With the plethora of nice "built in" drawer systems out there, I'm wondering why you chose that route? For those who use a storage box or tote system, why did you choose that route? I've designed a really nice drawer system for my 2003 4Runner but need a bit more versatility from my cargo space but, at the same time have a number of Plano boxes that I'd like to utilize for my trips. Has anyone combined the two ideas and had success with their ideas? What would you change?
Drawer System vs. Storage Boxes
- Thread starter rekhan74
- Start date
krick3tt
Adventurer
Boxes can and do shift and are often last in first out. I installed a 'built-in' shelf system to also double as a sleeping platform. All of my 'stuff' is in the drawers, out of sight and not visually available and the items in there are kept in the vehicle at all times so all I have to do for an adventure is to get petrol, food and water and I am off to parts known and unknown. There are smaller boxes and divisions in the drawers to keep items separate for each discipline.
If I would have had a vehicle that was primarily for a DD perhaps a better choice would have been separate boxes that could be off loaded to allow more room for passengers or the occasional trip to the grocery or the hardware store.
There are so many possibilities that to have one fit for all is not truly functional for me. If I would have advanced knowledge of my use of the vehicle, perhaps I would have designed a system that was a combination, but at the time an 'off the shelf' (pun) item made more sense for me. I was limited in time and material to construct and design a better way. My previous vehicle had a box system that was not truly efficient. Time for a change that has proven to be a great use of my energy and money.
If I would have had a vehicle that was primarily for a DD perhaps a better choice would have been separate boxes that could be off loaded to allow more room for passengers or the occasional trip to the grocery or the hardware store.
There are so many possibilities that to have one fit for all is not truly functional for me. If I would have advanced knowledge of my use of the vehicle, perhaps I would have designed a system that was a combination, but at the time an 'off the shelf' (pun) item made more sense for me. I was limited in time and material to construct and design a better way. My previous vehicle had a box system that was not truly efficient. Time for a change that has proven to be a great use of my energy and money.
jgaz
Adventurer
I built the drawer and box you see in the picture for the main purpose of providing a bit better day to day security when my Jeep is parked at a hiking trail head. Not perfect, but you’d need to get the tailgate open (or use a pry bar) to get into the box. I figure it’s better than just tying down the bags or boxes that I used before.
I made it the size I did so I could use my fridge on its slide if I ever decided to. The drawer holds my usual, every trip, off road gear that stays in the Jeep full time.
I don’t have a pic of it, but when I camp with the Jeep I use the cargo basket you can just see above the drawer for larger, bulky items such as a tent or chairs. I also can tie down either a Rigid tool box or a small Rubbermade Action Packer on top of the drawer box. Any other cargo is secured using the mounted tie down tracks or holes in the baseplate.
I made it the size I did so I could use my fridge on its slide if I ever decided to. The drawer holds my usual, every trip, off road gear that stays in the Jeep full time.
I don’t have a pic of it, but when I camp with the Jeep I use the cargo basket you can just see above the drawer for larger, bulky items such as a tent or chairs. I also can tie down either a Rigid tool box or a small Rubbermade Action Packer on top of the drawer box. Any other cargo is secured using the mounted tie down tracks or holes in the baseplate.
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
I have always gone with simple totes. Not only does it give you damn near unlimited versatility, but it doesn't pin your vehicle down to being dedicated to o e task.
I've built both for my 4runner and used each setup for over a year on numerous long and short duration trips, so I think I am uniquely qualified to answer this questions with my OPINION. haha.
Boxes.
The drawer was great, especially one single large drawer as I built mine, plenty of versatility within the drawer, and held lots of things. But ultimately it doesn't hold EVERYTHING you are going to bring on any given trip, so you logically prioritize leaving in it things like tools and recovery gear. This means that you're still using boxes for things like food, cooking, etc. Meanwhile, you are lugging around all of your tools and recovery gear everywhere you go, taking up space, hurting fuel economy, etc. The Beauty of Totes is the ability to categorize their contents and only brings the one(s) necessary for the trip.
I have Four Boxes: Camp, Kitchen, Tools and Recovery along with my cooler and usually a grocery bag full of dry goods.
Going wheeling for the day, but not spending the night? Tools and Recovery
Going camping somewhere that doesn't required 4wd? Camp and Kitchen
Road Trip? Tools
Picnic at the park? Kitchen
Now, the keyboard warrior/overland bound member would tell you that you should bring everything, all the time, you never know when a trip to starbucks can turn into a Recovery Situation.... but I live in the real world.
Furthermore, I picked the wolfpacks as my box of choice for two reasons, first is that they are small enough that when full of tools, they are not too heavy. Second, four of them fit perfectly in the cargo space of the 5th Gen 4runner.
Boxes.
The drawer was great, especially one single large drawer as I built mine, plenty of versatility within the drawer, and held lots of things. But ultimately it doesn't hold EVERYTHING you are going to bring on any given trip, so you logically prioritize leaving in it things like tools and recovery gear. This means that you're still using boxes for things like food, cooking, etc. Meanwhile, you are lugging around all of your tools and recovery gear everywhere you go, taking up space, hurting fuel economy, etc. The Beauty of Totes is the ability to categorize their contents and only brings the one(s) necessary for the trip.
I have Four Boxes: Camp, Kitchen, Tools and Recovery along with my cooler and usually a grocery bag full of dry goods.
Going wheeling for the day, but not spending the night? Tools and Recovery
Going camping somewhere that doesn't required 4wd? Camp and Kitchen
Road Trip? Tools
Picnic at the park? Kitchen
Now, the keyboard warrior/overland bound member would tell you that you should bring everything, all the time, you never know when a trip to starbucks can turn into a Recovery Situation.... but I live in the real world.
