In-bed storage solutions

I'm putting an Alu-cab canopy camper on my pickup and want to add storage solutions to the sides of the truck bed/box. I am familiar with the Goose Gear product but don't want to spend $6000 to outfit it to that extent. I was hoping the members could share what they have come up with and the cost/availability of the product/s. I have an Iceco JP40 refrigerator I plan on mounting on one side or in between cabinets towards the front of the bed. I want storage on both sides. I know there are a lot of innovative people on this forum and appreciate your input, I'm guessing others have the same need for this information.

Thank you!

 

Check out https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...platform-drawer-storage-systems.424709/unread

Tons of ideas there and many on the cheap.

 

I appreciate the help, I looked at the topic and gave up after viewing 20 pages. The topic, "Truck Bed Sleeping Platform and Drawer Storage Systems" is indicative of the information provided.

I need to leave the center of the bed open as you stand in this area to access the sleeping section of the Alu cab cabover camper. In fact one of the selling points of the Alu cab is that when the tent section and sleeping platform is up you can stand in the bed of your pickup. I'm looking for ideas on side storage solutions. I want to have enough room to sit in that area when the Alu cab tent and sleeping platform are in the "up" position as well.

 

I've seen quite a few builds where people put a full bed width shelf system with raised side storage in an Alu-Cab, GFC, Vagabond. If it's designed to support a person's weight you can stand on it just as you could directly on the bed, or you can make the center section removable. I'll probably want an aisle like you do but I still find threads like that useful to skim through, there are gems of ideas hidden away in some of them not just design ideas but other products that could be useful that could help in whatever design you ultimately choose.

This thread has been a good one https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/vagabond-drifter-camper-buildout-and-mods.540940/page-90

 

There is certainly a lot of information and useful customization ideas in this thread. Is definitely geared for Vagabond fans (which is a product I knew little about) would be nice if the same thread existed for Alu-Cab Canopy Campers (for those of us that have decided to go with this product).

 

I got ideas from the thread linked and then built this:

 

Anyone have a resource for learning to build cabinets with modular aluminum extrusion? Seems like that would be the best way to build for strength with the least amount of weight.

 

Sounds expensive

 

If you search around you could probably find more threads but here is ONE

 

You just said you don't want to spend a lot of money.
Also, you gave up after 20 pages in that thread but nothing is easy. There are a lot of innovative people here but they might never see this thread. A lot just post what they do and don't check in much. Good luck.

 

Links I found in this thread suggested these sites for extruded aluminum:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/8020-cabinet-construction.626982/

www.tnutz.com
https://8020.net - has an 80/20 University section with tutorials on how to design and build with their products
www.automation4less.com/tslots1

His build looks pretty slick. I'm planning to make something similar.

There was some more info and pics in the Vagabond thread, post 1357 on page 68. Probably a few other examples too but those were the ones I took note of.

I bet there is a thread somewhere. Searches don't always pull up the most useful threads in the top results, sometimes you have to dig a bit. But here on TW or ExpeditionPortal are good bets.

 

I used tslot for mine. It's aluminum extrusion. All was salvaged from work or bought 2ndhand from a local robotics company as extras / cutoffs.



The pic is a bit of a mess and the build is still in progress, but you get the idea. The middle is open for storage or whatever else, I sleep on the right, and there's tons of storage underneath in bins. The front area flips up and stuff stows underneath. It's ridiculously stout because Tslot is ridiculously stout.

There's more pics and a quick drawing of the system I made on my build thread in this post - scroll down to 27 Feb after it all loads (warning, link has TONS of pics): https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hammerhead-the-4x4-dclb-tow-and-trail-rig.671016/#post-23557721

I'll see if I can get a few more pics too, the thread needs updated with my last 2 rides and some more work I've done on the platform since.

 

This is a kitchen, but should give you some ideas with extruded aluminum

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-diy-camping-drawers-pic-heavy-thread.554249/