Drawers for GU Patrol

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 11:19
ThreadID: 106932 Views:8712 Replies:8 FollowUps:11
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Hi community,

I am planning on travelling with my Nissan Patrol around Australia during the next year. I am considering buying a drawer system to organize the large amounts of gear that I travel with, since I move all my belongings and don't just travel for a few days or weeks.

After my research the Black Widow (or the other big brands) drawers came into consideration, but one call to Black Widow revealed that these systems are crazy expensive:

Twin Drawer System: 2349 AUD (with fridge slide its 2699 AUD)
Forward Twin Floors: 690 AUD
Forward Half Cargo Barrier: 520 AUD
thats already 3559 AUD or 3909 AUD

plus assembly for around 600 AUD

Unfortunately I don't have any tools or welding capabilities, thus saving money by DIY seems out of the question I guess :-(

I recon you can probably get 10% off if you start haggling or would I be better of asking around the 4x4 workshops to get it a lot cheaper?

My biggest concern is that once I sell the Patrol with these drawers in one year from now, that no one will pay that amount of money for this modification. In the best case they will evaluate around 50% of its price when they make me an offer - or am I wrong?

Cheers

Philipp
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Reply By: Member - Graham N (SA) - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 13:27

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 13:27
Hi Philipp,
I e-mailed most draw manufacturers and received only two replies one from Black Widow (they could not accommodate my fridge slide) and the other from Drifta. The Drifta drawers worked out a lot cheaper and they built it to how I wanted it, nothing was too much trouble.
Mine were fitted to a GQ Patrol, drawer system ,divider, wheel arch shelve and half cargo barrier plus various other bits $2100.
All I need now is this winter to get away and use them.

Cheers
Graham
AnswerID: 529244

Reply By: Mick O - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 13:52

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 13:52
Philipp, a good set of drawers are invaluable. While I had the complete Blackwidow outfit and can vouch for their quality, their price is simply out of many peoples reach these days.

There are a lot of drawer and fit-out specialists about these days so you have a wide choice to choose from. Much as I hate to use the old "I only buy it for the adds" excuse, I'd recommend slipping down to the Newsagent and buying yourself a copy of 4x4Action magazine. Bulldust aside, this magazine simply has the best range of advertisers of any 4x4 mag on the market and you should be able to identify some good products at a reasonable price.

Powerful 4x4, Ironman Drawers, Fourby Fitouts all have drawers but I reckon for quality work and value, (his twin drawer units for the back are under $1200) you'd be hard pressed to go past this bloke;

Best Off Road - Drawers

Fridge slides you can pick up on ebay for $220 delivered (see here;Fridge slide) and you should have plenty of room to bolt it straight on top of your drawer unit.
Good luck with it all.

Mick
''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: Member - John - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 17:29

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 17:29
Another tick for Best Drawers.
John and Jan

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Reply By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 14:19

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 14:19
DIY for sure Philpp - costs very little including the tools.

For me saving weight and having more storage area were objectives and its pretty easy to do.

Simply removing seats and building a flat platform where 2nd row seats were saved 40kg and gave a massive increase in carrying capacity and to boot gave ability to sleep inside the car , great for quick get aways and camping in marginal locations.

$200 would buy all the tools and materials , as patrols are a deam to build into with lower rear floor height than most.

My setup can be re-configured as required to suit the task, I have built different setups over the years starting off with a false floor the height of a baked bean can which allowed for lots of storage under a double bed but today prefer the flat floor approach with a 1500mm double bed mattress , this requires more selection of bits for best packing but works out better in the end.

For extended camping we find that extra noise reduction , warmth and security of sleeping inside the car makes us prefer it to many camper trailer setups even.

The picture shows a flat floor intermediate stage when I was testing a microwave oven.
You can even fit an Oztent RV3 in there.

Note fridge between front seats.







Robin Miller

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Reply By: Tony F8 - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 16:10

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 16:10
I was wondering why u would want draws at all, apart from being ridiculously expensive, their weight is a factor, they are not waterproof, what benefits do they have.
Cheers.
Tony F8
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Follow Up By: Michaeljp - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 17:43

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 17:43
I agree with tony, several plastic containers with lids work just as well. Thats all I've used for the past 30 years.
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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 19:58

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 19:58
Hi

I have both. Drawers contain all the stuff that stays in the car full time - all out of site and harms way (compressor, tools etc). Use to have it all in tubs or floating around the back but a pain when not out travelling. Tubs are trip specific - load them up with food, additional gear etc as required.

Thumbs up for the drawers. Not sure why they would need to be waterproof.

Personal preference in the end..if you have no use for drawers (or draws:) then no big deal.

Cheers
Greg
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Mar 28, 2014 at 07:41

Friday, Mar 28, 2014 at 07:41
I agree with you Greg.

