Drawer Slides - Glides - Guides

[77TLCFJ40]

I'm working on a rear storage system for my 40 and I need some advice. After pricing heavy duty drawer glides $$$, I'm looking for another solution. I have built a frame that is at the same height as the fenders on my 40. It will house two drawers and support my Geo Tracker bench seat. What can I use for glides that is cheap, heavy duty, and does not eat up a lot of space?? Some ideas I have considered are strips of UHMW on the bottoms of the drawers to slide on the floor, and simple opposing angle iron where traditional drawer glides would be. Thanks in advance.

 

[BirfMark]

I used simple strips of UHMWPE on my drawer build for my 80. In my opinion, the work great, and are a very effective, inexpensive alternative to the high dollar drawer slides that waste a lot of space.

Check my build out here: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/299306-my-drawer-system-sleeping-platform-kitchen-box.html

I've put over 100lbs of gear in each of the drawers of my storage system, and the drawers still open surprisingly easy. Obviously, not as easily as a ball bearing slider system, but the upside is that I don't need fancy latches either - the little bit of added friction versus a glide system means that my drawers stay put & don't back around when the going gets tough.

 

[Bad Mojo]

77 If you wouldn't mind posting up some pictures of your drawers; I am about to do the same thing for my forty.

 

[hawkeye]

What size will the drawer be?

 

[77TLCFJ40]

The frame is 1/8" x 1.5" angle. It is the same height as the fenders and extends back to just in front of the body to frame bolts. I left 2.5 to 3" from the drawer frame to the rear doors for the drawer faces/handles/latch/etc. I also plan to build a tailgate some day so I need a little room for the chains/cables when closed. The overall dimensions are 40.5" wide and 28" or so deep. I have incorporated a 1/4" mounting plate, vertical support and base to bolt down the rear part of the seat where the seat belt receivers are located. It is in the middle of the box frame and will add a great deal of support for the seat. As soon as I figure out how the drawer slides will work, I'll finish the frame and start the drawers. Then I will skin the frame, paint and done. Looking forward to having a safe, secure home for tools, spares, straps, etc.