Dobinsons Rear Drawers - 5th Gen 4Runner

[honda250xtitan]

update on the drawers after being a early adopter.

When i first bought it, i have to admit i didn't like it at all because the fridge slide latch was a joke, and since it is steel construction, the contents of the drawers made a lot of sound when driving around town. I also had issues with the drawers themselves moving back and forth and clunking. Also, the wings are horrible (since they were universal at the time). However, I made some mods to fix all of it, so now I actually do like them.

Here were the fixes:
1. clunking of the drawers: I installed a magnet to the inside wall, so now the drawers would self close and keep the drawers from moving when vehicle in motion.
2. fridge slide Latch: dobinsons newer drawers have new latches that are actually legit. For me, i don't complain anymore because the crappy latches are actually dirt cheap (5.00 dollars a pop). I bought a bunch of spares.
3. Rattling of inside contents: I bought these soft/felt lined semi rigid baskets at costco used for laundry. It fit in the drawers perfectly.
4. wings are still shit, but i cut em down to size. I dunno if dobinsons finally addressed it.
5. Tables: game changer right here. Dobinsons released some stainless steel tables that don't take up any space when stored, and can hold a burner/stove.
6. crikeymike is always a pleasure to do business with.

Here are some pics a few years later:

dang overland so hard at that paved campsite broop2:

 

[mrblah]

dang overland so hard at that paved campsite broop2:

my broski was taking his GF camping for the first time.... gotta start with them baby steps....

Although i prefer the holiday inn when i overland..:jump:

 

[Crikeymike]

dang overland so hard at that paved campsite broop2:

You can catch me at the KOA!! haha

 

[Crikeymike]

update on the drawers after being a early adopter.

When i first bought it, i have to admit i didn't like it at all because the fridge slide latch was a joke, and since it is steel construction, the contents of the drawers made a lot of sound when driving around town. I also had issues with the drawers themselves moving back and forth and clunking. Also, the wings are horrible (since they were universal at the time). However, I made some mods to fix all of it, so now I actually do like them.

Here were the fixes:
1. clunking of the drawers: I installed a magnet to the inside wall, so now the drawers would self close and keep the drawers from moving when vehicle in motion.
2. fridge slide Latch: dobinsons newer drawers have new latches that are actually legit. For me, i don't complain anymore because the crappy latches are actually dirt cheap (5.00 dollars a pop). I bought a bunch of spares.
3. Rattling of inside contents: I bought these soft/felt lined semi rigid baskets at costco used for laundry. It fit in the drawers perfectly.
4. wings are still shit, but i cut em down to size. I dunno if dobinsons finally addressed it.
5. Tables: game changer right here. Dobinsons released some stainless steel tables that don't take up any space when stored, and can hold a burner/stove.
6. crikeymike is always a pleasure to do business with.

Here are some pics a few years later:

Glad to hear it!! Those table tops are a really nice addition without any lost space.

Yeah, the wings were redone a while back, I think in 2020.

 

[Crikeymike]

Dobinsons sale starts today and runs until the end of November!!

Full details are here
Dobinsons Sale all November Long!!

 

[mrblah]

The dobinson's drawer table is a game changer for me. I finally put them to use after buying em from crikeymikey a few months back.

I used the table mainly for food prep since it is easy to clean being that it is stainless, and it has built in tabs at the end of the table for a grocery bag so you can literally just use the back of your chef knife to sweep organic waste into a shopping bag. Easy to clean being that it is stainless. When the table is mounted to the drawer, it is also at a good usable height, unlike my table that is mounted to my tire carrier which is basically mounted below the waste.

Cons: drawer contents will hit the under side of the table while driving and make a lot of noise. I put a microfiber towel under the table and that seemed to work. Not a bad compromise, since i need a clean microfiber towel to dry the dishes after washing. I think all tables that are designed like this will make a bit of a noise when not in use regardless of manufacture (ARB, dobinsons, etc).

Conclusion: table definitely worth buying if you are also buying the dobinson's drawers.


on to the pics:

Pic1: my buddy testing out the equipment by making breakfast: sausage, eggs, toast, and coffee after driving all night long from san diego to alabama hills. With this setup, everything is within easy reach without moving his around to much (fridge, drawer contents to his right side, food prep surface in front of him, and a single burner and knock off jetboil behind him).

Pic2: using the entire setup to make lamb chops for dinner. You can see how a grocery bag mounts at the end of the table for really easy cleanup.

cheers

 

[Crikeymike]

The dobinson's drawer table is a game changer for me. I finally put them to use after buying em from crikeymikey a few months back.

