Another DIY Drawer Thread - One Side only

[TrekboxX]

Looking great! Nice to see a fellow woodworker. Love the bench clamps! I like your relief cut on the side of the drawer. One of my designs had the 2 piece side as well, but I wasn't as smart as you, and thought I'd have to go with 1/2" for the top of the side to allow for clearance between the drawer and box. Well done. I'm interested to hear if you like/use the drawer dividers.

 

[CappyKD]

Awesome work.

 

[sonk76]

Am I crazy?

So I've been contemplating what to do with the extra slide I've ended up with (one of the slides was sold only in pairs), and as a result I've sketched out a more complex solution for the wing. Rather than just incorporate the inverter as in the original design, I'm now contemplating having a fold out mini-table that would tuck away into the wing and then fold-out and out of the way (without taking up additional space from the tail-gate, but rather adding table space that extends a bit to the side.)

The table would stow in vertical position...

...and would fold out like origami to become a little table.

btw, the table is not full "length", as it needs to clear the vehicle rear pillars, and the cable that holds up the tail-gate before it can extend out.

Any thoughts? I realize that this would increase the complexity of the build considerably (but that's part of the fun now isn't it!)

 

[NMwheeler]

looks awesome so far.

 

[Ole Colony]

+ 1 on fellow woodworker and bench clamps. What about a pull out for a first aid supplies? I don't see much need for a table when you already have a tail gate.

 

[e9999]

nice engineering but table bit seems overly complicated (and of marginal stability) to me for the actual benefit. Yes, that is fun but...

 

[TeCKis300]

Interesting idea, but I agree with those above. The slides also do not have much torsional stability for this type of use.

 

[sonk76]

Interesting idea, but I agree with those above. The slides also do not have much torsional stability for this type of use.

I thought about that as well, and share the general concerns about over complication and lack of stability... For reference, I've made a rough model of how the slide would be relative to the tail gate.

My sense is that there would not be too much twisting stress on the slide side ways as the the edge of the tail-gate would provide a pivot point that would basically try to force the slide to move straight up rather than twisting. That made me feel a bit better about the torsional stability.

In the length-wise direction, I wasn't concerned given that these are rated at #250's per slide... (#500 as a pair).

Am I thinking about this wrong?

 

[sonk76]

+ 1 on fellow woodworker and bench clamps. What about a pull out for a first aid supplies? I don't see much need for a table when you already have a tail gate.

Funny enough, I find myself often wishing for more space around the tail-gate (place to put down a coffee cup, kids sandwidches, my potato chips... etc.)

May be I just need to get more organized around it.

Btw, I was also contemplating in putting some cup-holders on that thing, so that it will hold stuff even when on the trail and the truck is not level...

Yes, I know, what this this really needs is some more complexity!

 

[e9999]

I thought about that as well, and share the general concerns about over complication and lack of stability... For reference, I've made a rough model of how the slide would be relative to the tail gate.

My sense is that there would not be too much twisting stress on the slide side ways as the the edge of the tail-gate would provide a pivot point that would basically try to force the slide to move straight up rather than twisting. That made me feel a bit better about the torsional stability.

In the length-wise direction, I wasn't concerned given that these are rated at #250's per slide... (#500 as a pair).

Am I thinking about this wrong?

if you feel like it, have at it, man! And take lots of pics for us.
Me, gizmo-centric as I am, I could get by with a $20 folding camping table for more room around the tailgate and to be sure(r) my precious cold beer does not get tossed off a (wobbly?) surface, but to each his own. The fun is in the building it.


(FWIW, IMHO there is not a high probability that a table off the side of a single slide like that would hold up for very long with anything more than a beer on it -unless seriously supported, which kind of negates the whole point-, but then again, who needs more than that... )

 

[hoser]

If you reverse your top lid, you'll have another table. =p

 

[OregonLC]

Fan fricken tastic! Great job!

 

[sonk76]

(FWIW, IMHO there is not a high probability that a table off the side of a single slide like that would hold up for very long with anything more than a beer on it -unless seriously supported, which kind of negates the whole point-, but then again, who needs more than that... )

Very good point. Since I have the slide, I may do some quick prototype tests to get a better sense how solid something like this could be under best case scenario... if it's too unstable/wobbly there, then it will be a good reason to walk away before anybody gets hurt.

