A Custom-Fit Storage Solution for the VW T6.1 California (T5/T6)
When existing solutions don't quite fit
Our Volkswagen T6.1 van is more than just a vehicle - it's the reason TinyTaller exists today. What started as a journey across Europe in search of the perfect place to settle became the key to discovering our new home in southern Spain, complete with the space for my dream workshop. Now it's time to give something back to this faithful companion with a custom storage solution
Storage space in the Volkswagen T6.1 California is like gold - precious and never quite enough. Over time, we've maximized every available inch with custom solutions: a spice and coffee shelf above the kitchen cabinet, a bottle holder between the driver's seat and kitchen cabinet, a shelf by the sliding door, and a heavy-duty pull-out in the bag compartment.
Yet one space remained untapped: the area between the front seats. While this spot traditionally housed a cooler in classic VW vans like my grandfather's T2 and T3 transporters, our California already has built-in cooling solutions. Still, the potential for additional storage beckoned.
Design Challenges
The Volkswagen community offers abundant inspiration, with numerous DIY storage solutions floating around Pinterest and forums. However, most designs share a common limitation - they treat this uniquely shaped space as a simple rectangle. The reality is more complex:
The floor ascends approximately 2.5 cm from back to front toward the gearbox
Height clearance must accommodate the passenger seat's turning radius
The passenger seat's lower console meets the floor at a declining angle
Any solution needs to integrate seamlessly with the van's interior aesthetics
Material and Design Choices
After extensive work with black MDF on other projects, 19mm boards emerged as the perfect material choice - offering both structural integrity and visual harmony with the van's interior.
The design process began with the base, taking maximum measurements to utilize available space. The side panels proved more challenging, requiring careful consideration of both the passenger seat's turning clearance and the floor's ascending angle. Rather than settle for straight cuts, I angled the sides to follow the natural lines of the passenger seat and its console, creating a more integrated look.
The final design incorporates two distinct spaces:
A main compartment with a soft-close lid for secure storage
An open section for quick access to water bottles and frequently used items
The back panel's angle mirrors the passenger seat console, creating visual continuity with the van's existing elements.
Assembly and Results
Flat dowels and glue provide rock-solid construction - strong enough to serve as a step for accessing the popup roof. The finished piece fits so naturally into its space that it looks almost factory-installed, while providing valuable additional storage that works with, rather than against, the van's unique geometry.
This project exemplifies how custom solutions, when carefully designed around real-world constraints, can both solve practical problems and enhance the overall aesthetic of a space. Sometimes the best answer isn't found in existing designs but in careful observation of the unique challenges at hand.