Outback Drawers - Roller or Fixed Top for Fridge?

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OregonLC

OregonLC

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Looking at going with the Outback Drawers. Already have a 63 qt ARB fridge and slide. Wondering if I should ditch the slide and go with a roller top on one of the drawers or keep the slide and go with two fixed-top drawers?

Fixed Top Advantages: Things won't fall into the open drawer top. Already have the slide ($70 less for fixed-top), slightly larger drawer volume (?).

Roll Top Advantages: Slight weight savings, one less thing to make noise, slightly lower fridge height, clean deck top with fridge removed for hauling other stuff.

Anyone using them have an opinion?
 
As you probably know I have the AO drawers with the sliding fridge top on the one (passenger) side. To be honest its more of a PITA to use the slide out...so I, 99% of the time, just hop up on the tailgate and grab whatever I need out of the fridge.

Plus I have this and that on the window side of the fridge that seems to, more often than not, get in the way if I want to slide the fridge out.

So at the end of the day having the slide out fridge shelf isn't a must have for me.
 
I hear you on that Dan. Anytime something slides on a full rig that is going to happen. Just like on the sliding deck for the 150 series 4Rs.

With my slide, the cord inevitably wants to get pinched as the slide closes.
 
The ARB63 fridge slide extends 25.75" and the tray height is 1.82"
What is the max extension on the fridge slide on their drawer?
 
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I have the setup you are considering including the 63 with the roller floor drawer top. The OS drawers are 3/4 extension including the fridge slide top.

Here are the issues I have had on my OS drawers:
- Drawer "lock open" tabs break. I've replaced 4. They are plastic.
- The bottoms of both Drawers are warping "up", oil canning if you will.
- The carpet color from panel to panel is inconsistent
- Position of the drawer latches (even in the rear most mount positions) will touch the plastic tailgate flap/bridge when the tailgate is closed. this leaves marks on the drawer handles.

ARB has been ho hum about the issues I've raised on my $1800 drawers. They did replace the stop locks for free.

Dave's production system, which I have seen/used in person several times, should be on your radar. There is a two drawer side-by-side (model Bravo) that will be available shortly after model Alpha begins shipping.

TrekBoxx is 500# full extension, lock open, lock closed for all the drawers. The fit and finish is excellent. Hardware top notch.

Overall the OS drawers are very sturdy metal construction and have a very slight advantage in room over TrekBoxx. The TrekBoxx is way engineered and very precise but this USA made precision will be a premium even over the imports... but probably not by much when comparing like configurations.

YMMV

ps I may start taking offers on my OS drawers.
 
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Sidebar: What is the weight of a similar TrekBoxx set-up (double drawers) Rob?
 
Dan I'm not sure. I pinged Dave earlier for specs but I remember that he is on a fishing trip this week.

With just drawers and wings (no cage) I'd suspect that TrekBoxx is heavier but not egregiously so. Those slides he uses are not light.

Double Sidebar: I'm meeting up with several Expo members in Campbell on the 29th for lunch and trip talks... you should come by.
 
Thanks for the input guys. Appreciate it. Dave's drawers are a really nice setup and are making me think. I'll take a look at the price when it gets published.

Honestly it's a big mental hurdle for me to spend that much (assuming pricing will come in more than OS) on a wood-based system no matter how nice. Granted its a exquisite CNC'd and coated wood setup with all the bugs worked out and with the advantage of shelving. But I'm also stuck on the single-purpose aspect of the Alpha system (limits Home Depot run utility) and if I were just looking at the Bravo I'd probably build my own. And to that last point I might revisit that notion again; it would be $800-$1000 less (!!!) to build what some of the others have done nicely. I don't have a lot of free time, so I had pretty much convinced myself to go OS as a pnp solution and just be done with it.

Back to the original topic, I think the fixed top is the way I would go. The sliding fridge seems easier to mitigate shifting items than having the entire drawer top move. A hybrid idea might be to fab up a cage or cage/shelf combo to surround the fridge.
 
Ok Dennis...one more 'devil's advocate' from me: Have you considered Adventure Trailer's composite drawers? They're still going to store whatever you need to store...100% extending drawer slides (me likes this mobetta compared to my AO drawers) but at about 1/2 the weight.

If/when I build another project rig...weight savings is going to be a top priority for everything that gets attached/put in the LC.
 
spressomon said:
Ok Dennis...one more 'devil's advocate' from me: Have you considered Adventure Trailer's composite drawers? They're still going to store whatever you need to store...100% extending drawer slides (me likes this mobetta compared to my AO drawers) but at about 1/2 the weight.

If/when I build another project rig...weight savings is going to be a top priority for everything that gets attached/put in the LC.
Click to expand...

What is the weight of the OS drawers? AT composite shows 49 lbs and doesn't look like they offer side wing kits? Doesn't look like as nice of a solution and it might save 20 lbs per side?

Did also see that ARB/OS has cargo dividers. It's only shown on their PDF and not elsewhere on their website. CRRD100US is the part number. http://www.arbusa.com/uploads/pdf/newproductadvice/arb_drawersystems_pr_retail.pdf

Regarding weight, I agree to a certain extent. How much do you think you can really shave without sacrificing utility/durability? Maybe 100 lbs across all devices? It's a heavy duty hobby. Regarding building another rig, my next one will be a diesel. This is a whole nother debate/discussion but Toyota is going to be bringing a small truck diesel into the US. They're going to have to to meet CAFE and compete. It's just a matter of when. My guess it will be a Tacoma with a 200hp 4cyl. That will likely be my next truck as long as I can get the family into it.
 
Hey guys- just trying to plug back into reality. My .02. Yes, wood drawers take up a bit more space. But they are stronger than like-weighted steel imo. Yes, mine are heavy. The slides alone are 22lbs a pair! But all in all you're talking about 50-100 lbs. more on our rigs, which isn't much at all. I personally don't ever notice the weight.

Whatever you decide, I'd recommend 2 things if you go the slide-top or fridge slide route. First, building a cage of some sort around the fridge is incredibly handy when pulling out the fridge when the truck is loaded. Second, I use a piece of shock cord tied to the center of the fridge cord and to the cage. Does a great job of keeping the cord out of the way.

I spent about $1200 and a month of time to build my first system, if that helps with your decision. You can definitely same some cash, as long as you don't mind the work- you'll be making pennies per hour! If you decide to build your own and need help with slides or hardware, pm me. I can probably get them to you pretty reasonably- I'll check with my vendors.

David
 
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