Oh Noes!

What am I going to do with all the totally (un)necessary stuff I have hauled around in my trunk for 30 years! One is a milk crate full of car things, the other was a toolbox. I guess the answer is leave it at home, but but but... I may need things (though I can only remember one time 20 something years ago where I needed tools on the road)

Anyone else remember having a problem with de-trunkification when they moved into miniland? I am in semi-withdrawls without a place to hide my security blankets.

 

Funny topic..
I had a 4Runner for 15 years with little compartments in the back and arm rest storage,etc. I had things in there I thought I should carry also..
When I got rid of the 4runner I had a box full of all the stuff that sat in the garage for a year.. I finally decided with the Mini I didn't need any of it..Threw most of it away...Uncluttered, thanks to the Mini...

 

I got out of a 1998 Corvette so I did not have much to switch to my new JCW hatchback.

 

Haha this is a timely topic for me too; I've been driving Explorers for almost 15 years but I'm about to take delivery of an MCS...I was planning to clean out the Explorer this weekend and try to downsize the, uh, 2 storage boxes of "emergency" stuff I have stored in it, plus all the "just in case" stuff in the armrest, glove box, and seat compartments. Any advice appreciated!

 

Well all you need now is a cell phone & help is on the way .
Enjoy your Cooper !

 

Didn't you mean (I Got Loot in my Boot)?

Welcome aboard. All the cra… uh, stuff in my truck is staying in my truck.

 

Nope the first car that I had that had a trunk I stripped it of everything.

 

When we sold my wife's Rabbit, I took 4 milk crates full of stuff out of it!

She got a newer Audi wagon, and now it's full of the same stuff! I think she just thinks of it as a giant purse....

My new Clubby has a nice empty boot, although I do carry an extra quart of oil in the spare tire well. Other than that, nothing!

 

I always had the "just in case" stuff stashed everywhere as well. Trunk, glovebox, armrest, door pockets. I finally threw the box-o-junk out from the last car and haven't looked back since. I now relish the idea that I don't have papers from three years ago lodged in a cubbyhole somewhere in the car. The boot is nice and tidy with just a very small toolkit (because it is a very small car) and rags tucked in the triangle nets. Since there is no storage it makes you keep everything tidier which in the end make everything look better anyway.

 

I will not let anything stay in my MINI for longer than 24hrs., Hubby knows that when you Exit the Car your CRAP goes with you!!

I do carry 2 Small Pouched Grocery Bags, and my GPS Bag in the Boot, I let him have a Pair of Sun Glasses in the Passenger Door Cubby, there are a few "necessary" things in the Secret Compartment and Glove Box, but nothing in view, if I can S@@ it it doesn't belong in the car!!

 

The only things I keep in all my car's trunks is, a flat plastic tool box a first aid kit and a fire extunguisher.

Dave

 

I like the other secret box in the back because I can stash my crack in there.

 

Sounds like the downsizing will have to continue. LOL Really, do you need that stuff? I thought I did and it turns out that I don't. Tire repair kit, slime, and a pump in the corner behind a triangle net. Its amazing what you don't "need".
Enjoy the new ride.

 

I keep my MINI bulldog and my Murloc plush in my back seat. LOL. I keep a tool set under the back seat in my classic Mini.

 

HA!!

Just a flat tire repair kit and my california car duster for me!

 

I have been getting better over time, I had a blazer were I had, tools, a tent, folding saw, folding shovel, portable stove and fuel, wire, fuses, wood, bucket, air pump, ski boots, old cell phones, water, trash bags, PS2(well it was hooked up so...), baseball glove and ball, suntan lotion, 20 ft jumper cables, repair book,wrapping paper, bulbs for all lights, flashlight, tow chains, power inverter, box of cat5 cable and tools to make cables, mouth wash, golf clubs and a folding poker table. Oh and a serpentine belt.

In my next car I just kept the jumper cables and water but added some folding chairs. Also, got some bulbs. And the BMW owners best friend...a code reader.

