I have posted this before but I figured I'd share it here, as many people have found it useful. The ubiquitous 8GL Action Packers that are so handy for gear, as well as being perfect to create a flat sleeping area in the back of the Xterra, can be improved for about a dollar and a little time and effort.
Smaller items tend to get lost in the totes, so here's a simple modification that utilizes the grooves in the lid to keep them organized, and maximizes the use of the volume inside the tote.
I bought a several foot length of 3/32" elastic shock cord and marked out a grid on the inside of the lid. With a hand awl I pierced the opposing sides of the ribs in the lid to get a starter hole, then drilled them out slightly larger than the elastic cord. It's relatively soft plastic so it's very easy to drill and this goes quickly.
Using heat shrink tubing to attach a short length of copper wire to the end of the cord to give it rigidity and make it much easier to thread, I pulled the cord through to form parallel lines and pulled it tight, tying off the ends.
That's it. Now you can store and organize these small items and have easy access to them as soon as you open the lid.
Smaller items tend to get lost in the totes, so here's a simple modification that utilizes the grooves in the lid to keep them organized, and maximizes the use of the volume inside the tote.
I bought a several foot length of 3/32" elastic shock cord and marked out a grid on the inside of the lid. With a hand awl I pierced the opposing sides of the ribs in the lid to get a starter hole, then drilled them out slightly larger than the elastic cord. It's relatively soft plastic so it's very easy to drill and this goes quickly.
Using heat shrink tubing to attach a short length of copper wire to the end of the cord to give it rigidity and make it much easier to thread, I pulled the cord through to form parallel lines and pulled it tight, tying off the ends.
That's it. Now you can store and organize these small items and have easy access to them as soon as you open the lid.