Drawer System From Solid Wood Worx - Looking for Feedback

[cts]

Hi Wes, thanks for replying to this thread. I have to say that it's been a stressful experience since ordering a drawer system from you back on 12/1. Back then the website indicated a 4-6 week lead time, which is what it still showed the last I looked a few days ago. After around 7 weeks and not hearing anything, I started trying multiple attempts at: replying to the order confirmation email, reaching out via the contact form on your website, sending a DM via Facebook, and calling. That ended up being around a dozen attempts w/o hearing back from you.

I did eventually get a response from you on 2/6, which I appreciated, indicating it would be a few more weeks. That time came and went, so I eventually emailed you again and then tried the online contact form again. I didn't get a response from either of those attempts, so I tried emailing you once more, and that time you replied right away on 3/23 letting me know that my order was being built and should ship soon. So, I'm eagerly waiting for them to arrive next week (which would be 17 weeks post-purchase.)

I was going to update this thread (and still will) when they do eventually arrive. It should be just in time for me to install them before Cruise Moab, and in advance of the month-long expedition I'll be doing in June. But, I was understandably worried I was going to be out $2K with nothing to show for it and was stressed about needing to come up with a plan B. Some simple expectation setting and follow-up communication would have gone a very long way, and I'd encourage you to think about how you can do that for your customers going forward. I wasn't trying to bash you on this forum and stand by everything I shared as having been fact-based. The whole point of MUD is for us to share our experiences, in service of helping the next person out as we all pursue our shared passion. So, I'll look forward to letting everyone know how it goes when I put these drawers in and get to use them.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Bigtoepfer]

So does anyone have anything to say about Solid Wood Worx? They look overly tall in photos. But I've always liked the idea of a flat pack system I could assemble. I'm still on the fence about drawer systems and had a few in my mind. Even considered one of the Yakima MOD drawers for a bit. But man Mikes drawers are so beautiful.

Glad to see you got some resolution Chris. Looking forward to seeing what they look like installed. And it sounds like SHW could use a solid employee that also understands computers/customer service/etc. Shame Kentucky is so far from everything...not that Louisiana is much better.

 

[CharlieS]

Typical MO for a ponzi scheme style business model that uses revenue from new sales to build inventory for prior sales. Doesn't usually end well in the long run.

Sounds like I was dead wrong. Sorry @WGHARV0. Good luck with your business. Looks like a good product.

 

[Edwin573]

Hi Wes, thanks for replying to this thread. I have to say that it's been a stressful experience since ordering a drawer system from you back on 12/1. Back then the website indicated a 4-6 week lead time, which is what it still showed the last I looked a few days ago. After around 7 weeks and not hearing anything, I started trying multiple attempts at: replying to the order confirmation email, reaching out via the contact form on your website, sending a DM via Facebook, and calling. That ended up being around a dozen attempts w/o hearing back from you.

I did eventually get a response from you on 2/6, which I appreciated, indicating it would be a few more weeks. That time came and went, so I eventually emailed you again and then tried the online contact form again. I didn't get a response from either of those attempts, so I tried emailing you once more, and that time you replied right away on 3/23 letting me know that my order was being built and should ship soon. So, I'm eagerly waiting for them to arrive next week (which would be 17 weeks post-purchase.)

I was going to update this thread (and still will) when they do eventually arrive. It should be just in time for me to install them before Cruise Moab, and in advance of the month-long expedition I'll be doing in June. But, I was understandably worried I was going to be out $2K with nothing to show for it and was stressed about needing to come up with a plan B. Some simple expectation setting and follow-up communication would have gone a very long way, and I'd encourage you to think about how you can do that for your customers going forward. I wasn't trying to bash you on this forum and stand by everything I shared as having been fact-based. The whole point of MUD is for us to share our experiences, in service of helping the next person out as we all pursue our shared passion. So, I'll look forward to letting everyone know how it goes when I put these drawers in and get to use them.

Thanks,
Chris

Very similar experience with SHW Offroad. I ordered in early February, months later I eventually got most of the parts delivered, but it's been partially assembled for weeks now, waiting for the remaining parts that were missing (It's now July 3). Communication has been tortuously slow or unresponsive. I hate to see a small shop get slammed, but the customer service has been the worst. There is no phone support, and emailing is hit or miss. I regret the purchase, but I'm going to see it through, even if I have to order or make my own parts to finish the job soon.
-Edwin

 

[cts]

I'm sorry to hear that you're also having such a challenging experience @Edwin573 . I literally just installed my drawers today after ordering them on 12/1/25! I've done one quick test drive and they seem solid, but it's been quite an ordeal to get to this point. When they did finally arrive some parts were missing, so it took a while to get those. And then I discovered that a couple of the pieces were incorrectly manufactured, so it took a while to get those replaced. And then there were a few other issues where I had to enlarge some of the pre-drilled holes, drill some holes that should have been pre-drilled, grind the stops of a couple of the slides, source some spacers to get the latches to properly seat, and the front panel has a highly visible errant hole in the black finish. It's been a s*** show for sure, but it's good to finally have them out of my house and in the truck. I think the owner of the company means well, but he definitely needs some help running the business.

Message me if you need help figuring out your installation. The instructions leave out a lot of key details, but by this point, I've probably come across most of the issues you'll encounter.

 

[efjayatee]

I'm not in a position to give advice to @WGHARV0 but why not pause the website on orders so you can catch up?
Avid Offroaf paused on their rear swing out bumpers so they can ship their back logs that they were really behind on. We customers are rightfully selfish, we don't care who, how, where and when as long as we received our products in a timely matter. Sorry to say but its the reality of us customers' expectations.

I ordered their very 1st gen1 sequioa drawer super lite a little after when they were starting their business in 09/22 and I still have it in that rig.

 

[mazder]

I make drawer systems but not for everyone ($$$). What sets me up well above the rest is...
- all the edges are hand finished, sanded multiple times and coated (ohers just cut and send you raw wood)
- no visible bolts, screws, nails etc.
- no straps or turnbuckles. The system attaches to the floor mounting points
- tight tolerances between pieces

The cons: I don't send flatpack because the install is as important as the manufacturing process. But for those from SoCal, I install for free.

Below is a bamboo version made for the 200 series but as I mostly make for the 80 series. Prices start at $2700

View attachment 4058930

View attachment 4058931

Clean enough I'd consider putting one in my FJ62.

 

[Edwin573]

I'm sorry to hear that you're also having such a challenging experience @Edwin573 . I literally just installed my drawers today after ordering them on 12/1/25! I've done one quick test drive and they seem solid, but it's been quite an ordeal to get to this point. When they did finally arrive some parts were missing, so it took a while to get those. And then I discovered that a couple of the pieces were incorrectly manufactured, so it took a while to get those replaced. And then there were a few other issues where I had to enlarge some of the pre-drilled holes, drill some holes that should have been pre-drilled, grind the stops of a couple of the slides, source some spacers to get the latches to properly seat, and the front panel has a highly visible errant hole in the black finish. It's been a s*** show for sure, but it's good to finally have them out of my house and in the truck. I think the owner of the company means well, but he definitely needs some help running the business.

Message me if you need help figuring out your installation. The instructions leave out a lot of key details, but by this point, I've probably come across most of the issues you'll encounter.
View attachment 4170560

Thanks CTS! I'll keep this in mind as I get further along. I've wrestled through a few questions already, I'm sure there will be more.