Bed Drawer Advice

So looking to build a deck and drawers for my topped 2018 LB. Weight is no issue (new HD suspension). Considering the following:
OSB or plywood? Will be painted and/or carpeted
Drawers will be 12-14" deep (so plywood or OSB should be my most efficient material)
Glide system: Thinking about using HDPE strips instead of drawer glides (HDPE preferred). Has anyone used the bottom of the bed as a partial guide instead of making a lower platform for the drawers to glide on??? Would there be any plastic reaction or premature wear on the bed???
Just trying to maximize the space. Drawers will be used mostly for hauling tools.
Thanks
Rollo

 

I just ordered 1,800.00 worth of 8020 extrusions and hardware to start a similar project (and a few others... you can NEVER have too many projects...) in the bed of my Taco.

I have decided on the 8020 HDPE slides, and will be keeping the slides off of the bed. To me, it is just easier to not risk the composite. I will be losing a bit of space in the bed as I want to keep the bed mat to prevent rattles. One drawer will be built with Milwaukee Packout racks in it, and once I make some measurements, I am hoping to use milk crates in the other drawer, but I have yet to put a tape to work for that idea. This keeps the drawers fully modular, and as few moving parts as possible.

As for the material for the deck panels (which will also be three top opening doors so that I can get into the drawers while the gate is closed and through the sides of the topper...) I have decided on 3/4" marine grade ply with marine grade carpet.

Chances are, I will end up starting a post on it and documenting the process/progress as well. Who knows in the end though.

 

How tall will your drawers be for the Packouts? I'm looking to change over to those as well but really like the drawer units (14.3" tall though).

 

The drawer and cabinet units are nice, but a bit wider than the majority of the packout lineup though. I have not fully decided on exactly how I want to configure everything, but I am aiming to keep the bottom of the deck on top of the wheel wells. So that looks to be right around 10" or so.