This Truck Hack Made My Family Trips Way Less Chaotic

Before: Every Trip Felt Like a Battle

Living in Texas, my truck’s basically our second home—especially with a 5-year-old. But man, that backseat? Total war zone. Action figures rolled under seats, sippy cups vanished between cushions, and my son’s favorite stuffed bear? Half the time we’d find him smushed under a pile of snack bags.

My wife usually rode in the back to keep an eye on him, but it never worked. “Where’s his snacks?” she’d ask, digging through the mess. “Did you grab the sunscreen?” I’d shout over my shoulder, already stressed from traffic. One time a hard brake sent his metal lunchbox flying from the back to the front, slamming into the dashboard. We both froze. That’s when I thought: There’s gotta be a better way to handle this.

By the time we reached our destination—whether it was the lake or my parents’ house—we were all wiped out. My son would get cranky from the chaos, and my wife and I would bicker about who forgot what. Real fun, right?

Finding It: Why Didn’t I Try This Sooner?

I stumbled on these Molle panels late one night while browsing truck accessories. Trumgeta’s rigid panel caught my eye first—thick, grid-patterned plastic that looked tough enough to handle a toddler’s kicks. Then there was the headrest model, a slim little thing that loops over seat posts. Both said “tool-free installation,” which sealed the deal.

I ordered them on a whim. When they arrived, I mounted the rigid panel on the backseat frame and the headrest one on the rear headrests in 10 minutes. My wife peeked out the window, smirking: “Another dad gadget?” But even she leaned in when I hung our son’s toy bag on the grid. It stayed put—even when he immediately started yanking on it.

The Payoff: No More “Where’s My Truck?”

That first weekend trip to the zoo? Night and day. We hung a clear pouch on the left side of the rigid panel, stuffed with wipes, band-aids, and his allergy meds—my wife grabbed what she needed without unbuckling. On the right, a divided caddy held goldfish crackers, apple slices, and pretzels. No more “Mom, I’m hungry” followed by her digging through a mountain of stuff.

The headrest panel became my son’s pride and joy. His sippy cup clipped right on, and his coloring book slid into a mesh pouch. “Look, Mom! All my trucks are here!” he yelled, pointing to his toy cars hanging on the grid. When I asked my wife how the ride was, she actually laughed—really laughed. “We talked. No yelling. It was nice.”

No more toys flying during brakes. No more lost bears. No more bickering. We got to the zoo early, relaxed. Who knew a plastic panel could do that?

Bonus: It Works for My Day Job Too

Here’s the surprise: These things aren’t just for kid chaos. I work in landscaping, and my truck’s always loaded with tools—gloves, tape measures, extra blades. Before, they’d jumble in a box, and I’d waste 10 minutes hunting for a pair of scissors.

Now? I hang my work gloves on the lower grid of the rigid panel, my tape measure on a hook, and even a small first-aid kit (for those inevitable scrapes). The headrest panel holds my phone charger and a flashlight. Last week a crewmate saw it and said, “Dude, that’s genius.” I sent him the link before lunch.

Why It Stuck: More Than Just Organized

It’s not about being neat. It’s about sanity. No more pre-trip scavenger hunts for lost toys. No more stressing over forgotten items. My wife and I actually enjoy the drive now, and my son grins when he “helps” hang his backpack.

They’re tough too—spilled juice wipes right off, and they’ve survived my son’s best climbing attempts. For work, they’ve cut down my prep time. It’s just… useful. Not flashy, not fancy. Just useful.

If you’re juggling kids, gear, and a truck that feels like a dumpster? Give these panels a shot. I found mine online easy enough, and honestly? It’s the best $39 I’ve spent on our truck.

My wife summed it up best: “Can we get one for the minivan too?” Need I say more?