Doozy4212's Better Truck Drawer Build/Guide

Hey TW,

I currently have a drawers system that I DIYed for my 2017 short bed and while it has functioned excellent over the last year, I have new and better ideas for V2.0. For reference here is my current setup. The drawers are sanded and waxed birch, they slide great, then I have a 48" hettich drawer slide that supports my "bed slide" for the cooler.



Like I said, I am happy with it but I have bigger and better plans for V2.0, here are the first sketched ideas.



My main goals for this version:

• Keep the sturdiness, reduce the weight
  • Instead of 2 - 3/4" pieces of ply for each of the vertical walls, I want to use only one as I know it will hold up. I also want to mill out the base of the new system for weight reduction.
• Replace current non-locking slide with locking slide for fridge slide. Re-purpose current slide for drawer underneath slide.
  • I use HD slides from ovisonline.com (awesome company to work with) and they are awesome. My current slide has held up under weight on rough and bumpy trails.
• Make right side drawer under fridge slide more useful by making it deeper and a functional kitchen with a spot for my Camp Chef Mountaineer 2-Burner Aluminum Stove, smaller backpacking stoves, pots, pans, plates, cutting board, cast iron and other odds and ends (current drawer is only about 4" deep)
  • I will be making the "kitchen" drawer deeper by using 2" aluminum angle to help clear the drawer as shown above.
• Add tie down points on deck for securing gear.
  • I will be using L-Track for this.

Parts List:

• Birch Plywood (3/4", 1/2", 1/4")
• Wood Glue
• Brass Screws
• Eye Bolts (2)
• Spar Urethane
• HD Drawer Slides
  • 48" Non-Locking
  • 48" Locking
• #10 Flat Head Machine Screws, Washers and Nuts
• #10 Pan Head Machine Screws, Washers and Nuts
  
• #10 Flat Head Screws
  
• #10 Pan Head Screws
  
• 2" Aluminum Angle
• 3/4" Aluminum Angle
• Small Stainless Screws
• Finishing Washers
• Outdoor Carpet
• Carpet Glue
• A good closure system for the drawers, maybe small toggle latches
• L Track and Accessories

This is a loose idea at this point but I am looking at all of you for suggestions. @Arlaghan and his build has been a huge inspiration amongst others on this site and expedition portal. As I build V2.0 I intend to use this as a full write-up/how so others can follow if they want to!

Let the fun begin!

 

reserved

 

Started doing some more research about how I can make this system better in every way possible. As far as finish, in V1.0 I used Behr deck paint from Home Depot and it has held up relatively well but I don't like the fact it covers the nice grain of the birch wood. In V2.0 I have considered everything from Line-X to Polyurethane and Spar Varnish but at the moment I am now leaning towards using Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane. This will still maintain a transparent and gloss appearance that will enhance the looks of the Birch grain. I will coat the interior and exterior of the frame and the drawers with a spar urethane.

Side note, I will be ordering a Camp Chef Mountaineer 2 Burner Aluminum Stove. I went and checked this out at REI today and WOW is all I have to say. It is HUGE. I've read some mixed reviews on it regarding the welds and there are a lot of people comparing them to the partner stoves in both good and bad ways. I was impressed with the welds (the reviews I read were done just after its release which may have lead to some QC issues), the overall size and the relative weight. Plus I can get a screaming deal on it (over 55% off) through a friend in the outdoor industry!

To power the stove I picked up a Manchester 5 lb. 1.2 gal Propane Tank from ACE Hardware today as they had one in stock and I had some coupons! I tagged it with a Silverton Mountain Skiing sticker because it a flammable gas and needs a warning label



I am still trying to figure out a strong and clean closure system for the drawers, HELP!

 

As excited as I am to start this project, it's going to have to wait. I planned on assembling materials this month and beginning work in mid March but I am now moving spur of the moment as I took a new job and it's gonna cost a boat load. Hopefully I will only be delaying this process by a month or so doing this.

In other news, I have decided to do outdoor carpet again on the top to keep things soft for the occasional times my girlfriend and I sleep in the back or when we throw the dog in the back. I used an outdoor carpet last time and it has held up great! This time I am going to cap the end closet to the tailgate with 3/4" aluminum angle and hold it in place with stainless screws and finishing washers to give it a more professional look!

