DIY Cooler slide

[gps4]

I picked up 2 90qt rotomolded coolers for less than one yeti tundra 75 to use on long road trips. problem is the distance between my tent rails and the floor of the trailer is too short to open the cooler. and a fully loaded cooler is too heavy to take out of the trailer every time we need something out of it. The measurements of the coolers are 33" x 20" x 17.5" and I'm too cheap to but a factory made fridge slide. my research on this site and several others convinced me i could make my own.

i ordered a pair of 36" locking slides off amazon, bought an 8ft length 2.5x2.5x1/8 angle aluminum, 2 4ft length 1.5x1.5x1/8 angle aluminum, a 4'x2' piece of 1/2 pressure treated plywood cut down to 36"x 18", stainless nuts and bolts, and used leftover boat carpet to wrap the plywood. got it knocked out in about 2 hours.

its been raining for two days, so i had to do all the fabrication and installation in my garage, hence the poor photo quality.

i'm sure i will modify the design if something doesn't work quite right in the field.

 

[Stitebunny]

Nice job!
It’s crazy how much a new fridge slide sells for when you can do it yourself!

 

[Mfitz]

Nice job!
It’s crazy how much a new fridge slide sells for when you can do it yourself!

I picked up 2 90qt rotomolded coolers for less than one yeti tundra 75 to use on long road trips. problem is the distance between my tent rails and the floor of the trailer is too short to open the cooler. and a fully loaded cooler is too heavy to take out of the trailer every time we need something out of it. The measurements of the coolers are 33" x 20" x 17.5" and I'm too cheap to but a factory made fridge slide. my research on this site and several others convinced me i could make my own.

i ordered a pair of 36" locking slides off amazon, bought an 8ft length 2.5x2.5x1/8 angle aluminum, 2 4ft length 1.5x1.5x1/8 angle aluminum, a 4'x2' piece of 1/2 pressure treated plywood cut down to 36"x 18", stainless nuts and bolts, and used leftover boat carpet to wrap the plywood. got it knocked out in about 2 hours.

its been raining for two days, so i had to do all the fabrication and installation in my garage, hence the poor photo quality.

i'm sure i will modify the design if something doesn't work quite right in the field.

I really like this. Did you attach the cooler to the slide, or will you strap it down while driving?

 

[gps4]

I really like this. Did you attach the cooler to the slide, or will you strap it down while driving?

I plan to strap it down to the board when loaded down and on the road. I think I need to move the tent forward a little bit and fine tune positioning on the board.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I plan to strap it down to the board when loaded down and on the road. I think I need to move the tent forward a little bit and fine tune positioning on the board.

While strapping it will work, I'd build small wooden cleats at each corner. That way thr strap can hold it down and the cleats can keep it from sliding.

 

[mep1811]

Great work.

I did a similar slide. If you drive in very dusty areas flush out the slides when you are home and spray with silicone or WD40.

 

[gps4]

Great work.

I did a similar slide. If you drive in very dusty areas flush out the slides when you are home and spray with silicone or WD40.

That’s a great idea! I’ll be sure to stow a can on board just to be in the safe side !

 

[mep1811]

That’s a great idea! I’ll be sure to stow a can on board just to be in the safe side !

If they feel gritty while on the trail flush with a water bottle while moving the slide back and forth . You don't want grit building up and getting solid.
Those coolers are perfect for using with dry ice to extend the ice.

Happy Trails

 

[jeepers29]

I used the exact same design for my ARB slide in our jeep. Has worked great for a year plus now. Well done.

 

[Mark2457]

I picked up 2 90qt rotomolded coolers for less than one yeti tundra 75 to use on long road trips. problem is the distance between my tent rails and the floor of the trailer is too short to open the cooler. and a fully loaded cooler is too heavy to take out of the trailer every time we need something out of it. The measurements of the coolers are 33" x 20" x 17.5" and I'm too cheap to but a factory made fridge slide. my research on this site and several others convinced me i could make my own.

i ordered a pair of 36" locking slides off amazon, bought an 8ft length 2.5x2.5x1/8 angle aluminum, 2 4ft length 1.5x1.5x1/8 angle aluminum, a 4'x2' piece of 1/2 pressure treated plywood cut down to 36"x 18", stainless nuts and bolts, and used leftover boat carpet to wrap the plywood. got it knocked out in about 2 hours.

its been raining for two days, so i had to do all the fabrication and installation in my garage, hence the poor photo quality.

i'm sure i will modify the design if something doesn't work quite right in the field.

Nice. How did you attach to trailer so it doesn't tip over

 

[ShoxX]

I had the same design in my head after buying an Rtic 60l. Care to share a link to the slide on amazon?

 

[gps4]

@ ShoxX- my first attempt with the least expensive slides i could find on amazon failed miserably on the first trip i took with the cooler loaded down. the slide bearings fell apart. so, when i got back home, i ordered replacement heavy duty slides from ovis.

36" Heavy Duty Drawer Slide, FR5400, 5514

The Fulterer FR 5400, 36" Heavy Duty Drawer Slide with 506 lb. weight rating and 3/4" installation width. They have stainless steel ball bearings and plastic ball spacers to reduce friction. This is a non-detachable slide.

www.ovisonline.com

@Mark2457 - I bolted the bottom rail to the floor of the trailer so it would not move or tip up when the slides are extended.