KISS Drawers (Keep It Simple Storage) for 80s

[4runnin2]

Would love to order of these for my 80. Do you have any in stock at the moment? Sent you a pm as well.

 

[SOAZtim]

**Edit: SOLD to joshuath85 **

Just a heads up that I will have my sell my set of KISS Drawers for sale. Never even installed. We stained them a light grey stain and sanded the edges of everything, but due to some big changes of our current situation I can't use them. :-(
I figure I'll sell them for $50 off retail? Shipping charge of whatever it actually costs.
Located in PHX, AZ. I;ll get some pictures taken soon, but shoot me a PM if interested.
Here is the stain:

 

[CascadeCruisen]

Great write up and nice set up. Can you tell me how you raised the deck so it will work as a sleeping platform? That is why I bought this set up and I was a bit disappointed it doesn't work without modification. I have come up with a few work arounds but I'm not the handiest guy so I always like to see what other do before I do something. Thanks!

Finally getting around to doing my write-up for my install. Dave was nice enough to help me raise the height of the top deck so I could make these drawers work for a sleeping platform. I picked mine up in Bend since it's not too far and we were there visiting friends anyway. Super nice guy.

So like others have said the packaging and instructions are great. After assembling the drawers I flipped them upside down and cut out the rubber mat/flooring I was gluing to the top. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008VIP67A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I used the 3M 90 spray on contact adhesive. I've noticed that when it's warm in the truck the rubber mat can me lifted or slid rather easily because the glue softens. I need to research a better adhesive.
View attachment 1517798

As you can see I also installed L track and quick connects from the same company. Olive Painted L-Track
Here is a link for the stratchets: Stratchits - by Front Runner
These things are awesome. Well made and easy to use.

Once I got the drawers in I starting taking measurements for my refrigerator mount and sleeping platform extensions. One issue I ran into was that after raising the height of the drawers/deck they interfered with the second row seatback locking in the upright position. I had to keep one seat for the baby seat. I ended up notching out the deck and it worked out fine.
View attachment 1517804

For the refrigerator I used the same extruded aluminum rails that come with the drawers. I bought my stuff here: 1010-S When sleeping in the truck I move the seats forward and slide the fridge forward for maximum space.

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[FJP971]

Great write up and nice set up. Can you tell me how you raised the deck so it will work as a sleeping platform? That is why I bought this set up and I was a bit disappointed it doesn't work without modification. I have come up with a few work arounds but I'm not the handiest guy so I always like to see what other do before I do something. Thanks!

Thanks. Dave was able to extend the vertical pieces of extruded aluminum in order to raise the height. I had to cut out new drawer faces to make up for the extra height. You will run into an issue with clearance of the second row seats if you raise the deck as high as I did. If you look at my pics you'll see I had to notch out the wood to clear the one rear passenger seat I use.

You can purchase the same extruded aluminum in any length you want from 80/20.net along with any accessories you might want. Hope that helps.

 

[joshuath85]

Just a heads up that I will have my sell my set of KISS Drawers for sale. Never even installed. We stained them a light grey stain and sanded the edges of everything, but due to some big changes of our current situation I can't use them. :-(
I figure I'll sell them for $50 off retail? Shipping charge of whatever it actually costs.
Located in PHX, AZ. I;ll get some pictures taken soon, but shoot me a PM if interested.
Here is the stain:

80's series?

 

[strangerdanger]

Great write up and nice set up. Can you tell me how you raised the deck so it will work as a sleeping platform? That is why I bought this set up and I was a bit disappointed it doesn't work without modification. I have come up with a few work arounds but I'm not the handiest guy so I always like to see what other do before I do something. Thanks!

Glad I made it to the end of the thread and saw this, had myself convinced that they were the right height to use as a sleeping platform by just folding the seats down. not sure I'm ready to toss in the towel and give up that much volume by just raising up the drawers to accommodate.

