Hi all,

new here, been enjoying the site for over a month now in preparation of buying an RDX, got it 2 weeks ago, still getting used to it but definitely love it. We got Graphite Luster Metallic/Black AWD with tech. The old car was a Honda Pilot with a lot of hidden storage that I've used to store collected stuff over the years and thus is my question, where do you keep the stuff? Jumper cables, tire pump, fluids etc... Please keep in mind, I am in NYC and do not own a house, all those things I used to keep in the car, but RDX is smaller and does not offer any hidden storage.

 

Boy, I hear ya on this one. In my old SUV which had the same exterior dimensions I had small compartments in the side panel of the storage area and under the floor to store all the things you mentioned. In the RDX, nada. I resorted to a tall, narrow plastic box that I keep in place with a bungee cord stretched between the side hooks near the back seats. If I have to carry something large I take it out and put it in the back seat, front seat or leave it home if I know I'm picking up something real big and have a passenger.

It's got poor cubbies up front too but at least you can fit quite a bit into the storage comparment at the front of the console. However, when you put a lot in it, it is rather hard to find the smaller stuff. I think they could have did a better job in that area.

 

Pilot also had a nice shelf in the door, my six year old was crying the first time she sat in RDX because of the missing storage to put her toys, so I got her this, fits very nicely in the back of the seat.. for my stuff, I took out an old folding box I had in my mini van but really hate that it takes up so much room in the back. thinking of getting for the back... Yes, a few storage compartments would make a big difference..

 

I guess we all have some odds and ends we feel we have to take with us - mine includes a tire plugging kit, small 12v air compressor, a trouble light, some paper towels, a few basic tools, etc. I've got mine in a small cardboard box bungeed to the driver's side with the two cargo hooks. Not elegant, but it's the best I can do for now.

It would indeed be good if there were storage under the cargo floor, but it isn't there. I saw a post somewhere where a guy made up an 'elevated floor" out of plywood about 6" higher than the cargo floor, and built sliding drawers into it. When the hatch is open he can pull the drawers out and access his stuff. It takes up a little bit of his cargo capacity, but it gets the job done.

 

When I clicked on your link and saw this pack, I was about to run to my wife and suggest we get it, but then realized there's a tradeoff - you have to unleash one end in order to release one or the other seatback. Now, if they made a shorter version that attached to the 60 side (versus the 40 side) because that side has two head restraints to attach to, I'd order it right away.

 

Neighbor Mike-TX and others, if you have a Lowe's nearby, drop by the truck/trailer accessory dept and look for a couple of AWP organizers on clearance. One is a collapsing 'tote' that will hold a bit of stuff and fold away when not needed. The other is a 'passenger seat office' that has all sorts of compartments for doo-dads and knick-nacks, sometimes known as 'stuff'. It's not super practical since it doesn't disappear when you have a passenger, but it allows 'stuff' to be kept within arms length. If you don't know about AWP, they are big in the tool bag/kit dept.

I really miss the seat-wide pocket that most Volvos have across the front of the seat portion of the seat. It's enough for a Mag-Lite, folding knife and a couple of other small things. The RDX's fairly cavernous center console compartment is a plus, just darned tricky to get in to.

Wouldn't hurt to make the door 'pull' wide enough for a smart phone.

I mentioned in another thread that I filled the compartments in the spare tire 'tray' with a couple of folded construction-sized trash bags, Fix a Flat, multi-tool with attachments, plastic gloves, teensy first aid kit(larger one is in the main compartment), one or two ShamWows, old t-shirt or remnants for rags and some handy-wipes. Keeps things from bouncing around if they're snuggled into place. Also, another flashlight and some doggie-poop bags since we pet-visit and have chased down more than a couple of run-aways. That reminds me, there's also a spare dog leash for anyone who gets out of hand

 

Thanks for the tip, Coach.

 

Good ideas! However, my problem isn't with the small stuff that I can fit in the glove box, console storage bin or under the armrest storage compartment. It's the bigger stuff like a small air compressor, small tool kit, bungee cords, 6pack cooler bag, etc. It seems my previous vehicle had nice compartments to stow away all of these things completely out of site. Now they are in the "box" sitting behind my second row looking crappy and in the way!

Like I said, my previous Infiniti QX4 had almost identical exterior dimensions so I know it can be done.

 

I know what you mean. I have a 'bike bag' like the collapsible tote I mentioned from AWP(on serious clearance at Lowe's, if you find one). Bike gloves, sunscreen spray, 12v pump, extra shorts, jersey, water bottle, multi-tool, two sizes of tires and tubes(probably a Clif Bar or PowerBar from last fall, too...all go in there...easy to remove when necessary, black color disappears behind the seat or in rear of cargo area.
https://www.google.com/search?q=awp+...w=1440&bih=728

 

The other day I was looking in the spare tire compartment to see if I could store some stuff in there and while looking my keys fell in under the spare tire, took it out and there was a nice space around the jack for the jumper cables, left them there, one down more to go :-)

Also, started to think about "in floor storage - above the floor" a low profile container could probably do the trick and leave the trunk not too cluttered. the closest I can come up is something like this http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProdu...=180&section=1 , but I would need it in black..
Also, how come there are no hooks in the back for grocery bags?, find it very annoying picking up the stuff when the groceries spill. :-)

 

I really like my RDX but it sure seems like Honda, which prides itself on ergonomics, dropped the ball in the convenience area.

 

Back in the dark ages before mini-vans(early-mid '80s), the Toyota 'van' came in a cargo version--no rear seats. One enterprising tennis sales rep built an entire cargo floor 'riser' that had drawers and lids for access. Probably 8 inches high, it gave him a 'floor' for his rolling rack and larger sample cases, while the less frequently needed items were stored underneath. Except that the van was in the shop every month or so, it was a great vehicle for a sales rep. Around the same time, we witnessed the creation of the 'car-a-van'...and the rest is history.

 

admit it.
you're trying to hide the good stuff.

 

I did this last night. It took some work to nestle the cables around the spare tire itself, and not on top, but once I did it, the lid went down tight over the tire.
I picked out a simple 12' 8-gauge set. I would have preferred a more robust pair*, but I don't think it would have fit.


*I learned in high school that when you have a big car and park it facing into a parking spot between two strange cars, it can be hard to jump start with shorter cables.

 

thats what i thought the OP meant when i read title......

 

for jumper cables and a 'tire inflator'... i tied them to the back of the seat as per pix. the jumper cables were clamped to the seat hinges.