The ultimate cargo slide/tray?

[screwball48]

These measurements are towards the bottom of the seat. If needed I can measure from the top of the seat because they do have a "lean" to them.


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[jscherb]

These measurements are towards the bottom of the seat. If needed I can measure from the top of the seat because they do have a "lean" to them.

As long as that measurement is good for 3 or 4 inches above the floor, it's fine.
Thanks,
jeff

 

[esierens]

ARB roller drawer in my WK2. Basic but well built, and rattle free. Cost is high and took 2months to ship.

 

[screwball48]

I have an Olympic 4x4 mountaineer rack that I bought years ago for my first XJ. It has spent more time in my basement than in a vehicle. When I purchased my 2000 XJ it was one of my first mods. As it sits now it is 2-3" too low for my Pelican cooler to fit under. I have plans to one day install an HDPE sheet over the cross bars (to keep small items from falling through) and to raise it enough to fit my cooler under. If I could incorporate a sliding tray at the same time that would be very nice.


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[jscherb]

I have an Olympic 4x4 mountaineer rack that I bought years ago for my first XJ. It has spent more time in my basement than in a vehicle. When I purchased my 2000 XJ it was one of my first mods. As it sits now it is 2-3" too low for my Pelican cooler to fit under. I have plans to one day install an HDPE sheet over the cross bars (to keep small items from falling through) and to raise it enough to fit my cooler under. If I could incorporate a sliding tray at the same time that would be very nice.

One thing that's pretty clear from seeing how people use these slides and racks is that the shelf/rack above the slide needs to be adjustable so you could set the height to clear large items like your cooler. Adjustability is part of my plan for the shelf/rack.

ARB roller drawer in my WK2. Basic but well built, and rattle free. Cost is high and took 2months to ship.

The ARB stuff is very nice.

Cost is one of the things that inspired me to take on this project - it just seems to me that the cost of what's on the market is very high compared to the materials that go into them, or, in some cases things are overbuilt for the needs of most people and that also causes them to be very expensive. Affordability is one of my key design criteria.

 

[expedition4x4]

I use the AT system with a top shelf which I made using synergy roll bar clamps and shelf brackets. Fully adjustable.

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[jscherb]

I'm thinking about options and materials for the floor of the slide-out tray. One option would be a metal floor, with built-in tie-down points. Another option, which would reduce the cost of a base model slide, would be a plywood floor which would not be supplied with the slide kit. This would reduce product cost, and would also reduce packing and shipping cost, so the savings could be substantial. On the other hand, a metal tray would be ready to install and wouldn't require any DIY from the user (just cutting a piece of plywood). The tray structure and sides would be metal in any case. What do people think about a premade metal vs. a user-supplied plywood tray floor? (The metal floor pictured below is just a concept drawing, not a final design).

 

[virginia_jeeper]

Do you think the cost of these units are because of materials or labor? Even both of those, upwards of 1,000 bucks still seems pretty steep for what you get....


I like the idea of DIY "kit", keep costs down and allows some level of personalization for the end user.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Hi Jeff,

Do those slides lock?
I built a drawer with HD slides, and the only thing I'd do different if I did it over is to use locking slides.

 

[jscherb]

Hi Jeff,

Do those slides lock?
I built a drawer with HD slides, and the only thing I'd do different if I did it over is to use locking slides.

These do not. I got these for the prototype because I think it might be better to have a separate locking mechanism that's easier to operate and more rattle-resistant than locks on each slide. We'll see, maybe I'll change my mind about a separate lock/latch as the prototype progresses.

 

[jscherb]

Do you think the cost of these units are because of materials or labor? Even both of those, upwards of 1,000 bucks still seems pretty steep for what you get....

There are some very nice products on the market that are very sturdy and functional. I don't know why they cost what they do, but that's part of the reason I'm doing this project - seems to me a high quality 300-lb. capacity sliding tray should be able to be designed so that it could retail for under $300, so that's my design goal. Whether or not what I design gets picked up by a company to bring to market I can't say, but I believe I will hit the design goal.

I like the idea of DIY "kit", keep costs down and allows some level of personalization for the end user.

That's my thought about the plywood tray floor - maybe it could bring the cost of the kit down another $50, and a wooden base would be easy for a DIY-er to customize. I see lots of drawers and things in various threads that are made from wood, so my thinking is why not provide the basic 300-lb. capacity structure in a form that bolts right in to the Jeep, and a DIY-er can put a plywood tray floor in it and then customize it using woodworking tools and skills - the hard metalwork will be taken care of for him (or her). But if that's a bad idea then this design could be manufactured with a metal floor in the tray, ready to install.

 

[HRPINDC]

I think the plywood floor option is a good one.

 

[TrekboxX]

Looks like a fun project! Only thing I could add right now is that most of the HD slides out there are rated for a shallow drawer and at a certain width. The rating goes down dramatically as their length increases. For example, the slides I use in my systems are the ones everyone touts as the "500 lb" slides. But, that rating is for an 18" deep drawer. And even at that length the rating goes down to 300 lbs for mobile applications. Not trying to be a naysayer at all, just something to think about.

Keep up the good work!

David

 

[jscherb]

Looks like a fun project! Only thing I could add right now is that most of the HD slides out there are rated for a shallow drawer and at a certain width. The rating goes down dramatically as their length increases. For example, the slides I use in my systems are the ones everyone touts as the "500 lb" slides. But, that rating is for an 18" deep drawer. And even at that length the rating goes down to 300 lbs for mobile applications. Not trying to be a naysayer at all, just something to think about.

Keep up the good work!

David

David,
Thanks for the info, that's good to know!
jeff

 

[jjohnson1892]

I love this idea and the prototype so far! Definitely think a locking mechanism would be great. Also, I'd go with the buyer-supplied flooring - anyone can go to HomeDepot and get a piece of wood cut for cheap (if they don't have any tools at home).

I'd love to hear what you think of dual slides - making one wide enough for a standard fridge/cooler, and the other to fill the trunk. I'd like to do my own DIY HD slides someday, but a few projects are in the way.