The MINI I just have an air pump and a thing of oil.

 

When I got my MINI I decided that it would be kept clean inside, when it is parked for the day every thing is removed that isn't part of the car. I do have a shop rag in the armrest, my V1 in the glove box along with registration, owners manual, and insurance certificate. THATS IT!

 

I keep two cans of the aerosol slime with me. I'm about to get a small 12 volt air pump to carry because no place in the state of Florida seems to have a working air pump. I also carry a couple of rags and also a couple of insulated bags to put my frozen/cold stuff in when I go food shopping.
Of course I carry my gun.(I do live in Florida)

 

If you're going to carry guns in the Mini, they really should be British guns. I have a .38 Webley and a .303 Enfield, if I'm going to the range.

Dave

 

I have one but I usually bring my S&W 38 snubby. One thing about a wheel gun is you don't have to think about removing the safety in a quick situation. It is a model 37 airweight that is about 40 years old with a bunch of rounds through it. It is as tight as the day I bought it and just a nice carry gun. I do have a carry permit.

I also have a 9mm Germin Luger. I would like to get a Glock 45 but don't have the $$$$ to get one.

I just hope I never need to use any of them except at the indoor range.
Ronnie

 

So, inspired by everyone above who posted about what you don't really need to haul around in your boot/trunk, and in anticipation of taking delivery of my new MCS sometime soon, I cleaned out my SUV today and got rid of 2 large Bloomie's bags of cra...er, stuff I didn't need*, plus a bag of clothes that need to be cleaned/shoes that need to be put back in my closet as opposed to rolling around in the cargo area and under seats. I've reformed I tell you!

* A partial list: old lip glosses and bottles of sunscreen too numerous to count; several dried-up pens that don't work; 1 beach towel; several writing tablets/post-it notes; google maps directions to places I don't remember going; a birthday gift for a friend that I apparently forgot to drop off/send (whoops! ); 3 knit scarves; 3 sets of gloves; 2 knit hats; FOUR umbrellas (all of this is bizarre because I live in southern California, so it isn't as if I'm in any imminent danger of freezing to death or getting hit with a deluge of rain); 4 of those reusable Trader Joes/Whole Foods shopping bags that I can never seem to find so I can use them when I go shopping; 2 empty aspirin bottles; 2 half-empty boxes of Kleenex; 5 empty water bottles; 7 old envelopes; bags of trail mix, dried fruit, and instant-lunch type stuff, all of which expired in 2009; 3 pairs of sunglasses; and 4 emergency-in-case-I-get-stranded-or-spend-the-night-someplace-unexpectedly (hehe) travel kits.

 

So far, other than registration and proof of insurance, the only item in my Mini that didn't come with it is a small tarp... it was something of a necessity since the day after I brought it home I got caught outside in a heavy rainstorm. I wasn't abut to put my muddy bags of armor into my brand new and perfectly clean Cooper, so I went to the Walmart up the street to get a tarp to put down in the back. It may become at least a semi-permanent resident, at least until the fall.

 

I've been in mom cars for to long. I'm use to little storage places all within reach and now I got nuttin! I miss my little cubby to put my GPS in, I miss the place to put my iPhone, a coin holder, a place for my dogs water dish. I was thinking of getting an arm rest for at least a wee bit of storage but jeepers they are expensive!

 

I purchased a "Jenny's Junk in the Trunk Bag" from Griot's Garage, the trouble is it is too big, I will be sending it back. It fit fine, but we wouldn't be able to fit much else in the Boot when going out of town.

 

I'm really surprised I don't have more junk in my boot... I only have a small bottle of QD/towel and my car cover.

I am a firm believer in "personalizing" the insides of my car, so I do have a devil Domo and Devil Bacon on the passenger door. The driver door has a couple of pens and cds. And the Queen of Hearts sits in the backseat.

Other than that, basic rule is if you brought it with you, take it out. If it was bought for you while in the car, take it out.