***Cargo Management Systems Survey, Please Read!**

[GMResearcher]

Hello everyone.

I'm a senior engineering student researching a project for GM.

If you are an SUV user/owner, please participate!

All you have to do is reply in this thread with answers to a couple simple questions.

1. What types of items would you use a Cargo Management System for to organize your trunk space?
(be specific, preferably listing what you'd use it for most).

2. Would you rather have a universal organizer that can go from vehicle to vehicle or a specific organizer tailored to your personal needs (i.e. specific types of storage for items like sporting goods or groceries)?

3. What's your age [group]?

4.
What are you willing to pay for an SUV Cargo Management system that suits most of if not all your specific needs?

If you have any other comments about what you would want on a Cargo Management System, feel free to post it!

Thanks for your time!

[TaHoE]

1) Groceries, Books, Something to hold a IceScraper, maybe an under-cargo area (a la Honda Ridgeline) to hold ice for some beer.

2) Tailored.

3) 18-25

[caprice 511]

1) Under-cargo area would be great .

2) Tailored organizer

3) 35-45

[citric acid]

I don't have an SUV/Minivan, but I DO have a hatchback with a similarily shaped (though smaller) cargo area.

a) I'm not sure I'd want one, now that I think of it. I like having the area open and big, since anything small goes up front, and that way I can fit in really large objects with little problem (furniture, laundry, etc). A net on the roof for groceries, or emergency blankets, and such would be really neat though.

b) Tailored, since that way you can make better use of the nooks and crannies of the interior.

c)18-25

[GMResearcher]

Great responses, keep them coming!

[Tiger]

1. Bicycles! 5 Gallon water jugs that won't roll around. Pet proof the area! Mom would like stroller capacity too. GMC Envoy is tempting (separate, E Z to clean, tailgate/door, etc)...if it was on a Suburban platform! Land Rovers Discovery/LR3's side cubbies are well done.

2. Something which doesn't look like an afterthought - tailored.

3. 36 these days!

[mgescuro]

1) Groceries, large items, an area for emergency equipment

2) Universal but adaptable to tailored needs.

3) 29-35

[dav305z]

1) Small compartment for hand tools and misc.; groceries; books and papers (my trunk looks like a high school locker!).
2) Universal, but tailored to the car, so that it does not obstruct open cargo area in SUV (something like Stow N' Go perhaps).
3) 18-25

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

1. Grocery bags, store purchases that are not large, closed compartments for items that I carry in vehicle (jumper cables, flares, ice scraper, cans of deicer, etc.). An upper cover/partition that would prevent items from becoming "missles" in a vehicle crash.

2. Specific organizer that would be fitted to the vehicle (but removeable). On the inside compartments, moveable dividers and easily cleanable (plastic?).

3. 51 (a SUV owner).

Other comments: Reasonably priced or new vehicle option.

[Voice-O-Reason]

1) I like small fixed compartments for washer bottles and some emergency equipment (like stated by an earlier respondent). I do not like any flip/fold, adjustable tray, origami type stuff that goes largely unused. My wife is what I would consider an average consumer (i.e. not interested in cars) and I know that she would never adjust anything to organize the interior; everything gets piled in one big heap regardless of the features provided by the manufacturer. I imagine that many people know what I'm talking about.

I do like the idea of underfloor storage. My Envoy has a small well that I store my washer bottle and some winter emergency items out of the way.

2) Built into the vehicle. Anything that can be removed would get stored on a shelf in the garage, and forgotten about, until it was time to sell the vehicle.

3) 30-35

[Tecknology]

I'm with everyone on the groceries thing.

Also the small fixed campartment thing is nice too. I guess it all depends on how much of a neat freak you are.

[gmsickofan]

I want my cargo space to NOT be carpeted. I want it to be easy to clean, or hose out. A rubber cargo mat with a lip does the job for me most of the time, but I wish the cars would come with a surface like that from the factory.

[T-Keith]

I'd just love one of those cargo nets to hold everything to the back of the trunk.

They don't seem to complicated so I don't know why one or two sizes wouldn't work.

18-25

[Tyger]

Two things I'd like to see even though they've been mentioned:

Underfloor storage
Cargo net

I'd also like to see Equinox's/ Malibu Maxx's adjustable rear seat on all GM SUV's.

I don't have an SUV, I drive an Avalanche. The side storage is pretty cool since it doubles as a cooler, but they're fairly deep and you need some lonnng arms to reach the bottom!

[GMResearcher]

New question added:
What are you willing to pay for an SUV Cargo Management system that suits most of if not all your specific needs?