untapped storage space!!!

[Essex4x4]

I was messing around in the back of my Ex yesterday and i decided to see if i could pull the little storage bin on the drivers side out. First of all on my 06 there are two, one with a net infront of it and another below it with a door covering the second one. I opened the little door and pulled that plastic piece in ther out and BAM!! There is a HUGE, I MEAN MASSIVE amount of space under there.

Anybody tried making something to hold stuff inside of there?

I like the idea of having more space for stuff like bungi cords, a few tools and my bottles of extra oil. I have already filled the space the third rows seat goes in with my shovel, pick and 4x4 recovery tools so i was searching for more space and found it YEA!

 

[Essex4x4]

took out the black plastic container and will be making my own out of a couple plastic bottles, cosmetics don't really matter to much because you can't see it with the little door closed
Look to the left of this photo and you will see the cargo pocket i am talking about
http://www.wooddashexperts.com/images/cargo-liners/cargo-liner-ford-explorer.jpg

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

Interesting ideas for extra space... but extra stuff = extra weight = lower MPG... possibly

 

[midiout]

You don't have the third seat ?

 

[El_Cid]

You don't have the third seat ?

Yea, he must not because I looked for this last night and there was nothing to be found. In fact, my bin with the net is on the right side, not the left. The only plastic door I found was the vented one for the factory sub. I was hoping for some hidden storage too...

 

[Toddvdk]

So I took a look last night. I have third row seating with a mesh net and small storage bin on the driver's side. Opened the lid of the storage bin, yanked all my crap out, and then pulled out the black storage bin liner. Underneath was a larger storage area. Not quite as big as I was expecting, but maybe doubles the size of the area. Best of all, it is pretty much useable as is. No need to create liners, etc. Most of it is carpeted and as long as I don't put small, rollable items in there that could slide through the two small holes, I'm good to go. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Essex4x4]

You don't have the third seat ?

No i have an XLT with out the third row, in place of the seats there is another storage compartment like the one in the rear except its way bigger, so i have way mores storage than Explorers with a thrid row seat.

 

[Essex4x4]

So I took a look last night. I have third row seating with a mesh net and small storage bin on the driver's side. Opened the lid of the storage bin, yanked all my crap out, and then pulled out the black storage bin liner. Underneath was a larger storage area. Not quite as big as I was expecting, but maybe doubles the size of the area. Best of all, it is pretty much useable as is. No need to create liners, etc. Most of it is carpeted and as long as I don't put small, rollable items in there that could slide through the two small holes, I'm good to go. Thanks for the heads up.

Thats the exact reason i want a liner because then i can put little stuff in there. Right now i have extra oil, my tow strap and air compressor in there, makes getting to them easier if i have stuff in the back

 

[El_Cid]

So I took a look last night. I have third row seating with a mesh net and small storage bin on the driver's side. Opened the lid of the storage bin, yanked all my crap out, and then pulled out the black storage bin liner. Underneath was a larger storage area. Not quite as big as I was expecting, but maybe doubles the size of the area. Best of all, it is pretty much useable as is. No need to create liners, etc. Most of it is carpeted and as long as I don't put small, rollable items in there that could slide through the two small holes, I'm good to go. Thanks for the heads up.

Any chance you can post a pic? I looked again and the only storage I have is the area with the netting. It's an 06 XLT... am I missing something?

 

[Essex4x4]

look to the left of this picture, see the little door under the cup holder to the left of the photo, that is what i am talking about.
http://www.wooddashexperts.com/images/cargo-liners/cargo-liner-ford-explorer.jpg
You will not have the storage bin this thread is about if you have a third row seat!!

 

[A Wise Guy]

look to the left of this picture, see the little door under the cup holder to the left of the photo, that is what i am talking about.
http://www.wooddashexperts.com/images/cargo-liners/cargo-liner-ford-explorer.jpg
You will not have the storage bin this thread is about if you have a third row seat!!

Do you mean you will have the bin if you do NOT have the third row seat? Just trying to clarify because I thought in an earlier post you said you did not have the third row.

Either way, I have the third row seat. On the right side is my factory sub so no storage. On the left side is everything for my rear air so no storage space there either.

