Need your input - would you buy a rear storage drawer "kit"

[Ramathorn15]

Where are the photos??

 

[Jcrider48]

I'm in for a double drawer system that matches the folded seat in height. Quality is more important to me.

 

[cruzerDave]

@Ramathorn15 pics are coming as soon as I finalize these design decisions and build the last proto before going beta - so let's start calling this next one the alpha I don't want to lead folks' opinions one way if I jog the other. Plus you might be surprised how many times a proto can be hacked up and put back together in the course of solving user-assembly concerns... What is in the truck now is NOT representative of the quality of what is coming That said I understand the interest and thank you - expect some new threads from me soon.

SO: 1-2 weeks before 'Alpha' is complete, 2 weeks beta, for sale immediately after, production will be batches of 10 I think, with about 2 weeks per batch. If I get more than 2 or 3 batches I might look to a vendor to buy the design and take over, someone who already has employees to do the million little things (procurement, receiving, packaging, shipping, emails for Q&A/sales/suggestions, plus thread maintenance, etc) that soak up your time on these sorts of ventures. I've had a consumer electronics startup before and trust me, designing the products was 80% of the fun and only 20% of the effort

 

[JCruse]

I actually did buy a drawer kit for my 80. It was unfinished (Line-X was optional) and IIRC it was about $300 for each drawer. I got 2. They're made with high grade 3/4" 16 ply Birch and measure 36" long and 9" high. They're put together with provided knockdown hardware (allen bolts and threaded barrel inserts) so you can always disassemble them in minutes for repairs or mods. Pulls are high quality polished stainless steel Southco brand locking latches. The drawer slides are a good name, though I can't recall it right now.
I finished them in durable bed liner (Al's) and they're built like tanks. A little heavy at around 70lbs each (+ liner) but at the time I could not afford $13k to $18k and my FZJ80 doesn't mind carrying them one bit.

Where did I get these fine pieces of gear? That's right, it was the awesome folks at Adventure Trailer! I've been using them almost daily in warmer months for three years and they're still tight and right. No issues to report at all.





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[TexasCrane]

I actually did buy a drawer kit for my 80. It was unfinished (Line-X was optional) and IIRC it was about $300 for each drawer. I got 2. They're made with high grade 3/4" 16 ply Birch and measure 36" long and 9" high. They're put together with provided knockdown hardware (allen bolts and threaded barrel inserts) so you can always disassemble them in minutes for repairs or mods. Pulls are high quality polished stainless steel Southco brand locking latches. The drawer slides are a good name, though I can't recall it right now.
I finished them in durable bed liner (Al's) and they're built like tanks. A little heavy at around 70lbs each (+ liner) but at the time I could not afford $13k to $18k and my FZJ80 doesn't mind carrying them one bit.

Where did I get these fine pieces of gear? That's right, it was the awesome folks at Adventure Trailer! I've been using them almost daily in warmer months for three years and they're still tight and right. No issues to report at all.

Last I checked, those kits were $700 per drawer from AT. If they were $300, I would buy 2 tomorrow.

 

[cruzerDave]

If you got those for $300 each @JCruse good job on a major score! If they were that cheap this thread would never have been born

Current best fit is $682 each, and their cart can't (says won't) ship to Oregon, which I suspect is $$$. I'll have a whole post on shipping in my lessons learned thread when all the dust clears and units are shipping

 

[Bandit]

Any updates on Progress? I am getting anxious to see the results.

 

[cruzerDave]

@Bandit, arg, yes, sorry! Water-jetter came back with GOOD pricing, then 2nd water-jetter came back with BETTER pricing *and* recommended I speak to a CNC buddy of his as potentially even more economical, and who is now estimating the job. As soon as I get his number (today) I will get material to them and, dependent on their schedule, get my boards and have my 'alpha' put together in an hour or two (need to time it for y'all), photographed, and to my beta list for purchasing

I'll then start a group buy thread that will run while the betas play & feedback for 2 weeks or so. Price will be kept low for my 'early adopters' and be based on how many people sign up - my financial goal for this first run is to just recover all of my R&D material costs and make enough to buy a Dissent front bumper. After that pricing will go up and be based on making a few $ to compensate all of my time that has and will go into these drawers, and build up an R&D fund for a rack idea I have (one that could be a low cost kit as well Mudders will ALWAYS get a discount though!

I have my other suppliers lined up with bulk ordering, even found shipping boxes *finally* at a reasonable price. My 13-yr-old daughter is having fun working on a logo for me, and wants to learn to build websites so I've registered a domain for her to practice 'real' designer work with me as her client.

