Drill into sliding tray?

[jangoforhire]

Anyone secure stuff to the sliding tray with screws yet? I haven't done anything to my truck yet so I am still a little paranoid that I might mess something up. Over spring break I will be building a small little bike carrier mod that I have been planning. This involves securing some quick release mounts into the sliding tray. Any pointers?

 

[Titanpat57]

I mounted my drawer system to it. Seems to be foam filled, something or other plastic outside, foam core.

I drilled a flat head furniture joint screw thru the box and used a fender washer on the bottom, with an aviation nylock nut

 

[jangoforhire]

I mounted my drawer system to it. Seems to be foam filled, something or other plastic outside, foam core.

I drilled a flat head furniture joint screw thru the box and used a fender washer on the bottom, with an aviation nylock nut

Interesting, that's good to know, thank you. So even with the washer and nut on the bottom of the tray it still had enough clearance to slide in and out?

 

[Titanpat57]

Yep...just make sure you don't hit the tracks for the sliding tray.

(put down the back seats, pull the tray out, and crawl in the back door and look under the tray with a flashlight...you'll see what I mean.

Lots of room under there.

 

[jangoforhire]

Yep...just make sure you don't hit the tracks for the sliding tray.

(put down the back seats, pull the tray out, and crawl in the back door and look under the tray with a flashlight...you'll see what I mean.

Lots of room under there.

I see what you are saying. Perfect, thanks for the help!

 

[Antman]

There is another way to secure stuff in foam-core material, for those interested. I have a good bit of experience with this, because most of my boat is constructed this way.

Basically you drill a hole through the material1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter. Fill the hole with epoxy- stick epoxy is the easiest. Once the epoxy hardens, you can drill and screw directly into it to secure stuff.

This may be beneficial if you need to secure something over an area that you can't through-bolt.

 

[limamike]

:thumb3: :thumb3: You're full of good ideas, Antman. :thumb3: :thumb3:

 

[jangoforhire]

There is another way to secure stuff in foam-core material, for those interested. I have a good bit of experience with this, because most of my boat is constructed this way.

Basically you drill a hole through the material1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter. Fill the hole with epoxy- stick epoxy is the easiest. Once the epoxy hardens, you can drill and screw directly into it to secure stuff.

This may be beneficial if you need to secure something over an area that you can't through-bolt.

That is a very good idea. I will have to check and see how the sliding components line up with where I will be mounting and I may end up going this route. Thanks for the tip. I will keep you guys posted.

 

[harper7]

The sliding tray is made of dense styrofoam sandwiched between either a plastic or fiberglass material. I drilled some holes in the tray and used some of what are called "potted inserts" to hold my Saris Traps bike mount .That way I can just screw it in when I need it rather then leaving it in all time.

They are basically a floating nut inside a shell that you epoxy in.
Like this.....NAS 1836 & NAS 1835 Potted Insert - Marketing Masters

 

[jangoforhire]

The sliding tray is made of dense styrofoam sandwiched between either a plastic or fiberglass material. I drilled some holes in the tray and used some of what are called "potted inserts" to hold my Saris Traps bike mount .That way I can just screw it in when I need it rather then leaving it in all time.

They are basically a floating nut inside a shell that you epoxy in.
Like this.....NAS 1836 & NAS 1835 Potted Insert - Marketing Masters

Interesting, that is a good idea as well. I will give that some thought. I'm glad I asked this it seems it may be a little more complicated than I was planning. I stumbled upon your bike set up in an old old thread a few weeks back and that is what originally inspired my idea.

My original plan was to modify some quick release mounts I got off Amazon and screw the base to the tray. Then I can just snap the top of the mount with a fork clamp into the base whenever I need to transport my bikes. The quick release is fairly low profile so it shouldn't get in the way when not in use. But I am starting to re-think leaving the base fixed to the tray.

 

[pawzitiv]

I thru-bolted my storage drawer to the sliding tray. I just made sure to use some copper tubing in the bolt holes and fender washers to prevent crushing the sliding tray composite panel.

Cut the copper tubing into lengths ever so slightly shorter than the thickness of the sliding tray. Insert bolts (with fender washers) thru copper tubes; another fender washer opposite side with nylok nut. Fender washers should touch the copper tubes both sides when torquing down the nylok nuts.

 

[Reata]

The Antman is truly a MOD GENIUS GOD!!! (New acronym for my vocab : MGG)

:thumb3: :thumb3: You're full of good ideas, Antman. :thumb3: :thumb3:

 

[Reata]

I also did a bolt through as described with the nylock nuts. Works great. The drawback to the foam core board is it is weak IMHO. Loading down some pelican boxes with tools and strapping them down to the foam core board is questionable. Someday, I hope to adopt Seattle Mike's design of the rack above the slide out cargo tray.