Drawer system for a Disco I?

[R_Lefebvre]

No, sorry, I don't think so. You know where it's from, might be more there. It is a decent sort of middle-ground between the pro-drawer and anti-drawer camps. It's simple and light, while adding some of the benefits of a drawer system.

 

[AxeAngel]

No, sorry, I don't think so. You know where it's from, might be more there. It is a decent sort of middle-ground between the pro-drawer and anti-drawer camps. It's simple and light, while adding some of the benefits of a drawer system.

Just saw the sticker. Is it too late to say I hate it?

-Sam

 

[craig]

I didn't suggest anything "minimalist".

My comments were based on the information you provided in your photo which did not include a RTT, a trailer, or anything else.

Here's what my setup, using the suggestions from above, looked like when I was done. It worked quite well on multiple extended trips with my wife, son, and dog. We have used both a dual burner stove (shown) and 2 smaller stoves (still have two burners). With this setup, the food and cooking area was accessible without removing anything from the back of the vehicle; making lunch stops very quick and easy. Recovery gear is in the back of the drawers over the rear axle.

Testing the layout of the cargo area (tie downs not installed yet)

Fridge slide is installed using thumb screws into T-nuts. They can be removed when the fridge isn't in use, leaving the cargo area free for groceries, soccer balls, or anything else.

Onboard air is hidden behind the interior panel (ARB compressor). Air outlet doesn't interfere with the drawer opening.

Pelican case is secured to the drawers using the handles. This allows the Pelican to be opened and closed without requiring any straps to be unhooked first.

Mac's Tie Downs use the same technology as that used to secure airplane seats. The drawers are secured more than well enough to anchor additional items to it.

I'm from Seattle. Keeping dry is important to us as well. With the tent open (and optional changing room atttached) the cooking area is very well protected from wind, rain, or snow.

I'm not interested in arguing with you. They are suggestions based on my own experience with a setup that has been used and tested on dozens of trips. Feel free to adopt or ignore any of the ideas as you see fit. Good luck with your project.

 

[southpier]

..... Fred glances over to his sad friend, Rob, and feels compelled to say something. "He'll get it figured out, don't worry. Isn't that a nice sunset? My God, I love it out here." .... while speaking in slurred speech with Fred .....How do I know all of this to be true? ...

to add insult to injury, that bastard Fred was tappin' my ol' lady!

 

[AxeAngel]

Craig, do you have any drawings, dimesnions, materials for your drawer system? Pretty much you have exactly what I am looking for.

-Sam

 

[109 Pretender]

Adventure Trailers make some nice drawers that are coated w/LineX. Don't know if they make some specific to your vehicle, but IIRC they say they can custom fab to owners specs. However, they're kinda expensive.

They might give you some ideas if inclined to DIY.

Good Luck!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

My comments were based on the information you provided in your photo which did not include a RTT, a trailer, or anything else.

Yeah, I know, you're kinda coming into this whole thing a bit late.

This is my trailer, and how we will be travelling most of the time. As you can imagine, add 4 life jackets, paddles, and remove any possibility of putting stuff on the roof, it's obvious that going without a trailer just isn't going to work for us. Yes, the trailer is massive, but much lighter than it looks, and it includes warm and dry sleeping quarters for the kids, plus a nicely laid out kitchenette on the other side, dry storage for firewood in the bottom, plus 19 gallons of water.

And I didn't mean to sound defensive. Just... this has all been argued already. The point of the photo was not to get into a whole treatise about my obviously bad packing job. It was just to show why I feel a drawer system makes sense. Which obviously you agree with as you have a setup pretty similar to what I am thinking. The only thing I'd add is the cargo barrier.

You are relying on a couple of 1/4" hinge pins anchored into plastic on the handles to hold your Pelican. That doesn't look very secure to me. I also don't understand why a case needs to be waterproof when it resides in a vehicle full-time. But that's just me.

Does the right hand drawer open when the table is folded down?

I don't see any clothing or water supply in any of those photos? Firewood?

I'm not interested in arguing with you. They are suggestions based on my own experience with a setup that has been used and tested on dozens of trips. Feel free to adopt or ignore any of the ideas as you see fit. Good luck with your project.

I'm not looking to argue either. It's obvious we're not far off in our opinions on a lot of these matters anyway.

 

[AxeAngel]

Post a pic of the inside of your trailer Rob. I'd like to see how people set these up. Theres one half the size of yours with only the rear opening door and some sort of cooler box mounted on it that is selling locally for $400.

