Drawers for 150 SWB Prado

[Fluffy]

Sol,
Great to hear you have given the drawers a go too. Even being tall doesn't help get into a fridge that's on a high drawer. Pity I don't have any photos of the drawer being used with the icebox and gear stacked when I went on a trip with the guys in November 2013 but you'll be able to see the mods I had put on the shorty earlier in the year in the attached photo from the trip. The Kamprite Tentcot has been a fantastic easy to set up bed when I go on trips alone. Best part is when it rains and the guys in the swags get wet, I'm nice and dry even when I don't use the awning over it.

[SOL]

Fluffy, Nice effort so far. I have just done the same with mine. I brought the pine that was precut in the widths so all I had to cut was the length. After setting two draws side by side I found the fridge was too high for easy access and fridge drop slides are fairly expesnive. So I went with the stacked draws and fridge to one side. But have only done one draw so far.

Link to my page with doggy build Post 183 & 184.
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...orty-SX/page13

SOL.

[Fluffy]

Finally started drawers

I had a few months off end of last year and was going on a trip with some friends down the south of WA. I was sick of having to pull boxes out of the back of the shorty and was ready for some drawers. Having been told I could get the Black Widow 900 drawers fitted with a cargo net (back seats removed) for a mere $2950.....ouch!..... I decided finally to have a go myself. Being female, not having a lot of tools and no handyman in my life made it a bit of a daunting prospect but with a new circular saw, two wooden "horses", 12mm plywood, glue, screws and measurements I had a go. My father had always taught me to measure twice, cut, measure again, be patient and think any problems through. He's long gone but I'd still like to thank him for the advice. The project is only part done but proved a godsend for the trip. I was able to put my dry food, kitchen gear and camping lights, matches etc in the drawer and put the new Waeco 55L Ice box on the right. I used some sliders from Bunnings until I can afford the heavy duty ones. Work up to 36kg and so far, so good.
I want to make a lower drawer on the right for the recovery gear and that way the icebox and a future fridge will still be low enough on a slide to access. Covering the lot with marine carpet is also on the list, but for now this sure beats random boxes and never knowing which one stuff is in!
Cost so far including the circular saw and horses - $250. Sweat and hours not included.

[Chalkie]

Love the drawer set-up with 1 question..How do you get into the fridge with it sitting so high ?? I assume that the fridge slide on the left hand side can be lowered if the lower drawer isn't fitted.Ok so I am a short person and SWMBO'd is the same .Oppps second question..Do you have to re-locate your Jack ?? It looks like there won't be much room on the drivers side to leave it in its original "cubby-hole"

[Fluffy]

Great work SOL

As I thought the back seat would come out... but it does leave a nice gap behind the seats for a water tank or other stuff you want to get to without having to go to the back. I guess they would do a 2 drawer and fridge set up too.

I would have to put a shelf on the cage to line up with the centre console so our dog could still sit high and enjoy the view. She currently uses the back seats which are up against the front seats.

[SOL]

Okay old thread. I contacted Offroad Systems about draw set ups in shorties and they sent me these photos to look at. Thought I would pass them on.











SOL.

[wooley]

That's right as far as I know Wooley. Not my area of expertise though. Contact ABR Sidewinder or LeighW.

Cheers, Sam.

The fact is it only pulls charge from the main battery, so if the alternator has the ability to charge the main battery and the second battery is leaching off it, it should work. Will speak to some more people though. I'll go a bcdc eventually but for the moment the redarc shall suffice... If it works.

[hookedon4wding]

It still works though, without the voltage booster doesn't it? It just may it not charge the second battery as well without the booster?

That's right as far as I know Wooley. Not my area of expertise though. Contact ABR Sidewinder or LeighW.

Cheers, Sam.

[wooley]

Nip, no problem with the isolator Fluffy. I'd say 95% of 150 owners with dual battery systems just have an electronic isolator like the Redarc or similar. In very simple terms, once they detect the main battery is full, a solenoid allows the 2nd battery to be linked and thus charged.

Have a read here http://redarc.com.au/products-and-se...ttery-isolator.

There is an issue with the alternator in the diesel not providing a high enough voltage to charge both batteries but this can be fixed with a little voltage boosting gadget. LeighW on this forum makes and sells them.

Cheers, Sam.

It still works though, without the voltage booster doesn't it? It just may it not charge the second battery as well without the booster?

[hookedon4wding]

Nope, no problem with the isolator Fluffy. I'd say 95% of 150 owners with dual battery systems just have an electronic isolator like the Redarc or similar. In very simple terms, once they detect the main battery is full, a solenoid allows the 2nd battery to be linked and thus charged.

Have a read here http://redarc.com.au/products-and-se...ttery-isolator.

There is an issue with the alternator in the diesel not providing a high enough voltage to charge both batteries but this can be fixed with a little voltage boosting gadget. LeighW on this forum makes and sells them.

Cheers, Sam.

[Fluffy]

Hi hookedon4wding, nice rig you're getting together there! The Drifta drawers do make a big difference. Might have to put them on my Xmas wishlist. I noticed you only had an isolator for the twin batteries. I was told that the alternator in the new 150's shut down if one of the batteries is charged and won't automatically start charging the other (something along those lines) and that you need the Redarc smart chargers. However this may only be for the diesel variant. Does it work fine in your rig?

[Fluffy]

Hi Wandy, yes I thought that would be the case with the Black Widow drawers. I have seen the Drifta drawers advertised in the mags and looked at their website (hookedon4wding said they custom make) so that may be a go. The others I've seen are BOAB removable that have plastic boxes in them and can have a drawer, but it still doesn't quite fit the bill. Might have to rent some gear from Bunnings and have a go at it myself. Hope I can remember the stuff I learnt from watching my father years ago.

[hookedon4wding]

Try Drifta, they custom make to your specs, are light and can be installed or removed in 5 mins. Checkout my build up or rogerthats buildup for picks.

[Wandy]

G,day fluffy. I also checked with black widow and they will only instal drawers if you remove the rear seats. I am really keen to add drawers so will be interested to see any ideas you get.

[Fluffy]

Has anyone made some removable drawers or have any ideas on how I can store gear for trips in the back of the Shorty. I still need the back seats for normal day to day driving. I have got some plastic boxes for stuff and recently knocked up a quick box to put the chairs and black wolf mega mats in so I still had a usable flat space on top, but I'd like to hear from other SWB owners what their setup is for trips. I heard Black Widow were supposed to be making some drawers for the SWB, but that seems to have disappeared off their website (bit pricey for me anyway and looked permanent). Any help/ideas appreciated.