Build Thread Fridge slide on plywood base

[Asnes]

I was looking hard at replacing the factory rubber/plastic floor with a goose gear base platform, which you can attach a fridge slide and drawers to and such. But I really like the plastic/rubber floor that comes with the grenadier especially when moving dirt, plants and other things like that. It’s very easy to clean and if you need a big flat surface for moving things it’s great.

But for camping I really would like to have my Engle fridge on a slide which requires a strong plywood base to secure it to.

I thought I would experiment with a removable plywood base that lays overtop of the factory floor.

I went to the home store and had them cut a piece of cabinet grade 1/2” plywood 31” x 39.5”.

I ordered some bolts that fit in the Airline L-Track in the grenadier, then drilled some holes in the plywood and mounted to the L-track. I wedged in little pieces of foam under the bolts so they “spring” upwards and make it easier to align everything when placing the plywood.

My slide-it solutions slide is on order for the Engle fridge….I like the slide-It solutions slide because the feet of the Engle fridge just secure / snap, you won’t need straps and when the fridge is not installed it’s a flat surface that you can stack things on top of. It will be interesting to see how it works out, it does not have bearings.

I think the 1/2” plywood base should suffice strength-wise. I could move to 3/4 inch plywood but I think this can work. We shall see. I may double up the plywood on the far left and cut holes so it exposes the bolts, and allows for the slide to fit over top of the bolts securing the ply, vs inward of the bolts towards the center of the load space. I’ll use t-bolts hammered into the underside of the plywood to mount the fridge slide.

Once it’s all setup and I’m satisfied I’ll carpet it. I’d like to find a standalone single drawer for a reasonable price that I could mount next to the fridge. Yakima seem
To have something that could be adapted perhaps.

Outward of the t-tracks I putt a little bit of foam under the plywood to try and level it out a little. The center of the factory load space longer has little high spots but these are not present on the outer part of the floor.

If anyone has any advice or has already done this and would like to share your learnings I’m all ears.

 

[Tom109]

This looks like a good solution. I too plan to use the same fridge and slide. I was considering two metal bars spanning the two aircraft rails (may still do this).

 

[Asnes]

All done. Happy with the end product. I used some car stereo subwoofer carpet to cover it. It came with some sticky glue already applied.

1/2” works out fine. I’m going to put some more bolts next to the fridge and then fix some tie-down rings and put plastic caps on the bolts. Perhaps. We’ll see. Plastic covers on the bolts for sure.

I like this setup. It’s fast to remove it, just zip off 8 bolts with the drill and a socket.

 

[Rok_Dr]

Nice job @Asnes very neat.

 

[Tom109]

Looks great!

Do you feel the wood will be durable enough for a full fridge through rough corrugations and off-camber angles?

 

[Asnes]

Looks great!

Do you feel the wood will be durable enough for a full fridge through rough corrugations and off-camber angles?

I believe so. Time will tell.

It’s most certainly solid when locked in place when in transport mode. I have no concerns there.

I’ve used the Engle slide lock in the past and the fixing points are rock solid. I like the system which is why I sourced this slide over traditional tie-down versions. And it’s engineered for Engle and made in Australia. The Aussie’s know what they are doing when it comes to overlanding

The 1/2” ply flexes slightly when the slide is fully extended - maybe 1/4” max on the backside since it is only tied down on the perimeter via the airline rails that come with the grenadier. But nothing I am concerned about whatsoever.

The Slide-It solutions slide is not a full extension slide and does not put as much leverage on the plywood base as compared to full extension slides on ball bearings. It extends maybe 3/4 vs full. In hindsight I should have ordered the more expensive tilting version which would have been more convenient. But sometimes simple is good as well.

This slide has no ball bearings. There is a plastic insert that it glides upon. I like it. Very simple engineering. Very, very high quality slide - very well engineered and put together for $300. Quality / Value for sure.

 

[Ex-defender driver]

All done. Happy with the end product. I used some car stereo subwoofer carpet to cover it. It came with some sticky glue already applied.

1/2” works out fine. I’m going to put some more bolts next to the fridge and then fix some tie-down rings and out plastic caps on the bolts. Perhaps. We’ll see. Plastic covers on the bolts for sure.

I like this setup. It’s fast to remove it, just zip off 8 bolts with the drill and a socket.

I like your set up… Have been trying to figure out a way of having things removable like yours. Very good.
Can i ask where the side organiser compartments / barriers in the back come from? Did you make these or are they bought? I like them a lot. Would like to get a pair.
Thanks
Richard

 

[Asnes]

The ones over the wheel wells can be purchased on eBay or Amazon.

I got mine from Amazon.. $300 a piece. They are pricy, but fit great!

Overland gear guy makes custom storage bags for them too.

Storage bins:

Amazon.com

Bags that go inside:

Rear Loadspace Molle Storage Bin Bags

Rear Loadspace Molle Storage Bin Bags Perfect set of Bags for inside that MOLLE RackYou can use these molle storage bin bags inside any MOLLE Rack that can be installed in the rear of your car. The Bags are Sold in a Set of (2) Driver and Passengers combinations The bags for the Passenger side...

overlandgearguy.com

 

[Krabby]

I got mine on Amazon but only did the passenger/right side. It was silly expensive but quality seems decent and it makes usable space over that dumb wheel arch design.

