Drawer system for a Disco I?

[R_Lefebvre]

Actually, I have a great sense of humor. What I don't have is an ego that limits my ability to learn. Don't try and say you don't either. Defending any part of your ****ty pack job, which you've done, is evident of this. It sucks.

B**** B**** B****. That's all you do.

 

[SeaRubi]

My satire was aimed at Rob but, honestly, the reason its funny is because its been soooo true for myself for most of the time I've been going out on group trips. It'd take the guys all of 30 seconds I'm sure to find some nice pics that look way worse than Rob's. :elkgrin:

I dont need, nor do I want a roof top tent, a gigantic trailer or a rear drawer system. I thought about a rear drawer system but like the ability to get to things from inside the truck rather than always having to go around the back of the truck and open the doors.

Good post, which illustrates why this always ends up being a hot (and rich source of fun) topic because everyone wants something a bit different depending on their exact sit-chee-ation.

The biggest thing pushing me to either a floor or drawers is a) I have a child and b) a 70lb dog. 3 people and a big dog take up a lot of room. With no roof-rack it's nearly impossible to pack up for even a 2~3 day trip. Having a secure place to put tools, spares, and recovery junk is indeed highly appealing. The dog can sit on top of that stuff and there's significantly less risk of injury to him. The other big benefit is security. When someone peers into the vehicle, all I want them to see is floor and not get any ideas that there might be something under there of value. Right now, I live just a few miles north of Oakland - not exactly a low crime area. In addition to that, I'm looking at living on a boat in the next 6mos so moving a bunch of stuff between the house and the truck isn't going to be an option for me, and I hate mini-storage.

For instance, it would totally suck to need recovery gear and find that you can't get your rear door open because of where you are stuck. Though one option would be to have removable panels on the deck, so worst case you can unload everything via the back seat to get to the recovery gear that's in the drawers.

This is an excellent point, Thom. I've found myself stuck noise pointed up hill, no traction, rear-end butted up against a mud bank on several occasions. Having all my gear locked up like that would have brought teh suck.

...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.

... you also have no idea of how frugal of a guy Craig is, or the fact that he'd owned that truck since it was new and had a lot of time to build it up exactly the way he wanted after much trial and error. :ylsmoke:

cheers,
-ike

 

[Antichrist]

This is an excellent point, Thom.

I'm Tom, Muskyman is Thom. He might be very offended you mixing us up.

On a serious note though, I've been thinking about some sort of drawer(s) for things I keep the the boot all the time, but my first counter thought was remembering cases were I couldn't, or didn't want to because it was under water, open the rear door.

Aside from that, in general about this thread:
I don't get why anyone would get hot under the collar pro or con drawers, trailer, roof rack or whatever. To each their own.
Heck, even if people don't want to secure their cargo, as long as one isn't riding with them, who cares?

 

[R_Lefebvre]

This is an excellent point, Thom. I've found myself stuck noise pointed up hill, no traction, rear-end butted up against a mud bank on several occasions. Having all my gear locked up like that would have brought teh suck.

I have not found myself in that situation ever. Yet. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen a configuration of land where that was a possibility. But that's just the peculiarity of this area I guess. You can only ever dig so much mud before you hit rock bottom. Canadian Shield typically has 1-3 feet of mud, then rock.

However, it does still need to be planned for. In the past, I have forseen when a particular piece of trail is going to bring teh suck, and I put my recovery gear up front in the passenger footwell. Or even attached the tow strap and coiled it on the hood or spare tire.

But still, I'd be leary of having my gear locked away in the back any time. This is why maybe the false floor is the solution. Worst case, if you made it with no backing against the rear seat, you could flip the rear seat forward and get your gear from the front of the storage binnacle.

I've also thought about some kind of container on the swing away somewhere (I love the steel barrels that put it in the spare wheel). Or possibly a box bolted to the floor of the rear seat area.

That might actually be the best place for me. It would still leave the sides open for the kids feet. It would be sort of a continuation of the center console up front. Of course, this would then preclude ever flipping the rear seat forward. I'm not sure how much of an issue that would be in the future considering we have a minivan.

Ideally, I'd love to cut the middle out of the rear seat and make a larger box in that space, but there's no nice way to do that.

 

[AxeAngel]

I have not found myself in that situation ever. Yet. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen a configuration of land where that was a possibility. But that's just the peculiarity of this area I guess.

With dual swing aways like we both have, i can see not being able to open the rear door

I've also thought about some kind of container on the swing away somewhere (I love the steel barrels that put it in the spare wheel).

You have my full attention now, do tell. I currently coil up my recovery strap and leave it in the spare tire while on the trail.

-Sam

 

[Viggen]

You have my full attention now, do tell. I currently coil up my recovery strap and leave it in the spare tire while on the trail.

-Sam

If I think Im going to need the strap, I stole this idea from a Camel Trophy (I know how poser that sounds) video I saw a while back. I dont have any pics at the moment, as I never think about taking any, but its an elastic net you can get at any store and I span it from one end of the hood to the other. Then, put the strap and gloves under the net and they wont go anywhere. Its under the net and on top of the black out so its not like its going to scratch anything. Sort of like this:

Notice the net holding things down on the hood?

 

[SeaRubi]

I'm Tom, Muskyman is Thom. He might be very offended you mixing us up.

crap ... I knew that ... my apologies to both hehe

With dual swing aways like we both have, i can see not being able to open the rear door

You have my full attention now, do tell. I currently coil up my recovery strap and leave it in the spare tire while on the trail.

