Cargo Drawer / Sleeper

[greentruck]

Mark,
It's looking great!

More minimalist than my approach, it combines form with function in a novel rendering of effective storage and sleeping space.

And you post more of your mistakes than I do
Careful with that, or you'll blow the cover on your woodworking mojo-mysticism

Looking forward to the rest of the details.

 

[Bluetribal]

Yeah one mistake was the last notch on the drawer for the divider. The drawer doesn't pull out far enough for me to put that divider in by about 1/2"

 

[VanGo]

Build status?

Bluetribal,

What's the status of this build? You were kind of my inspiration.....

 

[Bluetribal]

Oooh, you are using the good stuff!! Glad I could inspire you to get out and build one of your own

I have a few more pics of it to post up from the weekend test run.... The drawer and sleeper passed 100% and now I just need to figure out how I am going to coat it and get the bolts I have to work better.
While wheeling I had no creeks or cracking sounds from the back it is all tight. The only noise was when all the tools would jump inside the drawer on the woops. I am getting some tool rolls and pouches on Amazon to remedy this problem in the future. Sleeping on the platform was great, again no creeking or cracking when you moved and it was nice to be inside the cruiser as it was a very windy night! I will add the pictures this weekend and decide how I will coat the plywood, leaning toward a rattle can bed liner from AutoZone.

 

[greentruck]

Cool!

Looking forward to the shakedown trip pics and more details.

You're on the right track as far as keeping stuff from thumping or rattling. In my crosswise recovery gear locked between the wheel wells, it's packed super tight, same in my drawer, and most things are wrapped or bagged somehow.

I still get a little chatter/drumming from the leftside drawer that's my fridge slide. Been thinking about adding some dynamat on the bottom of that drawer. It's usually at a certain speed/bumpiness on paved road and not constant, so haven't let it bother me too much.

 

[VanGo]

I found an inexpensive rubberized drawer liner material at Lowes, it is advertised for the kitchen drawers, but studying it more closely it appear durable and approx. 3/16" thick- reminds me of what you would use to line your tool box drawers. @ Mark if you are referring to the duplicolor spray on liner I have had good success with it and may go the same route. Looking forward to the pictures from your trip.

Van

 

[Bluetribal]

Yeah I rebuilt a CL Find Craftsmen work bench and replaced all the rusty bolts, and re-painted it grey & red but on the insed of the drawers I used a tan color liner that is not nearly as rough as my Durabak I have on my removed flares. Plus it will keep the oak & brown paint theme going inside the rig.

 

[Walking Eagle]

I @ Mark if you are referring to the duplicolor spray on liner I have had good success with it and may go the same route. Van

I like the Duplicolor spray on for parts and in place of undercoating. Used it to line a wheel barrow couple years ago, and it's held up well w/o having alot of texture like w/ duraback. For a larger area like drawers, you could get the quart duplicolor stuff and roll or spray it, a little cheaper than the aresol cans, but still has no grit to it.

 

[VanGo]

Walking Eagle-

2X on applying the top coat via roller to help save on cost. I found some herculiner in the garage that I had left over from a previous project that is still usable. I plan on rolling most of the exterior cargo box and the front, sides of the drawer. Where I do not herculine I will prime or paint. Sorry if this is starting to seem like a hi-jack, just excited about what happens next and waiting on some hardware before I progress any further.

Van

 

[Bluetribal]

I got around to uploading my photos from the other weekend but I forgot to take a photo of the back leg support that I had to do differentely so I will post that up after I finish with coating it this weekend.

Here is the back lightly packed up for a one nighter.

All my tools, spare parts, and 1st aid easily fit. I just found zippered tool pouches at the 99c store so I am going to get about 5 of them and get them embroidered with labels. This will reduce the noise from the tools inside the drawer.

And finally the Therma Rest air pads set-up for sleeping.

 

[VCCruzr]

Mark,
That looks great! Very simple yet functional, I like it.

 

[greentruck]

Looks super comfy.

I thought about ending up with a system similar to yours when first designing my system, but then decided against it. One reason was I wanted the extra storage underneath where the seats would be. The other was that I wasn't sure how the angle would work with my flaky back. But that looks like it might've worked.

Since my system is modular, at least in two different sections, I could still remove the 2nd row replacement swap, swap the seats back in there, and modify the way your board works to fit my arrangement. I just figured I'd mention that in case that mod could work for someone else.

Probably won't do this myself, but I like the way yours came out.

I've been too lazy to put the second row seats back in since I installed our sleeper. Don't have to carry anyone other than my wife usually, but during the storm last week, I did kind of think it wouldn've been nice to have the second row seats back in in case there was a need to transport more people. Your system retains that capacity at all times, so is actually more versatile for transporting people.

 

[VanGo]

Mark,

Nice work!

 

[Bluetribal]

I really need to update this thread and I will since I have finished up the coating of the Cargo Drawere, added a third row cup holder, and made up some canvas curtains so the princess can change and we can sleep in.

But until I get to that I thought I would offer up my custom mounting bolts that 619Toy made since I won't be using them.

Here is the classified thread: SOLD

 

[Bluetribal]

Jeez almost a month since I said I was going to update this thread. Well it didn't help that the downloaded a virus on our 4 month old puter!

Anyway better late than never!

I saw these canvas bags at the 99Cent store so I grabbed the four that they had and took them to an embroidery place to get them labeled. The large army bag holds my large spare radiator hoses and some smaller left over hose.

The drawer isn't still this neat.

Unfortunately the floor is not very level in the cargo area so a swing out leg in the back was going to be off the ground by about 1/2" so I had to come up with a different plan than the front. So a longer piece with metal dowels and a hook to latch onto the third seat bracket does the trick and provides support for the

I didn't want black herculined box so walking down the isles of AutoZone I see a tan capped rattle can truck bed liner. At $8 and change each it got a little pricey but I do love the color match. And I added some aluminum edging to protect as I drag stuff in and out.

And here is a teaser shot of the other mod I did, third row cup holder. Another thread to come on that along with curtains for all the rear windows. I did something in this month I lagged on updating.

 

[thestunts]

Looks great. Like the nylon bag idea ... pretty smooth.

I'll most likely incorporate a lot of what you have done, as I'd only want half a drawer versus the whole width.

Cheers and thanks for sharing !

 

[Bluetribal]

Good luck with your box and here are two major tips I would tell anyone builiding a cargo drawer:

Wait until the shell of the box is built and placed 100% where you want it and then mark the bolt hole locations from the bottom then drill them. Don't get over anctious and drill them early.

And figure out your latch location before you fully build the box because once you close it in it's a 8!at@h to get a tool inside to the bottom of the lid and make the hole for your latch strike.

 

[Cuerno Largo]

Building your box. Cut the wood from your template two weeks ago. Hardware coming in. Do you have the dimensions for the change you did on the swing out support closest to the second row?