Depending on how you use your pickup, it's possible that you may want to enhance accessibility and convenience by adding a pull-out bed drawer. This sliding platform is mounted to a frame that pulls out along heavy-duty ball-bearing rollers. The carriage frame mounts directly onto the bed of the truck (figure A), and the deck portion mount to a piece of 3/4" plywood that you cut to fit the dimensions of your vehicle's bed. Steel panels form the sides of the drawer and keep contents secure on the platform. The drawer locks into place but is easily unlocked with a release mechanism in the handle. The drawer rolls out and locks at specific stop-points. This arrangement is particularly well matched to a pickup equipped with a tonneau cover (see "Installing a Roll-Top Bed Cover" in Car Care and Repair episode 107). It is also suited to truck owners who typically carry a large number of small items such as paint cans or a collection of tools in their truck beds. With the sliding platform pulled out, the contents can be easily accessed without having to climb into the bed. Installing this drawer does reduce the overall carrying capacity of your bed somewhat since the frame itself takes up some room. It does add convenience for certain applications, however, in that it gives ready access to the entire length of the bed. This is an installation of moderate difficulty and involves some drilling into metal. There may also be some variation in installation depending on the brand being installed and the vehicle on which it is to be mounted. Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Important: Anytime that you drill into the metal body of a vehicle, first check to make certain that there aren't brake, fuel or electrical lines in the area underneath where you'll be drilling, or any other critical elements that might be damaged or punctured. You should be able to find additional information about this from your vehicle's service manual. In this case, since you'll be drilling a number of holes in the truck bed, you'll need to check the vehicle's undercarriage thoroughly.
Materials:
Sliding-platform installation kit, including mounting hardware
Cordless drill and drill bits
Grease pencil
Center-punch and hammer
Socket wrench
Silicone sealer
- Remove all of the contents from your truck bed and clean the bed before beginning the installation. If your vehicle already has a tonneau cover installed, you may need to remove it for better access to the floor of the bed.
- Test fit the carriage frame (lower carriage and upper carriage) in the bed of the truck to determine the exact location where you'll be fastening it to the bed floor.
- Once you've test-fitted the entire carriage assembly, remove the top carriage and place the bottom carriage into the bed in the exact location where it will be mounted (figure B).
- Test the action of the drawer-rollers in the bottom carriage (figure C) to make certain that all of them roll freely.
- With the lower carriage positioned properly, mark the locations for drilling through the frame and the truck bed. Use a grease pencil to mark the locations, then center-punch each location before drilling (figure D).
- With the lower carriage still in place, at each location drill a pilot hole through the metal frame and on through the bed of the truck (figure E).
- After drilling all the pilot holes, go back and drill out each hole with a larger bit so that the hole will accommodate the mounting bolts. (In our case, we used a 1/2" bit.)
- Apply a small amount of silicone sealer to the exposed metal surface in each of the holes. This will help prevent rust.
- After all of the holes have been drilled, the frame is attached at each location using the mounting hardware provided. The fasteners consist of a bolt and captured threads. As the bolt is tightened down, the soft-metal sleeve expands from underneath (as shown in demonstration in figure F) making for a sturdy attachment at each location. Install one of these fasteners at each of the holes to secure the lower carriage (figure G).
- Once the lower carriage has been securely mounted, you're ready to attach the upper carriage to the plywood platform. With the precut piece of plywood face down, lay the upper carriage into position (figure H).
- Drill the holes for mounting the upper carriage to the underside of the platform (figure I). These predrilled holes will be fitted with carriage bolts.
- Install the carriage bolts and tighten each down with a lock nut to secure the carriage to the platform.
- Once the upper carriage has been fastened securely to the plywood platform, install the metal side-rails that form the sides and front of the pull-out drawer (figure J). The sides and front attach to the plywood platform with carriage bolts and lock nuts
- Once the platform assembly is complete, slide it into place on the lower carriage, making certain that the tracks of the upper carriage line up with those of the lower carriage. The finished drawer should roll smoothly in the tracks and lock into place (figure K).
- Check the operation of the handle and release mechanism.
Important: This summary describes the basic steps in the installation shown in our demonstration. Installation on individual vehicles may vary. If you decide to undertake a similar installation, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with your kit. Follow the directions to fit the carriage and platform to your specific vehicle.
RESOURCES :
Ultimate Auto Detailing
Model: 0879389419
Author: David H. Jacobs
(1995)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Motorbooks International
Auto Repair for Dummies
Author: Deanna Sclar
ISBN: 0764550896
Vehicles provided by Lance Cunningham Ford
Vehicles provided by Lance Cunningham Ford
4101 Clinton Highway
Knoxville, TN
Web site: www.lancecunninghamford.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
