Storage Drawers and Other Storage Systems (1 Viewer)

[sneaky]

I'm a long ways off doing anything, but was thinking of a slide out floor that fit between the wheel wells and slid out over the tail gate. The sort that they use in utes ( pick ups in another lingo). Could then mount a slide and drop fridge slider for easy beverage access.

I figured the space either side could be used for thin water tanks, first aid, spare tyre or what ever. My reasoning is that I would have a usable space more of the time and be some what more accessible and not have the constant extra weight of timber drawers or have to deal with the added height to the floor.

I also thought it would still allow access to the fuel sender and let me have a somewhat flat area when the rear bench is folded forward.

 

[Megadoomer]

For one J Mack sleeps in his pig so I doubt he wand a drawer system. At work we outfit our survey trucks with a box. We had looked at the Decked system but it does have some wasted nooks and crannies. We use 3/4 Birch or Sande plywood. Its heavy but the price of the alternatives just do not work. I built the boxes for the last 4 Tundras we got.

The large opening fits a Yeti 55. There are side boxes with clamps for certain equipment. These are fun to make but obviously over kill for the Pigs.

I haven't made it yet but I want a box for my explorer with handles on the front and wheels on the back. I'd like to pull it out and roll it standing up in the garage when I am not using it for surveying.

 

[RUSH55]

I haven't made it yet but I want a box for my explorer with handles on the front and wheels on the back. I'd like to pull it out and roll it standing up in the garage when I am not using it for surveying.

I really like that idea - less fuss removability. Of course, if it’s going to house tools and spare parts, then it’s less likely to be removed, but if it was engineered to unlatch or unpin and be pulled out when needed, then that becomes another dimension of handy.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Megadoomer,

No need for slides on the drawers? I've seen some use thin sheets of plastic to improve sliding when full, that seems to work well enough. I'm not liking the idea of 3/4" slides on each side of each drawer, a guy would loose 3" or more in width.

 

[RUSH55]

I'm a long ways off doing anything, but was thinking of a slide out floor that fit between the wheel wells and slid out over the tail gate. The sort that they use in utes ( pick ups in another lingo). Could then mount a slide and drop fridge slider for easy beverage access.

How were you thinking, or maybe, what method were you thinking of using to slide the platform?

 

[J Mack]

I was kinda waiting for J Mack to show interest, if you know what I'm say'n.

Don’t wait on me, I spent a bit of time kicking around ideas for a permanent type box for the back of the pig and even talked to the guys at DECKED at one point. My issue with most of these systems that would make my camping setup a little more convenient is they will completely ball me up for the 99% of the time I’m using my pig for something else. Regardless of how many times I want or thought I would overnight camp a year my reality is two to three times a year. My pig is my daily driver and I use it like a pickup with a camper shell and haul stuff most of the time, lifting something 9” or 13” higher every time I load the pig to make those couple camping days more convenient is what led me to my current system. The boxes I use have roller wheels on one end and four boxes fit perfectly front to back and side to side in the back of a pig, because we can break our camping gear down into three or four separate boxes my wife and I can easily, quickly load or unload and be setup for cooking and sleeping or getting back on the road then store them on a shelf in garage ready to go for next time.

I do like the overlandy Toyotas with snorkels, gas cans, Maxtrax and permanent camping setups but it’s just not for me the way I use mine.



Good luck guys I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

 

[Megadoomer]

We could go raid your IG account...

Megadoomer,

No need for slides on the drawers? I've seen some use thin sheets of plastic to improve sliding when full, that seems to work well enough. I'm not liking the idea of 3/4" slides on each side of each drawer, a guy would loose 3" or more in width.

No need for plastic. I sand the wood real nice and then take one of my wife's candles and rub it on the lower boards. If you punch it and tail gate is down you will lose that drawer. I use 3/4 on the side because they have to support a lot of weight. A full Yeti is heavy. One of the other slots is a drawer to just not depicted and we usually hold heavy doodads in their too. Obviously in a camping setting you might not have such heavy items.

 

[J Mack]

No need for slides on the drawers?

60” 500# capacity full length slides are cheap and readily available on sites like Amazon, they don’t take up much room and will let you pull your drawer out more than halfway.

 

[Broski]

60” 500# capacity full length slides are cheap and readily available on sites like Amazon, they don’t take up much room and will let you pull your drawer out more than halfway.

They are nice but you lose 11/2" space with each drawer.

 

[J Mack]

They are nice but you lose 11/2" space with each drawer.

Small price to pay for a system that's supposed to make your life easier.

Not going to do this without them.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Fully agree with @J Mack . Screw the 1.5" lost. Shoulder surgery is expensive.

 

[Megadoomer]

No doubt there is some cool systems out there. I saw a guy that did his own like what J Mack posted but it was all extruded aluminum and fiber board. Super light and strong.
I was just posting my boxes to cuz I like them. They are built to be used 10 hours a day and hold heavy crap. Simplicity is key for that kind of torture. We had a guy stopped letting a school bus unload and a pickup hit them at 55-65 mph. Never even saw them stopped. I build those boxes so strong that it saved the truck from being totaled and the box was still usable with a few modifications.

 

[Broski]

Small price to pay for a system that's supposed to make your life easier.

Not going to do this without them.

Nice work no doubt. It's all what your wants and needs are and what kind of trails you want to run.
For the trails I run, I want light, simple and no wasted space. I also don't want to hear things rattling around.
No offense intended, Your rig looks like it for easy stuff the tires are a dead giveaway.

 

[J Mack]

Your rig looks like it for easy stuff the tires are a dead giveaway

You got me there, if I wanted to be a little more hardcore overlandy what tires would you recommend?

I'd like to get up on the big rocks like this...

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Nice work no doubt. It's all what your wants and needs are and what kind of trails you want to run.
For the trails I run, I want light, simple and no wasted space. I also don't want to hear things rattling around.
No offense intended, Your rig looks like it for easy stuff the tires are a dead giveaway.

That's pretty funny considering that's just an example photo that he posted.

 

[bobm]

Here We Go again

 

[Megadoomer]

Jim is an armchair mechanic with highway tread tires.

 

[J Mack]

Jim is an armchair mechanic with highway tread tires.

All true, I’m hopeful @Broski can recommend me some proper tires and I get over my fear of driving over rocks.

 

[RUSH55]

Ahhhaha - so good! Thanks @Broski , you made my Monday

 

[scrapdaddy]

Alright, I just sat down with a cold Bud.