UPDATE: DIY Bed Slider

[GunsAreFun]

***Update in post 21***

Both as a matter of price and loss of height, I don’t want any of the retail versions. Found the one linked below on YouTube. Curious if anyone has tried something like it?

I’m considering doing it but cutting the plywood in half so I can slide them independently, but also maybe figure out a way to still slide them together if needed.

 

[twall13]

Seems like there is a whole thread on here somewhere with a bunch of guys who have done it. You might try searching it up for a bit more info.

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[GunsAreFun]

Seems like there is a whole thread on here somewhere with a bunch of guys who have done it. You might try searching it up for a bit more info.

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The thread I found was for DIY drawer systems.

 

[Randle]

I built mine on harbor freight roller bearings when you start getting heavy wt on the slide that felt would not last.

 

[GunsAreFun]

I built mine on harbor freight roller bearings when you start getting heavy wt on the slide that felt would not last.

Are your bearings secured to the top board facing down? And if so, are they rolling on the bed itself directly?

I’ve seen some builds like that, but I am really trying to minimize loss of headspace. With the current design, I measured that my good coolers only have about 1/4”, maybe less, of clearance under the tonneau cover.

 

[Randle]

That makes sense, mine is in a regular truck with a canopy so I guess not apples to apples.
Another option other that felt might be strips of hard board glued to slide on the hard board face to face and it seems that would hold up longer than felt under heavier loads.
Nice design you have for a low profile one.

 

[summs]

I had a makeshift one for a while. It was great, but much like why I don't carry a backpack when deer hunting. I just kept bringing shit I don't need. Was able to condense it all to under seat storage. But it worked great, especially for truck camping. All my fishing gear and clothes inside and me sleeping on top.

If i were to do it again, the make little ball bearing sliders. I would use those on teh bottom of the drawers.

 

[TaperPin]

A lot of carpenters will make two pull outs half the width of the bed, indoor/outdoor carpet on the surface of the bed and the plywood box’s just glide over the carpet. This style is super easy to build, quiet, makes great use of the space, and is surprisingly easy to pull out, especially with prefinished glossy ply. Nothing as easy as boxes on slides, but the type of carpet and smoothness of finish of the plywood can make it easier than I would have expected. Of course getting to the furthest forward items requires a stand of some kind to support the box, but carpenters always have saw horses and items in those areas are the ones rarely taken out.

For a couple of years I drove a company truck with one of the factory made models with fancy rollers and didn’t like it at all. The use of space was very inefficient.

 

[wytx]

A jet sled works just the same, easy to pull out even full of stuff. The sled comes in handy too sometimes getting game out of the woods.

 

[GunsAreFun]

A jet sled works just the same, easy to pull out even full of stuff. The sled comes in handy too sometimes getting game out of the woods.

I actually thought about it, and actually tested it with a snow sled I have. But it doesn’t use the space as well, and the other thing is those day to day use is to get my 65-90# rucksacks in and out without dragging and damaging them. It’s nice to pull them to the edge of the tailgate and just bending my knees to get to their level. With the sled, I have to lift them out, which is a back injury waiting to happen.

 

[GunsAreFun]

A lot of carpenters will make two pull outs half the width of the bed, indoor/outdoor carpet on the surface of the bed and the plywood box’s just glide over the carpet. This style is super easy to build, quiet, makes great use of the space, and is surprisingly easy to pull out, especially with prefinished glossy ply. Nothing as easy as boxes on slides, but the type of carpet and smoothness of finish of the plywood can make it easier than I would have expected. Of course getting to the furthest forward items requires a stand of some kind to support the box, but carpenters always have saw horses and items in those areas are the ones rarely taken out.

For a couple of years I drove a company truck with one of the factory made models with fancy rollers and didn’t like it at all. The use of space was very inefficient.

Think I need to secure the carpet to anything to keep it in place? I have a spray on bedliner so I’m guessing it will dig into the bumps and not move much.

 

[TaperPin]

Think I need to secure the carpet to anything to keep it in place? I have a spray on bedliner so I’m guessing it will dig into the bumps and not move much.

That’s a good question. The guys I know have put a few screws near the tailgate, but I don’t know if that’s needed with a bed liner.

 

[GunsAreFun]

That’s a good question. The guys I know have put a few screws near the tailgate, but I don’t know if that’s needed with a bed liner.

I think I’ll try the carpet method first before hardboard. Thanks!

 

[86indy]

A 1/4” sheet of plywood lives in my bed as a pullout to make things more accessible without rolling up the bed cover and protect the bed. Thought about a 1x2 in front to stop things from falling off when pulling out the sheet but it hasn’t been a big problem yet.


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[GunsAreFun]

A 1/4” sheet of plywood lives in my bed as a pullout to make things more accessible without rolling up the bed cover and protect the bed. Thought about a 1x2 in front to stop things from falling off when pulling out the sheet but it hasn’t been a big problem yet.


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I was going to use an old yoga mat cut up into squares or strips and throw that under stuff that slides.

 

[Sunshine40]

A lot of carpenters will make two pull outs half the width of the bed, indoor/outdoor carpet on the surface of the bed and the plywood box’s just glide over the carpet. This style is super easy to build, quiet, makes great use of the space, and is surprisingly easy to pull out, especially with prefinished glossy ply. Nothing as easy as boxes on slides, but the type of carpet and smoothness of finish of the plywood can make it easier than I would have expected. Of course getting to the furthest forward items requires a stand of some kind to support the box, but carpenters always have saw horses and items in those areas are the ones rarely taken out.

For a couple of years I drove a company truck with one of the factory made models with fancy rollers and didn’t like it at all. The use of space was very inefficient.

We build these for our trucks at work. You can also nail down two piece of 3/4" chamfur parallel to eachother as runners instead of carpet and they slide in and out super easy with a ton of weight in the drawers. You can make them for under $100 in material and they can look as nice as you want.

 

[The Truth]

My buddy made one like this homemade. He has 2 more narrow boxes though. It’s a pretty sweet setup and something I would definitely do before I shelled out the money for a commercial version

 

[GunsAreFun]

My buddy made one like this homemade. He has 2 more narrow boxes though. It’s a pretty sweet setup and something I would definitely do before I shelled out the money for a commercial version

Can you explain the narrow boxes more?

 

[The Truth]

Can you explain the narrow boxes more?

It’s basically a drop in “cabinet” similar to the Decked system I guess. With 2 individual pull out boxes.

 

[TaperPin]

I think I’ll try the carpet method first before hardboard. Thanks!

I should have said the carpet version works best if the truck has a cap of some kind. Plywood in constant contact with damp carpet is not a good combination. Without a cap I’d still do two pull outs, but use plastic slides or a roller system since they dry out better.