I used the table mainly for food prep since it is easy to clean being that it is stainless, and it has built in tabs at the end of the table for a grocery bag so you can literally just use the back of your chef knife to sweep organic waste into a shopping bag. Easy to clean being that it is stainless. When the table is mounted to the drawer, it is also at a good usable height, unlike my table that is mounted to my tire carrier which is basically mounted below the waste.

Cons: drawer contents will hit the under side of the table while driving and make a lot of noise. I put a microfiber towel under the table and that seemed to work. Not a bad compromise, since i need a clean microfiber towel to dry the dishes after washing. I think all tables that are designed like this will make a bit of a noise when not in use regardless of manufacture (ARB, dobinsons, etc).

Conclusion: table definitely worth buying if you are also buying the dobinson's drawers.


on to the pics:

Pic1: my buddy testing out the equipment by making breakfast: sausage, eggs, toast, and coffee after driving all night long from san diego to alabama hills. With this setup, everything is within easy reach without moving his around to much (fridge, drawer contents to his right side, food prep surface in front of him, and a single burner and knock off jetboil behind him).

Pic2: using the entire setup to make lamb chops for dinner. You can see how a grocery bag mounts at the end of the table for really easy cleanup.

cheers

Great review!!! Thanks so much for all that info. I don't sell as many of them as I would expect, and I think it's because people aren't realizing how handy it is to have that. Hopefully this review will be found more so people will pick them up!!

Here's a link to it for anyone interested: Dobinsons Rear Drawer Table Top - 435mm Wide - Exit Offroad

 

[Surf13]

Question regarding the rear seat when installed - will the rear seats still recline? This seems to be the only question I can’t find an answer to. Thanks!

 

[mrblah]

Question regarding the rear seat when installed - will the rear seats still recline? This seems to be the only question I can’t find an answer to. Thanks!

depends on how you install it.

Just like any drawer setup, it will require a cargo plate, or 2x4's or a plywood floor, and that gives you some flexibility.

My initial install without the wing kit, you can position the drawers that still allows you to recline the seats.

However, when i added the wing kit a few years later, I had to move the drawers further back towards the rear seat a few inches to install the wing kit and i lost the recline function. i think i could have played around with it (wing kit) a little to get my recline function back, or modified the wing kit to make it work but it didnt bother me enough to do it.

 

[honda250xtitan]

depends on how you install it.

Just like any drawer setup, it will require a cargo plate, or 2x4's or a plywood floor, and that gives you some flexibility.

My initial install without the wing kit, you can position the drawers that still allows you to recline the seats.

However, when i added the wing kit a few years later, I had to move the drawers further back towards the rear seat a few inches to install the wing kit and i lost the recline function. i think i could have played around with it (wing kit) a little to get my recline function back, or modified the wing kit to make it work but it didnt bother me enough to do it.

my idiot self not even knowing the seats recline because ours is a actual minivan with 2 car seats in it.

 

[Crikeymike]

depends on how you install it.

Just like any drawer setup, it will require a cargo plate, or 2x4's or a plywood floor, and that gives you some flexibility.

My initial install without the wing kit, you can position the drawers that still allows you to recline the seats.

However, when i added the wing kit a few years later, I had to move the drawers further back towards the rear seat a few inches to install the wing kit and i lost the recline function. i think i could have played around with it (wing kit) a little to get my recline function back, or modified the wing kit to make it work but it didnt bother me enough to do it.

That's what I was going to say too. The wing kit positions the drawers further to the front of the car, and with the drawers being ~10" tall, it blocks the seats from reclining the further forward you push them.

That said, I've never used the recline in my back seats, and my kids never wanted to either which I thought was weird.

 

[azmanny]

What would i need to do to fit them in a trail?

 

[Crikeymike]

What would i need to do to fit them in a trail?

As long as it didn't come with a 3rd row seat or sliding rear deck, nothing more than what it comes with. It comes with spacer blocks to make up the floor difference under the drawers. I recommend without the wing kit, as you get more useable space on the sides that way anyway.

 

[azmanny]

As long as it didn't come with a 3rd row seat or sliding rear deck, nothing more than what it comes with. It comes with spacer blocks to make up the floor difference under the drawers. I recommend without the wing kit, as you get more useable space on the sides that way anyway.

I do have the slide deck but I’m comfortable removing it