Caravan Tunnel Boot Slide Out Drawer
We turned our narrow caravan tunnel boot in to a caravan tunnel boot slide out drawer by installing a slide and building our own lightweight sides. Our Jayco All Terrain caravan came with a narrow storage tunnel on the passenger side that had a lot of room inside. However it was almost impossible to organise and get to things inside.
Storage space is always a highly desirable item in a caravan and usable space is even better. We ordered a caravan boot slide out from OnTheGoRV. The one I ordered was the DS265 Tunnel Boot Slide. It fits a tunnel boot with an internal opening width of 280mm. They also make slides to suit wider openings. Additionally as we liked the slide out idea we also bought one of their DS570 Tunnel Boot Slides to make a caravan BBQ slide out with a storage box on the other side of the caravan.
Caravan Tunnel Boot Slide Out Drawer Storage Box
DS265 Caravan Slide Out Specifications
Aussie made using premium quality 3mm mill finish aluminium. Beautifully finished in a modern satin black powder coat. 125kg load rated with LOCKABLE tracks ensure your Caravan Tunnel Boot Slide Out glides easily.
- Overall Width: 265mm
- Closed Length: 1050mm
- Open Length: 1990mm
- Height: 80mm
- Tray Size: 1015mm x 220mm
- Weight: 10kg
- Weight Capacity: 125kg
- Colour: Satin Black
- Material: 3mm Aluminium
- Lockable Draw Slide: Yes
Installing The Tunnel Boot Slide
Jayco had mounted the caravan jack inside the door on the left. As we have a 5 ton bottle jack in the ute already we removed the Jayco fitted jack as it wasn’t required. No point carrying around two or three kilograms that you don’t need (that reminds me I need to get back on my diet!) The jack was held in place with four screws.
I found it easier to remove the slides runners to give me access to the mounting holes on the sides. Before removing the deck and runners I measured the distance between the slides and cut some pieces of composite panel offcuts to work as templates/spacers. I drilled pilot holes in the tunnel boot floor and mounted the sides using the provided tec screws. Altogether there are fourteen screws – seven screws each side. Therefore more than enough to secure the weight of the slide and anything you mount to it.
Caravan Boot Slide Out Drawer
OnTheGoRV make storage box sides to turn your caravan tunnel boot slide out in to a drawer but it was a bit expensive so I made my own out of composite panel. The bonus with making my own was that I could make it to the absolute maximum size that would fit the caravan tunnel boot slide. We now have heaps of storage for our bits and pieces
Making The Sides For The Tunnel Boot Slide Out Using Composite Panel
Composite panel. You can get it at Bunnings. Good luck finding where though! we’ve been using it for years and have bought it from three or four different Bunnings and it’s never ever where the phone app says it is.
Composite Panel Sign Board
Cutting the composite panel for the sides. It’s easily cut with a Stanley knife – you just need a nice straightedge to run the knife along.
How To Cut Composite Panel
After half a dozen passes with the knife you just snap it over the edge of a table. Fold it back on itself a few times then cut the remaining plastic along the join. The stuff is gloss white on one side and gloss black on the other. It has a white plastic protective film covering when it.
Snap For A Nice Clean Edge
Corners of the box is held together with powdercoated black angle aluminium and glue. This Soudal stuff sticks and holds really well.
This Soudal Stuff Sticks And Holds Really Well
The rivets are really just there to hold the angle until the glue goes off.
Powdercoated Aluminium Angle From Bunnings For A Neat Finish
I installed pinch weld on the edges to neaten things up and cover any potential sharp edges. I got rid of the sharp edges anyway just using a bit of emery paper wrapped around a sanding block.
Are We Happy With The Caravan Tunnel Boot Slide Out Drawer?
We’re very happy with the way it all turned out. Installing the caravan tunnel boot slide drawer has made the small tunnel boot very usable. As it was originally you could only access what was inside the boot at the front. If you wanted anything towards the back you pretty much had to unpack the whole thing to get to it. Now you just open the door and slide it out. Much better.
Caravan Tunnel Boot Slide Out Drawer Storage Box