Cargo net – Secure Off-road Equipment

Does your off-road equipment go flying when you hit bumps? We might just have the perfect solution for you. Yes, you guessed it right we are talking about cargo nets for securing off-road equipment like Coolers, First aid kits, backpacks, and more. If you are someone with a four-door car. Then this is the secret your vehicle needs to secure equipment in the back of the cab out of the way of the heat and elements, without getting damaged. Let’s quickly get started with the specifications of the cargo net we are going to use today. 

Product Used

Specifications of the Pickup Truck Cargo net

Let’s get to know a little more in detail about the specifications of the Cargo nets.

This time we are using the bungee nets. The one we have is a 15 by 30-inch bungee net. Also, these nets come in other bigger and smaller sizes. They are used a lot in the back of truck beds to secure gear but you can use these smaller ones inside your vehicle. This truck bed cargo net features tight 2in Mesh. The tighter mesh helps to hold the cargo better and prevents it from slipping through.

Although this one is 15 by 30 inches it can stretch to about twice its size and work with all sorts of different equipment on the back of your vehicle to keep it from moving around and getting damaged. Although the latex bungee stretches extra, it can still hold its shape when unstretched. Most importantly, the bungee material is coated in a durable and UV-resistant nylon sheath to preserve the look and longevity of the net.

Why do you need bungee Cargo nets?

A while back I talked about a pull tab which is one of my favorite mods. This gives you access to the back of the seat storage. You will be able to fit about one bag across to the end and you know, this is great. for daily driver usage. I have got some jumper cords, a blanket, a first aid kit, and really simple equipment for daily use but it only gets you so far right. When you go off-roading you might need some more gear. So I started storing stuff underneath the seat. I have got a few boxes underneath my seat which is fine for daily driving and the boxes are out of the way but that is not the case in off-roading. While offroading, you hit bumps and the boxes start to pull out. The next thing you know the boxes are not under the seat and they are going everywhere. To fix this problem we would require products like a bungee cargo net. These heavy-duty cargo nets will secure your stuff during any off-roading trips. Thus, you can drive with a free mind and not worry about flying cargo.

A brief of the installation process of the cargo nets

So to fix this problem we are going to install 2 nets one for the cooler and one for all the other gears we need quick access to. This will also keep them out of the elements. We are going to make a room for the D-hooks, for our bungee cord tie-down nets. We will do that by applying the D-rings down at the bottom of the front seats and along the bottom of the back of the empty storage underneath the back seat. This will help us to cover the whole area between the front seat and the rear seat with nets and provide storage to keep the boxes. Now that we have given you an idea about the whole installation let’s get started with the actual installation process.

Installation of the pickup truck cargo nets

• Find proper mounting locations -I have looked everywhere to mount them and really the best places are the mounts for the seat brackets underneath the cover of the front seats.
• Install D-rings under the front seat – To install them we will have to remove the cover to make a slight cut. You do not have to worry because it is still very functional and it is a secure mounting point and also the best solution I was able to come up with.
• Install D-rings in the back- I am going to put one on each side of the cab at the seat bracket. Then we are going to use the carpet pin areas on both sides of the rear seat to put the other two D-rings. This will help build a connection point for each net and give us other options.
• Test the cargo fit – First up we have the cooler test. Once you got the cooler in the desired place attach the first two hooks to the front seat D-rings. Then attach two more hooks on the d -rings underneath the backseat. Make sure to stretch the net to attach it to the d-rings at the back. For the gear tie-down test, I have got some first aid kits and some other quick access tools. Just like the cooler we will hook the net to the front seat D-rings and stretch the net over to connect it to the backend D-rings and keep it all secure. 

Now that we are done with the installation process and the cargo net testing let’s move on to the detailed review of this cargo net.

Reviews and thoughts on the Bungee Cargo nets

When all the nets are hooked on to the D-rings and I notice something great about them. These nets might not be tight enough for you, they might be a little loose so you will have the option to grab the extra hooks and attach them to the D-ring to tighten it up. The other thing I love about these nets is that they are bungee cords so you can stretch them. I have got my gear on one side and cooler on the other, both secured with nets. If I were to secure something in between I would grab the extra hooks and stretch them to connect to the other net. Most importantly this setup is very versatile for the back of your vehicle when you are offroading.

Final thoughts on the Pickup truck cargo nets

I think this is a perfect setup for the gear that we have. I would highly recommend connecting the two nets together as I have talked about earlier. If this particular size does not work out for us I might go for the larger size which is 22 by 38 net. This net is also available for the inside of your vehicle. We are going to trail test this and do more of a long-term review later after we test these things at a big trip that we are doing in Moab in a couple of weeks.

If you like the content we showcase do not forget to give us a like and share this article with your off-roader friends. If you do not like the content leave us a note on what you would rather see in the comments. As always I have given the links to both the products – Cargo net and D-ring tie-downs. If you want to find out more information like the price and warranty of the products, check out the links. Do not forget to check out other articles to get inspiration for your next upgrade. 

Get more inspiration for interior upgrades on our Truck Interior Upgrades page.