Will My Car Fit Under an Over-Bonnet Storage Unit?

It’s the first question most people ask when they hear about over-bonnet storage: “That sounds great, but will my car actually fit underneath it?”

Short answer: almost certainly yes. Even large SUVs like a Toyota Prado fit under the large unit.

But let’s dig into the details so you can be 100% sure before you order.

How Over-Bonnet Storage Works With Your Vehicle

An over-bonnet storage cabinet sits on four adjustable legs at the front of your car park space. The storage compartment is elevated above the vehicle, and your car drives in and parks underneath it as normal.

The key measurement is the clearance between the floor and the bottom of the cabinet. This needs to be higher than the tallest point of your car’s front end (usually the bonnet or windscreen base).

Cabinet Height Ranges

Storage Vault offers two sizes with different height ranges:

Small Cabinet

• Height at top: 201-221cm (adjustable)
• The bottom of the storage compartment sits lower than the top measurement

Large Locker

• Height at top: 230-260cm (adjustable)
• Designed to accommodate larger vehicles with more clearance

Each leg adjusts independently at 100mm increments, so you can fine-tune the height to suit your specific vehicle and ceiling height.

Common Vehicle Heights

To give you a sense of whether your vehicle fits, here are approximate bonnet/front heights for popular Australian vehicles:

Sedans and Hatches (Generally 120-145cm)

• Toyota Corolla: ~140cm
• Mazda 3: ~140cm
• Hyundai i30: ~142cm
• Honda Civic: ~140cm

Small SUVs (Generally 150-170cm)

• Toyota RAV4: ~170cm
• Mazda CX-5: ~168cm
• Hyundai Tucson: ~167cm
• Kia Sportage: ~167cm

Large SUVs and 4WDs (Generally 170-190cm)

• Toyota Prado: ~185cm
• Ford Everest: ~185cm
• Isuzu MU-X: ~182cm
• Toyota Fortuner: ~181cm

Utes (Generally 175-190cm)

• Toyota HiLux: ~179cm
• Ford Ranger: ~183cm
• Mitsubishi Triton: ~180cm

As you can see, even the tallest common vehicles sit well below the 230-260cm range of the Large unit. There’s plenty of room above the car for the storage compartment.

Vehicles That Might Not Fit

While most standard vehicles fit comfortably, there are some exceptions:

• Raised or lifted vehicles. If your 4WD has been fitted with a suspension lift kit, the additional height could reduce clearance. Measure after the lift.
• Bull bars. Some bull bars add height to the front of the vehicle. Check whether your bull bar extends above the bonnet line.
• Roof-mounted antennas or accessories. Long antennas, roof-mounted lights, or tall roof racks could catch on the underside of the cabinet as you drive in.
• Very tall vehicles. Some commercial vehicles, vans, or heavily modified 4WDs may exceed clearance limits. Measure first.

How to Measure Your Space

Here’s a simple three-step process to confirm everything fits:

Step 1: Measure Ceiling Height

Measure from the floor of your car space to the ceiling directly above where the cabinet will sit (front of the car space, above the bonnet area).

Account for anything hanging below the ceiling – pipes, ducts, sprinkler heads, cable trays. Your measurement should be to the lowest point, not the ceiling itself.

Step 2: Measure Your Vehicle Height

Park your car in its normal position and measure from the floor to the highest point at the front of the vehicle (usually the top of the bonnet or the base of the windscreen).

If you have a roof rack, bull bar, or antenna, include those in your measurement.

Step 3: Check the Gap

Subtract your vehicle height from your ceiling height. This is your available space.

• Small Cabinet: Needs at least 201cm total ceiling height
• Large Locker: Needs at least 230cm total ceiling height

The cabinet height is adjustable, so you have flexibility. The goal is to maximise storage space above while maintaining comfortable clearance for your vehicle below.

What About When You Change Cars?

One of the advantages of height-adjustable legs is that if you change vehicles in the future, you can simply adjust the cabinet height to suit the new car. No need to buy a new unit.

Switch from a sedan to an SUV? Lower the cabinet slightly. Downsize from a 4WD to a hatch? Raise the cabinet for more storage. The independent leg adjustment at 100mm increments makes this straightforward.

Still Not Sure? Ask Luke

If you’re not confident about measurements or clearance, call Luke on (07) 5491 5999. Send him your ceiling height, vehicle make and model, and any obstructions you’ve noticed. He’ll tell you exactly which size suits your situation – it’s a conversation he has every day.

Two Sizes Available

• Small Cabinet – 2.3 cubic metres, 201-221cm height – $1,749
• Large Locker – 3.2 cubic metres, 230-260cm height – $1,899

Both feature all-steel fire-safe construction, Lenlok 3-way locking, 500kg load capacity, and a 10-year warranty. Free-standing design means no drilling.

Free pickup from Caloundra, QLD. Delivery and installation in SE Queensland for $350.

Visit storagevault.com.au or call (07) 5491 5999.