honestly so sick of my gear flying around the back of my new compass trailhawk every time i hit a bump. its driving me crazy! i have a huge solo camping trip coming up this friday and i need to get organized fast. what cargo organizers or mats are actually worth the money for under $150?
I went through this exact headache last summer before my Moab trip and it was a total disaster at first. Generic mesh nets I tried were a huge disappointment because they just snapped on the first trail bump. Total waste of money. Even a basic plastic bin I bought just slid around and made more noise than the gear. Ended up testing a few things that actually stay put:
Pros: These corner blocks stick to the floor like crazy.
Cons: Unfortunately, they take up floor space and need a carpeted surface to grip.
Pros: Fits the Trailhawk dimensions perfectly since its OEM.
Cons: Had issues with the sides being too flimsy for heavy tools. Dont waste cash on cheap bungee nets, they lose their stretch in weeks.
Found this thread while coffee was brewing this morning. Be careful with those cheap plastic bins because I had one shatter in my Compass during a cold snap in the Sierras, and it sliced my sleeping bag to ribbons. If you're heading out this Friday, I'd suggest grabbing some real straps instead of relying on friction. I used Rhino USA Ratchet Tie Down Straps 4PK 1820lb Break Strength to pin down my cooler and it didnt budge an inch even on the rougher fire roads. You also might want to consider a soft-sided organizer like the Fortem Car Trunk Organizer Heavy Duty Collapsible. I like it because it wont rattle against the trim like hard plastic does. Just make sure to hook it into the floor loops or itll still slide. Honestly, spending more than $100 is overkill if you just use the built-in tie-down points correctly. Safety first tho, loose gear becomes a projectile if you have to slam the brakes.
Been thinking about the physics of your cargo area while reading this. The Trailhawk suspension has some specific rebound characteristics that make gear go airborne on washboard roads if it isnt locked down. I learned that the hard way on a solo run through some mountain passes when a heavy recovery jack shifted and almost cracked a window. Tbh, generic floor mats are way too slick and just turn your trunk into a skating rink when you are taking sharp turns. I ended up looking into materials with higher friction coefficients to solve it. Here is what actually holds up based on my testing:
> honestly so sick of my gear flying around the back of my new compass trailhawk every time i hit a bump. Duuuude I feel your pain!! You seriously gotta look at the Rough Country Seat Back Organizer 2-Piece Set for real. Most people only think about the trunk floor, but using the seat backs is way more reliable because it anchors everything directly to the headrest posts. It basically turns that vertical space into a locked-down storage wall so gravity isnt just tossing your gear into the windows every time you hit a rut. I swear by these for keeping my small tools and recovery gear from becoming projectiles! Reminds me of my trip to the Badlands last year... I saw this massive mountain goat just staring at me from a cliff side. I got so distracted trying to snap a pic with my old DSLR that I almost backed my Trailhawk right into a ditch lol. My wife still brings it up whenever I grab my camera bag. I didnt even get the shot because the battery died right then!! Honestly such a bummer. But yeah, those seat organizers are a total game changer for keeping things quiet back there.