Shoe me your clever shoe and helmet storage in cars

I have a Berlingo 5 seater with a couple of diy fork mounts to get bikes in upright. Id quite like to make some kind of shelving/rack for shoes, helmet, gloves etc to minimise time looking for things that end up under a bag or wedged between the side door and seats. Theres quite a bit of space next to the rear windows next to where the parcel shelf goes that I thought could have a small shelf/rack.

Ive seen these: http://www.amdro.co.uk/product/window-bag-set-storage-for-boot-jump-2020/

But they’re very expensive for what they are, so im trying to think of an alternative to make use of that space. There are removable cup holders so could make use of that to mount something but cant see a way to attach the top without screwing into the plastic trim.

Has anyone done similar? Im a bit obsessed with organisation and making things instead of just using a plastic box.

could you mould something into the cupholder (sugru or similar) then screw into that? should be a reasonable fit if moulded right and just pull out when you’re done with the car?

Gloves in glove box, shoes in shoe box?

Could you stick some plastic hooks up in this area (some of those command strip hooks would probably work)

https://www.command.com/3M/en_US/p/pc/general-purpose-hooks/

and then hang net/mesh bags on them?

Motorcycle cargo nets: hooks, shock cord net.

I built a false floor in my old Berlingo, mounted the fork mounts to that and all the other crap went underneath.

In the van we have a 40 ltr tub from lidl for backpacks, helmets, shoes and gloves.

In the camper it’s a thule organiser mounted to a ebay coat rail. Been like it for 9 years and still works well

“could you mould something into the cupholder (sugru or similar) then screw into that? should be a reasonable fit if moulded right and just pull out when you’re done with the car?”

Good idea. I’ll have a look into that and see how well it holds.

I like the idea of nets too. I have a couple from my last car so could use them. Just need a way to hold them up. I’ll have a try with those command strips on the plastic trip. I didnt think they worked on rough surfaces?

Are you not supposed to just stuff helmets in last to a stuffed boot and then play a game of reflexes to catch them as they fall out when you open the boot before they hit the deck?

looking at doing similar

Amazon have car boot organizers with compartments

ive also seen storage doodahs that hang on the back of the seats in front

IKEA bag/bag for life from the supermarket of your choice?

Just keep them on. Added safety ftw.

I follow scruffs plan though. Its the third item to drop thats tricky.

instead of just using a plastic box.

I quite like my plastic box – actually 2 plastic boxes. Clothes in one; tools and other bits and bobs in the other. When I go out to the woods, I can just throw them in the boot and know I’ve not forgotten anything.

No idea what a Berlingo looks like inside, but my old defender had an aluminium insect screen frame (like a very light windows frame) with a cargo net inner suspended from the inside of the roof. You could store your bedding etc in that easily out of the way… Something similar but smaller could be made.

IKEA bag/bag for life from the supermarket of your choice?

Plus a hook so the bag can be hooked on the headrest support or similar.

Has anyone done similar? I’m a bit obsessed with organisation and making things instead of just using a plastic box.

As someone who’s just spent probably a day and a half designing and laser cutting dividers to organise the box of stuff that comes camping with us, I hear you.

Unsurprisingly, I also have a Berlingo. TBH I tend just to use an IKEA bag for helmets, shoes, pads, etc. but I did put a row of hooks up in the car for hanging jackets etc. Pro tip: the fitting point for the internal roof bars (assuming they’re still a feature of newer models – mine is ’08) is useful for mounting stuff to.

“Unsurprisingly, I also have a Berlingo. TBH I tend just to use an IKEA bag for helmets, shoes, pads, etc. but I did put a row of hooks up in the car for hanging jackets etc. Pro tip: the fitting point for the internal roof bars (assuming they’re still a feature of newer models – mine is ’08) is useful for mounting stuff to.”

Ah I dont have the internal roof bars. Do have the handles above the sliding doors though so might be able to attach some kind of bar on that. I’d still like to make use of the space next to the rear windows.