Home made drawers under $110. Basic measurments added

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

I decided on making a false floor as most of the stuff I wanted to store under it was soft (and I didn't want to access it often as we had our camper but also wanted to be able to tent it a few times) and having drawers wastes a fair amount of space. I made a frame out of 16mm square RHS with a couple of bits of marine ply (12mm I think) covered in that Bunnings carpet. I made the frame not go to the extremities so I could put stuff up beside the seat anchors. The floor is in two bits as after I'd cut it out as one piece I found I couldn't get it through the door! doh! I used the cargo barrier bolts to keep it in place. At the last minute I threw together a drawer (box!) made out of pine to hold heavy things so they don't roll around. This just sits there, no rollers or anything fancy. It actually works ok in that if I want I can lift the whole thing out (best to get help if it's full) or as I generally did, just pull it out a bit and grab whatever I wanted. I couldn't find any tie-down points that I was happy with so ended up using some shock-cord in a loop which is fine for stopping bags and things fom sliding around but I wouldn't tie a fridge to them. As I don't have a fridge (although that might change as the Mrs wants one!) I tied my esky to the cargo barrier. Not ideal but didn't stop me getting a beer out when needed!

This is what I kept under there...

1 double Lilo
2 Single Lilos
Camera bag
Tripod
Fire Extinugisher
Hand Wash stuff / Sunscreen
2 5Lt Emergency Water containers
Toolbox (about 50x30x30)
6man Dome tent
Compressor
1 Football (exercise at roadside stops!)

and the Drawer which contained
2kg gas bottle
bbq plate
gas burner (for bottle)
gas heater thingy (didn't use so don't ask me if it's any good!)
snatch strap, bow shackles, gloves
tow hitch receiver recovery hook
shovel
3/4 axe
laptop computer
other odds and ends

If I get the fridge, I'll have to start again! I'll see if I can add some pics tonight.

Even if you don't make something identical to what's been posted in this thread, it sure gives you ideas! Things like having snatch strap accessable (mine wasn't).

Cheers, Nige

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

found some pics...

the frame in place



located by using the cargo barriers fixing point.



With the floors pieces installed. They are held in with bolts into the frame and would be quick to remove if I had of used wingnuts but I used nyloc nuts thinking it might rattle apart but they were tedious to do up, especially the ones up near the cargo barrier.




Don't have a pic of it all packed, but the wooden box takes up about half the middle section and is the full length to the cargo barrier.

[KMKPrado Member Find all posts View Profile Close KMKPrado]

Drawers

I finally got my latches. Had to order them from UES int pty. Approx $38 per latch. I went with just the Drop T Latch without a lock. They work great, tested them out on the beach yesturday no noises or wiggling of the drawers.

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

How do you guys get the frames around the outsides to fit perfectly???

[KMKPrado Member Find all posts View Profile Close KMKPrado]

drawers

I just took measurements from the upright support to the side of the vehicle every 15mm copied it to the top sheet of ply and connected the dots to get the profile then cut with jig saw. There is likely an easier way using cardboard and cutting the profile but I didn't have any at the time. It isn't as difficult as it seemed prior to doing it. Good luck. KMK

[Byrnsie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Byrnsie]

How do you guys get the frames around the outsides to fit perfectly???

Plucker
I made a template from a piece of cardboard.
Cheers - Greg (Byrnsie)

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

Thanks guys

[KMKPrado Member Find all posts View Profile Close KMKPrado]

drawers & Fridge tie downs

I thought I would put up a couple more picks, I added some heavy duty tie down points for the fridge. I only put two at the door end and I will use the child seat restraint point for the seat end. Came up alright I think, the test will come in a few weeks.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

these things look pretty good. Well done all.

But if anyone is going to make there own could you please incorporate a barrier. I shudder when I see raised shelf heights, perfect for groceries (frozen chooks, boxes of Beer, etc) .
If the unthinkable happens,,, well you know....

(flame me if you want, its probably the Safety Rep coming out in me)

Jeff

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Hey Jeff ...

Have you got a sketch up of your unit. I caught a glimpse of it the other day and thought it would suit perfectly. Now I've got to nick the plans of someone

Cheers
Chippy

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

I dont have a sketch or dimensions at the moment.
Got pics tho

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Looks like it slides in and out real easy too.

Does it anchor to the floor at all ? or does it use it's own weight to stay in position.

I particularly like the safety barrier built into the frame.

Cheers
Chippy

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

Re: drawers & Fridge tie downs

I thought I would put up a couple more picks, I added some heavy duty tie down points for the fridge. I only put two at the door end and I will use the child seat restraint point for the seat end. Came up alright I think, the test will come in a few weeks.

I like the tie downs, I was thinking of this just the other day...

Nice job.

[KMKPrado Member Find all posts View Profile Close KMKPrado]

Drawers

Thanks Mumsrig
I got them from UES int. They have a website to find the closest distributor or number to order from in your region. They were pretty cheap from memory as well, under $10 I believe. Good luck. KMK

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

I've been busting to get into my drawers for a while now ... and stuff posted here has been really inspirational ... and in a quiet moment I managed to nip out to Bunnings, grab a bit of ply, and start work.

My requirements are a little different to most. I want the double drawer set but it needs to be in two pieces for those days when I've got a full car load ... with the feral kid sat in the back back ... then I can have one drawer and the fridge in place. When I manage to dump a kid I get to have both sides in.

So I started with a blank canvas ... probably a good excuse to give this end of the car a decent clean too.

This is phase one of a project that, I reckon, will evolve over time.



I made up a box for one side ... just simple carcase construction ... and only screwed together for now. Once all of the pieces are in place and the fit is perfect then I'll pull it apart and glue it before I carpet it.



Its got blanking panels front and rear, a hinged side panel (for the finished version I'm thinking of a nice concealed piano hinge) and a mounting bracket with a piece of steel rod. There's perfectly good anchor points on either side of the cargo bay ... why not use them.



There's also four tie down eyes on the top panel for anchoring the little fridge in place.



The steel rod locks into place in exactly the same way as the rear seats.





The front of the box also makes use of that angled space behind the middle row of seats ... and allows for a small storage pocket ... it is also angled enough to allow the middle row seats to recline.



Those old hinges from the shed look like crap but they will do for now while I experiment with what works best.



The whole unit tucks in quite neatly.



Even the plastic cover for the seat anchor points fits back neatly.



... and the feral kid's seat fits. There's not a huge amount of spare room anywhere .... and depending on what sort of carpet I get I may have to whip it apart again and shave 5 mm off the width.



With the CF 35 in place .... yeah, I know, it would look better in a fridge bag :lol:



I'm just using four webbing straps to anchor the fridge in place for now. The longer term plan is to get a fridge slide for in here.



There's still plenty of storage space down the side here.



This pic is of the fridge tie downs viewed from the front.



Until I get hold of some heavy duty drawer slides and whip up a drawer I'm just using a plastic crate out of the camper trailer ... this one's loaded up with all the recovery gear.



There's also room for a spare air compressor and the first aid kit.



Everything tucks away neatly.



Snug as a bug in a rug.




Its still naked but I have no idea of what type of carpet to use, I haven't chucked the drawer unit in yet, the fridge really should be on a slide etcetera, etcetera, etcetera ... and then there's the other side to make. :lol:

..... but it is really secure and handled all of the trail work and bogging, around Waroona Dam yesterday, without anything moving around ... and it tidys up all of that loose stuff in the back quite nicely.

Cheers
Chippy