Easy Configurable Cargo Blocks for Your Car Trunk

Intro: Easy Configurable Cargo Blocks for Your Car Trunk

The Problem: Most of us have car trunks filled with loose boxes. When we drive around, these boxes slide around, or worse, tilt over spilling out all of our precious worldly possessions. Some of us have trunk nets. However, these trunk nets are better for loose small items (not boxes or large cargo). One could also buy giant plastic bins with grippy feet. These work, but you will have to shell out $20 or more for a 1 size bin. What if you went shopping and just bought an item that was larger than the bin. what if the product box couldn't fit into your trunk because your trunk bin took up too much space? What if you had boxes of different sizes? Dont you wish you had a method of holding the boxes, packages or cargo in place regardless of its box size?

The Solution: Create a set of cheap, small, strong and most importantly configurable cargo blocks. These blocks will fit any box size and can be easily stored in nook in your trunk when not in use. Essentially, my blocks will simply stick to the floor of the trunk in multiple locations holding boxes and cargo in place.

Estimated cost: $5-6 for set of 4
Estimated build time: <5 mins

Materials

• Joist Angle or Aluminum Angle, 1 to 1.25 inch wide ($.50 usd to $.90 usd ea)
• 1 inch wide self adhesive velcro tape or strips, ($2-$4 usd for 12-18in)

Tools

• scissors
• sand paper (optional)
• marker (optional)

STEP 1: Prepare the Angle

Remove all labels or stickers from the angle. Clean the angle with a moist towel to get rid of any debris or sticky glue from the label. This will help the velcro adhere to the angle. The joist angle I am using is sized: 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 1-1/4".

If you bought an aluminum angle that needs to be cut, then measure out the length you want your block to be and cut accordingly. Please wear goggles.

Optional: sand down the edges of the angle.

STEP 2: Prepare the Velcro Hooks

Remove the velcro tape from the packaging. I am using industrial strength velcro for maximum grip. Your velcro should have two separate strips. One strip with hooks (hard prickly plastic), the other strip with loops (soft and fuzzy). We will only need to use the velcro tape side with the hooks. The idea is that the hooks will grab into the felt like material in your trunk liner. Thus, locking your object, in this case the cargo block in place.

STEP 3: Assembly Your Cargo Blocks

Peel off the adhesive and stick the velcro on to one of the bottom sides of the angle. Refer to the images.

STEP 4: Try the Cargo Blocks

You can position the blocks under the box or against the box. Please refer to the photo.

2 blocks should be enough to hold a box or package in place if the box is pushed up against the wall of your trunk.

When not in use. just store the hooks in a nook or glove box in your car. by the way, these cargo blocks stack well on each other and you can use a rubber band tie them up.

Well I hope this 5 min project was useful and thanks for reading!

If you have questions, please leave a comment.

Comments

[nbronwyn]

Awesome :))

[oldaugie]

thjs was brilliant

[galenism]

Just made a set of these for my brother, who always complains about everything rolling around in his trunk. They work like a charm - thanks for posting!

[Homeofmyown]

Smart idea.

[FriendOfHumanity]

Nice one.

[jmatteis]

I made something similar to this years ago, using the old style library metal book ends, lightweight, smooth edges, about 8 inches tall and a large enough base for lots of Velcro. Worked for a while until the cold weather hit and even the Industrial Velcro let go inside the cold trunk of the car.

[loachridge]

Easy for anyone to do. Effective for use. Inexpensive for what they do.

Full on WIN!

[Invention1]

Home Depot in the US now sells Velcro Extreme. This is the stuff I used to use for industrial work - formerly only available wholesale. REAL adhesive that won't come off. AGGRESSIVE velcro stickum.

[cepterbi]

thumbs up!!

[chuckyd]

Great idea!!!

[shizumadrive]

nice idea

[IamTheMomo]

My new car came equipped with lots of much larger cargo blocks; they're all about 6 inches tall, so they really hold. Steel angle iron has sharp corners that would puncture boxes and certainly plastic shopping bags. I wouldn't lay new clothing or groceries near steel or aluminum blocks for fear of tears. Why not use some lumber or plastic things instead, which can have rounded corners? Women would appreciate the softer side of those things, I guarantee.

[Eventime]

That is something I wish I had thought of. Will have to add to my to-do list.

Brilliant

Cheers~

[PRBailey]

Outstanding idea! thanks

[bigdaddy702]

So simple yet so ingenious. I will be using this a lot...

[BoskyO]

Great idea. You could also use Simpson angle brackets, available at the big-box & other hardware stores. They may cost a bit more, but they also come in larger sizes for more grip & tip control, if it is needed.

[bakunin]

This is ingenious! I love it.

May I suggest you include a picture of the finished setup in your Introduction step?

[Denger]

Great idea for a simple, easy solution. I have found that for transporting irregularly shaped items (plastic grocery bags, for example) unrolling some Duck brand EasyLiner (available from Amazon and elsewhere) or equivalent is wonderful for preventing loads from slipping around. Now to prevent tip-over, that's another matter...

http://www.amazon.com/Duck-1100731-Non-Adhesive-12-Inch-20-Feet/dp/B002AS9NAI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391614603&sr=8-1&keywords=shelf+liner

[prakis]

Excellent Idea. Thanks.

[PACW]

I normally hate velcro. . . . but now that I know there is extreme velcro I may come back.

Thanks for the info and the cool use!