Storage/drawer system

[Peter Connan]

Here is the start of the next project: A storage/drawer system.
My problem with most of the drawer systems I have seen is that they tend to be quite wastefull of space. Most systems are based on two wide, long drawers that cover the whole floor area of the load box. With this too I have a problem: If my fridge stands on the floor of the load bin, there is just enough room above it so that it can open. So if it stands on a drawer, it would have to be mounted on a fridge slide and slid out to be able to open it. One problem with this is that it would then not be possible to get to stuff while we are driving, and the second problem is that all my girls are relatively short, and they would not be able to see into the fridge.

so the basis of my system is to mount the fridge such that it faces the back seat. The space left over next to it, is where I will then mount my drawers. Now for the next problem: Most commercial systems are based on drawers, in which ammo boxes are stored. Now I like the idea of boxes which can be removed, as this is handy when packing and unpacking and also sometimes when on trips where food is prepared in a communal area, but ammo boxes waste quite a lot of space.

So I decided to fabricate metal boxes, which clip into each other. I can fit three stories of two boxes each next to the fridge, pointing to the rear, giving me six boxes in total. The boxes are all exactly the same, and can be installed in any order. In front of the boxes I have a fold-down table, an idea I shamelessly stole from JG:

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Each drawer is equipped with a spring-loaded catch which ensures that the drawer neither falls out nor closes unexpectedly. The drawers run on teflon strips, rather than bearings or slides, as this is cheap, dust proof and space efficient.

[Peter Connan]

Here are the first two boxes:

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This is how they connect:
They have hooks at the top:

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and alignment pins in the bottom corners:

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As you can see, each box also has handles at both ends.

This is what the clip looks like:

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I am hoping to have all this finished by Christmas.

[Kagiso II]

- kannie daarop verbeter nie .. dis presies waarvan ek gedroom het toe ek gedink het ek gaan Agarob nog vir langer hê.
Purrrrrrfekt P/ter - prefek.

[Peter Connan]

Update

The frame for the drawers etc is nearly finished now:
Drawers in, table folded, ready for travel:

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Table folded down:

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Drawer slid out:

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One box clipped off:

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Now I need to get the Teflon strips the drawers must slide on, fit the cable to hold the second section of the table open, and paint the frame. However I am thinking of adding a braket/frame to accomodate the tool box, as this is the most dangerous missile in my load.

Then I will clad the frame so the rest of the load doesn't interfere with the drawers.

[Gerrie]

Well freaking done! Ek dink regtig jy moet dalk voltyds in hierdie bedryf ingaan - jou patente is onverbeterlik...

[G-MAN]

[Aries66]

Very nice Peter!!!!!! Jy maak my sommer lus om ook weer 'n laaistel vir my te bou. Het reeds paar plate "stainless" wat nou al
'n ruk le en smeek om gebruik te word.

[Jules]

Baie mooi Peter moet sê jy het my bietjie deurmekaar gehad met die 1ste foto van die volledige rak langs jou yskas waar die tafel toegevou is, toe wonder hierdie accountant nou hoe de joos gaan jy goed uit daardie toe box skuif want om daardie groot box die heeltyd uit en in te sit lyk na n erge werk as hy volgelaai is. Toe sien ek die lig met prentjie 2, BAIE BAIE nice, watter size yskas het jy? lyk soos Kellerman/Snomaster

Shalom

[Peter Connan]

Jules dis presies dieselfde yskas as joune, die Snomaster met die 40l? vrieskas en die 15l yskas.

Wat ek nog vergeet het om te se, langs die kas aan die bestuurder se kant pas al 4 my stoele baie netjies in.

[ricster]

Very cool Peter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a suggestion on a awesome design....What about getting a dust cover made up that has a flap with Velcro to keep the dust out of the drawers when bounding through the bush. It would also help to keep things cool in the boxes when the car is stationary for a while.....