I am having fun Thank you for being patient!

 

[therealdutch]

request for a photo of how it looks when flat packed/stacked when you pick it up before you start putting pieces together.

 

[Bandit]

@Bandit, arg, yes, sorry! Water-jetter came back with GOOD pricing, then 2nd water-jetter came back with BETTER pricing *and* recommended I speak to a CNC buddy of his as potentially even more economical, and who is now estimating the job. As soon as I get his number (today) I will get material to them and, dependent on their schedule, get my boards and have my 'alpha' put together in an hour or two (need to time it for y'all), photographed, and to my beta list for purchasing

I'll then start a group buy thread that will run while the betas play & feedback for 2 weeks or so. Price will be kept low for my 'early adopters' and be based on how many people sign up - my financial goal for this first run is to just recover all of my R&D material costs and make enough to buy a Dissent front bumper. After that pricing will go up and be based on making a few $ to compensate all of my time that has and will go into these drawers, and build up an R&D fund for a rack idea I have (one that could be a low cost kit as well Mudders will ALWAYS get a discount though!

I have my other suppliers lined up with bulk ordering, even found shipping boxes *finally* at a reasonable price. My 13-yr-old daughter is having fun working on a logo for me, and wants to learn to build websites so I've registered a domain for her to practice 'real' designer work with me as her client.

I am having fun Thank you for being patient!

That is awesome. I am getting very excited for this. My only hope is that it is everything I am hoping for at a price that won't break the bank. I have been researching what direction I would like to go for coatings. Also interested in the survey results. Would it be possible for those who were a part of that to see the results?

Very cool idea for your daughter to start. I wish I could get mine 11yo to do something like that. The most she has done this summer for creativity is creating youtube videos!

Thanks!!

 

[d5c5b]

@cruzerDave glad to hear of the progress. was dreaming about this last night and thinking "i hope its ready for camping season"

 

[cruzerDave]

@d5c5b sorry it is taking so long and much of camping season will be gone by the time these are shipping - on the plus side they are awesome for carrying everyday stuff too. I've never had drawers and storage like this before and am continually finding new things to put in and have 'ready'- just awesome. One drawer is all recovery and tools, and one is camping and survival gear, and both are only around 70% full so easy to use for shopping storage too (thieves wont steal what they dont know is there). And to have it all accessible and organized - ahhhhhh

@therealdutch - good idea, will do. I wont have the final shipping box for a photo until the first group buy order as they require shipping via freight to keep cost down, but you'll get a sense for the compactness.

 

[therealdutch]

yeah, ours will have recovery gear in the back of the drawer, first aid next, and probably sports gear at the most accessible spots. then again, the 100 is my wife's dd, so it's a soccer mom rig on steroids.

 

[cruzerDave]

Just got back from the machine shop and can say the group buy price will be definitely less than $550, very likely less than $540, probably less than $530, maybe less than $520, and if >>20 people order less than $500. Pricing after the first group buy will be higher.

That does not include S&H handling which as you can see earlier in this thread some places won't even do because of damage risks and/or high costs (flat pack to the rescue). I will likely come up with some zone pricing based on FedEx zone rates: Pacific NW, SW, East of Mississippi etc, but my early estimates were btwn $50 & $100 and I'll try and keep it so you can tell your S.O. you're only spending "5 something"

I'll try to get a "build thread" and the group buy thread started tonight/tomorrow, stay tuned.

 

[Bandit]

If you can please add the links to those new thread here. I have this one saved and would like to make sure this will fit my needs and get on the list before it's too late!!!

 

[Patineto]

yes, I don't mind spending money on something if it's a foundation or can be expanded on later. Dropping $$ for something that ends up being a temporary fix or one time use is just plain stupid.

Second this a 100%

 

[Patineto]

I'm a I.D. with a few titles for the last 40 years but like you i have been making holes and breaking things since I was five, totally understand the need for secrecy do to the easy "Filtration" of brilliant concepts..

What I have done in the past (work for me at least) is to show my "Book" so people/clients (clients are more of a work relationship/them changing jobs/word of mouth, for single clients my involvement on the community, helping all I can for years) understand my design approach, very difficult to convey with words..

Just trying to help..

 

[therealdutch]

Where are our photos, Dave?

 

[ScubaJon]

you may want to look into Fastenal as a shipping source.

 

[cruzerDave]

@therealdutch LOL!

CNC shop got the material today, are cutting Monday or Tuesday, so your pics will be here Tues or Wed