Doozy4212's Better Truck Drawer Build/Guide

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Coming along for what looks like will be an amazingly well built drawer system!

 

Wow!! I'd love to have something like this for mine! My question, as a fellow 5' bed owner, how do you sleep
back there without being uncomfortable? Do you use an additional platform to rest your feet on and a tent
(such as a DAC truck shell tent)? Looks very well designed though and doable, which I like!

 

Damn that is clean, sub'd!

 

My GF and I both sleep in a ball, or I’ll sleep diagonal by myself. It’s pretty rare we sleep back there though, I can have a tent and cots up and leveled in 10 minutes!

 

That makes sense! My gf and I manage to sleep in the bed of mine; however, I use a DAC tent that allows me to use the tailgate for extra leg room. Really nice design though! I'll be following

 

Thanks for the love everyone! I’ll try to keep this as detailed and entertaining as possible. Just hang with me until I get this move done and can start this project!

 

I am building a lightweight bed/platform for my shortbed that will extend from 4’ to 6.5’ over the tailgate when used as a bed. Its just a simple shelf with a locking folding extension piece. My wife made a tent for the back of it so that we can leave the rear window open and up and the tailgate down. It is simply a new $29 Walmart dome tent (a square bottomed 2-pole one) with the back and bottom cut open so that it wraps around the back of the truck- it looks sorta like we backed into a tent and drove off with it. I built a similar setup for my 1st gen and it worked our great for a rainy Pacific Northwest trip.

 

Awesome! I would love to see pics if you have some!

 

Will do! Still in beginning stages, but here’s where I am with it today. I abandoned my earlier drawer project in the earlier posts due to their weight factor also. And my wife pointed out that her Walmart rolling under the bed storage bins would work just as well, even better as they seal up and are removable if we need more room underneath the main shelf.

 

I do love the simplicity. I have the Sumo Springs for now on my truck which handles the weight and retains the rake really well even with the cap, drawers, Prinsu rack and CVT awning! My system is designed to be 95% permanent as I rarely haul a thing. I would like to lift down the road and at that point I will go with heavy duty Dakars.

Side note, how is you Hi-Lift and shovel mounted?

 

@Shmellmopwho custom builds hilift mounts that leave room below for beds and room behind the jack to stow a small shovel. They are really nice. I like his sliders, too. If youre in So Cal, definitely a great buy!

 

Far from SoCal but I'll see if he ships if I cant fab something custom for myself!

 

Thoughts are still flowing. This time I'm thinking about drilling holes in my truck

I want to drill 6-8 holes in my bed in order to put a bolt/washer combo through the drawers and through the bed in order to bolt it all into one really solid set-up! I would put two bolts relatively close to one another (~8 inches apart) at the front of the bed as this would see the most force from the fully loaded 200 lb cooler sticking 4 feet out of the back of the truck acting as a huge anchor causing the drawers at the front of the bed to lift up when the slide is out, and then one bolt in the middle of the system and one close to the end nearest the tailgate. I spent probably 20 minutes crawling around under my truck, then looking in my bed, then crawling back under my truck then looking back in my bed.

I know that if I drill into the fifth ridge from the center ridge I will be able to get a bolt though the drawers and bed the whole length of the bed without interference. See the picture below for reference.



I was obviously very concerned by the gas tank which is in upper left 1/4 of the bed as you are looking into it and it would be really expensive if I put a hole in that lol. However there is still approximately 3-5 inches to spare to get my hand in there with a washer and nyloc nut in order to hold the drawers tight. I did consider a rivnut as well but don't have and don't know anyone with those tools. I would likely use small grade 8 hardware as it is really strong, readily available and will resist any and all elements well. Additionally to seal it all up I would liberally use silicone to prevent any moisture penetration into the wood itself.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! IS THIS A GOOD OR BAD IDEA? WHAT ARE ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, AND CONCERNS?

Thanks in advance

 

I drilled 8 holes in my bed to mount my sleeping platform/drawer system. I used rivnuts backed up with fender washers instead of through-bolting. 3 years and 70K miles, I have had 0 problems.

I bought the rivnuts and installation tool from McMaster-Carr. Not very expensive, and simple to install. I did use a 2nd set of hands to hold the washer as I was installing the rivnuts.

Our beds, even though composite, are quite strong.

And, you don't need grade 8 bolts - you will use no where near their load rating. If you want stronger than standard bolts, use stainless steel bolts.

Look in my build thread - I think the platform is on page 1.

 

Could you just buy longer bed bolts and use the stock locations?

 

Considered this however I think I would rather run separate bolts for easier removal and reinstallation down the road. But I also have not completely ruled it out yet either. The only issue for me is the vertical portions of the frame would interfere with getting the bolts in and out

 

Went and checked it out, beautiful build! Looks badass! I’ll explore the rivnuts a little more! Thanks!

 

Thanks. I am happy with the way it turned out.

As long as you don't plan on jumping your truck, I think the rivnuts will be plenty strong. My platform is fairly tight fitting, so even without being bolted, I don't think it could move very much. So the rivnuts are not seeing a huge load.

 

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