Good Rap - OffRoad Systems Drawers

Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004 at 20:34

ThreadID: 17688 Views:4478 Replies:5 FollowUps:5

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Member - Ivan (ACT)

Guys,

I've been looking for a set of _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx for the back of the Prado now for a number of months. My wife is a bit of a shorty, so these drawer systems where the fridge goes on top of the _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx are no good - just too high..

I've been looking for someone who makes a system where the fridge is on the deck, and to the right hand side is three _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx. All of this with a shelf over the top.

Graham from OffRoad Systems was recommended to my by GaZZaa (previous posts), so I emailed him, and he was straight back with information on what I was looking for.

A few days later, I was looking on the Department of Interior site and read a page on "comparison between 'double stacked' and 'side by side' drawers"

This got me thinking..

Whilst my double stack was the perfect solution for a decent trip - when I was home and wanting to use one of the back seats, the whole lot has to come out...

I could see the situation where it would be useful to have the 'side by side' system, and the fridge therefore on the top of one of the _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx.. Then, more room around town - if going out for the day, still have the fridge - and what I really liked about this setup, you can remove one of the _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx to put one seat down..

My problem now was that I had to compromise - one system or the other...

I emailed Gary, and asked him if there was any way of doing a hybrid solution... A system which breaks down as required, and can fit any one of the three configurations above.

Every night for the past week, Graham has been finishing in his workshop, and between 8:30 and 9:30 has been sending me detailed emails as we worked through how this might work.. As it happened, his base system is very flexible and came close to what I was after.. But now (tonight), I have put in an order for the system that 'works both ways'!!!

As I said at the start - great rap for Graham and (a href="http://www.offroadsystems.com.au/">Offroad Systems

All the usual - don't work for them, no commercial interest yada yada yada

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Reply By: Penguin (NSW) - Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004 at 21:20

Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004 at 21:20

Hi Ivan

I think you've chosen wisely. I was very happy with their knowledge and willingness to help me with installation.

I had a cargo barrier before I bought the _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx and they were built for a different type. There was a large gap between the _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx and the barrier. The guy (wasn't Graham but I can't remember his name) spent quite some time building a filler panel and mounting it and was so very friendly and professional.

Regarding the fridge, it's probably too late for you now, but I put hinges on the rear end of the fridge slide so it can tilt down towards the rear when you slide the fridge out. Just push the sliding bolts in to secure it when travelling.

Mike

AnswerID: 83769

Follow Up By: Wisey (NSW) - Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 20:53

Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 20:53

Hi Penguin

sounds like a great idea with the tilting fr sde, got any pics? How does everthing inside the fridge handle leaning when your pulling stuff out, does it all fall to the low end in a mess or do you have a stratergy to avoid a mess?

Andy

FollowupID: 342794

Follow Up By: Penguin (NSW) - Thursday, Nov 11, 2004 at 09:09

Thursday, Nov 11, 2004 at 09:09

Hi Andy

I use the Evakool in the car for drinks so bottles and cans moving around a bit is not an issue. I've usually got is packed reasonably tightly with ice bricks etc. Fridge in the trailer is for food.

I haven't taken a photo of the fridge slide yet but you've prompted me now. I'll try to take one tonight.

Mike

FollowupID: 342840

Follow Up By: Penguin (NSW) - Friday, Nov 12, 2004 at 10:35

Friday, Nov 12, 2004 at 10:35

Hi Andy

Here are some pics of the fridge slide.

Basically, I mounted the rear on a couple of hinges and put some patio door bolts at the front. I managed to get the same key as the _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx. It doesn't rattle as long as the bolts are in and the esky is easily accessible.

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FollowupID: 342962

Reply By: GazzaS (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004 at 22:53

Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004 at 22:53

Hi there

we are fitting out a Prado 90

We have found a similar setup here in Vic where the maker provides a "cage" - ply floor, cargo barrier and brackets etc all assembled. this cage lifts straight in / out of the back of the vehicle. The ply floor bolts to existing bolt points. Once in you bolt in the fridge slide and single drawer (side by side) to the ply floor and presto you are setup to go. the cage has a "soft luggage rack" at the top which holds soft luggage (what else) in the roof space. We have asked him to modify ours with a shelf over the fridge. comes with side storage spaces etc. He has made them for 100 series, Patrols, discoveries, prado 120 etc.

We went for this as one of the primary reasons for having a Prado initially was the 8 seat capacity but when you fit it out you go back to 5. So this is a fairly easy method to quickly cahnge from normal road mode to trip mode.

haven't tried it in anger yet but looking forward to over xmas.

Cheers

AnswerID: 83786

Reply By: chappobriz - Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 00:28

Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 00:28

If you don't mind measking "Whats the damage on such a setup?"
Chappo

AnswerID: 83797

Follow Up By: Member - Ivan (ACT) - Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 06:26

Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 06:26

$1890 not including fridge slide - not bad considering there is extra components (over and above a standard fit), and also some R&D in there.

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Reply By: chappobriz - Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 08:01

Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 08:01

Sure is good value!
Chappo

AnswerID: 83810

Follow Up By: Member - Ivan (ACT) - Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 08:31

Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 at 08:31

Certainly..

I was pretty active in a couple of forums and couldn't find a bad word about them (in fact the complete opposite - all owners were very happy)

There are some of these comments in the archives here on Exploroz

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Reply By: GO_OFFROAD - Thursday, Nov 11, 2004 at 00:03

Thursday, Nov 11, 2004 at 00:03

Pity you never asked me Ivan,
as my system is easily removable, fits more than one model, and makes living out of the car extremely easy and is easily interchnagable for 40 or 60 lt models, while keeping the fridge on the floor.

AnswerID: 83948