Organizing a bunch of gear in the back of a 4WD vehicle is no easy task. Nothing seems to stay where you left it. The constant vibrations and change of direction while driving wobbles everything around, and by the time you arrive at camp, you’re faced with a big, unorganized mess.
To combat this, most travelers opt for drawer systems that help organize their gear while also helping keep everything in place while traveling and in easy reach.
However, with countless options on the market, choosing the specific brand and model you want to install in your vehicle can be difficult.
That’s where this guide comes in.
Aiden James Customs is a favorite destination of ours for top-quality overlanding gear. Their double decker overlanding drawer system is of particular interest because it offers unparalleled build quality and ease of installation.
Let’s dive in and learn all about how an overlanding drawer system can change the way you overland!
Table of Contents
- What is a Drawer System?
- How are Drawer Systems Installed?
- Benefits of a Drawer System
- To DIY or Not to DIY
- Overlanding Drawer System Final Thoughts
- Other Recommended Overlanding Gear
What is a Drawer System?
An overlanding drawer system is much like your normal drawers at home but more robust. They also tend to have heavy-duty latches that keep the drawer closed on steep inclines or while driving over rough, corrugated roads.
Overlanding drawer systems are often made of steel or wood, and benefits can be found in both designs.
In these drawers, travelers tend to store little things that are needed regularly. For example, cooking equipment, camping equipment, clothes, or even recovery tools.
The point here is that everything you need to easily access and would like to stay in one place goes into the drawers. Everything else that you don’t need as often or is large enough to stay where you’ve left it goes outside the drawers.
How are Drawer Systems Installed?
There are many ways to install an overlanding drawer system. It’s important to ensure that while installing the drawers, you take all the necessary steps that secure the drawers in the event of an accident or sudden braking. The last thing you want is all that weight flying towards you!
Quality products like the Double Decker Drawer System by Aiden James Customs feature easy and secure mounting that only takes a few minutes. In fact, not only does this system install quickly, but it doesn’t even require drilling any holes in the floor of your vehicle. There’s no modifications required to your vehicle, either.
What’s more, you can install the double decker drawer system onto an Aiden James Customs Gear Plate (or, as shown above, on an Aiden James Customs Riser Kit with Twin Slide-Out Tables).
Other products can take longer and do require drilling, which you may want to avoid as it can decrease the resale value of your vehicle.
Benefits of a Drawer System
The benefits of an overland drawer system are obvious. Firstly, you have a designated space for each item which eliminates the time wasted searching around through endless piles of gear.
If packed correctly, or if compartments are used within each drawer, you can also avoid the headache of all your gear shifting position while you travel. In fact, these drawer systems are so effective that they keep your gear in check, even if you’re doing so intense off-roading. Check out the video below by cwg.plottingevil to see what I mean:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CjdPJZqMLWp/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Second, unlike on a roof rack, gear that’s stored in drawers is protected from weather and is locked inside your vehicle, which eliminates the issue of having to park in a covered and secure place.
Third, drawer systems put your frequently used gear right at your fingertips. There’s no crawling into your vehicle to find what you need, no necessity of climbing up on rock rails to reach your gear in your rooftop box. Instead, just pull the drawer out, get what you need, and you’re ready to rock!
To DIY or Not to DIY
Going for a DIY overlanding drawer system is a valid option as it provides many benefits. First and foremost, you get to build it to your personal needs that fits your intended use and your vehicle.
You also get to save money since you avoid the costs of labor and profit that come with buying a ready-made product. Be careful here though – if you don’t have the tools to do a project like this, you will either need to borrow tools from a friend or buy them. If you buy tools, you may come very close to the price of a pre-made drawer system, especially if you factor in the materials and the time you’ve spent.
The final benefit of a DIY drawer system is that you get to learn something while doing it. Building a drawer system that works according to your travel needs can be a challenge, but by building it with your own hands, you’ll acquire valuable new knowledge.
All the above points are great reasons why someone would want to build their own drawer system. However, you shouldn’t ignore the great products available on the market.
A quality system like the Double Decker Drawer System from Aiden James Customs saves you the time and hassle needed to build something from scratch.
You will also have the peace of mind that your drawer system will last for many years and that it’s engineered and tested to ensure it works properly.
To get an idea of the quality Aiden James Customs provides, here is a short list of features their double decker overlanding drawer system offers:
- 33.5″ deep X 19.5″ high X 17″ wide.
- All-Aluminum (5052 and 6061) frame, drawers, and outer panels mean half the weight of wood drawers.
- All-Aluminum drawers mean more capacity for your stuff.
- Steel full extension drawer slides from Ryadon Inc.
- Locking or non-locking latches from SouthCo.
- Stainless steel hardware.
- No rattles.
- Perfect for SUVs with a large fridge on one side.
Custom color powder-coated drawer faces, sides, and tops are available as well. As I mentioned before, these systems also mount right to Aiden James Customs Gear Plates to create the ideal 4WD organizational system!
If you want to save time and invest in the best drawer system money can buy, then the easy-to-install, high-quality Aiden James Customs overlanding drawer system is the way to go.
Overlanding Drawer System Final Thoughts
An overlanding drawer system needs to be reliable, practical, and well thought out in order to suit your travel needs perfectly. If you have the time and energy, you can have a crack at building one at home.
However, even if you have the skill to DIY a drawer system, the time, effort, and energy you put into it can turn it into a long-term project. That’s time you could spend on the road, exploring beautiful landscapes!
For my money, a pre-made double decker drawer system is the way to go. Let the professionals handle it and build you a custom-fit system for your vehicle so you can hit the road, have some adventures, and stay organized at the same time. I’ve seen Aiden James’ work up close, and I can say with full confidence that you will not be disappointed by a product like the Double Decker Drawer System!
Other Recommended Overlanding Gear