60Dan
Explorer
After much debating back and forth with myself about either building or buying a drawer system, I've decided to give it a go myself and create a custom work area in the back of my truck.
First off many thanks to all the members on expo and mud for posting up their builds, hopefully this will be helpful and provide some inspiration to others!
The Vehicle: 2005 Toyota 100 series Landcruiser
The plan:
* A single drawer made from 3/4" ply, secured using the factory 3rd row seat mounts, utilizing 2 x 36” slides (one being lock in/out style)
* USB and power outlets in the wing, voltmeter to monitor 2nd battery from the back of the truck
* Fridge slide with an aluminum cage
* Tailgate storage provided by Trail-Tailor coated in monstaliner
The drawer:
So why a single drawer?
A couple reasons - on occasion I use a seat in the 3rd row and would like to keep the option of one back there. Second, having a dual drawer system with the fridge on top would mean having to climb up on the tailgate to access the fridge, or buy a drop down fridge slide. Being that the drop down slide is more expensive than the fridge itself, Ive decided to go this route and keep it level with the tailgate.
The drawer will have a side wing which will house all the wires to the fridge, front voltmeter and USB outlets from the 2nd battery. It will also double up as additional storage.
The material:
Why 3/4” plywood? Well partly because thats what others have used, and partly because for some reason around here I only had the option of buying 1/4” or 3/4”! 1/2" wasn't an option. To save weight i'll be "strategically" cutting out dead weight as I go.
Why monstaliner?
This was inspired by the trekboxx systems amongst others. I like the look and the durability. I have a 55lb dog that would otherwise ruin any varnish or paint.
The Fridge slide:
Ive been using one for years that I made from steel to custom fit my Edgestar, however I came across a deal on a SoCal Teardrops slide and drawer combo that will house my partner steel stove. High end aluminum construction, can't say enough good things about it.
The Cage:
Why a cage?
In the past on long road trips, even with the best planning and intentions, the rear cargo area becomes cluttered. Often sleeping bags, pillows, mats, kids toys, basically anything you can think of gets jammed between the fridge and the slide preventing the slide from, well .... sliding! That is until you move things out the way, pull the fridge out, and whatever was balancing next to it, falls over behind the fridge and it wont close! Incredibly frustrating.
Enter ... the cage! Nestled around the fridge and the fridge slide, it will allow all that stuff to stay where it is and the slide to function as designed without all that re-shuffling every time.
In an effort to keep the weight down, Im planning on fabricating this out of 1x1 square tube aluminum.
The POWER!:
I’ll be installing a Slee 2nd battery system soon and group 31 battery.
The plan is to run power to the wing of the box and from there a blue sea fuse panel (or similar) for the fridge, lights, USB sockets. The group 31 will be monitored via an LED voltmeter display. I would like to run air back there but I'm not sure thats in the budge at the moment! Depends if I can find a good deal on a compressor before I'm done!
Tailgate storage:
Ive ordered one of the 1st production run tailgate storage lids by Jason over at Trail-Tailor. Its an all aluminum construction that will allow me to utilize the dead space in the tailgate. This will most likely be used to store things that aren't used that often like recovery gear. This will also be coated in montaliner.
Pics to follow ...
First off many thanks to all the members on expo and mud for posting up their builds, hopefully this will be helpful and provide some inspiration to others!
The Vehicle: 2005 Toyota 100 series Landcruiser
The plan:
* A single drawer made from 3/4" ply, secured using the factory 3rd row seat mounts, utilizing 2 x 36” slides (one being lock in/out style)
* USB and power outlets in the wing, voltmeter to monitor 2nd battery from the back of the truck
* Fridge slide with an aluminum cage
* Tailgate storage provided by Trail-Tailor coated in monstaliner
The drawer:
So why a single drawer?
A couple reasons - on occasion I use a seat in the 3rd row and would like to keep the option of one back there. Second, having a dual drawer system with the fridge on top would mean having to climb up on the tailgate to access the fridge, or buy a drop down fridge slide. Being that the drop down slide is more expensive than the fridge itself, Ive decided to go this route and keep it level with the tailgate.
The drawer will have a side wing which will house all the wires to the fridge, front voltmeter and USB outlets from the 2nd battery. It will also double up as additional storage.
The material:
Why 3/4” plywood? Well partly because thats what others have used, and partly because for some reason around here I only had the option of buying 1/4” or 3/4”! 1/2" wasn't an option. To save weight i'll be "strategically" cutting out dead weight as I go.
Why monstaliner?
This was inspired by the trekboxx systems amongst others. I like the look and the durability. I have a 55lb dog that would otherwise ruin any varnish or paint.
The Fridge slide:
Ive been using one for years that I made from steel to custom fit my Edgestar, however I came across a deal on a SoCal Teardrops slide and drawer combo that will house my partner steel stove. High end aluminum construction, can't say enough good things about it.
The Cage:
Why a cage?
In the past on long road trips, even with the best planning and intentions, the rear cargo area becomes cluttered. Often sleeping bags, pillows, mats, kids toys, basically anything you can think of gets jammed between the fridge and the slide preventing the slide from, well .... sliding! That is until you move things out the way, pull the fridge out, and whatever was balancing next to it, falls over behind the fridge and it wont close! Incredibly frustrating.
Enter ... the cage! Nestled around the fridge and the fridge slide, it will allow all that stuff to stay where it is and the slide to function as designed without all that re-shuffling every time.
In an effort to keep the weight down, Im planning on fabricating this out of 1x1 square tube aluminum.
The POWER!:
I’ll be installing a Slee 2nd battery system soon and group 31 battery.
The plan is to run power to the wing of the box and from there a blue sea fuse panel (or similar) for the fridge, lights, USB sockets. The group 31 will be monitored via an LED voltmeter display. I would like to run air back there but I'm not sure thats in the budge at the moment! Depends if I can find a good deal on a compressor before I'm done!
Tailgate storage:
Ive ordered one of the 1st production run tailgate storage lids by Jason over at Trail-Tailor. Its an all aluminum construction that will allow me to utilize the dead space in the tailgate. This will most likely be used to store things that aren't used that often like recovery gear. This will also be coated in montaliner.
Pics to follow ...
