ADGU Drawers

[CharlieS]

I just replaced my Landshark Reef drawers with Air Down Gear Up drawers and wanted to pass along my experience.

I liked the reef a lot for the value - a lot of functionality for a reasonable price. The last time I was shopping for drawers, ADGU didn't have much information available and I wasn't ready to spend on an unknown.

The reef drawers are super functional, but basic, and always felt unfinished to me.

Since then, ADGU beefed up their website and I've watched as other 'mudders installed them.

I wanted the ability to have a platform where the second row was, and when I started pricing out baltic birch, I was shocked to see how much it'd cost me to make something.

I reached out to Trexkboxx a couple of times and never got a reply, so that was a dead end for me. They're the rolls royce, and when I was ready to buy I needed a few answers before I was going to commit that much to a drawer system. I couldn't justify paying that much if they couldn't even take the time to reply to my inquiries.

On the other hand, when I reached out to Kyle at ADGU, he got back to me quickly and was super helpful. As a result, I opted to get their system. The level of customer service was awesome.

I put the base system together tonight, working solo, it took me around 5 hours (not moving fast!). I haven't set up my "sleeper" yet thought, this is just the base system. I ran out of steam and had to call it a night.

I'm impressed with their design, and am looking forward to seeing how it holds up.

The slides are heavy duty and the drawers are full extension:

I can't speak to drawer volume yet. They're deeper than the reef drawers, but narrower. The cargo I moved over takes up less space, but is more vertical than the prior setup. It comes with a bunch of dividers that I haven't messed with yet. They're quite nice, but I haven't figured out if they work for me, since I stow some longer items (like an axe).

The mounting system is SOLID. It is bolted to two milled aluminum bars that bolt to the floor replacing the factory tie downs. I'm not sure why they don't make a bigger deal of this, because from my standpoint they are about a million times more solidly mounted than any other system I've seen.

Here's a quick snapshot of them closed:

I will say that the instructions are pretty rough. Between the instructions, some videos they provide and a bit of "been there done that", most of it can be figured out. This is not the project for someone that needs very specific linear instructions without reading between the lines.

Overall, I'd highly recommend the product, and would recommend reaching out to Kyle and Andy. They really took care of me.

 

[Tex68w]

How did they compare in price to TrekboxX?

 

[CharlieS]

I can't easily compare apples to apples because I got the full sleeper platform and deluxe package with all the fixin's with the ADGU.

For rough comparison, ADGU was in the neighborhood of half of what the full trekbox bravo with extended platforms would have cost. Then again, the platform extension are a completely different design, so it isn't same to same. Trekbox has actual boxes, and the ADGU is a folding platform. For reference, I had $1500 of costs into my Landshark setup (ignoring my time).

The quality and sturdiness makes a comparison of the two pretty challenging. Maybe I'll try to do that when I have some time.

I guess what Im saying is cost comparison is tough to do - like comparing a land rover defender and a geo tracker. The defender is likely to be more of an up front purchase price - although, both are suvs and both work great offroad. You just start with a defender being pretty much ready to go out of the box, while the geo tracker project takes a lot more work and customization to get to the same level of capability. To compare the real cost, you'd need to add up everything, including all of the labor (even if you donit yourself, there is opportunity cost) it took to build the tracker to parity.

That's where Trekbox Dave shines. He has a ready to go defender. Landshark Dave has the sweet Geo - stock, you're a little embarassed for people to see you have it, but once built up, everyone secretly wants one. ADGU has something more like a land cruiser.

The Reef is one step up from DIY and the ADGU is a professional product. This is not meant to disparage Landshark Dave - he has a great product. I think the ADGU should be compared to an ARB or similar setup that uses slides. Landshark Reef is still a great way to go, as long as you up for customization - and that the sweet spot he's picked in the market: "customize it yourself ". I highly recommend Landshark if that's what you are looking for.

 

[Tex68w]

I've always regarded TrekboxX as the best of the best, I guess that's still the case.

 

[CharlieS]

I've always regarded TrekboxX as the best of the best, I guess that's still the case.

I share that opinion.

