Diesel_Dog
New member
Loving these boxes! What is the recomended plywood thickness? Will 5/8" do or is 3/4" better? What about thickness for the drawer system? I want to keep it light but maybe I'm over thinking it?
Rear cargo box thread?
- Thread starter KAILUAZ
- Start date
Fireball
Member
Any more photos of your setup? That looks really nice!
To the poster a few above...3/4" is preferred from my reading and research. Mind you I haven't built a system yet, but I am a fairly competent woodworker and have been researching some pretty nice drawer builds, mainly in the Landcruiser (100 series) world because for some reason or another those guys seem to love them a fancy drawer system! Or maybe I just haven't found all the 4R builds out there, which is why I bumped this thread.
The additional strength of the 3/4" ply, plus its ability to slightly deform and then return to shape makes it worth the small extra weight. And even if you multiply that eighth-inch difference over a few pieces of wood across the storage area, you're loosing an inch or two at most of storage space.
Decent quality 1/2" is more than strong enough if you have proper supports and it is quite a bit lighter than 3/4".
Blank Photos :: Storage Drawer
- Matt
Blank Photos :: Storage Drawer
- Matt
blue dog
New member
Decent quality 1/2" is more than strong enough if you have proper supports and it is quite a bit lighter than 3/4".
Blank Photos :: Storage Drawer
- Matt
/\ This. Baltic birch or fin ply. the stuff we make drawers from. Comes in 5'x5'x1/2" Much stronger with 9 layers of veneer, more stable and lighter Then normal ply.
Fireball
Member
The thickness of material used should be dictated by just how heavy duty you want the drawers to be.
As for my use, I'm looking at 36" long, 200# drawer slides. I want to be able to pack a bunch of crap in the back and also be able to use the extended drawers as a work/prep service.
So I'll be using 3/4" birch ply, and probably these slides:
36" 250 lbs Full Extension Drawer Slide - 250 Lbs Drawer slides - TCH
YMMV!
As for my use, I'm looking at 36" long, 200# drawer slides. I want to be able to pack a bunch of crap in the back and also be able to use the extended drawers as a work/prep service.
So I'll be using 3/4" birch ply, and probably these slides:
36" 250 lbs Full Extension Drawer Slide - 250 Lbs Drawer slides - TCH
YMMV!
dirtbike250x
New member
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shamading
Member
Here's mine just after I built it awhile back. Still need to get a pic of it as it is being used today. I used 1/2" + 3/4 plywood, 29" and 36" 250lb slides (same one Fireball mentioned), indoor/outdoor carpet, tie downs, locking paddle latches, and a 10(?) year deck stain that was on clearance at home depot.
The right one holds all my bug out / emergency gear (B.O.B, toolkit, duct tape, compressor, toolkit, bungees, power inverter, extension cord, mag mount CB antenna, water, liquor, etc) and the left one my masonic stuff (apron case, name badges, standard work, etc) and reusable grocery bags (we get penalized if we dont have them in Plastic-Bag-Free Seattle). The cubbies on on the left and right store a shovel, umbrella, and sometimes a pair of extra shoes or whatever someone left in my rig. The rear tiedown locations are spaced so I can use a bungee to keep my filled grocery bags pressed against the rear seat on the way home from the store.
The right drawer is not as deep because I have a 10"sub box behind it (which determined my height).
The right one holds all my bug out / emergency gear (B.O.B, toolkit, duct tape, compressor, toolkit, bungees, power inverter, extension cord, mag mount CB antenna, water, liquor, etc) and the left one my masonic stuff (apron case, name badges, standard work, etc) and reusable grocery bags (we get penalized if we dont have them in Plastic-Bag-Free Seattle). The cubbies on on the left and right store a shovel, umbrella, and sometimes a pair of extra shoes or whatever someone left in my rig. The rear tiedown locations are spaced so I can use a bungee to keep my filled grocery bags pressed against the rear seat on the way home from the store.
The right drawer is not as deep because I have a 10"sub box behind it (which determined my height).
