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Cargo Area Storage Drawers

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RITX
Posts: 16

Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#1 » Fri Jul 17, 2015 6:42 am

I've been searching the web for a storage unit to go between the wheel wells in my G550. A single large drawer would suffice but would prefer two drawers.

I'd appreciate any leads on this, hoping to find a ready made solution as opposed to a custom fabrication.

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vadimivanovich
Posts: 8643

Re: Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#2 » Fri Jul 17, 2015 6:58 am

"The way you think is the way you live"

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monday
Posts: 74
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Re: Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#3 » Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:28 pm

^^ Have been drooling after this one for a while may pick it up soon.

One thing I have heard from a member (I think on here) is that the top metal is very thin and you may want to retro fit a thicker board on top of you plan on mounting a slide rack for something like a fridge.. Is this true?

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vadimivanovich
Posts: 8643

Re: Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#4 » Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:56 pm

I have a SWB so have not purchased one (they don't yet offer one for my G). I can say that their other products are well made with appropriately durable materials.

If, for instance, they use a thinner gauge of sheet-metal but it's cold-rolled instead of less expensive hot-rolled, you will have excellent strength without the unnecessary weight.

I don't know what they use but am confident that it's solid.

FWIW
"The way you think is the way you live"

RITX
Posts: 16

Re: Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#5 » Sun Aug 02, 2015 1:44 pm

Thanks for the input, I really like the frontrunner outfitters product unfortunately out of stock for 6-8 weeks but its on my list to buy when they have them.

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stevegsmith
Posts: 2666

Re: Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#6 » Sun Aug 02, 2015 3:29 pm

This has been on my list for years. I've looked at all kinds of options and kits and finally decided to just make the damn thing. I figured if it didn't work out well enough, then I'd go for the Frontrunner thing. I mean, why not? Who needs to save money for their kids education? Right?!

Still not done. Needs the drawer fronts and closers. Ordered.

For the height, I settled on just sitting on top of the wheel wells. Using a piece of 1/4 Aloooominium for the deck, I had just enough room for the fridge door to open completely without bumping into the ceiling. Sure, I could have gotten an ARB or Engel with a narrower body and thus a short lid...but this way, I can handle most extremes. True, once the back seat is folded down, it's not quite high enough to make a level sleeping platform but one could always add some material to make it work and besides, I usually sleep on the roof or on the ground.

Aluminum sheet was ordered a couple inches large then cut on a CNC plasma table. It's knotched in the forward corners to make room for the rear seat belt rolls. There are two bolts in each side that penetrate the wheel well. I contact-cemented a layer 1/8" hard rubber textured matting on the top of the deck and nosed it at the rear with a shallow aluminum angle.

The drawer case was made out of 1/2" prefinished maple ply. It's a tad lighter than 1/2" 9-ply Finnish Birch marine ply..not to mention at least half the price....and easier to get....oh, and likely strong enough. The case is 9 3/8" high, 37 1/2"" wide, and 36 1/2" deep. There are two pieces of 1x2x26" attached on the sides of the case and flush with the top. Those are for the screws that I put in through the top of the deck.

So, the deck is attached to the wheel wells and the drawer case is attached to the deck. If I need to get to the fuel sender access panel, I can put the rear seat forward, remove the case screws, and slide the unit forward far enough to roll up the cargo mat. Yeah, a pain, but it's the price you pay for this kind of simplicity.

I already had the drawer slides sitting on the shelf collecting dust. I used full length 27" medium duty slides. Yeah, I coulda used heavy duty 36" slides but those weren't sitting on my shelf collecting dust. Another day I guess..if these fail.

Last piece to finish, the drawer fronts. I left a 3/8" overhang off the back for 1/4" drawer fronts. The current plan is to use either 1/4" aluminum or 1/4" plywood covered in the same interior plaid upholstery. I'm leaning toward the later. I just ordered some black Southco M1 lockable flush slam latches which will hopefully work. I'll post those pics when I get them on.

Peace. Namaste. Beer. Amen. Beer.

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Steve

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AlanMcR
Posts: 7729

Re: Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#7 » Sun Aug 02, 2015 3:57 pm

Oh, jeez, look who is all neat and tidy now!
...Alan

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stevegsmith
Posts: 2666

Re: Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#8 » Sun Aug 02, 2015 4:35 pm

Ha! ;-)
Steve

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vadimivanovich
Posts: 8643

Re: Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#9 » Sun Aug 02, 2015 8:24 pm

What, no dovetail?
"The way you think is the way you live"

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stevegsmith
Posts: 2666

Re: Cargo Area Storage Drawers

Post#10 » Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:15 am

Sure, they're just called Simpson GA2's.
Steve

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