ARB drawer question

[NautiqueGuy]

I have 3 kids and a foster child.

I would love to have the extra storage and convenience of drawers, but clearly I need the third row.

I really only need one of those third row seats, so is it possible to only remove one seat and have a drawer in that position? Will the other seat still function properly with th drawer in place?

Does anyone have pictures of this kind of setup?

Thanks for the help.

 

[kevinfoutch]

I have 3 kids and a foster child.

I would love to have the extra storage and convenience of drawers, but clearly I need the third row.

I really only need one of those third row seats, so is it possible to only remove one seat and have a drawer in that position? Will the other seat still function properly with th drawer in place?

Does anyone have pictures of this kind of setup?

Thanks for the help.

I'll have pics for you this time next week but am going for something similar myself. I know one ARB drawer and one half of the third row seat does work - others are already doing it. My outstanding question for the driver side third row seat is whether u can still have two passengers (obviously little ones and not using car seats) with seatbelts while the ARB drawer is installed on the passenger side. I don't need to seat two in the third row but am just curious.

 

[Markuson]

I have 3 kids and a foster child.

I would love to have the extra storage and convenience of drawers, but clearly I need the third row.

I really only need one of those third row seats, so is it possible to only remove one seat and have a drawer in that position? Will the other seat still function properly with th drawer in place?

Does anyone have pictures of this kind of setup?

Thanks for the help.

You can definitely do one side with half of the third row. Just an aside...I’d highly recommend ordering the roll-top floor version because it makes access to the back of the drawer easier since you can open the rolltop. Also, it’s worth getting the side fit kit, since it closes the gap over the wheel well and also provides additional storage.

I don’t have photos of one drawer, but I believe DanHiggins had a half set for a while(?).

 

[Dan Higgins]

You can definitely do one side with half of the third row. Just an aside...I’d highly recommend ordering the roll-top floor version because it makes access to the back of the drawer easier since you can open the rolltop. Also, it’s worth getting the side fit kit, since it closes the gap over the wheel well and also provides additional storage.

I don’t have photos of one drawer, but I believe DanHiggins had a half set for a while(?).

+1 for what @Markuson said. It does fit though it did not end up using it that way as I didn't really need the 3rd row seat. I also echo the benefits of the roll top version of the drawer and the side fit kit. (When you order a fit kit it will come with the parts for both sides as you can install the drawer on either side. Hold onto the extra parts in case you want to switch or someday install a second drawer - which is what I did.) Sorry, but I don't have pics of the drawer and the seat installed.

 

[NautiqueGuy]

Thanks guys.

I'd love to see pics. Just curious if it looked strange or unfinished?

 

[bozochu]

Dan, did you have to drill the floor or cut anything for installation of one drawer? The person I talked to at arb told me I had to drool into the floor to bolt it down.

 

[NautiqueGuy]

Dan, did you have to drill the floor or cut anything for installation of one drawer? The person I talked to at arb told me I had to drool into the floor to bolt it down.

I don't like the sound of that...

 

[bozochu]

Lol I mean drill not drool. But that was what the customer rep told me. I read from others you don’t have to, but that was from guys installing both drawers. I hope someone chime in.

 

[RS6tofj80]

np drooling needed - it uses OEM points to connect to - or at least it does for the dual/ full kit...

 

[KLF]

I think the issue is that with both drawers, you bolt them together, them they attach to the floor in 4 spots, in existing threaded holes. The spots are pretty far apart. With only 2 anchor spots the side of the single drawer at the centerline of the vehicle will be unsupported and kinda floating.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Dan Higgins]

No. I didn't need to drill or drool. I used the same anchor points as I would with a 2-drawer install. The anchor points were what secured the 3rd row seats to the floor. The instructions are a bit tricky. (Everything is upside down and Aussie's drive on the wrong side of the road.) But I eventually figured it out. The inside side does look somewhat unfinished (metal as opposed to fabric). You may be able to devise a way to cover that.

 

[Markuson]

The ARB guy was wrong.

Zero drilling.

It WILL look somewhat unfinished, however, as the side of the drawer will be bare metal with bolts showing. If it were mine, I’d like cut & paint a piece of plywood to fit so as to smooth it out...or perhaps cover with dimilar, grey carpet.

 

[Munson]

I needed half the third row and wanted the arb drawer so I am running this setup. Went with the slide top and the side kit. Works great for me. No need to drill any holes, but I did need to cut the carpet a bit to get it installed. There are no squeaks or rattles using just the two anchor points. The side of the box does look unfinished. I thought about covering it, but the fit with the remaining seat down is very tight. Could probably figure something out but it does not bother me too much.

The big issue for me was figuring out what to do about a cargo mat. I ended up buying a weather tech and cutting it to fit one side. At first I tried cutting it with the plan to have it fold up to cover the exposed side of the drawer. That way if something spilled it would not pool under the drawer. The fit was not good (probably because of my cutting) and it made it difficult to put the remaining seat down because of the additional thickness added to the side of the drawer.

If I did it all over again, I would probably put the weather tech mat down first and then install the drawer over it. Although, I am not sure how this would affect the install and could create the issue of liquids pooling underneath the drawer.

I will be able to post some pictures tomorrow. Hopefully this is helpful.

 

[NautiqueGuy]

Great.

Thanks Munson!

 

[T4Runner]

I saw a blog online where they used headliner fabric and covered the back side of the ARB drawers (the unfinished side that faces the backs of the second row seats). One could presumably do something similar on the side exposed to the third for seat for a more finished look. I think you can also purchase an ARB carpet kit and could probably closely match to the carpet they use on the top and drawer fronts too.

 

[Munson]

 

[bozochu]

Thanks Munson, that is what I am looking for. I want to do the same thing but on the opposite side. Do you recall how many contact points it is bolted down by? Does it have issues when you mount a fridge or cooler on top? Does fold down seat rub the side of the drawer?

 

[Munson]

I believe it is just two contact points. The side comparment connects to the drawer. I have a yeti I put on top that I secure with a ratchet strap. I just run the strap front to back underneath the slide top. I wish it came with tie downs installed on the slide top. Could probably install some myself but don’t really know what I am doing. The seat is very tight to the box. I think it may rub a bit. My leather does show any marks or damage.

I think I actually have the left side compartment. I think it came with the right side and is sitting in my garage taking up space.

 

[Dan Higgins]

I thought I would recover this thread and ask those who have had a drawer on one side and seat on the other and have used it for a couple of years how it is working out. I have two ARB drawers. I did two because I envisioned my wife sleeping in the truck with me. But as we have gotten older she is far less interested in this type of camping. So when I do I'll be on my own and therefore don't need the "full width" sleeping platform. Along with that, we expect to be visiting our kids/grandkids this year and it would be great to have seating for 6. I still have my 3rd row seats. So I am considering removing the passenger side drawer (if I can figure that out) and bringing back that seat. I also think this approach would make it a bit easier for me to sleep in as it would give me a bit more maneuverability inside. When camping I would probably just roll the passenger Sid second row forward and leave the passenger side 3rd row deployed.

Anyway, any new advice/comments about the 1-side drawer with 3rd row seat approach? Anyone know how to remove the passenger side drawer? Anyone interesting in buying a passenger side drawer and fit kit with a roll top?