Source for ball-bearing drawer-runners?

[Charger92]

This is the company I went with for my rear deck drawers.

http://www.accuride.com/products/industrial/category.php

The old contractor guy I worked with had slide out drawers on the work truck both sides, with a heavy duty generator mounted in the drawer. We would just pull up slide the drawers out each side and work all day. They were banged around, jumped on, sat on, and neglected.
The drawer slides held up great to years of abuse.
One of the head guys went with some cheep Lee Valley slides on his truck, trying to save a buck, with the same weight rating as the Accuride but his did not last a year on site.
You also have to consider the jiggling weight down the roads it will pound and crush bearings if they are not of good grade hard steel, made for automotive outdoor abuse.

I had the company name years back from the construction work truck and totally forgot till last year when I was looking for some for my self and ran into a fireman at the fire hall washing the the big red truck. He had a drawer pulled out the side and I asked if I could look at the name of the drawer slide.
Low and be hold the name popped back up as soon as I seen it.

 

[DesertRose]

Keeps getting better - the Accurides are even more heavy duty and customizable. They can be mounted on bottom or sides, and are available just the slides, so the savings will be considerable.

Thank you!

 

[bigreen505]

Keeps getting better - the Accurides are even more heavy duty and customizable.

I wasn't joking about my first post, check eBay. You can score some sweet deals on Accurides from people who buy too many for a project and put the rest up. I bought enough to redo my kitchen for about 1/3 of the cost of retail. Worth a look.

 

[HongerVenture]

First - DaktariEd - much as (even after 22 years) Jonathan and I enjoy a nice view of each other's rear end's (ie - crawling into the far back of the camper) we're getting to the point where our knees just won't take the crawling any longer!

Hence, I would like full-length sliders. Not drawers, though - we want platforms we can use as tables, and secure our stove and fridge on.

Stick with this conviction Roseann, you are right on.

My wife and I have slideout storage at the back of the bed but have compartments at the front of the bed. These compartments are quickly losing their appeal as we have to crawl to the front of the bed to access them. Not to mention that our bedding lays over them and makes accessing them that much more difficult.

I'm watching carefully this thread for ideas. The accuride and kwikee solutions both look great. I really love the garage door hardware idea because of the availability of parts and ease of maintenance. All great ideas.

 

[ZooJunkie]

I second the Accurides, they are da bomb. :arabia:

Though a bit pricey, but you can find them for less on ebay.

 

[DesertRose]

I'm watching carefully this thread for ideas. The accuride and kwikee solutions both look great. I really love the garage door hardware idea because of the availability of parts and ease of maintenance. All great ideas.

We'll keep it coming - slowly but surely. Although I'd LOVE to just buy another FourWheel Popup, that isn't happening (we would rather sink our meager funds into the foundation of our [future] house). So that means back to simple and fun camping!:1888fbbd:

 

[flyingwil]

Cargo Bed

This might be a solution.... the cargo bed

 

[DaktariEd]

I guess I do not picture what you are after. I was thinking you are talking a static platform with drawer unit beneath.

But what I now seem to read is a platform that slides out...is that correct? And for what? A bed? A table? Where is your bed to be? Inside? or tent?

Help me understand...I am soooo confused!

 

[DesertRose]

I would like full-length sliders. Not drawers, though - we want platforms we can use as tables, and secure our stove and fridge on.

But I agree that I'd be concerned about a couple things: for the weight I want it to support, it would likely stick like the dickens (what is a dickens, anyway?). Afraid good old steel ball bearings might be it.

Picture this: On the bed of the pickup are secured 2 platforms (not drawers) - probably but not necessarily equal in width but definitely taking up whole length of bed- upon which are secured by some means assorted gear items such as: Engel, propane stove, propane bottle, plastic or wood (e.g. - our Chuck Box) storage bins or units, etc. On the posterior end of one slideout platform would be something to act as table or work surface . . . an instant kitchen if you will.

Unlike with a static drawer system, we can move things around and change the layout as needed for different kinds of trips or more gear.

Also, I want to add a shelf to the top inside of the A.R.E. shell - for chairs and another small table; still working on how we're going to do this, but it will utilize a lot of that "dead" space up there. My goal is to not have to do a roof rack - keep it sleek and aerodynamic.



We're opting for a freestanding tent (more on this in future thread). We don't like to sleep in the back of the truck - too small (with the dog) and a real pain if you're in bear country and you don't have a place to put your cooler and garbage and food (I've had two too many midnight encounters with hungry ursidae - and not the kind that work for New Mexico Game and Fish!!).

 

[Robthebrit]

Haffle and Sugatsune make really nice hardware for all purposes (sugatsune make hinges for mercedes benz). Its all made in Europe, it can be expensive in the US and its all metric which is an issue for some people.

Rob

 

[Desertdude]

Small tip - even though the sliders are a certain length you can usually make your drawers somewhat longer - and load in less used items in that space...

 

[Dave Bennett]

Drawers are in my future... soon. Possibly one big one for maximum use of my limited cubic inches. The box and drawer are easy to build. Good ball bearing sliders are the key element I'm lacking...

 

[DesertRose]

Plan for platforms for bed of TacoZebra

Here's what I'm visualizing for the back of my 2000 Tacoma - 2 slideout platforms (not drawers) on which we can secure our camping equipment in such a way as to have a nearly instant kitchen/staging area, and have easy access to gear/bedding storage boxes up toward the cab.

The Accurides seem to be the best bet so far - strength, length, mounting options.

Call me a nerd for making these schematics, but what else was I to do stuck at the airport for 5 hours - work?!

The size of the images came out a bit small but I think you can get the point. The Chuck Box is a classic "chuckwagon" wooden box for holding all our silverware, plates, glasses (martini fixings), and cookware etc. - it has a fold-down front with cutting board. Jonathan made it for me. We also have a custom stainless steel 15 gallon water tank with baffles that is for the FJ40 but Jonathan had it made so it fits the Taco, too - (see the thread at http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1852&highlight=water+tank

 

[Desertdude]

Christo Slee has something similar on his newest vehicle project the " Vlakvark" the sliding system held all his gear and could be slid out easliy for access - seen HERE -

 

[Desertdude]

btw - what are your thoughts on dust ?