-Sam

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I'm still working on the outside wall. I haven't quite figured it out yet, between the required door and windows.

I've since added cabinets. The pull out slide will have some kind of swanky setup when I'm done.

Ignore the minivan. I decided to have fun with my family this summer even though the truck was broken. Some have a problem with that, but they can bite me. It pulls the trailer fine, and probably has more gravel road miles on it than some trucks.

 

[kjp1969]

Jeeze, you guys. . .

I built this for about $50 plus some junk that I had lying around. Tools and stuff in the bottom, kitchen stuff and food in the top. The cooler goes on the side with some other things, and soft fluffy stuff gets lashed to the top.

That Range Rover with the bling looks nice and all, but the money invested in that rear end exceeds the value of my entire truck and contents. In fact, it may not be possible to spend more on cargo area storage. I've not doubt of its quality, but lets not pretend that it's the only way to nirvana. So have fun, spend what you want, but know that the bare minimum is easy, cheap, and does 90% of the same thing.

Oh, and if that campsite disaster scenario were anything other than a total joke, you've got bigger problems than junk storage.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Oh, and if that campsite disaster scenario were anything other than a total joke, you've got bigger problems than junk storage.

Explain.

 

[kjp1969]

Explain.

This nonsense:

As a Big 5 explosion camper myself, I can tell you the answer to this one: Fred's over showing off his new Pelican cases and feeding his kids as if it weren't any big deal at all, while also loaning your wife a cold beer and reassuring her that it's not a big deal that your kid is sitting down to dinner with his own. And it's only been about 20 minutes after pulling in. Fred's wife, Susan, is consoling your wife that it's not that embarrassing since she's not over there with you to dig through things. Your wife is then watching Susan watch Fred, staring up into the orange sky and being momentarily taken aback with the macho image of her husband standing on top of the truck's floor-lined roof rack to toss down a bundle of firewood while describing the view. Fred glances over to his sad friend, Rob, and feels compelled to say something. "He'll get it figured out, don't worry. Isn't that a nice sunset? My God, I love it out here."

Meanwhile, you're just beginning to screw with the tent, because it's going to be dark soon, and you know there's no way in hell you can set it up after that happens. Some time around 10 p.m. you've got dinner ready, but everyone else is fed and having a grand ol' time around the camp fire roasting the marsh mellows that your kids found in the food bin and ran off with. Drunk at this point, you're wondering what to do with the excess food, while speaking in slurred speech with Fred about your custom bumper and how much it weighs and your decisions to build vs. buy.

I recently went camping with a bunch of very well equipped guys, trailers, roof tents, fridges and all. They had better gear, but I slept well in my ground tent, ate well out of my cooler, and pitched and struck camp in half the time. Less can be more.

 

[05LR3AZ]

I can understand the 'want' of having shelves and storage compartment in the rear of a Disco. I researched all the options but couldn't come to grips with actually making the purchase due to cost. HAHA, yes, I wanted my Discovery to look cool. I put the $ into other vehicle components I felt were more important.

Then I thought to myself that I could build something. I started the design but felt like I was losing precious interior storage. Or maybe I just got bored with the idea.

Finally, I just put some tie downs in the floor and ratchet-strapped my gear. I already had the straps. I spend like $10 in misc. bolts, etc. I bought the ARB tie-down strap for my fridge but it's secured to the floor. Nothing shifts one bit - and I'm not talking about dirt road trails either.

If I had to plan an extended wheeling trip with my wife and kids, i'd be very cramped for space though. I like the trailer idea but not for heavy wheeling. That is a pretty sweet trailer Rob has. Craig's clean and concise packing is also very cool. I wish mine looked like that. Just depends on your trip or typical use I should say (how long, how many people, etc.).

I think the examples provided are all good examples - it works for you, go with it. Someone asked for input and hopefully obtained the info they were looking for.

 

[SeaRubi]

Craig, that photo was from 2 years ago. My problems are already gone. I have a trailer now and it's all good.

Well, I think you just moved the explosion to the trailer :elkgrin:

I'm pulling your chain, dude. I'm not against drawers, shelves, trailers, or even refrigerators. I do think it's easy to go overboard, but my friend's setups are always better organized, more efficient, and easier to setup and take down than my own mitigated glamper explosion. After years of shame it's been getting better. Having the jeep forced me to really pare down and learn how to pack.

cheers
-ike

 

[R_Lefebvre]

This nonsense:

Ok, now I get it. Yes.

I think the examples provided are all good examples - it works for you, go with it. Someone asked for input and hopefully obtained the info they were looking for.

:26_7_2: