TL;DR
- Pacific Drive features three distinct storage systems: personal, vehicle, and hub inventories requiring different upgrade paths
- Focus first on hub lockers for safe long-term storage, then vehicle upgrades for expeditions, and finally backpack capacity
- The Outfitting Station unlocks backpack upgrades but requires zone-specific materials like Swamp Coral from Mid-Zone
- Advanced storage blueprints require specific attachments from Expansion Racks tab
- Strategic storage management prevents resource loss during dangerous runs and optimizes looting efficiency
Effective storage management in Pacific Drive requires mastering three distinct inventory types, each serving different strategic purposes throughout your survival journey.
You’ll encounter abundant resources and crafting materials scattered throughout the treacherous Olympic Exclusion Zone. Without proper storage planning, you’ll constantly face difficult decisions about what to leave behind during each hazardous expedition.
The game’s inventory framework consists of:
- Player inventory – Items your character carries at all times, accessible even when separated from your vehicle during exploration.
- Car inventory – Resources stored within your vehicle’s trunk or specialized container attachments mounted externally.
- Auto shop/hub inventory – Secure storage in lockers and containers at your home base, providing safe long-term item preservation.
Pro Tip: The Workbench in your hub automatically aggregates materials from all three inventory types, allowing seamless crafting without manual item transfers between storage locations.
For optimal storage strategy, prioritize expanding your Auto Shop hub capacity first. This approach minimizes risk since items stored at your base remain safe regardless of what happens during dangerous expeditions.
Your hub begins with basic storage containers, but quickly gains the Transfer Trunk for efficient item management between locations.
To significantly increase hub storage capacity:
- Unlock the Expanded Locker blueprint via Fabrication Station – Garage tab
- Gather required materials: 6x Steel Sheet and 0.5 Stable Energy
- Later progression unlocks advanced options including Pneumatic Lockers and specialized Parts Lockers
Strategic hub storage prevents resource loss during dangerous expeditions where death can cost you carried items.
Common Mistake: New players often over-invest in car storage early, only to lose valuable resources during unexpected vehicle destruction or character death scenarios.
While hub storage provides security, vehicle upgrades enable extended looting expeditions without frequent base returns. Your car starts with limited Cardboard Box storage, but multiple upgrade paths exist.
Access the Fabrication Station – Car Storage tab to unlock:
- Side Storage – External containers mounted along vehicle sides
- A Trunk in the Trunk – Internal capacity expansion
- Augmented Trunk Storage – Advanced internal modifications
- XL Roof Storage – Maximum external carrying capacity
Critical Note: Several car storage upgrades require compatible attachments from the Fabrication Station – Expansion Racks tab, so plan your resource allocation accordingly.
Vehicle storage expansions transform your car into a mobile resource-gathering platform for longer expeditions.
Advanced Strategy: Balance vehicle storage with mobility – overloaded cars handle poorly in emergency situations and consume more fuel.
Personal carrying capacity provides crucial flexibility during on-foot exploration and emergency situations. The Outfitting Station serves as your gateway to backpack upgrades and protective gear.
Backpack upgrade progression requires:
- Unlock Outfitting Station blueprint (Fabrication Station – Garage tab)
- Materials required: 7x Scrap Metal, 15x Plastic, 2x Chemicals, 2x Gas Cylinder, and 0.3 Stable Energy
- Construct the station in your Auto Shop and interact to access upgrade options
- Craft Medium Backpack using 20x Fabric for immediate slot increases
- Advanced Large Backpack requires 40x Fabric and 200x Swamp Coral
Important: Swamp Coral specifically spawns in the Mid-Zone region, requiring progression to access this valuable resource.
The Outfitting Station provides both storage solutions and protective gear against environmental hazards.
Zone Progression Tip: Mid-Zone access typically requires surviving several expeditions and upgrading vehicle durability for more dangerous terrain.
Mastering Pacific Drive’s storage systems involves more than just building containers – it requires strategic planning and risk assessment for optimal resource management.
Strategic Priority Framework:
- Early Game: Focus on hub security – Expanded Lockers prevent resource loss
- Mid Game: Balance vehicle mobility with carrying capacity for extended expeditions
- Late Game: Maximize all storage types while specializing containers for specific resource categories
Common Pitfall: Attempting to carry every resource during dangerous runs dramatically increases potential losses when things go wrong.
The Outfitting Station offers additional protective gear beyond backpacks, including radiation-resistant clothing, electrical hazard protection, and impact-absorbing accessories.
For comprehensive gameplay guidance, explore our Complete Guide covering all survival mechanics. Weapon enthusiasts should check our detailed Weapons Unlock strategies, while team players will benefit from our Class Guide for optimal role selection.
Pacific Drive challenges you to navigate supernatural forests, contaminated marshes, and reality-bending anomalies throughout the Pacific Northwest. Proper storage management significantly enhances your survival odds during this harrowing road trip adventure.
Action Checklist
- Prioritize hub security by building Expanded Lockers (6x Steel Sheet, 0.5 Stable Energy)
- Unlock and construct Outfitting Station for backpack upgrades (7x Scrap Metal, 15x Plastic, 2x Chemicals, 2x Gas Cylinder, 0.3 Stable Energy)
- Craft Medium Backpack (20x Fabric) for immediate personal capacity increase
- Progress to Mid-Zone to gather Swamp Coral for Large Backpack upgrade
- Install balanced vehicle storage upgrades while maintaining mobility and fuel efficiency
- Specialize lockers for specific resource types to optimize organization and retrieval
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Pacific Drive – How To Increase Your Inventory Storage Master Pacific Drive's storage systems with strategic upgrades for maximum loot efficiency and survival
