Drawers With Out Slides

[java]

i know some of you have drawers with out slides. how do you like it? get to be a PITA when the drawers are full/heavy?
i dont like the idea of slides eating up so much space and they are expensive!
im builing some soon so if you have any tricks/tips LMK!

 

[BigAl]

I would put a center dado on the bottom of the cabinet and a coorsponding rail on the bottom of the drawer so that it slides straight. Waxing the rail to prevent binding might help out too.

edit: you could also do 2 dado/rails. Make the rail 1/8" taller than the depth of the dado. This would reduce friction as you would just be sliding on just the rails, not the entire bottom of the drawer

 

[java]

I would put a center dado on the bottom of the cabinet and a coorsponding rail on the bottom of the drawer so that it slides straight. Waxing the rail to prevent binding might help out too.

edit: you could also do 2 dado/rails. Make the rail 1/8" thicker than the depth of the dado. This would reduce friction as you would just be sliding on just the rails, not the entire bottom of the drawer

yeah i was thinking that or puting a 45 deg rip along each edge of the opening for the drawer so only the very edges of the drawer slide.
does that make sense?

 

[EuroJoe]

plastic

plastic runners? dodas? just an idea

 

[ntsqd]

Some UHMW-PE strips under the drawer edges will wear a lot longer than a miter cut in wood will, and be self-lubricating. Unless you're thinking of a semi-exotic to exotic hardwood. Can work with the PE with your wood working tools.

 

[java]

i was thinking a piece of maple for the runners, only cuz i have some laying around. i dont know that the 45 piece is the way to go. any slop and the drawer may flop side to side if its not super tight in the hole

 

[Corey]

No slides on my drawers, and they are packed to the gills :sombrero:
Mine slide very easily.

The pins keep the drawers from flying open when you accelerate.

 

[SilverBullet]

no sliders or anything on mine either, just wood/wood contact. Handles are only about 1/4 inch from the door, so opening while driving is not a problem.

 

[java]

dont like the pins in the top, they get in the way and are hard to get out when there is stuff on top. but latches will be in the works at some point

 

[Overland Hadley]

No slides on my drawers, that way I can pull a drawer out and set it on a table or carry it to a neighboring campsite. Also lighter, simpler, and less expensive.

 

[Corey]

dont like the pins in the top, they get in the way and are hard to get out when there is stuff on top. but latches will be in the works at some point

We put the pins in when I transferred the box to my new rig.
When it was in my '91 4Runner, it was right at the rear tailgate, so they did not slide open.
Little more play in the new rig.
No problem accessing the pins for me though, even when loaded up for camping.
I may take off the cables someday though and just have the pins on top.
The cables were so the pins could not get lost.

 

[Mtn Mike]

I don't have sliders on mine. I use bees wax on the wood-wood surfaces which are basically 1/2 inch pine rails sliding on painted plywood. They slide easily with no binding. However, there are two things I don't care for about mine and I think sliders might have avoided these issues: 1) I can't pull the drawer all the way out without supporting it with a prop underneith, and 2)My drawers rattle as I drive (still troubleshooting this).

But overall I'm very happy with not having sliders. They would have doubled the price of the project and taken away storage space :ylsmoke:

 

[java]

Mike do you think that if the drawers were full height in the back it would help with not tipping when pulled out? do other people have this issue too?

 

[off-roader]

I went the anti-drawer anti-slider route.

I've built full on wood enclosures in back before. Things I didn't like about them was their weight and complexity especially if any 'repairs' are required from things breaking on the trails I run.

This time I went ultra-light weight. In total, I'd be surprised if my drawer setup added more than 15lbs to the back and it doubles as a sleeping platform.

The drawers are essentially a series of rubbermaid containers with lids i purchased at Target for less than $40. I have 2 long containers stacked 2 high on one side, and 4 shorter containers stacked 2 high on the other side.

If I ever decided that the drawer configuration just isn't right, all I have to do is go to Target/Wallyworld and get a different set of containers.

I even added foam insulation tape to the lids to minimize dust intrusion. Off road, they've held up very well especially since they're not just loose to fly around back.

I seriously doubt that I'd EVER go back to any kind of 'full' drawer system after this setup. It's just so much more customizable and adjustable than a drawer system could ever be.

 

[java]

well i have rubber miads now and i want to be able to leave some of the crap in the car. ill try drawers and see how it goes. if i odnt like them i can use them as storage in the garage or something!