Retracted (I am also super unimpressed with their presale customer service). I wouldn't buy a Land Rover Defender or Land Cruiser HE from a dealer that never once returned my attempts to get information to buy the right item, and I feel the same way about Trekbox. And don't get me wrong, he's on this board and is very helpful nice dude!! Seems like a great guy. Maybe the drawers are so awesome, they sell themselves and my purchase didn't matter. I'm a frugal guy, so I want to feel good before I plunk down what for me are big bucks. Or maybe I'm a pain in the ¥£<>^* and not a customer worth having. Some businesses can afford to pick and choose their clients.

 

[HSTexan]

How long ago did you place your order? I’ve been anxiously awaiting my ADGU drawers for awhile now and it’s a bit demoralizing as I was originally quoted a roughly 4 week lead time and we‘re sneaking up on 12 weeks now. I was told it should be no issue to have it in time for a spring turkey hunt that I was actually supposed to be on right now and fortunately got postponed to mid-May otherwise I’d be without the drawers and sleeper which my buddy was planning on using.

I opted to have them bedliner coat it for me and was working with them to pick a new coating because they said the old one was quite rough. They sent me a sample board and said they’d get my system prepped so that once I chose a liner they could apply it and get it sent out but that was just over a week ago and they’ve been unusually radio silent since I sent my selection email. I feel like an a-hole every time I message them because I don’t want to keep them busy with emails when I know they’d rather be pumping out systems. I’ve feel like I’ve been pretty patient with the process but 3x longer than expected seems to be a terrible miscalculation, I’d rather have been quoted 10-14 weeks from the start.

I‘m sure this will come across as whining which I really don’t intend, more frustration. Andy and Kyle have been super nice guys to talk to and are just incredibly busy with orders which is a good problem for a business to have.

 

[biff44]

they look great.
I am using a home built standby option to store stuff. Just a raised floor with duffel bags underneath.

One thing on a recent road trip that i wished i had....secure lockable drawers. On a road trip, you are often parking overnight in some possibly sketchy neighborhoods. and you really do not have the local knowledge to know WHERE it is safe to park, without getting broken into. Other than lugging everything expensive up to the hotel room, it would be nice if i had metal drawers that had a sturdy lock....enough to deter an amateur snatch and grab thief.

i notice there is no lock on your drawers. is there an option to add one?

 

[CharlieS]

I don't have any locks, don't know if they offer them. I think they're so busy with keeping up with demand that R&D may be on the back burner. I also don't have any faith that a locked box would slow down anyone motivated enough to break into my cargo area to begin with.

On the timeline, I have zero complaints. They were super accommodating and really took great care of me. Mine is the standard birch finish. I wonder if your custom coating may have played a factor?

 

[CharlieS]

they look great.
I am using a home built standby option to store stuff. Just a raised floor with duffel bags underneath.

I've had all kinds of setups from 5 gallon buckets and plastic tubs, through home built platforms with no drawers, to the reef and now these. They were all great for what I wanted and could afford/justify spending on at the time.

 

[greynolds]

Where do you guys put the Goose Gear system in the list of drawer / platform options?

I like how the ADGU product attaches to the cargo tie down points without a need to remove the carpet. I would definitely want carpet, bed liner, or something along those lines on the top.

 

[Tex68w]

I think you put Goose Gear a step below TrekboxX but I have never seen a ADGU system in the flesh so it's hard to say if it meets or exceeds GG. I've owned a few GG systems in the past and I wouldn't be opposed to buying from them again, but their price increases are putting them awfully close to a TrekboxX and if/when I put a system in the 200 it will more than likely be one of theirs.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Looks like a great option. I definitely like the mounting system - that's the way to do it.

I would have also opted to have them coated like another person commented above - that's the only thing lacking IMO.

I'm surprised to not see bolts protruding on the inside of the drawers; how do the slides attach to the drawer boxes?

 

[CharlieS]

The slides attach into threaded inserts embedded in the drawer sides with stainless bolts.

 

[grinchy]

For reference, I had $1500 of costs into my Landshark setup (ignoring my time).

How? Aren’t they like $400/ea?

 

[CharlieS]

I have a spreadsheet, but going from memory: that total came from two 40" drawers, two wing kits, two add on locking drawer fronts, two sets of hold down straps, two sets of mounting bars, three or four shipping charges because he never had everything in stock at the same time.