If you reverse your top lid, you'll have another table. =p

I thought of that as well, the trouble is that it would be difficult to get to your table without emptying your truck first. And also, as stupid as it sounds, the primary motivation here is me trying to find a use for the "expensive" extra slide I bought ...

 

[e9999]

Very good point. Since I have the slide, I may do some quick prototype tests to get a better sense how solid something like this could be under best case scenario... if it's too unstable/wobbly there, then it will be a good reason to walk away before anybody gets hurt.



I thought of that as well, the trouble is that it would be difficult to get to your table without emptying your truck first. And also, as stupid as it sounds, the primary motivation here is me trying to find a use for the "expensive" extra slide I bought ...

work out some sort of fancy sliding console for the driver or a map holder... or a sliding curtain or awning for the rear area... a flag pole... hanging electrical switch panel... pinup frame... how about a barbecue tool hanger rack... possibilities are endless

 

[Ole Colony]

I would mount the slide on the bottom of a pull shelf and not use the folding part. Or you could just sell the slide.

 

[sonk76]

I would mount the slide on the bottom of a pull shelf and not use the folding part. Or you could just sell the slide.

I thought of that approach, the trouble is that there is not enough clearance between the wheel-well and the drawer box to accommodate the slide in the horizontal orientation.

Yes, the smart move would probably be to sell the slide (which is also probably why I haven't really gone down that road...)

 

[TrekboxX]

I agree that an extra clean work surface is a must. I spent the last 4 days "product testing" in preparation for the final design tweaks for my new system (starting a biz, another topic) and I realized one thing- a cutting board type work surface is indispensable. Yes, if you stop and camp for a while a camp table would work just fine. For me, though, I show up to a river to fish or a trail to hike and I want to make a sandwich, etc, and everything is dirty. Same when I return from the river- need a sandwich or a snack, and I end up getting the top of the fridge dirty... My new design incorporates another slide out shallow drawer under the fridge slide with a removable cutting board top. You could do something similar, but you'd lose a couple inches of drawer depth. Or, you could put a hinged or removable top on your existing drawer... You wouldn't use the slide but you'd gain some work surface.

Also, I agree with the other posters that the slide would not last long at all like that. They are designed to be constrained with a drawer box in pairs. Great ingenuity, anyways. Keep it coming!

 

[hoser]

Sonk, nice work so far! Since you are asking for opinions, I think that side wing cubby hole has some pretty valuable space, especially since you (like me) are only running one drawer. I would even relocate the inverter and mount it on the opposite side near the rear AC unit. You can run a 120V outlet to the same panel where it is now if you want.

I would install a table to your Slee carrier. There are many to choose from...

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77277-JK-Tailgate-Tables-The-lowdown

 

[sonk76]

Sonk, nice work so far! Since you are asking for opinions, I think that side wing cubby hole has some pretty valuable space, especially since you (like me) are only running one drawer. I would even relocate the inverter and mount it on the opposite side near the rear AC unit. You can run a 120V outlet to the same panel where it is now if you want.

I would install a table to your Slee carrier. There are many to choose from...

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77277-JK-Tailgate-Tables-The-lowdown

That's a good point. Btw, when you say the opposite side, do you mean move it to the passenger side (not sure where the rear AC unit is--I know the rear AC controls are on the drivers side)? or do you mean keep it on the drivers side as it is, but just move it to the other end of the box (i.e., towards the 2nd row seats)?

If it's the latter, any thoughts on how to access the plugs? extension cord?

I love the input. Right now, I'm moving ahead with the main box construction, and will continue to beat-up ideas on what to do with the wing--I'm trying to keep the two as independent as possible (even debated making it modular, where I could swap out different types of wing configurations, but I think that may be too much effort.)

 

[sonk76]

Lock-out access thoughts

I was just contemplating switching the way I provide access to the lock-out slide un-locking mechanism.

Current one has a hole in the front of the drawer, while the alternate one would keep the front of the drawer full and make a small access cut-out on the side of the box itself (see images below.)

(when the drawer is open an extended the locking switch would always be accessible from the side regardless of this design choice.)

The concrete benefit from this would be to make the front drawer cover marginally stronger, particularly eliminating the small extension below the locking switch that could be at risk of breaking if it took a bad hit.

The other question in my mind is whether or not this would create a more pleasing end-result to the eye... purely a subjective question.

I figure that even with a second drawer added, a mirror image cut-out on the front edge of the second box would provide amble access to lockouts on both sides.

Thoughts?