Post up your drawer/storage system

[NMC_EXP]

I may have posted this before.

We prefer to sleep in the back of the FJ60 as opposed to a tent. While drawer systems had a lot of appeal I decided against that option in favor of head room. Most of the gear is stowed for travel in soft bags which are off-loaded at night. Two large ammo cans are tied down to the floor behind the wheel wells. One contains commonly used hand tools. The other contains recovery gear.

It works for us.

 

[Rezarf <><]

Are you only meant to use one lockable runner per drawer so that you only need to press one lever to extend / close the drawer? I notice there's only one yellow lever per drawer in these photos.
The lockable drawer slides set I've found on eBay are sold as a pair with a lever on each. Am I supposed to mix and match one lockable set with a non-lockable set of drawer slides/runners?
If so, does it matter whether they are both from the same manufacturer etc or is it just the closed/extended lengths that matter?
Thanks
Col

You're correct, only one locking slide is needed per drawer. I used the Accuride versions and they are worth the money to me. I bought the same slide models only two were locking and two were non-locking. They are exactly the same in every other way. I would buy the same manufacturer so you don't have any irregularities in your measurements and drawer operation.

 

[theksmith]

a few months ago i finished up version 2.0 of my rear storage, fridge slide, and sleep platform for my 2016 Jeep JK 4 door. i have a full write-up over on Offroad Passport...

i started with 1/2 plywood and lots of pocket-hole screws. some aluminum angle was used for the fridge slide as well.

the sleep platform is easily removable but i usually just leave it in folded up behind the rear seat. there are also 2 support boards that hold it up, and those store tucked in above the roll bar.

my feet go under the FrontRunner rear cargo shelf.... probably not a hit with anyone claustrophobic, but it works perfect for my needs.

i used the same Ryadon heavy duty lock-in/lock-out ball-bearing slides from ORR & ORR that many folks here have gone with. everything got a coat of Raptor liner to finish it out.

this all gives me easy access to my Dometic CFX65DZ and all my tools, spare parts, JB weld/duct-tape/etc.

i previously had all the junk in a couple waterproof Seahorse cases, strapped down where the drawer is now. however, with that arrangement i had to remove those heave cases each time in order to deploy my old sleep system. now with the drawer and elevated platform, it's even quicker to setup camp.

more photos and links to nearly every product i used on this project are in my write-up here: https://offroadpassport.com/forums/topic/5375-jk-unlimited-rear-drawer-fridge-slide-sleep-platform-version-20/

 

[WVI]

what kind of shovel is that strapped above the setup?

 

[theksmith]

what kind of shovel is that strapped above the setup?

a CESS stainless folding shovel that i got it from Amazon years ago, but they haven't been back in stock for a long time... CESS appears to be a random Chinese product importer. i've had good luck with it though, it's quite stout and locks in place securely.

 

[jgaz]

a few months ago i finished up version 2.0 of my rear storage, fridge slide, and sleep platform for my 2016 Jeep JK 4 door. i have a full write-up over on Offroad Passport...

i started with 1/2 plywood and lots of pocket-hole screws. some aluminum angle was used for the fridge slide as well.

the sleep platform is easily removable but i usually just leave it in folded up behind the rear seat. there are also 2 support boards that hold it up, and those store tucked in above the roll bar.

my feet go under the FrontRunner rear cargo shelf.... probably not a hit with anyone claustrophobic, but it works perfect for my needs.

i used the same Ryadon heavy duty lock-in/lock-out ball-bearing slides from ORR & ORR that many folks here have gone with. everything got a coat of Raptor liner to finish it out.

this all gives me easy access to my Dometic CFX65DZ and all my tools, spare parts, JB weld/duct-tape/etc.

i previously had all the junk in a couple waterproof Seahorse cases, strapped down where the drawer is now. however, with that arrangement i had to remove those heave cases each time in order to deploy my old sleep system. now with the drawer and elevated platform, it's even quicker to setup camp.

more photos and links to nearly every product i used on this project are in my write-up here: https://offroadpassport.com/forums/topic/5375-jk-unlimited-rear-drawer-fridge-slide-sleep-platform-version-20/

It’s worth going to the linked site to see the full build up on this well engineered and constructed storage system.
The comparison of bed liner application tools and methods alone is worth a look.

 

[dbrinkmann]

My drawer system I built has held up perfectly and everything has a place now. Working on building a detachable table to attaches to the front of the bottom drawer face.

 

[SportsmanJake]

a few months ago i finished up version 2.0 of my rear storage, fridge slide, and sleep platform for my 2016 Jeep JK 4 door. i have a full write-up over on Offroad Passport...

i started with 1/2 plywood and lots of pocket-hole screws. some aluminum angle was used for the fridge slide as well.

the sleep platform is easily removable but i usually just leave it in folded up behind the rear seat. there are also 2 support boards that hold it up, and those store tucked in above the roll bar.

my feet go under the FrontRunner rear cargo shelf.... probably not a hit with anyone claustrophobic, but it works perfect for my needs.

i used the same Ryadon heavy duty lock-in/lock-out ball-bearing slides from ORR & ORR that many folks here have gone with. everything got a coat of Raptor liner to finish it out.

this all gives me easy access to my Dometic CFX65DZ and all my tools, spare parts, JB weld/duct-tape/etc.

i previously had all the junk in a couple waterproof Seahorse cases, strapped down where the drawer is now. however, with that arrangement i had to remove those heave cases each time in order to deploy my old sleep system. now with the drawer and elevated platform, it's even quicker to setup camp.

more photos and links to nearly every product i used on this project are in my write-up here: https://offroadpassport.com/forums/topic/5375-jk-unlimited-rear-drawer-fridge-slide-sleep-platform-version-20/

Did you raptor line that yourself? Looks fantastic. Any prep work to the wood beforehand? What plywood did you go with?
Disregard questions. I found your thread.

