DC Taco Drawer System build...

[flyingwil]

Time has come to start the build up of the drawer system on the Taco... so now come the research.

I'd like to discuss the following options I have:

1. Material, wood/metal both?
2. Sliding system? bearings, ect..
3. locking mechanism? (both locking in shut and securing)
4. hardware?

What are your thoughts?

 

[p1michaud]

Drawer system

Time has come to start the build up of the drawer system on the Taco... so now come the research.

I'd like to discuss the following options I have:

1. Material, wood/metal both?
2. Sliding system? bearings, ect..
3. locking mechanism? (both locking in shut and securing)
4. hardware?

What are your thoughts?

I'm sure you have seen Desertdude's slides and drawer system for his Tacoma it may give you a few ideas and it's very nice!

I've been toying with the idea for a bit now and came up with a few variations. My goal was to keep my sleeping platform a la BajaTaco but include a set of sliding drawers to make access to gear and supplies easier. I've attached a sketch of the layout I had come up with while doing my research. Keep in mind these numbers on the drawings are pretty rough. The issue I have is that to keep my current sleeping platform height the inside dimension of each drawer would work out to 15.375" x 8.25" x 48". I would have liked to have more room for all the effort of building a drawer system.

I just had an idea, how about building them using a thinner version of the Nida-Core material they used Supercamper? I'm not sure what the cost would be, but it would help reduce the weight.

Cheers :beer:,
P

 

[Grim Reaper]

My first question is: will it be exposed to the elements or will you have some sort of bed cover?

If its covered and you are handy with wood that is the way to go.

If it is at all exposed to the weather I would look at going steel or possibly Aluminum for the shell and internnaly you could get away with wood for the drawer boxes.

 

[Mlachica]

Hey Wil,

As you know I'm still planning mine as well...Thanks a lot to Desertdude and some co-workers these are the materials and plans...

The top/bottom/walls will be constructed of 3/4" ultralite mdf...
1.5" screws
really good wood glue
leevalley drawer slides
drawers will be constructed of a 1/2" hardwood
coat it with something like hurculiner

With the tailgate closed it will hold the drawers tightly shut. (eliminating a latch)

 

[Desertdude]

Thanks Mark - I also included a pair of hasps/locks on the tailgate to keep it secure in the cities and along the washboard if needed -

after almlost a year I have no complaints even in heavy rains and dust


small tip ; ..keep it simple, light and removable

Drawers

 

[devinsixtyseven]

if you have an industrial plastic manufacturer in your area, delrin and other polys are very, very easy to work with, and much stronger than comparable density wood. how about aluminum sheet and plastic or honeycomb type material, or similar? youll go through the same cutting/assembly process as with wood, but the result will be stronger, lighter and probably take up less space.

youll need a lot of small bolts and angle brackets, tho...

here's another thought...what about a box that holds several wire baskets that can be slid in and out on a rail or bearing? that way you only need to make the box.

-sean

 

[flyingwil]

Thanks Mark - I also included a pair of hasps/locks on the tailgate to keep it secure in the cities and along the washboard if needed -

after almlost a year I have no complaints even in heavy rains and dust


small tip ; ..keep it simple, light and removable

Drawers

Dude, What are you using to secure the drawer system to the bed?

 

[Desertdude]

I have this spare tire/highlift carrier which is attached to the rails of the tent rack - it sits across the bed just behind the aux box ( so it is centered) the drawer box lays just under it by "hair" - I have simple conduit brackets around the 1.25 tubing then screwed into the box - the sides are an exact fit between the wheel wells - it is such a tight fit it has not moved either way.

 

[Mlachica]

I have this spare tire/highlift carrier which is attached to the rails of the tent rack - it sits across the bed just behind the aux box ( so it is centered) the drawer box lays just under it by "hair" - I have simple conduit brackets around the 1.25 tubing then screwed into the box - the sides are an exact fit between the wheel wells - it is such a tight fit it has not moved either way.

clever:bowdown:

My intentions are using either 1/4" or 3/8" ss nuts and bolts. I may countersink the bolt heads so they do not interfere with drawer function.

