Way Back or Trunk

Whether you have a car with a trunk or a wagon, minivan, or SUV with a “way back,” it can sound like a percussion section, thanks to the banging, thudding, and thumping of jumper cables, Rollerblades, and beach chairs. Quiet the cacophony by adding a few of these gizmos to bring order to the junk in the trunk.

Trunk Organizer

Problem: Of course you’re ready for an emergency, with a flashlight and jumper cables stowed in your trunk...somewhere...you swear...hang on....
Solution: The Easy Access Trunk Organizer ($10, www.containerstore.com) lets you neatly corral all the stuff that keeps your car going — coolant, motor oil, jumper cables, ice scraper, flashlight, and cans of WD-40.

Cargo Net

Problem: Either the U.S. women’s Olympic team is practicing in the trunk or the soccer balls are loose and rolling around again.
Solution: Highland Three Pocket Storage Net ($20, www.cargogear.com) restrains sports gear, bags of groceries, and a small cooler. It even lets you get a few plants home from the nursery without any toppling.

Grocery Bin

Problem: Your trunk looked like a bowl of cereal the last time you got home from the store, after the gallon of milk fell over and leaked everywhere.
Solution: The Creekside Cargo Mini ($40, www.drivewerks.com) has adjustable section dividers and firm sides that hold bags upright. It folds (and pops open) easily. Plus, it’s a lot spiffier (and tougher) than an old cardboard box.

Dog Divider

Problem: Spot loves to roll in the mud, and he loves to ride shotgun. While you don’t love either activity, you especially dislike it when he does both.
Solution: The Pet Barrier ($70, www.stacksandstacks.com) keeps your pooch — muddy or otherwise — safely contained in the way back of a wagon, minivan, or SUV. And in the event of a collision, it keeps him from becoming a projectile.