Poll: Storage Platform Drawer Slides

[nc-grayson]

Greetings All,

Need some advice on which route to go with drawer slides for cargo/sleep platform I'm building. Couldn't find anything heavier duty than the 24" 100lbs/pair slides at my local box store. This project is full swing, and I'm not putting it on pause to order super heavy duty slides. My thought was just to increase the amount of slides on the box, thus spreading out the load and giving it a higher lb rating. In my head that makes sense, but I may have talked myself into this theory.

The box will have two symmetrical drawers, a left and a right, and I'd like some opinions on which way to run the drawer slides. Each box will be built from 0.71" birch/blondewood. Each drawer will be 24" deep, roughly 9" tall, and appx. 16" wide.

If the drawer slides are rated at 100lbs per pair, how would you go about orienting them to do a good job? I would like the ability to pull one or both drawers out to act as a table for food prep/projects while out in the woods. So they need to be able to support a decent amount of weight, but by no means will I EVER need the drawers to support a human for instance, as if I were sitting on them.

Hope my amateur sketch can get what I'm trying to accomplish across!

 

[volkinator]

Not sure how the slides compound... but I do know that their weight rating is significantly less when horizontal. So I would rule out option C instantly. I don't think the horizontal slide on the bottom will take ANY weight, as far as adding to the existing 100# for the vertical slides.

 

[GGFerrier]

Why not rig adjustable telescoping legs attach to the drawer face?

 

[campinfreak]

I would go with option A or B. Option C would not add that much weight capacity and also not the easiest to implement. B will add more weight capacity over A. If you are planning on keeping tools/recovery gear then go with B as those pounds will add up quickly. Also, my philosophy is to over build as you never know what the future may hold.

 

[A.Wilson013]

I used option A and have not had any problems. I also used 100lb 24" slides. I've never cooked on top of my drawers (that sounds messy), but I will set my tool box down on top of one when it's opened. I'm not sure of the exact weight, but I know it's a lot more than my stove...

I also try to keep my heaver stuff near the back of the drawer so that when it's all the way open it's not putting so much stress on the slides.

tl;dr: I think option B will be overkill unless you're planning on resting your full cooler on top of the fully extended drawer while you're cooking.

 

[nc-grayson]

Not sure how the slides compound... but I do know that their weight rating is significantly less when horizontal. So I would rule out option C instantly. I don't think the horizontal slide on the bottom will take ANY weight, as far as adding to the existing 100# for the vertical slides.

Didn't know this, thank you for enlightening me.

Why not rig adjustable telescoping legs attach to the drawer face?

Totally a possibility down the line, never thought of that before! After it gets used more I'll know how things sit and settle.

I would go with option A or B. Option C would not add that much weight capacity and also not the easiest to implement. B will add more weight capacity over A. If you are planning on keeping tools/recovery gear then go with B as those pounds will add up quickly. Also, my philosophy is to over build as you never know what the future may hold.

I like the idea of B because I'm just as overkill as Tim the Toolman Taylor, (I bet Binford makes a "Drawer Slide 5000" that could do the job), but by buying 8 smaller slides, I'm close to the territory of spending money on 4 heavier duty slides, and waiting.

I used option A and have not had any problems. I also used 100lb 24" slides. I've never cooked on top of my drawers (that sounds messy), but I will set my tool box down on top of one when it's opened. I'm not sure of the exact weight, but I know it's a lot more than my stove...

I also try to keep my heaver stuff near the back of the drawer so that when it's all the way open it's not putting so much stress on the slides.

tl;dr: I think option B will be overkill unless you're planning on resting your full cooler on top of the fully extended drawer while you're cooking.

I'll have to check your build again to see how yours are holding up with the gear you carry. As of now, I don't have tons of recovery gear and tools to carry, but I do bring some. Obviously heavier things in the back/on top of the box.


Thanks for all who've provided input thus far!

GF

 

[A.Wilson013]

I'll have to check your build again to see how yours are holding up with the gear you carry. As of now, I don't have tons of recovery gear and tools to carry, but I do bring some. Obviously heavier things in the back/on top of the box.

Here's a picture I took after re-"organizing" the drawers which allowed me to fit my husky toolbox into the big drawer.

The left drawer is shorter because I have my Infinity Basslink in there too.

Left drawer has snatch block (I think there may be two in there), an extra winch hook, arb snatch strap, arb tree saver, "jak jaw", air compressor and all needed attachments, gloves, deflator, and 8 shackles.

Right drawer has my Husky tool box, window screens, tripod, flashlight, and my tool bag which has a full set of gear wrenches (both standard and metric), 3 different sized crescent wrenches, 5lb sledge, all sorts of vice grips, a dozen or so tent stakes, and other assorted tools. It weighs about as much as my Husky box. Maybe even a little more, honestly.

Here they are closed when I went to pick up my new Yeti cooler the other day...

 

[nc-grayson]

Here's a picture I took after re-"organizing" the drawers which allowed me to fit my husky toolbox into the big drawer.

Thanks Alex! this was exactly what I needed to see. If the 100lb slides worked for you, then I'll probably just go with simple option A. I'll be carrying with me basically everything you show here, with a few minor differences.