Any Jimny owner knows their car is great! I’m already side-tracked before I started this post… What they also know is storage space is quite limited by default, hence the massive after-market accessories business that makes creative use of anything that can bolt or, hang on, or be fitted into unused spaces.
Although the 3-door versions have plenty of mature solutions, the same can’t be said for the 5-door versions yet. They definitely lack in some areas, and the purpose of this post is to highlight some area that could do with solutions.
Rear Jack Cavity Storage Box
The post’s featured photo shows what this looks like. It is unfortunately not a squared cavity, but nevertheless, there is a lot of polystyrene taking up space that could be used. I know one could maybe just roll it all into a blanket and add a few more items, but it is probably good to have a top surface so that the carpet on top is still nicely supported. This is a perfect cavity to store a set of jumper leads, some spanners, a tow-rope, etc.
It would likely require a moulded plastic insert to fit into the cavity, with a lid.
Rear Ladder Mount
This one could work for 3-door or 5-door versions, and probably also with various rear door ladders. The idea is to be able to mount one or two jerry cans at the back (the 40 L fuel tank in a Jimny being rather inadequate for any reasonable 4×4 trip). There are already similar solutions that would clamp directly onto a rear door, in place of the ladder, but if you have a ladder then you cannot use those solutions at all.
The thing is the rear door (closer to the hinge side) can support up to 100 kg of weight when closed, and it is lower down than the roof rack, so ideal to keep the centre of gravity lower. I made enquiries with Dometic Front Runner, but they confirmed they have nothing like this for ladders, and lots of searches has not yielded anything yet. I’m planning to have my own one custom-made, so long.
Exterior Molle Plate
Again, plenty for the 3-door version, but the 5-door does need a slight smaller one to mount outside off the gutter next to the fixed rear window.
I check with Alu-Cab in Cape Town as they make one for the 3-door, and it sounds like they may have something in development that is not released yet.
These are the most obvious spaces right now that I keep coming back to, and I’m sure options will start appearing at some point.