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Fireball
Member
Shamading - that looks very nice! Are you happy with those slides? They are pretty inexpensive compared to some of the other offerings out there, but I've read elsewhere that folks have had good luck with them.
Day in day out I won't keep a ton of stuff in the drawers, but when we go out camping and exploring with a family of 4 and a large dog we're loaded down pretty good. So I imagine the drawers will be full, plus I will build tops for the drawers so that we can pull them out and use as prep surface and possibly put the camp stove on there. So they will need to be quite strong for that application.
Dirtbike - very nice setup with the sub. How tall are your drawers? Are you happy with the height or wish you'd have built them a bit taller?
Day in day out I won't keep a ton of stuff in the drawers, but when we go out camping and exploring with a family of 4 and a large dog we're loaded down pretty good. So I imagine the drawers will be full, plus I will build tops for the drawers so that we can pull them out and use as prep surface and possibly put the camp stove on there. So they will need to be quite strong for that application.
Dirtbike - very nice setup with the sub. How tall are your drawers? Are you happy with the height or wish you'd have built them a bit taller?
3/4" birch ply will definitely be very strong. Just for reference I have the drawer stuffed with a full tool kit, recovery kit (tree saver, shackles, snatch block, etc), propane bottles, fire extinguisher, and a bunch of other junk and the 1/2" has held up perfectly fine for 2+ years. This also includes sleeping on it 10-20 times. But, I don't use the extended drawer as a work surface so your use of the 250lb slides is a good idea.
- Matt
Figured I should add my setup to this thread.
Built out of 3/4". I did not add rails to my drawers as I wanted to maximize space, so I waxed the the box and drawers so they slide out smooth. Then just applied a light stain of the front and toss some carpet on top. I have the sides of the top plate hinged so i could still gain access to everything on the sides. Bonus photo of the dog seat in the back
If anyone wants to see the build photos, just ask and I will dig them up.
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Dog Pad
Built out of 3/4". I did not add rails to my drawers as I wanted to maximize space, so I waxed the the box and drawers so they slide out smooth. Then just applied a light stain of the front and toss some carpet on top. I have the sides of the top plate hinged so i could still gain access to everything on the sides. Bonus photo of the dog seat in the back
If anyone wants to see the build photos, just ask and I will dig them up.
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Dog Pad
Carpet was the right price, liquid and stain proof. Works for me! haha.
Jon T4R
New member
I used 1/2" for the drawers and 3/4" for the top, sides and center support. No slides. My pics poster earlier.
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drtyjerz47
New member
where'd you get the rear cargo net/ straps to separate the trunk and back seats
MTD
New member
Well I finally got off my butt and built a box, and now I got off my butt again and took some pictures of it. It is made out of reclaimed wood that I salvaged from pallets at work. The hardware I ordered from McMaster and the carpet (forgive it, it was rednecktified lol) was the cheapest stuff they had at walmart (karco mossy oak breakup). I have an oddyssy 31m in the forward half of the box with a custom all blue sea dual battery setup, and then a small powered sub in the forward cubby next to the battery. The spaces on the edges by the drawer space will be filled by stainless steal auxillary power/switch/bottle opener panels when I get some time to finish them. I still want to add a compressor, ac inverter, and some tiedowns to the top of it.
One of these puppies on all 4 corners
Engine bay setup for battery
ACR = Automatic Charging Relay
One of these puppies on all 4 corners
Engine bay setup for battery
ACR = Automatic Charging Relay
Looks really clean. Two questions though:
1) Why store the rods for the tent in the cargo area?
2) More importantly how much force would it take to rip the eyebolts you have securing it out of the box?
Its hard to tell in the picture how well it is anchored, but looks worrisome to me. You have a fair amount of weight in that box and in a rollover it is going to exert a lot of force on the 4 EDIT: (I assume) bolts. You may have already addressed this in a way I can't see, and I don't mean to bash it, but I every time I load the truck I do it as though I assume it will be in a rollover. Last thing you need is that big battery smacking you in the back of the
Otherwise I am pretty jealous. This is definitely on the to do list. :cheers:
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