Rear Drawer / Storage setup for our 150's - almost finished

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Almost finished our rear drawer/storage system in the back of our 150's. After our unorganised desert trip last year I decided that we needed a better way of packing. Came up with the following after talking with a mate of mine. After almost finishing them I can see that I'll need to do some fine tuning b4 we are fully finished.... I've even seen some improvements to do if I ever did do this again.....
Here's some pics:

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

The Rav-4 Rear Cargo Barrier that I got for free cut down fitted perfectly



Location where 3x 20ltrs of water will be stored. Will have 2x 5ltrs containers up on the top shelf for everyday use.... Will eventually work out some sort of 12v pump system but time is running out b4 this upcoming trip....



Here's some of the fine adjustments that I need to make.... the top drawer only misses the door by 1>2mms





I will also have a small table that will clip in on the base platform in front of the fridge and bottom drawer but I'm still in the process of making it. I did want it to swing up in front of the fridge/drawers, but I chose the wrong drawer handles which didn't really leave me enough room when I close the rear door.... I may look at modifying this when we get home.....

[stevep84 Find all posts View Profile Close stevep84]

Nice work Rob. It looks like a lot of time has been put into the design. It should work a treat.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

That is very impressive. Where have you run power outlets? Good job.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

My 12v plugs are in the side compartment and with the type of plug setup I run, access should still be ok...... but one thing I need to remember to do b4 installing these drawers b4 we head off is relocate the OEM car jack as I won't be able to access it after we are all packed up. ( one of the fine adjustments I need to do but I've got another location for it, just got to remember to relocated it prior to leaving)

It's still a work in progress and I'm guessing our trip will highlight some more issues, but hopefully nothing too big. The section between the 2 boxes are for a table or whatever will go in there (eg: BBQ plate, etc)

Depending on the type of trips we do, I can carry upwards of 90ltrs of water, 3x20ltrs in the compartment behind the drawers, 1x20ltr behind the fridge and 2x5ltrs on the top platform. Normally it just will be the 3x20ltrs + 2x5ltrs. If time permits, I'd like to come up with some way of installing a 12v pump system that will enable me to pump out of the 3x20ltrs but I need to workout how also to let air back in as the the water is used and still have no leaks.....maybe some sort of 1-way valve or something ???

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

If you use jerry cans with the two outlets you can vent through those. Even common them up to a common vent.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

If you use jerry cans with the two outlets you can vent through those. Even common them up to a common vent.

Yeah, but I've got to make sure with all the movement of the car over rough roads,etc that water doesn't come back up the air vent.... I've just got the normal blue 20ltr jerries that u find in Supercheap. Unfortunately they only have a single lid. I was thinking of drilling to holes in the lid. for output and one with some sort of small one way valve, but I'm unsure if u can get one small enough......

[hulbyw Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hulbyw]

During my part time job I get to see quite a few 4by's set up for touring and a customer recently showed me his solution to the problem of keeping the water in a jerry but allowing some air in as well so that his electric pump would work. Now I want to emphasise that I have not personally tried this yet but he reckons it works.
He drilled a hole in the filler cap large enough to mount a car wheel valve stem. He modified the valve by cutting short the spring on the valve (removed a few turns from memory). He reckoned that this allowed the jerry to breathe but didn't allow water to escape as when water pushed up against the bottom of the valve, the valve closed. When the water was not pushing the valve, enough air could pass through due to the shortened spring.
I strongly suggest anyone wanting to try this to test it out side their Prado first! His install was in the tray of a Luxe so not so much a problem for him if it leaked.
Cheers

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Interesting.... will look into it, but I also need room on the lid to have the water outlet as well.....

During my part time job I get to see quite a few 4by's set up for touring and a customer recently showed me his solution to the problem of keeping the water in a jerry but allowing some air in as well so that his electric pump would work. Now I want to emphasise that I have not personally tried this yet but he reckons it works.
He drilled a hole in the filler cap large enough to mount a car wheel valve stem. He modified the valve by cutting short the spring on the valve (removed a few turns from memory). He reckoned that this allowed the jerry to breathe but didn't allow water to escape as when water pushed up against the bottom of the valve, the valve closed. When the water was not pushing the valve, enough air could pass through due to the shortened spring.
I strongly suggest anyone wanting to try this to test it out side their Prado first! His install was in the tray of a Luxe so not so much a problem for him if it leaked.
Cheers

[hulbyw Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hulbyw]

He used jerry's with a bottom outlet (they have a thread with a bung in it). You can get plastic hose fittings which screw into the bottom of the jerry with a barbed outlet so you can connect a hose (use teflon tape on the thread and don't screw the fitting in too far as you can crack the bottom of the tank)

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

looks good mate. Heres how my water tanks is set up;
1X 20l water jerry mounted behind the fridge on the slide.
1 X hose taped into the bottom outlet, tap from bunnings screws straight in. other end of this hose has a male garden plug, and tap. rund beside fridge for easy access
1X hose tapped intop the lid of the water tank, if you look under one you will see its marked ready for cut out, socket screwed in, leads to hose, other end of this hose has female garden tap outlet.

connect the two garden tap ends.

no need for a pump , all gravity fed. works a treat, and airflow is fine. You can even use the garden sockets for refil!

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Any chance of some Pics ???

cheers...

rob

looks good mate. Heres how my water tanks is set up;
1X 20l water jerry mounted behind the fridge on the slide.
1 X hose taped into the bottom outlet, tap from bunnings screws straight in. other end of this hose has a male garden plug, and tap. rund beside fridge for easy access
1X hose tapped intop the lid of the water tank, if you look under one you will see its marked ready for cut out, socket screwed in, leads to hose, other end of this hose has female garden tap outlet.

connect the two garden tap ends.

no need for a pump , all gravity fed. works a treat, and airflow is fine. You can even use the garden sockets for refil!

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

He used jerry's with a bottom outlet (they have a thread with a bung in it). You can get plastic hose fittings which screw into the bottom of the jerry with a barbed outlet so you can connect a hose (use teflon tape on the thread and don't screw the fitting in too far as you can crack the bottom of the tank)

Looks like I might have to try and source some 20ltr jerries with the bung in the bottom.... My only concern if somehow the hose/fitting coming out of the bottom got knocked and started leaking...

[Trevc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trevc]

Rob

That storage system looks great - just about what I'm after for our trip - I like the void at the back which is where my aux battery would live.
I also like the amount of storage you still have on top and are able to incorporate a cargo barrier. (I must admit I'm a little surprised about how many PP's don't have cargo barriers).

Would be great to catch-up when you're back from your trip and swap a few notes.

Trev

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Yep.... sounds good.... will be interesting to see how it all goes.
I've added a sliding bracket to the back of the roofrack where I'm mounting a LED Worklight, so I'll have plenty of light over the back of the car and I can pivot the light 360" around as well up/down. Also, I've installed a Black Anderson Plug at the front coming out of the grill for those times power needed at the front of the car.....Currently making up some brackets where I can slide my 4" table under the roofrack to help free up some room on top of the rack.... work in progress....