[kyleb]

Hi All,

After months of planning and working on various designs, I finally have a drawer system installed in the back of the Navara. I spent a lot of time discussing the various options and playing around with various designs in a drawing program. I finally settled on a full length set of drawers and built my customised system from an OffRoadSystems DIY chassis.

I wanted something that would allow me to use the space beside the drawers and behind the drawers, so I did not want a unit that had a piece of board across the entire top. I also wanted to minimize weight, so the less plywood the better and also the aluminum drawer system saved me something like 18kgs over the steel equivalent. I made sure I had plenty of luggage tie down points, there are two on each side near the front and then there is the adjustable track system on the top.

I can neatly fit a jerry can either side, making use of the side tiedowns and the factory tiedown system. I think there is enough room at the rear that I can fit a water tank in behind the drawers (there are various plastic tank options available).

It took me a while to complete, but I was not in a rush. The only issue I really ran into was that the carpet had an area that was slightly lighter and of course, I had used this on one of the drawer fronts, so it looked a bit crap. I made up another drawer front and tried to match the carpet a bit better. Who would have thought there would be such a difference in colour from the same 3mx2m piece of marine carpet

Here are a couple of photos of the completed unit. There are a few more photos in my gallery.

 

[Zedbra]

that's some pretty cool construction. good job. how heavy is this?

 

[JagNorb]

Very nice!:fantastic:

 

[ffips]

Looks great, what all do you put in them? Looks purpose built for work?

 

[AmosM823]

Awesome man! I was thinking about building something like that myself for work and stuff. I prob won't though just becasue I only have a cover and no cap and I still would like to be able to load larger items in there.

 

[kyleb]

Thanks guys,

The weight of the unit is approx 60kgs (excluding fridge slide & fridge)
The 4 sets of runners alone are 25kgs, the aluminium chassis and drawers is 21kg, there's about 10kgs of ply and the remaining is carpet and fixings.
The fridge slide is a heavy thing, it's about 17kgs.

I built these to make it easier to pack all the camping gear in when I go away, I used to have to strategically place items in the back, now I can just load up the drawers and go. Everything will now have its place. I will probably add some dividers in the drawers to stop stuff sliding about.

It's easily removed, takes no more than 30 minutes to remove, so I can take it out if I need a little more space

 

[Fishy_Frontier]

Very nice job

 

[mike]

nice set up.

 

[Pete22]

Just thought I throw a couple pics of my storage unit up as well. Mine also includes 2x105AH aux batteries and a 70 ltr stainless steel water tank. Would be good to see the sorts of ideas other have come up with to organise the tub of their utes.

 

[Zedbra]

do you guys run stock rear springs?

 

[Pete22]

do you guys run stock rear springs?

Nope - I changed my suspension out within a few days of buying the D40. I have a combination Ridepro and Snake Racing suspension and the rear now comprises 7 leaves. This suspension also gave me a 60 mm (settled) lift.

 

[k_mcbride]

nice set up guys!! looks good!

 

[Martin from Downunder]

Very close to the set up I installed 3 years ago to my D40 , since I use mine for work I had to design something that was not available and still is not , 2 draws at the bottom with box space on top /lift and fold up lids space for the LGP & air tank etc etc

I might post a pic of it here soon

Cheers Marty