If you’re building out an overland setup, storage is one of the most important — and most overlooked — pieces of the puzzle. Loose gear turns into chaos fast. A jerry can rolls under the passenger seat, your first aid kit disappears into the depths of the truck bed, and by night two you’re digging through bags in the dark. The right storage box system keeps everything organized, secure, and ready to go — whether you’re on a groomed forest service road or deep in the backcountry.
Why Storage Boxes Matter for Overlanding
An overland rig is only as functional as its organization system. When you’re five hours down a Forest Service Road in Northern BC with no cell signal and you can’t find your recovery gear, it’s not just inconvenient — it can be genuinely dangerous. Storage boxes solve that problem by giving every piece of gear a fixed, accessible home.
- Fast access to gear — no more digging through loose bags at the bottom of a truck bed
- Protection from rain and dust — sealed lids keep gear dry through downpours and dusty dirt roads
- Secure mounting to your vehicle — gear that can’t shift during off-road driving is safer for you and your kit
- Organized by category — recovery, kitchen, first aid, tools — each in its own box
Canadian overlanding means rain, mud, dust, and temperature swings that can crack inferior plastic. If you’re running storage boxes in BC, Alberta, or Northern Ontario, material quality matters more than it would in a drier climate.
What are Rotomold Storage Boxes?
Rotomold — short for rotationally molded — refers to a manufacturing process where polyethylene plastic is melted and rotated inside a mould to create a single-piece, seamless shell. The result is a storage box that is exceptionally tough: impact-resistant, UV-stable, and genuinely weatherproof.
Unlike cheaper injection-molded plastic boxes, rotomold units won’t crack when they take a hit from a flying rock on a gravel road, and they won’t warp in the heat or become brittle in sub-zero temperatures — which matters a lot if you’re camping in early spring or late fall in Canada.
For overland use, rotomold is the gold standard. The boxes are heavier than aluminium options but significantly more durable and much less expensive. They’re the practical choice for most Canadian overlanders building their first or second rig.
What Size Should You Choose?
Choosing the right size comes down to what you’re carrying and how much space your vehicle has. Here’s how the most common sizes break down for Canadian overlanding use:
| Size | Best For | Typical Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| 90L | Tools, recovery gear, first aid kit, smaller kits. Good for a dedicated single-purpose box. | ~760 × 450 × 350mm |
|
110L Most Popular |
General camping gear, kitchen equipment, clothing. The most versatile size for most overlanders. | ~870 × 490 × 370mm |
| 175L | Extended trips, large equipment, group camping. Often used as a primary box on full-size trucks. | ~1060 × 550 × 420mm |
For most single-vehicle overland setups, running two boxes — a 90L for tools and recovery gear and a 110L for camp supplies — gives you excellent organization without overloading your rack system. Check your vehicle’s roof or bed rack static load rating before buying.
Browse the full range of rotomold storage boxes — available in 90L, 110L, and 175L.
→ 90L Storage Boxes
→ 110L Storage Boxes
→ 175L Storage Boxes
Mounting Options For Canadian Vehicles
A storage box sitting loose in a truck bed is a hazard — it will shift, potentially damage your gear, and be unsecured during hard off-road driving. Proper mounting transforms a box into a fixed part of your build.
Truck Bed Rack
The most popular option. A steel or aluminium bed rack elevates the box above the bed floor, freeing up space underneath for a fridge, water tank, or sleeping platform.
Roof Rack Platform
Works well on SUVs and smaller trucks. Mount brackets secure the box directly to the rack platform. Keep weight limits in mind — most roof racks are rated for 75–150kg static load.
Tie-Down & Rail System
Many rotomold boxes have integrated side rails or mounting points that accept T-bolt or cam-buckle tie-down systems. Simple and adjustable without permanent modification.
Vehicle-Specific Brackets
Some brands offer brackets made for specific truck models that mount directly to the bed stake pockets or wheel arches. The cleanest, most secure option for permanent builds.
Need a rack system to mount your storage boxes on?
→Shop overland racks canada
→Truck bed racks
Buying the boxes is step one. Setting them up well is where most overlanders either get it right or create a new version of the same chaos they started with.
Tips for Setting Up Your Storage System
Organize by category, not by trip
Resist the urge to pack by trip and then repack every time. Instead, assign each box a permanent category: tools and recovery in one, kitchen and food prep gear in another, clothing and sleeping in a third. You’ll develop muscle memory for where everything lives, and you’ll never root through the wrong box in the dark again.
Keep heavy items low and centred
Weight distribution matters both for driving dynamics and for vehicle roof/rack load ratings. Put heavy items (tools, jacks, water) low in the truck bed or close to the vehicle’s centre of gravity. Lighter items can go higher on the roof rack.
Label everything
A strip of weatherproof label tape on the outside of each box saves time. If you ever have someone else dig through your rig, they’ll know exactly where things are without asking.
Use internal organizers
Most 110L+ boxes benefit from internal dividers or smaller bags within the box to prevent gear shifting. Pelican-style foam inserts work well for fragile items; soft zip pouches keep smaller items grouped.
Final Thoughts
An organized overland build isn’t just aesthetically satisfying — it’s genuinely safer and more functional. A rotomold storage box system is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your rig after the vehicle itself. Whether you’re running a single 110L on an SUV or a full three-box system on a long-bed truck, the impact on your camping experience is immediate and significant.
If you’re unsure which size or configuration is right for your vehicle, get in touch — we’re happy to help you spec out a setup that works for your build.
Build a cleaner, more capable overland rig — start with storage.
→Shop all storage boxes
→Browse all overlanding gear