 

[Motorradmark]

 

[amnesia7]

Installed.

Anybody know what the soft handles used on this fridge are called (and who makes them)?

I’m not sure what to search for to get one because I need to replace the hard handle on the back of my fridge with a soft one, otherwise it’s too deep for my rear seats to fit upright with the fridge in the boot.

Thanks

 

[mmp3823]

Anybody know what the soft handles used on this fridge are called (and who makes them)?

I’m not sure what to search for to get one because I need to replace the hard handle on the back of my fridge with a soft one, otherwise it’s too deep for my rear seats to fit upright with the fridge in the boot.

Thanks

Looks like paracord bracelets. You can easily make your own. There are a ton of youtube videos.

 

[amnesia7]

I've been following this thread for some time. Thanks to all of those that have contributed to this thread. I've gratuitously ripped off your ideas and used the pictures as inspiration to build my own. I've been working on the drawer system and the fridge slide for the back of my FJ back. The FJ is not the ideal vehicle for this type of thing, as you are really constrained by the dimensions. It took quite a bit of work to find the right items that when combined would fit well. But it had to be done. One of the main reasons I wanted to build this is that we are in black bear country and we normally do not camp where we eat. I was so tired of setting up, cooking, cleaning up and then moving to repeat the whole process to sleep. Whatever you needed was always one the bottom and then everything had to come out to get to it.

The fridge is not fully installed because I need to finish up the electrical and will have to remove the entire unit to do so, but I have it fully test fitted everything and it is ready to go. I changed my mind a little on the cutting board design. The electrical setup includes an intelligent battery system (IBS) with LED readout that is mounted in the dash to control the secondary battery system.

Here's the pics of the progress as did the build over the last month of weekends:


Here's the lower compartment which will hold our snow peak IG3 table setup. No more unloading to get to the table! Plus a cubby for all tarp and hiking poles:

Some fitting, planning and template making

Getting upholstered to match

Fridge frame for Engel 45 qt. freezer fridge combo

Drawer side of the combo going on w/ 500 lb lockout slides

Slide extension fitting

Some more fitting w/ fridge

Drawer build

Drawer build with front and handle installed with the first version of a cutting board to use to set stuff on and with food prep when all the gear is not deployed.

Joining the upper section and lower section together.

Painted and upholstered

Drawer out with new cutting board. I was able to cut some bamboo cutting boards to size that I found at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Now I don't have to move the whole thing if I need stuff in the drawer and both my wife and I have our own cutting boards for food prep.

The recovery gear fits nicely with room to spare. I'm going to reorg all the gear in the back ASAP.

So does the fridge

and the snowpeak IG3 table

I assume the carpet on top of the drawer in this example is van lining carpet that I think is meant to be about 4mm thick.
What is it like if the edge of the carpet is exposed like this rather than it being wrapped around?
Does it stick down well enough that catching the edge doesn’t pull it up very easily?

 

[krick3tt]

staples?

 

[amnesia7]

I’m part way into my drawer build and have cut everything according to the drawer fronts sitting in front of the drawer container box as opposed to being recessed into the drawer container openings.
I’ve put together my drawer container box and am just at the point of starting to put the drawer carcasses together.

I originally planned on painting everything but I’m starting to think that carpet on it would be nice since it dampens the noise of anything stored on top of the drawer container box, it should be a bit more cushioned (since I plan on using it as part of a bed platform) and the roughness of the carpet should also help keep the sleeping mat/pad/cushion from sliding about better than a smooth surface would.

Having birch drawer fronts resting against a carpeted drawer container box doesn’t seem to look right. Of the colours available, I prefer the anthracite carpet for with my car interior.

If the drawer fronts are wrapped in carpet and the drawer container box is carpeted that leaves a double thickness of carpet where the two faces meet.
The drawers will be secured in place using paddle latches.
Will the carpet compress over time giving more play in the drawers when closed or would that be negligible and not be worth concern?
Would I be better ignoring carpet and keeping the wood finish and just use some rubber matting on top instead?
I did look into using truck bed liner paint but that doesn’t seem to cover much per can so would work out quite expensive compared to rubber matting or carpet.
Any advice or suggestions would be good because until I decide what I’m doing I can’t really carry on since mounting the drawers all depends on whether I need to allow for carpet or not.

 

[Herbie]

Which paddle latches are you using? For most of these, the keeper (the part the latch grabs onto) has slotted holes and is therefore slightly adjustable. I would think this should be sufficient to account for the eventual compression of the carpet. (And yes, this compression is likely if the normal closed position of the drawer face is a tight fit.)