 

[TrekboxX]

I share that opinion.

I am also super unimpressed with their presale customer service. I wouldn't buy a Land Rover Defender or Land Cruiser HE from a dealer that never once returned my attempts to get information to buy the right item, and I feel the same way about Trekbox. And don't get me wrong, he's on this board and is very helpful nice dude!! Seems like a great guy. Maybe the drawers are so awesome, they sell themselves and my purchase didn't matter. I'm a frugal guy, so I want to feel good before I plunk down what for me are big bucks. Or maybe I'm a pain in the ¥£<>^* and not a customer worth having. Some businesses can afford to pick and choose their clients.

So sorry to hear about this. I am a one-man show and answer EVERY inquiry personally, whether it be an email, voicemail, or IG or FB message. Not sure how I missed multiple attempts from you. I apologize. How did you attempt to contact me?

The only times I ignore inquiries is when they are totally ridiculous, like people asking for plans or wanting a system for their Geo Tracker. I just can't spend the time. I also don't do any pre-sale "selling". I try to be the opposite of most companies who kiss your a** until you buy something and then you can't get a hold of them. I try to reserve most of my customer service for existing customers. That said I certainly wouldn't have ignored your inquiries had I seen them. My apologies again and congrats on the ADGU system!

 

[suprarx7nut]

@CharlieS Thanks for the comparison and words. We greatly appreciate it. We've put a colossal amount of time and energy into customer service as the business flourishes into a full time gig that can support a couple families. It's always a challenge to cover every inquiry while also hitting delivery times with a product we proudly stand behind, but I think we're hitting our stride in 2022.

How long ago did you place your order? I’ve been anxiously awaiting my ADGU drawers for awhile now and it’s a bit demoralizing as I was originally quoted a roughly 4 week lead time and we‘re sneaking up on 12 weeks now. I was told it should be no issue to have it in time for a spring turkey hunt that I was actually supposed to be on right now and fortunately got postponed to mid-May otherwise I’d be without the drawers and sleeper which my buddy was planning on using.

I opted to have them bedliner coat it for me and was working with them to pick a new coating because they said the old one was quite rough. They sent me a sample board and said they’d get my system prepped so that once I chose a liner they could apply it and get it sent out but that was just over a week ago and they’ve been unusually radio silent since I sent my selection email. I feel like an a-hole every time I message them because I don’t want to keep them busy with emails when I know they’d rather be pumping out systems. I’ve feel like I’ve been pretty patient with the process but 3x longer than expected seems to be a terrible miscalculation, I’d rather have been quoted 10-14 weeks from the start.

I‘m sure this will come across as whining which I really don’t intend, more frustration. Andy and Kyle have been super nice guys to talk to and are just incredibly busy with orders which is a good problem for a business to have.

Andy here. Our apologies on your brief radio silence and your lead time miscommunication. We definitely made an error in your initial lead time estimate. We mentioned a 4 week lead time, but that was for a standard system with no customization. We failed to clarify bedlining extends that to a significant degree. I think you had multiple questions in your initial message and we answered them one by one.

What's lead time? 4 weeks. (As of April 2022, we're closer to 6 weeks on most standard orders, but we expect that to plummet with our larger CNC arriving this month)

Also, do you offer coatings? How about bedlining? Yes. (should have added that bedlining adds weeks of lead time, but we did not)

You're all good to ping us on a regular basis. We appreciate the reminders. It's never a hassle and often helps keep us on track. Email or even a call is great. 720-335-5991.

The alternative liner product decision with samples also added weeks to the lead time which again we failed to anticipate/convey proper expectations to you and that's on us.

Kyle's in the shop now starting your bedlining and we expect to have your system out late this coming week (need to allow the bedliner time to cure). Hopefully in plenty of time for your hunt!

they look great.
I am using a home built standby option to store stuff. Just a raised floor with duffel bags underneath.

One thing on a recent road trip that i wished i had....secure lockable drawers. On a road trip, you are often parking overnight in some possibly sketchy neighborhoods. and you really do not have the local knowledge to know WHERE it is safe to park, without getting broken into. Other than lugging everything expensive up to the hotel room, it would be nice if i had metal drawers that had a sturdy lock....enough to deter an amateur snatch and grab thief.

i notice there is no lock on your drawers. is there an option to add one?

