Since its been raining and COVID closures here in SoCal, I have not had much progress on the finishing of the rear swing-out; just add WD-40 and ride it out so I can complete it and out for PC eventually.
On that note, I have been shopping and updating my camping and kitchen equipment and the lull has me designing my under sleeping platform arrangements while I continue to peg away on Dual Battery and Solar set-up.
Regardless, I am considering Zarges boxes, Alu-Box ($$$$), or Wolf/Cub packs to design around my under platform storage over the idea of dedicated drawers. My theory is if I have drawers, they will get loaded, stay loaded, and most likely less organized; pluses and minuses of either design but I feel that drawers will maintain whatever I put in there all the time where individual boxes allow for some things to stay and others to go per my needs.
Therefore, if I make one sliding platform that comes all the way out and then have access to the boxes, maybe a row or two of equal size boxes on each side (4 total if not more) with a center divider then I can pack out my boxes, store them in one spot in the garage (Like
@Ray_G); I already do this! Then I am able to just drop the boxes on the sliding platform and access when needed. The boxes will be positioned to allow for swing open covers or completely removed covers; their orientation is on the platform so access to all boxes is possible depending on how far out I pull the slider. Ultimately, the boxes will take place of the dedicated drawers freeing up configuration options, weight, and more storage room/cargo room when not fully configured. By my measurements, my folding electric bike I bought for the plane trips just might fit under there on the slider.
So long story short; I love getting advice and other opinions from you on the site. Any Pro/Cons or significant issues you may see with this potential design, please let me know.
Hokey little quick drawings right here with boxes on two sides only. Might run a small T-Channel divider down the middle for rigidity as well as having a center tie-down point; maybe even go with a recessed L-Track on the side rails and center floor instead of the T-Channel divider. All overland boxes would be generally the same size and likely design the slider around the type of boxes I would use. Internal dividers inside the boxes would allow for organization and separation of different types of kit. I've considered the squareness and cost effectiveness for the Wolf/Cub Packs for most of my gear but might want a few Zarges aluminum boxes that can stay out overnight with the kitchen kit; sometimes I am pretty remote and nobody is around so not a security issue but legality for bear places and such. I have plenty of Pelicans (Zergas are 1/2 the cost) that I use for the toss around kit and on the roof if needed. Attempting to keep the internal boxes as light and squared off as possible.
Fire away.......no question I have time on my hands now for this to plan it right!
Option #1: Simple slider and boxes for storage and organization.
Option #2: A bit more complicated, smaller slider with room for bags or tool mounting on the slider face.
Option #2 would have a higher, flush mount slider face wall that slides further in and would allow for storage bags or tool mounting on the face . Under the back lip; if I run the drawer all the way to the vertical supports, I have roughly 4" of space between the tailgate and the front slider wall giving room for mounting solutions of Molle type storage bags, tools, etc. I would sacrifice a bit of slider space for this option, but depending on the box size this option might be suitable. Thoughts?
What Option #2 would look like closed. The tan shapes represent Molle type canvas storage bags or something similar. If you can look closely I made the slider face transparent so you can see the storage boxes behind and also illustrates the roughly 4" of overlap space under the sleeping platform to hang bags or tools on.