Furthermore, I picked the wolfpacks as my box of choice for two reasons, first is that they are small enough that when full of tools, they are not too heavy. Second, four of them fit perfectly in the cargo space of the 5th Gen 4runner.
Attachments
I share your opinion, and I like your "slider" that the boxes are stacked on. Did you make it or buy it? If the later, where did you buy it.
Thanks, I built both the drawer and the slide. I was going to try and cobble together all of the factory slide parts. But it usually costs $4-500 and you end up with mediocre slides. I built this version for about the same money, it uses 500lb Accuride slides and has cutouts for using e-track tie downs. Very happy with it. I get lots of people asking me to make them one, but it would be prohibitively expensive if I actually considered the cost of my time.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
That's my reasoning. Sometimes I need my pickup to be a pickup. Also while I have a standard camping load out with Action Packers and support equipment sometimes I tailor the packing for a specific type of trip or task. It's not always completely off grid or might be solo instead of both of us, more 'wheeling than camping (e.g. more spares or tools), whatever. I have thought many time of making a sliding tray to pack everything on just for access but drawers are too limiting to me.
BritKLR
Kapitis Indagatoris
Or, you think about the third option....I built a dedicated platform for my 60 that I could modify as needed. Originally it simply held my assortment of pelican cases and water cans, but eventually I added my fridge with slider. It allowed for unlimited combinations and was removable and stored in the basement between trips. Good luck!
jgaz
Adventurer
This ^^^.
I would definately start with a baseboard no matter which way I decided to go. I started with this in my Jeep.
The cutouts were a, weight saving exercise. They ended up working well for looping tie downs thru before I shamelessly started copying the @BritKLR design in the above post.
The base plate also gives you the option to add tee nuts to bolt things down as you live with your vehicle and see what works for you.
This watercan holder is bolted down, quickly removed or installed, and the can is easily retained with the roller cam strap.
Only the drawer stays in the Jeep most of the time. It carries a minimum of tools, jumper cables, tow strap, etc. full time. Basically the same things I’ve carried since I started driving almost 50 years ago.
I would definately start with a baseboard no matter which way I decided to go. I started with this in my Jeep.
The cutouts were a, weight saving exercise. They ended up working well for looping tie downs thru before I shamelessly started copying the @BritKLR design in the above post.
The base plate also gives you the option to add tee nuts to bolt things down as you live with your vehicle and see what works for you.
This watercan holder is bolted down, quickly removed or installed, and the can is easily retained with the roller cam strap.
Only the drawer stays in the Jeep most of the time. It carries a minimum of tools, jumper cables, tow strap, etc. full time. Basically the same things I’ve carried since I started driving almost 50 years ago.
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Ryanmb21
Expedition Leader
This topic has been discussed before, check out this Great thread.
I’ve done both and there is no clear leader.
Another observation, in this thread, and the other larger storage threads, all the pictures show the floor, slider, or drawer system completely empty, or mostly empty. What’s up with that?
My main goal is to maximize storage, lash the grear down safely, make it assessible, make it easy.
Additionally, any trip is going to require both gear that fits in a drawer, or a wolf box, and gear that does not.
Every trip I take, I need water, where does that go? An extra gas can?
What about your crew, are you a one man show, a couple, or a family of 4-5? It really matters, if you have an SUV with only a couple, it’s SO easy in an SUV, but with a family of four it’s a challenge sometimes even in a land cruiser.
I’ve done both and there is no clear leader.
Another observation, in this thread, and the other larger storage threads, all the pictures show the floor, slider, or drawer system completely empty, or mostly empty. What’s up with that?
My main goal is to maximize storage, lash the grear down safely, make it assessible, make it easy.
Additionally, any trip is going to require both gear that fits in a drawer, or a wolf box, and gear that does not.
Every trip I take, I need water, where does that go? An extra gas can?
What about your crew, are you a one man show, a couple, or a family of 4-5? It really matters, if you have an SUV with only a couple, it’s SO easy in an SUV, but with a family of four it’s a challenge sometimes even in a land cruiser.
BigSwede
The Credible Hulk
IMO, the drawer should contain stuff that you need access to frequently while camping, without having to dig out totes from underneath other stuff. I don't keep "just in case" stuff in the drawer, like tools, spare parts, automotive fluids, etc.; those go in totes that get tossed under the vehicle at camp.
But at the same time, I don't want to haul around the drawer system all the time, so it should be easily removable as well at the end of the trip.
But at the same time, I don't want to haul around the drawer system all the time, so it should be easily removable as well at the end of the trip.
I went in the direction of compartments that hold boxes. I couldn't commit to a drawer system but still wanted to keep boxes from flying around off-road and in case of emergency. I designed my system as a cavity that could be filled with boxes, bags etc. It's not perfect as it only fits a specific size or smaller container however I can also use it with the seat folded to carry longer items.
My plan was to make the setup useful for a single person to camp out of for a few days or multiple people to ride in for a camping trip.
Here it is empty except for a milk crate:
Sleeping setup:
Living:
Everything is bolted to the 3rd row seat holes and removable in less than 10mins. Next time I would use thinner wood in specific areas to reduce weight, maybe move the fridge slide down and eliminate the slide out tray under it. Water gets stored in 1-gal. bottles on the passenger side (by the pringles) and the bladder is stored behind the paper towels (bottom right).
My plan was to make the setup useful for a single person to camp out of for a few days or multiple people to ride in for a camping trip.
Here it is empty except for a milk crate:
Sleeping setup:
Living:
Everything is bolted to the 3rd row seat holes and removable in less than 10mins. Next time I would use thinner wood in specific areas to reduce weight, maybe move the fridge slide down and eliminate the slide out tray under it. Water gets stored in 1-gal. bottles on the passenger side (by the pringles) and the bladder is stored behind the paper towels (bottom right).