 

How did you secure your drawers to the bed?

 

Currently I using a combo of an L-Bracket and a Turnbuckle.

The L-Bracket is screwed and glued into the platform surface and mounts direct to the holes for the tie-downs on the bed walls at the front of the bed.



The turnbuckles tie into a D-Ring tie down point I picked up from Lowe's. I did have to drill an additional hole to mount one side with grade 8 hardware and the other side I was able to use one of the factory screws for the bedside storage on the other half.



I will likely reuse these in V2.0 as well

 

Thanks for the quick response and pictures! Is that mount already at the front of bed? Sorry, Im being lazy and don't wanna run out to the truck.

 

It is in mine (2017 - 3rd gen) but I believe you should have that as well. Maybe someone else can confirm?

 

Might be different in a 2nd gen, I'll go check. I could always add it

 

Nice one... sub'd

 

With my move upcoming I decided to remove my current drawer system. I cut the 'wings' off as I was a little ambitious with the glue and screw upon assembly, this was pretty easy with just a hand saw. I pulled the slides out and ditched the rest. What did I learn....

1. I over-built the $h!t out of this thing the first time around! It was super rigid but also super heavy! Once I got the whole system out and only had the cap and PrInSu to weight the back down, my ride height increased by almost 1/2" in the rear.
2. The deck paint held up relatively well but my cap leaks slightly when I pressure wash the truck...(it ONLY leaks at this time, never has it leaked in the rain!) With that being said the front passenger side corner of the drawer system did have a little bit of warping in the corner.
3. V2.0 is going to be SICK!

The first time I've seen by bed in 10 months.

 

Sub'd.

 

No real progress to report with this move upcoming. Still giving this a little thought daily on little odds and ends and here are the most recent ideas that have popped in and out of my head.

• Instead of using true drawer handles, I am going to resort to my rock climbing routes and use 1" nylon webbing and stainless steel screws and finishing washers to make the handles on the drawer faces.
• I will also use little nylon webbing loops on the hatches at the front of the bed to open them up much like the base of our seats flip up by pulling that little loop in the back seat of the double cabs.
• Instead of two flip up hatches at the front of the bed this time I think I will do three. Each will have an interior dimension of 8 3/4" wide X 13" long X 8 3/4" deep. I have never kept anything large in these in fact most things have been small odd and ends so this will help me keep those smaller items from rolling around as much
• Lastly, I would like pressurized water in one way or another but I don't know which of the probably 5 really good options I would go with or if it's really worth the money...this one is a very loose thought.

Thanks! Stay tuned, I will start construction at the beginning of April!

 

Still a few weeks out from really getting this started but today ONLY, eBay had 20% your order up to $100 off. While these were not the slides I was originally seeking, I have read some good reviews and figured its better than the price tag of $260 from the original ones I was looking at or the $400+ price tag on Accuride slides. I ended up purchasing the Ryadon 3600 Series 48" Locking drawer slides.



An account on YouTube by the name of Brady's Adventures used them in system for the back of his Land Cruiser which is how I found them during all of my initial research. Below is the video in particular!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAWG1XAW374

All I can hope for at this point is they will support the weight of my RTIC 65 cooler fully loaded at full extension. I'm not too worried though.

 

Thanks for the love @I married my tacoma

 

Paying very close attention to this thread... thanks for sharing!

I want to do something like this, but only half the bed, so that my two dogs can still have room to roam.

 

What do you mean half of the bed? Only drawers on one side and open bed on the other side?

 

if you're standing at the tail gate looking in (towards front of truck), the cabinets would only occupy the left or right half. I guess technically speaking, since cabinets are only half high, then it would be a "quarter" of the bed. In my mind, the "quarter" cabinets would still occupy the full length of the bed (front to back). This design would allow my dogs full head to toe room. Does that make sense?

 

got ya! I have a little pooch (40 lbs) so that's a non-issue for me. plus my gf and I sleep in the back from time to time so a full platform is necessary for me

 

nice! sub'd for updates