-Sam

If you doubt your ability to get through an obstacle and you're with multiple trucks, it saves a boatload of time to just go ahead and assume you'll need to be recovered. Even if you don't, the worst that can happen is your truck looks kinda funny in the pics.

Edit: Viggen, that net on the hood is a cool idea

 

[R_Lefebvre]

With dual swing aways like we both have, i can see not being able to open the rear door

Yeah, I know it's possible, I just haven't seen it yet.

If I think Im going to need the strap, I stole this idea from a Camel Trophy (I know how poser that sounds) video I saw a while back. I dont have any pics at the moment, as I never think about taking any, but its an elastic net you can get at any store and I span it from one end of the hood to the other. Then, put the strap and gloves under the net and they wont go anywhere. Its under the net and on top of the black out so its not like its going to scratch anything. Sort of like this:

I tend to do that already, as others have said. In this pic, I had it attached and lying on the hood. Unfortunately, I was way too optimistic on how far I'd get. I had to detach it and move it to the back.

Having it in a net on the hood would help that. And it looks damn cool. How do they attach the net exactly? I already have cargo nets, but the plastic hooks are too big to wrap around the hood and shut it.

The other thing I do is wrap it around the bullbar.

And I guess that's a great example of when you couldn't open the door...

I've also thought about putting the bag on the roof. But the damn thing weighs 50lbs.

 

[Viggen]

Edit: Viggen, that net on the hood is a cool idea

Ill see if I can get some pictures but the weather is crappy out. At the very least, I can find some screen shots and post them up. Wrapping the strap around the ARB is an option but I hate how it looks and I would then have to unroll it. With the net, one end is attached to the d link shackle and the rest is rolled up under the net. Pulling it out for use and putting it back is really easy.

 

[Antichrist]

There's more to recovery than a strap, that you can throw just about anywhere.

I was thinking more of things like shackles, snatch blocks, chains, heavy hard things you don't want loose on the floor.
In any case, my main point was to think about when you might need what's in the drawer and if you'd ever need it at a time when you can't get the door open. A crunched door would be another situation, don't just think 'stuck'.

 

[rezdiver]

I was really interested in this thread when it was started by the original poster, but in 4 days you guys have turned the original request into a 7 page ****show with hardly any info on what was originally requested.

This has happened on quite a few threads lately by the same few people here and I am assuming most of the forum readers are not very impressed. Keep to the subject and stop changing the direction of a thread into your own personal debate about how much bigger yours is. answer the thread question with your first hand personal knowledge regarding the question and not what you believe is right or wrong. there are others reading these threads that have the same interest and off topic rants like this wreck this forum for the rest of us.

the second poster started to rag on the poor guy for asking a question, there are many of us who do not post on every subject and we read and are interested in similar questions so if you dont agree with it just dont post, no one cares about your opinion, really.

 

[kjp1969]

I've also thought about some kind of container on the swing away somewhere (I love the steel barrels that put it in the spare wheel).

You mean, like mine?
Yep, made it out of scraps for about $20 in materials. Its aluminum on the face, fiberglass for the rest. It locks and is roomy enough for a couple of straps, shackles, gloves and whatnot.

 

[SeaRubi]

I was really interested in this thread when it was started by the original poster, but in 4 days you guys have turned the original request into a 7 page ****show with hardly any info on what was originally requested.

This has happened on quite a few threads lately by the same few people here and I am assuming most of the forum readers are not very impressed. Keep to the subject and stop changing the direction of a thread into your own personal debate about how much bigger yours is. answer the thread question with your first hand personal knowledge regarding the question and not what you believe is right or wrong. there are others reading these threads that have the same interest and off topic rants like this wreck this forum for the rest of us.

the second poster started to rag on the poor guy for asking a question, there are many of us who do not post on every subject and we read and are interested in similar questions so if you dont agree with it just dont post, no one cares about your opinion, really.

There are a good number of threads about storage, drawers, and material selection if you cared to look. Instead, you're here to complain that this thread didn't unfold like a magazine article, expertly researched with only 2 choices from the most glitzy looking vendors laid out with many photographs but few words to ease your overworked, fragile sensibilities and short-on-time moments away from the office and WWII model building deep in your basement. I am woefully saddened and regretful now thinking how merciless and difficult it must've been for you to endure the forced reading of four pages of drivel and "off-topic rants" during those late nights waiting for glue to dry.

forlz?

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/search.php

And I love the "no one cares", angle. Obviously, you care. You cared enough to include your own little rant. You cared enough to scold me for attempting to give a pulse to an otherwise repetitive and well worn topic. Don't say that you don't care. If you cared about the topic more than complaining you'd have asked some kind of relevant question yourself, or suggested some kind of related solution. But you didn't do that. You complained about this thread, and will retort with some other kind of ridiculously angry response, all the while refusing to use the Search button and posting a question in an established thread.

Lighten up, Francis :ylsmoke: there's still good tech being tossed in here, even now.

cheers,
-ike

 

[Viggen]

Im not a jump to the search button person BUT there is a WHOLE SECTION about storage solutions. The point of there being tech here is true. There is crap but there is good stuff also.

Heres where I got my idea for the net across the hood. Camel Trophy in the 3 door Discos through Russia:

 

[AxeAngel]

So I'm thinking about what Tom said about accessibility. If I combined the net on the hood with a storage box on the rear.

How about using my Jerry can swingaway as a storage area for recovery equipment on the trail. Would it be bad to ride with thr Jerry can in the rear cargo area? Obviously if I had a base camp I could leave the can there but for tough trails would it be a bad idea to strap it down inside?

-Sam