Project faux Drifta!

[WashingtonTaco]

The idea behind this drawer box build comes from my friend Luke Sutton, Drifta.

https://www.drifta.com.au/

 

[java230]

Saving is not posting pics

 

[Dave]

Saving is not posting pics

 

[java230]

And design details!

 

[WashingtonTaco]

Settle down, I deleted the saves.

The design idea was to build a efficient drawer/kitchen/sleep platform. Build it light weight similar to what I had but more along the lines of a Drifta build out.

After building my daughter Skylars 4R platform I knew I could build a better system for myself.

https://americanadventurist.com/forum/threads/wayward_skye’s-third-gen-4-runner-build.5406/

 

[WashingtonTaco]

Skylars platform was built with a budget in mind, cheap. She only had so much money and the bank of dad was closed... aka the BOD.

One thing that kept coming back to me was how light the platform was, fully built. Skip ahead 7 months later Skylar lived in her 4R FULL TIME for 5 1/2 months in the winter. About halfway through a friend joined her and they traveled as far East as Florida, mind you we live in northern WA. The funny thing the cheap 1/2 ply held up and well!! So this got things smoldering.

 

[WashingtonTaco]

When I built my previous platform I had a really crappy tablesaw so used a bunch of dimensional hardwood lumber, mostly Alder and marine plywood for the top and bottom. This thing was super stout and heavy. Today according to Island County waste 300 lbs. Of course I recycled the 60” 500# slides!

 

[WashingtonTaco]

Shortly after building the previous platform my buddy Luke had called an said he was going to be in the PNW working with https://www.kakaducamping.com/ to import some products. I was excited to show the Drifta my build skills! Well Luke took a few looks and wasn’t concerned with my skill set impededing his Canadian business. The thing that struck me was “ hum slides” what he was referring to was my 60” 500 lbs rated slides. Super stout and 80 lbs for the two pair.

 

[WashingtonTaco]

So you can see where this is going. My old platform was just to dang heavy! With a impending truck replacement coming I decided to build a new platform for the old truck!! WTF?!?!

Better to learn something with an old mate than try a new something with a new mate.

A take away if you have studied Driftas web site is they use Teflon runners. So it’s pretty easy to mitigate 79 lbs off the bat with Teflon glides. Then factor in that I reduced wood dimensions to 1/2” all ply half and half marine and cabinet grade. So conservitily another 20% reduction in weight due to a 1/4” in thickness of the ply.

 

[WashingtonTaco]

I cook in our household. So when I’m camping I like to cook comfortably! With the last system things flowed well with some congestion. So with this build I decided to put the stove farther out and flow left to the fridge stowage of kitchen items are under the stove but accessible still while cooking.

 

[WashingtonTaco]

Island County Waste is very forgiving. They allowed me to just weigh the truck again this morning and I can say I was plesently surprised. The new platform comes it a slevit 135 lbs!! Less than half of the old platform!! To say I’m exstatic is an understatement.

Luke’s idea of using Teflon glides is brilliant. The juriory is out on the 1/2” plywood. We will see how it holds up to a years abuse. Non the less I’m very pleased with the end results.

 

[WashingtonTaco]

The area in front of the kitchen is the pantry. In my old system I had 5 Plano boxes that were cargo straped to the top of the platform. Functional but combersom.

 

[WashingtonTaco]

While removing the slides from this build I captured 3 1/2” of width along 74”. It really added up in the pantry and mitigating the Plano boxes. So to replace the Plano boxes and give Luke some due I ordered Drifta drawer bags.

https://www.drifta.com.au/product/clear-top-canvas-top-drawer-bag/

As of last Thursday sitting in SFO, hoping they make it to the Island by Wednesday!!

 

[Code Red]

Drifta has some very interesting designs. I am also going DIY with some features (including the teflon slides) that I shamelessly ripped off from Drifta.

 

[Scott B.]

Could you post some pictures and details of how your Teflon slides?

I also have 60" drawer slides and have been considering a new/different drawer design to shave some weight.

 

[WashingtonTaco]

Could you post some pictures and details of how your Teflon slides?

I also have 60" drawer slides and have been considering a new/different drawer design to shave some weight.

I'll work on that this weekend. With the NWOR and holiday I'm behind the 8 ball on things.

 

[Dave]

Great stuff in his thread for sure, thanks for sharing it with us here Mike! The Teflon glides idea is a huge weight and cost saver no doubt!

 

[WashingtonTaco]

I didn't have a chance to remove the drawer this weekend to show photos of the Teflon runners but here are few pics I do have.

 

[Scott B.]

Thank you.

Setting it up that way appears to give more vertical space in the drawer, compared to the slides I have.

Something to think about.

 

[WashingtonTaco]

So concerning the Teflon runners. They have a adheasive backing and stick well to bare wood. The pair in the box I put down on bare wood and added counter sunk screws to hold them in place for long term security. I placed tape over them so I woundn't get paint on them when I painted. The ones on the drawer I stuck to a painted surface and screwed them as well but that didn't last long and I will need to redo those at the end of summer as they are coming lose already. I highly recomend that you attach directly to bare wood. I went with 1" runners I now wished I had gone wider more like 2", spred the weight out better. When building the drawer I built it a little tight after painting and had issues with rubbing so I had to sand quite a bit to get it to slide smoothly.