Beach rear storage options

AlexGL00000000 · Aug 15, 2022

Hi, has anyone come up with any good ideas, or know of any products out there for storage using the space at the rear of the Cali Beach? I'm talking about the floor level space at the back behind the rear seat, about 50 cm in height. I'd ideally like a set of drawers that could be slid into this space, and was hoping someone had already had this idea. Many thanks.

Perfectos · Aug 15, 2022

@Amarillo has built some storage

have a search of his posts

AlisonF · Aug 15, 2022

Welcome to the forum. If you use the search function (magnifying glass at top right on a phone), you will find a lot of ideas for pull out drawers and storage solutions for a Beach (and Ocean / Coast). Happy searching…

AlexGL00000000 · Aug 15, 2022

Excellent - many thanks. I had a feeling there would be some good advice somewhere on the forum, thanks for the signposting.

Perfectos · Aug 16, 2022

AlexGL00000000 said:
Excellent - many thanks. I had a feeling there would be some good advice somewhere on the forum, thanks for the signposting.

Here is a general search string to get you going

Search results for query: Beach storage

vwcaliforniaclub.com

& a more targeted search based on @Amarillo posts as suggested in my previous post.

Underbed storage area

I'm planning better use of the underbed storage area in our 3 seat bench Beach boot, in particular the space between the rear of the bench and the multiflex. Here is a cross section of the crates I intend to make for that space. The two large crates and the gas box can remain in place with the...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

RoB5urf · Aug 16, 2022

AlexGL00000000 said:
Hi, has anyone come up with any good ideas, or know of any products out there for storage using the space at the rear of the Cali Beach? I'm talking about the floor level space at the back behind the rear seat, about 50 cm in height. I'd ideally like a set of drawers that could be slid into this space, and was hoping someone had already had this idea. Many thanks.

Hi Alex, just be aware of the differences in rear shelf height between a Beach with a 3-seat bench vs one with a 2-seat. I assume the T6.1 is the same in that respect compared with a T6.

scottk · Aug 16, 2022

There are a few companies making storage pods. Slidepod, direct 4 x 4 and ovano. I'm sure there are more. No idea if they will have what you want but might be worth asking them.

Amarillo · Aug 16, 2022

There is indeed huge potential to make better use of that space.

I have three boxes that slot in the gap between the multiflex and bench positioned to fold into the bed. They are easy to retrieve when the area under the multiflex is clear. They are also sufficiently low for the bench to be folded down with the boxes in situ.

On top of the three boxes can sit two shallow boxes that I made that span the entire 150cm width of the boot. They sit level with the top of the multiflex.

Under the multiflex there is space for four Muji drawers.

jmkrcat&thebeach · Aug 20, 2022

Amarillo said:
There is indeed huge potential to make better use of that space.

I have three boxes that slot in the gap between the multiflex and bench positioned to fold into the bed. They are easy to retrieve when the area under the multiflex is clear. They are also sufficiently low for the bench to be folded down with the boxes in situ.

On top of the three boxes can sit two shallow boxes that I made that span the entire 150cm width of the boot. They sit level with the top of the multiflex.

Under the multiflex there is space for four Muji drawers.

Hi Amarillo - are you able to attach some photos?

Kayleigh · Aug 20, 2022

Whilst it is possible to fill the boot with boxes, we have found a more flexible solution is to use two 64 litre Really Useful Boxes (without lids) that can be stored one in front of the other, with the rest of the space free to store whatever other items we are taking. They slide out very easily on the plastic floor. This is in the Beach with 2 seat bench so the shelf is lower. With the higher shelf, you could stack a 33l box underneath each 64l one as the have the same footprint.

Amarillo · Aug 21, 2022

jmkrcat&thebeach said:
Hi Amarillo - are you able to attach some photos?

With pleasure.

All the above fits below the level of the multiflex parcel shelf.

The four plywood crates and the fibreglass box sit between the multiflex and the bench seat.

The four Muji drawers sit under the multiflex and the gas cooker slots between them.

A plywood board sits on top of the four plywood crates exactly level with the multiflex.

Solgal · Aug 21, 2022

AlexGL00000000 said:
Hi, has anyone come up with any good ideas, or know of any products out there for storage using the space at the rear of the Cali Beach? I'm talking about the floor level space at the back behind the rear seat, about 50 cm in height. I'd ideally like a set of drawers that could be slid into this space, and was hoping someone had already had this idea. Many thanks.

We bought some pullout runners and this is how we travel now

two-saabs · Aug 21, 2022

Solgal said:
We bought some pullout runners and this is how we travel now

View attachment 98121

Nice, I like the holder for the awning stick, are those magnets?

Solgal · Aug 21, 2022

two-saabs said:
Nice, I like the holder for the awning stick, are those magnets?

No - just little clips

two-saabs · Aug 21, 2022

Kayleigh said:
Whilst it is possible to fill the boot with boxes, we have found a more flexible solution is to use two 64 litre Really Useful Boxes (without lids) that can be stored one in front of the other, with the rest of the space free to store whatever other items we are taking. They slide out very easily on the plastic floor. This is in the Beach with 2 seat bench so the shelf is lower. With the higher shelf, you could stack a 33l box underneath each 64l one as the have the same footprint.

Sounds interesting, can you attach some photos?

kave · Aug 21, 2022

Amarillo said:
With pleasure.

All the above fits below the level of the multiflex parcel shelf.

The four plywood crates and the fibreglass box sit between the multiflex and the bench seat.

The four Muji drawers sit under the multiflex and the gas cooker slots between them.

A plywood board sits on top of the four plywood crates exactly level with the multiflex.

Impressive that you can live with that. I got crazy flipping out boxes and putting them on wet ground etc. Our homebuilt sliders make storage so much easier, even if we did plastic Boxes.

Amarillo · Aug 21, 2022

kave said:
Impressive that you can live with that. I got crazy flipping out boxes and putting them on wet ground etc. Our homebuilt sliders make storage so much easier, even if we did plastic Boxes.

Only two boxes need to be removed to make the bed.

Nevertheless, I’m considering ways to make ~140cm deep drawers that will attach to the rails, and will support a bed with the bench seat folded forward. That way nothing will need removing from the boot to make the bed.

kave · Aug 22, 2022

I am talking about reaching stuff inside the outmost boxes

. Our runners are 100cm, i am considering makin just one drawer that is 110cm, we never move the sofa back and forth between day and night mode anyway. As it is now we use the space behind the sofa and drawers to store wine bottles when travelling home from italy

.
Another beach storage tip: remove the original plastic crates under the sofa, remove the plastic ”runners” for them and voila, you can store larger plastic containers under the seat. Especially the left and right seat. Middle seat not as high.

Amarillo · Aug 22, 2022

kave said:
I am talking about reaching stuff inside the outmost boxes .

I have designed those crates so that, so long as the right things are packed in them, they can be removed without removing the box.

For example, we take waterproofs on a summer holiday. They can go in the crates, and stay there all holiday if the weather remains fine, but if needed they can be slid out from the crate (and back in) without removing the crate. Towels and swimming stuff go in the crates too. On a campsite they are either worn or hanging on a line between times of being worn.

But also they can be removed completely and used to build a kitchen area in the awning tent.

Tarquers · Dec 30, 2022

Quick experiment today with Euro containers. 2 fit crossways behind the multiflex and have 5cm clearance above the box level that does not interfere with the in bed position.

Assuming you keep the seat in the bed position, 2 large boxes lengthways and small ones in the space in between. May help someone with ideas.