I believe there are nuts that have "teeth" and can be nailed into the wood so you can use fine thread bolts for more frequent removal. I haven't found the name of them yet, maybe somebody knows what I'm talking about. It may not be useful for assembly of the deck but may be good for mounting stuff like an extremeaire rngartis

edit: they're called t-nuts

 

[flyingwil]

The top/bottom/walls will be constructed of 3/4" ultralite mdf...

I am concerned about water causing the wood to swell. If coated with a roll on bed linner, how water-tight of a seal is that? (I am sure it is the best option though).

 

[Desertdude]

I used exterior CDX 3/4 ply - I used 3 coats of Hurc - the truck bed is ribbed so the bottom does not really rest in water - I have the drawers set back in the box about 1.5 inches - the box edge is super close to the tailgate so when the tailgate is closed it makes a nice seal for dust and water - so far for the money and time it has weathered real well - no swelling or water inside

I have even been to the car wash and power-washed the box to remove the dust and dirt - no problems so far :ar15:

 

[flyingwil]

I'm sure you have seen Desertdude's slides and drawer system for his Tacoma it may give you a few ideas and it's very nice!

I've been toying with the idea for a bit now and came up with a few variations. My goal was to keep my sleeping platform a la BajaTaco but include a set of sliding drawers to make access to gear and supplies easier. I've attached a sketch of the layout I had come up with while doing my research. Keep in mind these numbers on the drawings are pretty rough. The issue I have is that to keep my current sleeping platform height the inside dimension of each drawer would work out to 15.375" x 8.25" x 48". I would have liked to have more room for all the effort of building a drawer system.

I just had an idea, how about building them using a thinner version of the Nida-Core material they used Supercamper? I'm not sure what the cost would be, but it would help reduce the weight.

Cheers :beer:,
P

P-
Like the sketch! What program did you make that in? I am thinking of a one drawer unit with my engel on the other side.

 

[erin]

How well does the MDF board hold up to water, even water vapor. From experience installing Granite countertops in kitchens, we will never put our stone over any kind of press board, only ext. grade plywwod. it seems that the press material just soaks up any kind of moisture and expands, especially around the edges.
I think if this material was to be used, I would seal the inside with a thinner material, so as not to cause interference problems and really seal the outside like Desertdude did on his.
I do think that due to weight and strength of this material, you could probably get away with 5/8" instead of 3/4", and come out the same weight wise as plywood. As I remember, MDF is HEAVY.

 

[p1michaud]

Microsoft Office Visio 2003

P-
Like the sketch! What program did you make that in? I am thinking of a one drawer unit with my engel on the other side.

Wil,
I used Microsoft Office Viso 2003 to make the drawing, then "printed" it straight to a .pdf file. It's a half decent program, but you can't get too technical with it. One cool feature of this program is that I was able to use it to optimize my wood use by drawign all the pieces and put them together on 4' x 8' sheets of plywood then it was like a puzzle, check out the attached sketch.

I should point out the legend for my first sketch:
Black - The black hatched area is a permanent storage compartment that would have either one or two lids for access to gear, water, etc...
Yellow - The yellow hatched area is the main frame or box that would house the drawers
Red - The red areas are the drawer slides
Blue - The blue hatched areas are the drawers

Hope this all makes sense.
Cheer :beer:,
P

 

[Mlachica]

How well does the MDF board hold up to water, even water vapor. From experience installing Granite countertops in kitchens, we will never put our stone over any kind of press board, only ext. grade plywwod. it seems that the press material just soaks up any kind of moisture and expands, especially around the edges.
I think if this material was to be used, I would seal the inside with a thinner material, so as not to cause interference problems and really seal the outside like Desertdude did on his.
I do think that due to weight and strength of this material, you could probably get away with 5/8" instead of 3/4", and come out the same weight wise as plywood. As I remember, MDF is HEAVY.

A cabinet maker told me that ultralite mdf is lighter than plywood/stronger and resiliant to water as long as it's coated. Is this not true? If not, then I'd rather use exterior grade plywood...