacoma Bed Storage Ideas
Decked Toyota Truck Bed Storage
This is probably one of our favorite storage ideas for the bed of your Tacoma!
It comes with two sliding drawers that are accessible when you put your tailgate down. The drawers are the full length of your bed so that allows you to store a lot of tools, gear, or whatever else you need to quickly throw back there for safe keeping.
The great thing about the drawers is that once you lock the tailgate they are almost virtually impossible for thieves to access them.
Another great aspect of them is that you don’t lose the use of the truck bed. The system comes with a flat surface that sits above the drawers and it can take up to 2,000 lbs of cargo on top. It also provides a good working surface at height for things like your toolbox or anything you need to access quickly or conveniently.
Hit the link below to check out the system for the Tacoma long bed or click here for the short bed.
Here are links for the Tacomas 2019 to current: Short bed Long Bed
Here is a run down of things we love about these drawers:
- The truck bed is still usable for large heavy cargo
- The drawers are protected from rain and snow
- Drawers are secure as long as the tailgate is locked
- Is a great match for overlanders with a rack style camper
- Besides the decked system with drawers, it also includes two storage boxes, two dividers, and an organizer. These all fit into the drawers. Additional products can be purchased or use your own items that fit.
- The system is relatively lightweight and can be removed or reinstalled around 15 minutes
Here are some cons about the decked system:
- If you are a security freak you cannot lock the drawers. If the tailgate is locked no one should be able to gain access to the drawers but I understand the concern.
- This is one of the more expensive options on this list but when you see what it includes and compare it to the other options on this list there is no comparison.
UnderCover SwingCase
The swing case is one of the best ideas in the storage game for your truck bed. It can hold 75 lbs of cargo and can swing from its locked position to the tailgate for easy access. You don’t even have to climb on top of the truck bed to get to it! Very convenient!
Here are some awesome facts about this box!
- It will work with all tonneau covers
- If you do not have a cover it is very discreet when in the locked position.
- Swings out 180 degrees from its locked position over the wheel well to the tailgate for access
- Key lockable lid
- They are rated for up to 75 lbs of cargo
- The lid comes with a moisture seal to keep your items dry and protected against mother nature
- Can be removed if you need to load the bed up with other items
- You can select if you want to have the driver’s side or passenger side or both!
- This box could come in handy for people that don’t want to keep climbing up into the truck bed to get tools.
Cons:
- The box is made out of plastic which could turn some people away from the product if you want to spend more on a metal solution.
- For trucks with bed rugs you will have to cut slots in the rug for installation
Hooke Road Tacoma Bed Security Storage
This lockbox Tacoma storage idea from Hooke is a very small but cheap option. The lock lid fits into the driver side of your bed stock compartment that is already there. And since it replaces the existing lid it is an exact fit and there is no need to drill more holes or do any work to the bed liner.
Now you are not going to store a whole lot of gear or tools inside of it but it could be very handy when you need to lock something away that is small while in the water, on the trail, or while camping. But the small size makes it a very discreet location that is hidden from view from many different angles.
Here is what we love:
- Constructed from 14 gauge steel
- Back up keys provided
- No drilling for installation
Cons:
- It is not a waterproof solution so do not store items that cannot be wet.
Tacoma Glove Box Organizer
JKCOVER Glove Box Divider
This glove box divider is a cheap and great solution to help keep you organized on the road. It is made of ABS plastic and is designed specifically for all Tacomas from 2016 to 2022 and it replaces the OEM shelf that comes with the Tacomas.
Things we love about it:
- Simple installation and design
- Budget friendly
Cons:
None at the moment
Toyota Tacoma Center Console Organizer
JKCOVER Center Console Accessory Organizer
If you are in need of a console organizer then this one by JKCOVER has it covered. Typically the armrest console becomes a pit of despair as there is no rhyme or reason to what you end up storing at the bottom. With this organizer, you can store your most needed items up top to avoid endless searches of things, and still have the storage below to store items you don’t typically use every day.
It is specifically designed for the 2016-2022 3rd gen Tacomas so you know it is going to be a perfect fit. Check out the additional photos at the amazon link to see that it almost looks as if Toyota made it.
The best part about this liner is that if it ends up getting too disgusting and uncleanable you can purchase another one.
Things we love about this organizer:
- Budget friendly
- Fits perfect just for the Tacoma
- Great reviews from buyers
- Still allows the use of the armrest storage
- Has a liner for easy clean-up.
Cons:
- It’s such a simple product there are none at this time
Tacoma Deck Rail Accessories Storage Ideas
The Tacomas deck rail comes standard in the bed of your truck. This allows for many options to create an optimized solution for the storage of the bed to meet your specific needs. But you can’t just use the deck rail you need help from various accessories that allow you to utilize the deck rail to its full potential.
Here are some options that help you reach the potential of the deck rail system:
Bed Cleat
These bed cleats are compatible with the Tacoma deck rails for the years 2005-2021 of the Tacoma. They are made of sturdy black plastic so they are discrete when not in use.
Each one can hold a maximum of 110 lbs and that is why it made this list.
You get four of them per order so you can have two on each side of your bed so you can securely tie down any load you have.
Here is what we like about these bed cleats:
- Easy installation and relocation to anywhere on your deck rail.
Cons:
- None at this time because it is a simple product
T Slot Nuts for Bed Rail
These T slot nuts slide in perfectly into the Tacoma rail system to provide plenty of options for storage solutions.
It comes with four T slot nuts and screws. And what you do with them is totally up to you but the DIY solutions are endless. Some people hook up straps to hold shovels, axes, hi-lifts and even mount your bicycle to them. You can even hook up some ring tie downs to be able to strap cargo down in the truck bed.
Why we love them:
- DIY solutions are limitless
- Budget friendly option compared to the bed cleats above but these will require further purchases
- As one reviewer mentioned the bolts are hex and not Phillips so it limits the potential for stripping the head.
- Made of galvanized steel to protect from corrosion
Cons:
None at the moment
T-Slot Nuts black
Here are the options for the T-Slot nuts in black. Check them out at this link.
T slot nuts with anchor rings
Here is an option of the t slot nuts but they come with anchor rings. This makes them a little more expensive but it saves you from ordering the rings in a separate order. Check them out at this link.
Tacoma Storage Ideas Conclusion
With so many ideas for storage for your Toyota Tacoma, it all comes down to what your needs are. So we have combined all of the options below and provided some typical users for them so you can see if you fit into one of those categories.
Just remember this is just a guide and not necessarily how you will use your bed but if it’s similar that idea might work for you!
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Whatever option you choose these ideas will make your life on the road a lot easier no matter what you get into.
Before you start loading things into the Tacoma or if you are comparing trucks, it’s best to understand what the dimensions are for the bed. We cover the bed measurements for the 2nd Gen and 3rd gen Tacomas in this article.
Toyota Tacoma Bed Measurements
Last Updated on February 23, 2023 by Paul S. Carry Stuff! This is the main reason why you are looking to find the measurements of a Toyota Tacoma truck bed. …
Here is a pdf from Toyota where we found that the Deck System comes standard on the trucks.