rear draws buy or build

The Defender is proberly one of the best for a DIY floor and draw system. Ply floor with dividers underneath and _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx to slide in, sounds simple but sit in the back and have a think about it, try and imagine what you would like to see and how it is used, what you carry and where its going to fit.

do you have 2 k ? if yes buy . If not build , Venus Bay

Jtb

Just been through the exercise and couldn't come to grips with the mega bucks required for the fancy ones. Compromise required so approached a client of mine who has a cabinet making business and does commercial fitouts etc.

Ended up with just what we wanted for $720 which is fine by me as there's probably $400+ in materials. Heavy duty draw slides are dear as poison. We opted for a slide out shelf/table under the fixed top which reduced the draw depth but will be very handy. It hasn't got the fancy carpet finish of the dear ones but at about 1/3 to 1/4 of the cost who gives a ....

Finished it off with heavy rubber matting on top which extends full width and curves up both sides under the rear window sills. Only extends to rear of back seats but we are going to make up an infill piece when we remove both rear seats for the biggun next year. With that in place you could certainly have a camp inside.

If you're interested I could take some piccies and email them to you. Or you could take a peek on Straddie ... or both.

CheersFidei defensor

Rosco

Build..

Save $1000+ easy.. search the archives, its been done 218409209840-29384029834092384092834092834092834092834092830498230498 times in the past year....

Geoff made our _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx with a bed all carpeted, of steel box frame & melamine. Very strong, comfortable, no rattles, and cheap $600 max. We have photos if you want some detail. Email to gocruise@bigpond.com. Jen

Last time I ventured an opinion on rear _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx etc I copped an earful or is it an eyeful.

My system is different inasmuch as my truck is only a Mid Wheel Base and therefor has less space to fill up. So I have built in two shelves from MDF and all the gear slides out. My plastic tuckerboxes(cheap shop special) have wheels and those which I cannot reach I pull out with the jack handle. I have srap carpet on the floor where the jerries of fuel and water live. The next shelf is supported by two loose pieces of MDF wedged in between the jerries. On this shelf I have camping gear,tucker, fridge,recovery gear, HF Radio in a box, roll-up table, stove,air compressor, two buckets, two sleeping bags and more. The top shelf is supported by two fixed pieces of MDF and it is hinged at the rear. I sleep on the top shelf(lean the seats forward) and part of the front of the shelf is also hinged and folds forward to extend the sleeping area to accommodate my 6'3" frame.

My system cost a tad over $50 as I used scrap MDF. The whole lot fits nicely and there are few rattles. If you need ideas I can email you some photos Contact me at willem@kempen.id.au

Cheers and a muddy Christmas to you too :-)

Willem

Always going somewhere

jtb,

I am a do it yourself man. Like Willem I built mine from MDF but I lashed out and bought new stuff. Cost about $150 all up.

I access gear in my shelves either from the back or by folding forward the rear seats. Almost everything I carry is availabelwithout moving anything else certainly things like First Aid Kit and tools.

The thing DIY gives you is customising. I can have half my shelves in and use one of the third row of seats. It takes about ten mins to install or remove. That is important to me because of the dual roll my car plays.

I always thought that I would like one of those flash professionally built ones but having watched people use them I'm not sure they really are better.

Oh I spent about a week thinking about what I wanted and how to get it and about 3 hours building it.

Duncs

Try Dave Hays Storagefor ideas..

Again, search the Archives.

In my 110 I just glued marine carpet over the wheel arches to deaden road noise a bit, then put a shelf of strong ply also covered in marine carpet over them to give a good space underneath.
All cooking type gear goes in the space underneath in a plastic box with wheels one end and is easily slid out, and chairs plus puncture repair and other stuff goes in 3 canvas bags beside it.
60 litre Engel is situated length ways on top of shelf against right hand side and bolted down through the ply and wheel arches, and this leaves heaps of room next to it for whatever else we carry like clothes in bags or a tent.
Took a few hours or so to measure and install, cost maybe $200 maximum and certainly beat spending thousands on "custom shelving".
If it requires alterations in the future, it's not going to cost the earth to do.

Sorry for the late reply but definatley make them yourself. I installed a shelf (not _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx) in my Jack and I couldn't be happier with the outcome, post a followup if you want to see some photos.
Tim