How to build drawer slides for a camper trailer

Pam · Guru

How to build drawer slides for a camper trailer

dave06 · Guru

there is really no extra cheap way that I know, the big slides that one buys are very good but very expensive and I'm not sure if you could get them that length, what I did to build long draws was to mount an angle section to each side of the draw, and bolt a series of skate board wheels to that, these then ran inside the box built to hold the draw, the other way that I still use is three peices of angle iron, two to form the "channel" and one to act as the "slide" on each side of the draw, when these are kept clean and lubricated they run quite well and can be built to suit any length, I'm sure there is better ways than that out there, but most just use two 25mm hardwood strips screwed to the bottom of the draw lubricated with wax and let these run on the base of the trailer

-- Edited by dave06 at 15:10, 2008-10-11

Basil Faulty · Guru

At a 4X4 show back in Feb I saw a guy who made "custom" drawers extra heavy duty and they were dead simple. To the side that is holding up the drawer he had screwed a length of 20x20 RHS to the drawer side itself he had screwed 30mm OD sealed Ball bearings. There were about 6 pairs on a 2 metre long drawer arrange in parrellel with a 20mm space between for the track bit to run in. He had the bearings mounted with a washer as a spacer between the drawer side to stopp the bearings binding on the sides. The 20mm RHS he had notched with an angle groinder so that when the drawer was nearly all the way out the weight of the draw cause the last bearing to drop into it to give you an idea your drawer was gunna fall out.
I have seen what are called unground ball bearing with a nylon tyre and these would do this job suberbly. maybe enquire at a bearing or industrial supplier. There are also aluminium extrusions made specifically for taking these nylon tyred wheels, they are used on metal filiing cupboards so maybe some enquiry there may get you something. I searched Blackwoods online but could not find what you want, but then I know what you want but just not exactly what they are called. If you have a lathe and could get som 50mm nylon bar you could make your own.

Basil Faulty · Guru

dave06 wrote:

there is really no extra cheap way that I know, the big slides that one buys are very good but very expensive and I'm not sure if you could get them that length, what I did to build long draws was to mount an angle section to each side of the draw, and bolt a series of skate board wheels to that, these then ran inside the box built to hold the draw, the other way that I still use is three peices of angle iron, two to form the "channel" and one to act as the "slide" on each side of the draw, when these are kept clean and lubricated they run quite well and can be built to suit any length, I'm sure there is better ways than that out there, but most just use two 25mm hardwood strips screwed to the bottom of the draw lubricated with wax and let these run on the base of the trailer

Yep nothing simpler than the wood strips....

Valderi · Veteran Member

Hi Pam.
I was at the camping show last week in Melbourne and came across
BOAB Roller Drawers check them out on www.dolium.com.au
Cheers Frank.

dave06 · Guru

pam, just had a look at that site that frank has shortcutted, looks great but $1,500 seems a bit steep, perhaps you may, er, copy or borrow the idea, doesnt look that hard to do

Pam · Guru

No wonder I have become a little addicted to this forum!!
Thanks for all the suggestions in such a short time.

Just looked at that website. There are some great things around.

We will be going to Bendigo Leisurefest in Nov so hopefully will find some ideas there.

(Still thinking about the dual battery Dave but we have sidetracked to the drawer slides and kitchen unit on the way. No harm in researching lots of things at once)

-- Edited by Pam at 20:58, 2008-10-11

dave06 · Guru

as we all do pam, start at the food store move to the confectionery isle then OOOOOHHH!!! SHINY!!!!, we all jump from one thing to another as an idea comes along, a little addiction to a pastime like camping, HAH!!! our kids should get so addicted, if it was up to me the world leaders would go camping and forget the wars, all of the worlds problems can be solved around the campfire with a beverage or three