We do have a locking lid we can offer. So far we've had a lot of people ask about, but nobody actually purchase that add-on.

The trick with a lockable drawer is that it offers very little functional protection inside a locked car. A simple prybar defeats any lock we can put on a wood drawer system. Someone that's going to smash through your window is also likely to smash through a drawer with a lock.

I don't have any locks, don't know if they offer them. I think they're so busy with keeping up with demand that R&D may be on the back burner. I also don't have any faith that a locked box would slow down anyone motivated enough to break into my cargo area to begin with.

On the timeline, I have zero complaints. They were super accommodating and really took great care of me. Mine is the standard birch finish. I wonder if your custom coating may have played a factor?

I wouldn't say R&D is on the back-burner, but we definitely need to focus on order fulfilment for the next month or so until we have a larger and more automated CNC in our shop. Side note, I had Covid a few months back which was a bit of a blessing in disguise. I was able to knock out a TON of CAD design during that period where I was isolating at home so we got pretty well caught up on R&D.

Now if only we weren't facing a global crisis of the core building material (Baltic Birch)...


If anyone else has questions on the product or an upcoming order or a previous order, please don't hesitate to drop an email or give me a call. Nights and weekends are fair game.

-Andy
info@airdowngearup.com
720-335-5991

 

[biff44]

I don't have any locks, don't know if they offer them. I think they're so busy with keeping up with demand that R&D may be on the back burner. I also don't have any faith that a locked box would slow down anyone motivated enough to break into my cargo area to begin with.

On the timeline, I have zero complaints. They were super accommodating and really took great care of me. Mine is the standard birch finish. I wonder if your custom coating may have played a factor?

all you need is to delay them a couple of minutes, and they will run away.
your standard thief is not going to be carrying a sawzall with him to saw thru the plywood. As long as the drawer is relatively pry bar proof....that will stop 95% of all break ins.

if the front of the dawer is reinforced, and the locking mechanism is somewhere buried deeper back where a prybar can not separate it...that would work.
Something like this would be hard to defeat quickly, since the thief will not know where it is attached, and where the two prongs are inserting into the side rails.

 

[Gazziza]

I've always regarded TrekboxX as the best of the best, I guess that's still the case.

I think it depends on what you're looking for. I picked up the ADGU drawers a while back and really like the versatility and options. As it sits right now, I have a single drawer and half sleeper. It works well for me because the items I need in the car all the time is stored in the drawer and on the empty side things that I take in and out. I think the beauty of their system is the flexibility. It's also easy to take in and out. I recently had to take it out since family came into town and needed the 3rd row. Took maybe 20 minutes to remove it doing it myself.

If you're talking about quality, durability, and robustness then I don't think anything touches the Trekboxx. For a full time expo rig I think it makes sense. It also costs $6,000 and ships freight. Once it's in it's in, you aren't going to try and remove it. As nice as it is there is no way in hell I'm spending $6k on a storage system. That's just me though.

Where do you guys put the Goose Gear system in the list of drawer / platform options?

I like how the ADGU product attaches to the cargo tie down points without a need to remove the carpet. I would definitely want carpet, bed liner, or something along those lines on the top.

I'd say Trekboxx --> Goose Gear --> ADGU --> Everyone else.

 

[Tex68w]

I think it depends on what you're looking for. I picked up the ADGU drawers a while back and really like the versatility and options. As it sits right now, I have a single drawer and half sleeper. It works well for me because the items I need in the car all the time is stored in the drawer and on the empty side things that I take in and out. I think the beauty of their system is the flexibility. It's also easy to take in and out. I recently had to take it out since family came into town and needed the 3rd row. Took maybe 20 minutes to remove it doing it myself.

If you're talking about quality, durability, and robustness then I don't think anything touches the Trekboxx. For a full time expo rig I think it makes sense. It also costs $6,000 and ships freight. Once it's in it's in, you aren't going to try and remove it. As nice as it is there is no way in hell I'm spending $6k on a storage system. That's just me though.



I'd say Trekboxx --> Goose Gear --> ADGU --> Everyone else.

I was wondering how your build was coming along.