Outback Solutions (ARB) Drawers (1 Viewer)

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Stuck between a rock and a hard place
Well, after heming and hawing about building my own set of drawers, or having a custom build, I came across FlyingWil's build thread, I did a bit of research on the Outback Solutions drawers being imported by ARB. I was duly impressed, as they are very, very well built, and have a purpose-built fit kit for our rigs (and many others). I also wanted one drawer with a fixed top, and one drawer with the roller top for the fridge. These are the 1045 models, which end up an inch or so behind the middle-row.

So, I contacted Wil at Sierra Expeditions to find out what sort of deal he could offer, and it was a good one...plus he had a set arriving shortly from ARB, when often they are on backorder for a month or more. So, I pulled the trigger, and took advantage of their free shipping deal. They arrived this week on a pallet, and were well packed. Thanks Wil!

Got them home and decided to split my day with the morning to early afternoon installing what I could with the drawers, then pulling my T-Case (another much more painful thread).

The instructions are a bit to be desired, as they came on a DVD, and were geared to many different rigs, not the 80 specifically.

Here are my tips to any others doing this install. Still read the instructions, but these should help with some of the common questions.

1. Unpack carefully
2. Pull the lid off of the fixed lid drawer (4mm allen)
3. Remove drawer stops from both drawers and remove drawers, storing in a safe place
4. Remove the cross-braces and follow directions of where to mount (pictoral for the 80)
5. Bolt them together, using all six of the smaller bolts, washers and locknuts, paying attention as to which you want on the left or right.
6. Remove front-most third row mounts, replace inside bolts into holes. Leave back ones in.
7. Remove rear tie downs, replace rearmost bolts. Drill out front-most hole to at least 10mm, and paint.
8. Front mounting points, use 15mm of stackers with little nubbies removed from outside oriented front to rear, rectangular washer, splt-washer, and 35mm supplied bolt. Start several threads, but eave loose for now.
9. Rear mounting points, also use 15mm of stackers, 50mm bolt with split-washer on top, rectangular washer, rectangular washer with foam goes below to seal from water, plus nylock. Hand-tighten.
10. Check alignment of the frames, and when happy tighten the four hold-down points.
11. Install fit kit.
12. Replace Top(s), and then finally drawers and drawer slide locks.
13. Enjoy!

Still have to wrap #11-13 in the next few days, but here are a few gratuitous shots of the install so far.

On the home-built front I will be fabricating my own middle-row board to finish up the sleeping platform, and hopefully can find some matching carpet.

:cheers:

Steve

Well crated

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21312-well-crated.jpg


Well built

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21314-nice-rollers-drawers.jpg


Top off

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21313-out-box.jpg


Making use of the slider top

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21316-reading-dvd-slider-top.jpg


Rear mounting point

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21317-bolt-rear.jpg


Front mounting point

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21319-front-mount.jpg


Just need to add the fit kit

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21320-fit-kit-still-needed-installed.jpg
 
Nice

I installed the African outback system in my 80. Those are not available anymore so I installed these in my 100. They are better built in my opinion and I like them more. Plus they fit in multiple configurations and you can move them between vehicles by just changing the trim kit
 
Nice
I'm cheap so I made my own:D. I was looking also into a drawer system like yours but after searching I couldn't find one that wasn't that tall and I didn't wanted to see my sub over the back seat.
Calgary-20110506-00383.jpg
 
A few more shots with the "fit kit" installed. Yes, it is a very very good fitment with the kit, and beyond robust. Will get a daytime shot soon.

:cheers:

Steve

Front Support

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21352-front-support-installed.jpg


Middle Support

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21355-middle-support.jpg


Rear Support

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21354-rear-support-installed.jpg


Top On

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21356-almost-done.jpg
 
Very nice!
 
Those are slick indeed. What was the final $$$?
 
Steve,

Those are very nice. Fits like a glove. Does the drivers side flip up so that you can get to the jack?

Stu
 
Thank you for posting the detailed pics. I am ordering these in a few days for my 60 series, they seem like very nice quality drawers!
 
Pice-wise, best to give Wil at Sierra Expeditions a call to find out...they are not cheap, but well worth the $$ in my view. As Romer noted, they can live beyond one truck to the next so a good investment.

Both sides have quickly removable panels (half-turn hand screw knobs you can see on each). Takes all of three seconds to get them off and into the storage below, or either storage compartment R or L.

:cheers:

Steve
 
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for comparisons. The African Outback drawers in my 80

attachment.php


The ARB drawers in my 100

attachment.php


The handles are better. As mentioned, the cover for the side pockets has the screw latch rather than just flopping it on top on the old set

The fridge drawer slide also is better (stronger)

You can also stack these 2 or 3 high where I think the African ones came already bolted together

I think the drawers in the african are a bit wider and the ARB have more fit trim kit and larger side pockets
 
last time I looked ARB did not have any real decent pictures on their web site. I've seen more detail here than on their own site.
 
How bout sleeping on these?. From the specs it doesn't seem feasible with the 220lb weight limit.
 
How bout sleeping on these?. From the specs it doesn't seem feasible with the 220lb weight limit.

Dont see why you couldnt.
 
Romer said:
Dont see why you couldnt.

Except the specs would make it seem not.
 
Hey djsherif - these are beefy. I've no problem sleeping on mine - other than the inch gap of height difference with the rear seat folded. It's winter here - so I'm using a thick insulated inflatable anyways. Probably need to rig a removable piece of plywood if your keeping the second row.
 
Hey Steve -Any idea if an MWC will still fit beside the drawer with the fit kit side panel off? (Edit: I don't have the fit kit)
 
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Hey Steve -Any idea if an MWC will still fit beside the drawer with the fit kit side panel off? (Edit: I don't have the fit kit)

Out of town, but will check next week with one of my Scepter cans. I think it would fit, bit will confirm.

:cheers:

Steve
 
One MWC or MFC will fit very well in either side. The DS of the rig is a perfect "tight" fit, and the PS has about an inch of extra space. Great suggestion as it is always nice to have places to safely store more water or fuel.

:cheers:

Steve

cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21461-ps-side-storage.jpg


cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21462-ps-mwc.jpg


cyclosteve-albums-outback-drawers-picture21463-ds-mwc.jpg
 
Very nice system. I'll have to put this on the list for next years tax return since this years is spent on other stuff.
 

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