I have had a Black Widow twin drawer system with built-in slide, first in my Jackaroo, then transferred to the Colorado.
The flexibility they give just can't be realised until you have used them.
When the fridge is not installed, I have a flat platform which is practical for a multitude of cargo carrying purposes.
Underneath, one of the drawers holds all my recovery equipment, plus compressor (in a portable box), 12 volt nut wrench, tyrepliers, etc.

The other draw holds a first aid kit and a multitude of other equipment I carry full time in the vehicle.
Wth the fridge installed and camping equipment stacked everywhere else in the canopy, I still have full access to the drawers and their contents.

The drawer system (originally for the Jack) doesn't extend the full distance of the Colorado tub, so there is a gap of about 400mm from the rear of the drawer system to the edge of the tub, just perfect for the auxiliary battery on one side (in an ABR Flyer) and a space for other stuff. like a carton or two:-) in a well like enclosure, against the forward bulkhead of the tub.

The Black Widow drawer system was meant to be a one off lifetime investment and by purchasing a "wing kit" at a fair price, to enable installation in different vehicles, it has thus proven to be extremely practical and cost effective.

Must be close to 9 years old now and still operating faultlessly.
I just wouldn't like to be without a drawer system.

Bill


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Reply By: Member - Peter G20 - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 16:36

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 16:36
Hi PGU.
I looked at the various options and thought there has to be another way around this problem.
I used the Masters milk crates which work a treat!
You can see through them to find what you are looking for and they stack easily and don't shift even on the roughest roads!
You can easily cut out sections and join them together for things that are too long!
They are tough plastic and won't damage the cars interior trim.
They don't rattle or rust and they are free!
When you change vehicles you keep your crates!
They make great seats, tables and benches around the camp.
Great to stand on to reach the roof rack.

They can serve a million purposes!

Cheers

Pete
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Follow Up By: Tony F8 - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 16:45

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 16:45
Way to go Pete, I see you haven't been conned by the advertising blurb of highly overrated products in this must have/ keep up with the Jones's world of 4wdriving
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Reply By: Tony F8 - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 18:38

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 18:38
Similar to the above, we made a flat frame bolted to the floor in the rear of the cruiser, 12mm ply on top. The fridge is tied down on 1 side, we use the originalnally bins with a simple raven seal attached to the lid, now we have waterproof storage, fit saddles at each end, ratchet tiedown and away we go.
Simple, portable and versatile. You can fit a 60Lt wedge pod tank behind your rear seat, protrudes into the rear space about 100mm for your waterand run the outlet to a rear mounted hand tap. All this is easily done with the minimum tools and expense. If you need more info don't hesitate to contact me. We did the big lap some years ago, so I should be able to offer you some advice.
Cheers.
Tony F8.
AnswerID: 529267

Reply By: DES, LYNLEY & MILLIE - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 19:59

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 19:59
We purchased a set of outback drawers 4 yrs ago for our landcruiser 100 series, and infact have just sold them on gumtree. While they were good for storage, they do take up a lot of space, and are very heavy. We had a fridge slide but I found it quite high to lift the lid and get stuff out. Also as we carried a honda generator which had to be lifted in the back was a bit heavy lifting up and in. We had the cargo barrier also with it.
Since we are on the road with the caravan, and have been since 2008, we have now gone to lided containers, and have the same stuff, in the back but a heck of a lot of more room. If you are looking still try www.outback.com.au
AnswerID: 529270

Reply By: Member - Russler - Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 21:34

Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 at 21:34
Are you in Melbourne? I've built a couple of systems from scratch and am at a bit of a loose end for a the next few weekends ...
AnswerID: 529280

Follow Up By: PGU - Friday, Mar 28, 2014 at 09:03

Friday, Mar 28, 2014 at 09:03
Hey Russler,
what a generous offer. Australians surprise me again and again :-) I am still in Melbourne at the moment and would be grateful for any help and tools. Unfortunately I can't send you a private message on this forum. Maybe you can send me your phone number and I can give you a call?

Cheers

Philipp
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Follow Up By: ian.g - Friday, Mar 28, 2014 at 12:50

Friday, Mar 28, 2014 at 12:50
What a wonderful kind offer, you are a real gentleman.
Regards
Ian
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Follow Up By: Member - Russler - Saturday, Mar 29, 2014 at 06:54

Saturday, Mar 29, 2014 at 06:54
Hi PGU, I've asked EO to send you my email address, rather than publish phone numbers, etc. in the clear on the Net. Hopefully you'll receive an email from them shortly. Cheers.
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Follow Up By: PGU - Saturday, Mar 29, 2014 at 19:26

Saturday, Mar 29, 2014 at 19:26
Perfect - thank you
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Follow Up By: Member - Russler - Monday, Mar 31, 2014 at 19:05

Monday, Mar 31, 2014 at 19:05
Not sure what the delay is, but you can email me at russlerburn001@gmail.com. Cheers.
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Follow Up By: PGU - Tuesday, Apr 01, 2014 at 10:44

Tuesday, Apr 01, 2014 at 10:44
You've got mail ;-)
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