 

[Ex-defender driver]

The ones over the wheel wells can be purchased on eBay or Amazon.

I got mine from Amazon.. $300 a piece. They are pricy, but fit great!

Overland gear guy makes custom storage bags for them too.

Storage bins:

Amazon.com

Bags that go inside:

Rear Loadspace Molle Storage Bin Bags

Rear Loadspace Molle Storage Bin Bags Perfect set of Bags for inside that MOLLE RackYou can use these molle storage bin bags inside any MOLLE Rack that can be installed in the rear of your car. The Bags are Sold in a Set of (2) Driver and Passengers combinations The bags for the Passenger side...

overlandgearguy.com

Brilliant. Thank you.

 

[Asnes]

The Fridge setup on plywood base is working out great. Rock solid.

I was thinking about putting a drawer next to it. But instead, I have decided that Phase 2 will involve building a small shelf where I can slide some some soft front runner storage bags underneath for storing kitchen, recovery, and other essentials. This will be lighter, simpler and less expensive. And I enjoy constructing such things anyways in my limited spare time - bond with the Grenny!

Thanks to Gary Miller (not sure his handle here) on facebook and this forum for trailblazing on his shelf / platform…. I will basically copy the design, but only make it for 1/2 of the load space, as the fridge occupies the other 1/2. I’ll use the same 1/2” ply. I’ll carpet the same as the base - that speaker carpet with sticky back product works well. I will use just 6 Z brackets and attached with M8 bolts and T-nuts in the top and bottom plywood.

I am starting to assemble the bits …..

 

[DaBull]

The Fridge setup on plywood base is working out great. Rock solid.

I was thinking about putting a drawer next to it. But instead, I have decided that Phase 2 will involve building a small shelf where I can slide some some soft front runner storage bags underneath for storing kitchen, recovery, and other essentials. This will be lighter, simpler and less expensive. And I enjoy constructing such things anyways in my limited spare time - bond with the Grenny!

Thanks to Gary Miller (not sure his handle here) on facebook and this forum for trailblazing on his shelf / platform…. I will basically copy the design, but only make it for 1/2 of the load space, as the fridge occupies the other 1/2. I’ll use the same 1/2” ply. I’ll carpet the same as the base - that speaker carpet with sticky back product works well. I will use just 6 Z brackets and attached with M8 bolts and T-nuts in the top and bottom plywood.

I am starting to assemble the bits …..

Hi Asnes, Great set up with lots of flexibility. DaBull

 

[Asnes]

Ordered up some front runner soft storage cases and other bits for the project. All have arrived…. Did a bunch of work tonight to get things laid out .… final trim (carpet) and fitment tomorrow perhaps. Hmmm.. what color for the z-brackets ?

 

[Asnes]

All done. Very pleased with the outcome. Shelf is solid.

Found little tie-downs on Amazon - they are removable and just screw into some t-nuts I mounted on the underside of the shelf.

Front runner bags are really great quality for $45 bucks each.

Fun project. Much more functional load space now.

The entire assembly is removable but undoing the 8 bolts holding the base plate to the tie down rails, takes 5 minutes if I need to use the full load space.

 

[bigleonski]

Nice set up. Have you put anything under the ply to stop it sagging in the middle? I assume sitting on the bolts in the track it isn’t flush on the floor and raised a little.

I’d be interested in the dimensions of your finished ply.

Also, consider making a sides and roof cover over your fridge so you can load and stack over it and still use the fridge.

 

[DenisM]

@Asnes : without wanting to be a naysayer, might I suggest you invest in a cargo barrier at least. In a decent prang which I sincerely hope never happens, that spade attached to the underside of the roof platform has the potential to cause serious injury to passengers in the event it flies forward... e g from a rear end hit... to use a well known Aussie expression.. as it is it's "bloody dangerous ".... sorry Mate!

 

[Asnes]

@Asnes : without wanting to be a naysayer, might I suggest you invest in a cargo barrier at least. In a decent prang which I sincerely hope never happens, that spade attached to the underside of the roof platform has the potential to cause serious injury to passengers in the event it flies forward... e g from a rear end hit... to use a well known Aussie expression.. as it is it's "bloody dangerous ".... sorry Mate!

My lord you are right and I am daft. I can admit to that! Bison gear has a metal barrier that hangs down from the cargo shelf that I will get my hands on. Thank you for the sage advice.

 

[Asnes]

Nice set up. Have you put anything under the ply to stop it sagging in the middle? I assume sitting on the bolts in the track it isn’t flush on the floor and raised a little.

I’d be interested in the dimensions of your finished ply.

Also, consider making a sides and roof cover over your fridge so you can load and stack over it and still use the fridge.

I think you are referring to base plate. It sits flush on the plastic/rubber Ineos floor. the factory airline rails in the floor are actually slightly recessed. I used a washer / spacer on the L-track bolts to make the plywood sit flush with the floor actually. I believe the dimensions of the ply are 31" deep by 36 3/4 wide. I need to check the width. I measured to be 1/2" recessed from the factory floor bevel in the back and the sides.

I thought a while back about the sides and roof cover for the fridge. I am going to leave as is and use for a while as that will add some additional bulk. Maybe that will be my next project though