Draws under bed

[5 Kids and a T Van]

Hi all we just purchased a 2011 Canning a couple of weeks ago and was thinking of putting a set of draws under the bed to make it easier to access things as we can't lift the bed as we did in our previous Cub Brumby. Any thoughts suggestions fores and against. 4WD Supercentre has 1300mm long double draws which are very cheap that's the size which goes in ute tubs I have looked at them quite well built but heavy as well


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[Gumb]

I've got a set of those drawers in the Pajero and they are very heavy. I'd give them a miss and go for the Drifta set. They are 4 times the price but in the end, a lot better. But for us, as new Firetail owners, we prefer the plastic boxes. They are so easy to fill at home and carry out to the van. We have to take all the stuff out individually when we pack the caravan and find the box method on the Tvan much better. We have the every day food box and one clothes box each at the front so they are easy to access.

[MarkA]

Recommend the drifta draws. We grabbed a set. Under 30kg easy to Slyde and great option with minimal loss of storage space. Pricy but worth the cost.

[rwo]

And I believe the drift set can be built with an integrated table as well!

[Rolcar52]

Drifta Draws are the way to go enough room to store all the clothing you need and the table is perfect size for a couple, and perfectly stored above one drawer.

[Howezit]

I've gone the Drifta as well. Great set.

[5 Kids and a T Van]

I've got a set of those drawers in the Pajero and they are very heavy. I'd give them a miss and go for the Drifta set. They are 4 times the price but in the end, a lot better. But for us, as new Firetail owners, we prefer the plastic boxes. They are so easy to fill at home and carry out to the van. We have to take all the stuff out individually when we pack the caravan and find the box method on the Tvan much better. We have the every day food box and one clothes box each at the front so they are easy to access.

Hi where do you buy the plastic boxes are they just standard Bunnings or are they an exact fit


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[Young Nomads]

Hi where do you buy the plastic boxes are they just standard Bunnings or are they an exact fit


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We got ours from Bunnings..square sided..black and just low enough to slide a plastic table (White, one piece) over the top.
Advantages over wood drawers:
Very light
Easy to pack & unpack, as you are not double handling the clothes etc, you put in there.
They do not need a slide under them, as they slide smoothly out.
You don't need lids...stuff won't go anywhere!..and gives you more height for the table to slide into.
The table slides in and out easily..no need to put it on a separate slide. The drawers keep it there...(you only pull out 1 drawer at a time, so it stays put. As it is resting on them.
You can fit 3 tubs side by side and they leave just enough room to slide a blanket or secret stuff behind them, under the bed.
We don't keep food in the TVan..but with kids...storing it in crates on shelves in the back of your car, may not be an option.
We do have rear drawers in the car, which some use as a pantry for "hard foods" in cans etc.
Also..rolling your clothes up in their box keeps them easily accessible and visible...you can fit more in there, and it keeps them from getting too crinkled. We only keep a spare of the clothes we are wearing as well as one set of T-shirt & shorts
We also store all our undies and sox, (beanies and thermals separate) .. in drawstring bags that fit anywhere(we keep ours in the overhead catch net) and are labelled. make the draw strings coloured individually so everyone knows who's, who's
Cheers
Robyn

[5 Kids and a T Van]

We got ours from Bunnings..square sided..black and just low enough to slide a plastic table (White, one piece) over the top.
Advantages over wood drawers:
Very light
Easy to pack & unpack, as you are not double handling the clothes etc, you put in there.
They do not need a slide under them, as they slide smoothly out.
You don't need lids...stuff won't go anywhere!..and gives you more height for the table to slide into.
The table slides in and out easily..no need to put it on a separate slide. The drawers keep it there...(you only pull out 1 drawer at a time, so it stays put. As it is resting on them.
You can fit 3 tubs side by side and they leave just enough room to slide a blanket or secret stuff behind them, under the bed.
We don't keep food in the TVan..but with kids...storing it in crates on shelves in the back of your car, may not be an option.
We do have rear drawers in the car, which some use as a pantry for "hard foods" in cans etc.
Also..rolling your clothes up in their box keeps them easily accessible and visible...you can fit more in there, and it keeps them from getting too crinkled. We only keep a spare of the clothes we are wearing as well as one set of T-shirt & shorts
We also store all our undies and sox, (beanies and thermals separate) .. in drawstring bags that fit anywhere(we keep ours in the overhead catch net) and are labelled. make the draw strings coloured individually so everyone knows who's, who's
Cheers
Robyn

Thanks Robyn we will give the plastic boxes a go

Cheers

Bill and Caz


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[Eelezy]

The original Tvan boxes supplied by Track are Kitab brand 40 litre and are fantastic. They used to also available at Bunnings but not sure these days.
Chris

[MYT150]

Yes the Kitab 40L ones are the ones Track were selling. You can fit 5 underneath the bed, 3 length ways and then two across the front is the easiest way to get them out.

They were available at Bunnings but haven;t seen them in a while. They are on line http://www.plasticsandstorage.com.au/plastic-boxes-and-containers/domestic-plastic-storage-tubs/kitab-40-ltr-stashaway-kt6247.html

Regards

Aidan

[weonatvan]

(we keep ours in the overhead catch net)

Ok, now that you've opened the door so to speak, I have a question.

SWMBO also stores our snoters, knickers and sox loose in the upper nets, but, after a days drive over Simpson dunes, on corrugated roads or the like, said items all move forward with most falling off the front onto the bed.

So, has anyone come up with a simple solution as I'm thinking another anchor point or two pop riveted to the roof maybe in order.



"You don't know what you don't know"

Cheers dave

[hulbyw]

Ok, now that you've opened the door so to speak, I have a question.

SWMBO also stores our snoters, knickers and sox loose in the upper nets, but, after a days drive over Simpson dunes, on corrugated roads or the like, said items all move forward with most falling off the front onto the bed.

So, has anyone come up with a simple solution as I'm thinking another anchor point or two pop riveted to the roof maybe in order.



"You don't know what you don't know"


Cheers dave

Firstly, put the small stuff in bags rather than loose. A bag full of socks holds in the net better than loose socks. We use cloth bags but plastic is ok.. We also put swimming pool noodle separators to stop for and aft movement of stuff in the nets.
If you can find a noodle with a hole in the centre it is easier. Cut 4 lengths the same width as the net and tie 2 each side using bungy cord across the net so that the noodles separate the nets into 3 segments.
As we are between Tvans I am not able to show a photo but hopefully someone else that has done this mod can. It is a little hard to explain but certainly makes a difference
Cheers

[Peleroda]

Dave, we have been down this path and discovered that using "travel packs" (originally developed to make it easier to pack suitcases I believe),  makes your small loose items much more likely to be where you left them at the end of your days drive. We purchased a few from Katmandhu on sale a while ago. I have T-shirts in one, shorts in another etc depending on your clothing preference and destination. They come in a few different sizes and pack together nicely in the upper nets. With a bit of judicious packing of these packs we can get a full months worth of clothes stashed up there and save all the under bed storage for important stuff like food and drink😄
Cheers
Peter

[weonatvan]

Thanks guys. Will let SWMBO read your responses as we're always interested in other ways to skin a cat. [emoji23]


"You don't know what you don't know"

Cheers dave