 

[Irish Reiver]

I don't get why the drawer carcass needs to be raised to use as a sleeping platform. I have slept in mine with a small air mattress. My drawer carcass lines up with the folded second row seats pretty nicely more or less.

 

[cruzerDave]

Glad I made it to the end of the thread and saw this, had myself convinced that they were the right height to use as a sleeping platform by just folding the seats down. not sure I'm ready to toss in the towel and give up that much volume by just raising up the drawers to accommodate.

To officially clarify - when the 2nd row seats are folded they are at around a 10* angle - nowhere near level, so there is no one height to set the drawers at that would've given a 'flat sleeping platform'. Match the side closest to the drawers and you lose space in the drawers and then have an angle up for your feet or head. (think hospital bed) Match the side closest to the driver and you have a bigger chasm to backfill with towels or clothes. Current drawer height is somewhere in the middle so a compromise between those two. What @FJP971 did was to raise all the way up to then be able to add another piece and build a solid top platform (that was you, wasn't it?? I lose track...) This was NOT necessary to sleep in there, many people are sleeping in theirs like @Irish Reiver (thanks for chiming in), simply for his plan & preference (and illustrates the beauty of a customizable drawer kit, I think).

For any of these 'sleep in the truck' scenarios, 80 or 100 series, an air mattress fixes the gap and makes it a LOT more enjoyable. (personally my days of voluntarily sleeping on boards with just a sleeping bag are over).

Hope that helps - boils down to your build plan, and your preferences.

 

[Del Solid]

Glad I made it to the end of the thread and saw this, had myself convinced that they were the right height to use as a sleeping platform by just folding the seats down. not sure I'm ready to toss in the towel and give up that much volume by just raising up the drawers to accommodate.

I don't get why the drawer carcass needs to be raised to use as a sleeping platform. I have slept in mine with a small air mattress. My drawer carcass lines up with the folded second row seats pretty nicely more or less.

I sleep on mine regularly and don't think the platform needs to be raised. To make the middle seat-backs level with the platform all I do is unlock the mounts as if I were rotating the seats forward then slide a small piece 4"x4" of sheet metal between the rear seat latch and the floor (one on each side). That raises the rear of the seat the perfect amount to be flush with the platform and that's it. Takes 10 seconds. If you raise the platform up it will reduce the headroom and there really isn't any to spare (IMO). I think doing much more than this is overthinking the issue.

 

[Irish Reiver]

@Del Solid Wow, I never thought of the 4x4 under the seat frame. Might give that a try.

 

[cruzerDave]

I sleep on mine regularly and don't think the platform needs to be raised. To make the middle seat-backs level with the platform all I do is unlock the mounts as if I were rotating the seats forward then slide a small piece 4"x4" of sheet metal between the rear seat latch and the floor (one on each side). That raises the rear of the seat the perfect amount to be flush with the platform and that's it. Takes 10 seconds. If you raise the platform up it will reduce the headroom and there really isn't any to spare (IMO). I think doing much more than this is overthinking the issue.

Freakin brilliant! Next time you're doing this can you please send me a pic for adding to the website? A true "Keep It Simple Solution" - love it!

 

[FJP971]

What @FJP971 did was to raise all the way up to then be able to add another piece and build a solid top platform (that was you, wasn't it?? I lose track...)

That was me. In hind sight I could have adapted it the way it came originally with a 4x4" like mentioned. My sleeping setup is for when I'm solo or only in bad weather with the family and setting up a tent is not optimal. One benefit to raising the upper deck is that you can place taller items in the drawers.

It would be pretty easy to cut the vertical supports and the drawer tops to revert it back to original or close to it. All in all I'm really happy with my drawers. I am going to add hinges to the sides for easier access. Thanks again Dave!

