Rear storage dilemma

[Sandez]

I think the only viable option is to leave the spare, so I'm going to plan with that in mind. I have been contemplating the Titan rear drawers from 4WD Supa Centre as they measure 1000mm W x 900mm D, for only $365. I had them in the Hilux before and while not perfect, it's hard to beat it for the price.

Being that they are built with a steel frame, it should be easy to create a cross beam along the back seat where the child/cargo restraints are and have the drawers hinge off that. Only issues I can see are the weight, at 71kg, and the drawers aren't so easy to remove.

Another solution I'm thinking of is building my own drawers out of particle board/MDF/Plywood (a local business discards a lot of this stuff) so it will depend on whats available at the time. But at least it's all free

Or, I'm going to reuse the aluminium drawers I created when I had a JK. I haven't got access to them at the moment so I can't check the measurements to see how well they fit. Although, being made from the aluminium qubelok stuff, I'm going to have to reinforce it a fair amount and/or create a false floor so I can add the hinges to lift it up. With all this extra reinforcing and given the drawers are actually 3mm thick aluminium, I probably won't be saving too much in terms of weight over the Titan drawers.

The JK drawers originally: (have since been hacked to remove the big drawer and have the 2 smaller drawers side by side)

[GTiBren]

Originally Posted by Sandez

Only issues I can see are the weight, at 71kg, and the drawers aren't so easy to remove.

Ouch.

[Grippy]

71kg is a hefty chunk of weight to add, and a pain to rip out , picture ripped sidewall, stuck in shitty spot, it's raining and slippery, that's why I went light, strong and some stackable stuff, the loaded fridge should be the heaviest thing to pull out, although still easy.
I wanted mine light so I made mine all out of ply, so I can lift the ply base board with drawer out all as one piece easily,and to suit the plastic tubs I already have. The only thing that annoyed the piss out of me was my nice folding chair that sat on top of everything, which then slid side to side on tracks, so I've abandoned it and gone a fold up bag type job that Aldi had a few weeks ago

Sent from under my Grand Cherokee

[Sandez]

Yeah, thinking about it more now, 71kg is a fair weight to add. I wouldn't think about putting them in if it wasn't going to be hinged, no way I'd be pulling it out at any point.

I managed to have a quick look at my old drawers and measured them up, almost identical to the Titan drawers in size. So over the coming weeks when I get a good day full day to play with them I'll see if they'll fit in the back and have it hinged. I think it weighs more around the 20-30kg mark so much lighter than the Titan drawers. I'm crossing my fingers that it'll work without having to make a false floor as that just adds more weight.

Grippy, have you got an photos of your setup? Couldn't you have used something like an occy strap to stop your nice folding chair from sliding around, rather than sacrificing it for the Aldi one?

[Grippy]

Hopefully the link works.
Instead of the plastic tray I have now dodgied up a drawer out of ply.
For the whole thing I made some brackets for it to slip into the original slots at the back to stop it moving.
The battery box fits in the bit on the back right and plugs up to the car and fridge. Fridge sits on the middle bit and straps down to the angle iron bolted there. Boxes sit perfectly on top of the drawer bit. All in all everything fits perfectly and I seem to have more spare space now which is good.
As for the chair, I preferred to have a chair that squishes into a bag, it's a nice chair too. The other folding one is good but takes up too much bloody room
https://flic.kr/p/KqtXR1

Sent from under my Grand Cherokee