Basically no nets and no doors and no cubby holes and no storage.

 

[Essex4x4]

Do you mean you will have the bin if you do NOT have the third row seat? Just trying to clarify because I thought in an earlier post you said you did not have the third row.

Either way, I have the third row seat. On the right side is my factory sub so no storage. On the left side is everything for my rear air so no storage space there either.

Basically no nets and no doors and no cubby holes and no storage.

Yes you will have the bin if you do not have a third row seat. I do not have a third row seat, i only have the two front seats and the second row, my explorer is a 5 passenger, not a 7.

 

[El_Cid]

look to the left of this picture, see the little door under the cup holder to the left of the photo, that is what i am talking about.
http://www.wooddashexperts.com/images/cargo-liners/cargo-liner-ford-explorer.jpg
You will not have the storage bin this thread is about if you have a third row seat!!

Right, I saw your pic. My question was for Todd and I was confused because he said he has the 3rd row seat and a storage bin in addition to the netted area. If we both have XLT's with the 3rd row seats wouldn't his Ex and mine be the same?

 

[Essex4x4]

he could be talking about the storage bin behind the third row, where the jack is stored.

Look behind the seats in this picture, all 06-08 Xs will have at lest this storage compartment regardless of seating configurations
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/FordExplorer/Images2006/Hatch.jpg

 

[El_Cid]

he could be talking about the storage bin behind the third row, where the jack is stored.

Look behind the seats in this picture, all 06-08 Xs will have at lest this storage compartment regardless of seating configurations
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/FordExplorer/Images2006/Hatch.jpg

I don't think that's what he meant. His post says it's on the driver's side and he talks about taking out a black storage bin liner. Hopefully he'll post more info. I suspect he may be talking about the area where the subwoofer is. That is on the driver's side.

 

[Essex4x4]

I don't think that's what he meant. His post says it's on the driver's side and he talks about taking out a black storage bin liner. Hopefully he'll post more info. I suspect he may be talking about the area where the subwoofer is. That is on the driver's side.

you will not have the black storage liner because you have a third row seat, as for the cargo netting he is talking about, not sure, i thought only the 5 passenger had the cargo net

 

[El_Cid]

you will not have the black storage liner because you have a third row seat, as for the cargo netting he is talking about, not sure, i thought only the 5 passenger had the cargo net

I finally found a photo of one like mine. This is what my 3rd row XLT looks like. Netted area on the passenger side.

http://photos.ebizautos.com/7194/2183669_18.jpg

The only things on the driver's side are the shallow area where the cupholder is, and the sub enclosure (vented).

http://photos.ebizautos.com/7194/2183669_15.jpg

I wonder if Todd's is some kind of "freak" from the factory or has a special trim package? I know a guy whose Ford minivan has a grey interior, but one sliding door has all tan moulding and plastic. Left the factory that way - so I suppose anything is possible.

 

[Toddvdk]

Toddvdk chiming in here.

So I guess I need to clarify a few things. First of all, I have a 2006 Eddie Bauer, not the XLT. Second of all, I DO have 3rd row seating. Third of all, I do not have the rear air package.

With that said, the back of my Explorer looks exactly like Essx, even down to the Weathertech liner (I have the third row version though) So yes, I do have that storage compartment just below the cup holder that he mentions. No, I am not talking about the storage behind the 3rd row seating where the jack and spare tire parts are.

So, maybe the question to the field is, why do some people have the sotrage and other's not. My guess is the rear air could be causing the issue. Or it could be the XLT's don't have it.

Todd

 

[Toddvdk]

Whoops, realized I missed a comment by El Cid. I have the Navigation system with the factory sub. The sub is located on the right side of the car, not the driver's side, so that should not affect the storage bin on the driver's side we have all been talking about.

 

[El_Cid]

Interesting... mine is an XLT with 3rd row and rear air. I'm surprised you have a 3rd row and no rear air. Wouldn't think Ford would do that.

Yea, no nav system on mine. Kind of makes your head spin with all the variations.

I really want to put a truckvault in mine and solve all my storage issues, but then my poor Dobe wouldn't be able to stand up.