 

[TexasJack]

To officially clarify - when the 2nd row seats are folded they are at around a 10* angle - nowhere near level, so there is no one height to set the drawers at that would've given a 'flat sleeping platform'. Match the side closest to the drawers and you lose space in the drawers and then have an angle up for your feet or head. (think hospital bed) Match the side closest to the driver and you have a bigger chasm to backfill with towels or clothes. Current drawer height is somewhere in the middle so a compromise between those two. What @FJP971 did was to raise all the way up to then be able to add another piece and build a solid top platform (that was you, wasn't it?? I lose track...) This was NOT necessary to sleep in there, many people are sleeping in theirs like @Irish Reiver (thanks for chiming in), simply for his plan & preference (and illustrates the beauty of a customizable drawer kit, I think).

For any of these 'sleep in the truck' scenarios, 80 or 100 series, an air mattress fixes the gap and makes it a LOT more enjoyable. (personally my days of voluntarily sleeping on boards with just a sleeping bag are over).

Hope that helps - boils down to your build plan, and your preferences.

I built my own customer drawers long before build-your-own drawers as sophisticated as the drawers in this thread were available. I have a board on hinges attached to my drawer system that just flops over on top of the folded down back seats. I measured ahead of time to determine where the "flop-over" board would meet the seats and then I built my drawers tall enough so that the whole thing is even. Not brain surgery but not all that beautiful either. My mattress (from IKEA) sits perfectly level across the drawers and back seat. It is evenly supported from head to foot. I just have to ensure the truck is parked in a level location which can be more difficult than you would think. I have slept quite a few nights in the truck. When it is too far to drive from a hotel to your hunting location to allow for a pre-dawn arrival you make do sleeping in the truck. If you buy a good matress it is pretty comparable to a hotel bed.

Eventually I will buy a roof-top tent but I need to alter my garage for a roof rack / roof top tent to fit inside. Parking it outside is not an option. I live in the far north Dallas suburbs - 1/3 of the way to Oklahoma. We get a lot of big hail. I have replaced my roof twice in 12 years.

 

[Irish Reiver]

Changing the subject slightly, for those of you that hinged the side platforms - what hinges did you use? I am no carpenter and wouldn't know one hinge from another. I seem to spend a fair amount of time accessing the side quarter panels.

 

[TexasJack]

This is the top of the drawar system. The part that flops over the seat is connected to the rectangular section that is sticking out. The hinged extension that lays on the seat-backs folds back over the top of the drawer system lid.

 

[cruzerDave]

Changing the subject slightly, for those of you that hinged the side platforms - what hinges did you use? I am no carpenter and wouldn't know one hinge from another. I seem to spend a fair amount of time accessing the side quarter panels.

The two I have heard great things on are piano hinges and conveyor material. I don't have contact info for you on the conveyor material unfortunately, folks seem to get it from friends or local remodels or work, but it is built to last forever and can be pretty thin to boot.

 

[Dirty Koala]

The 4x4 method works...but its another chunk of lumber to carry. I often have my dogs with me when camping and I slap there two stainless dog bowls under the middle seats to make it level. I have also seen a pair of folding door stops screwed to the bottom of the middle row seats...lots of ways to lift the rear of the middle seats up a few inches to level everything off.

 

[4runnin2]

Couple of things. I installed my new Kiss drawers this weekend and was wondering if anyone has had a issue with the drawer fronts dragging on the tailgate carpet? Should I just shim up the base to help the issue? Will that cause it to flex and not operate smoothly?
Has anyone had any experience with this paint I found at Lowes?

 

[noahfecks]

No idea about the paint

Yes shim the drawers, you can also trim the bottoms of the drawers

 

[FJP971]

Couple of things. I installed my new Kiss drawers this weekend and was wondering if anyone has had a issue with the drawer fronts dragging on the tailgate carpet? Should I just shim up the base to help the issue? Will that cause it to flex and not operate smoothly?

Mine catch the carpet some too. I noticed the locking arms that hold the tailgate don't always lock completely which allows the tailgate to sit at an angle. I just push the tailgate down while I pull the drawer past this point. You could just shave a little off the bottoms of the drawer faces to increase the clearance. If I recall correctly the bottom of the face extends past the bottom of the drawer. If you end up using shims I would shim all four connection points to make it balanced.