DIY SLIDING BIKE AND CARGO TRAYS IN A SPRINTER CAMPER VAN | Build your own Sliding Aluminum Trays
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 มิ.ย. 2020
- This is how we upgraded our camper van bike storage and cargo storage by building 2 new heavy duty deluxe sliding bike and cargo trays.
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And check out our website for more van life info: TimShannonLTD.com/
Many thanks to Bensound for the music track Happy Rock: www.bensound.com/
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Here's a list of the main components we used for this project:
(Note that this contains affiliate links. We may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.)
Fulterer FR5400 450 lb. 50-inch locking drawer slides: amzn.to/2VeXGc0
Fulterer FR5400 450 lb. 52-inch locking drawer slides: amzn.to/3YGX0vu
Mounting Brackets for FR5400 bit.ly/2NvG9be
6061 .190" Aluminum Sheet: bit.ly/31iaNwO
Bicycle front fork mounts: amzn.to/2Z7li3b
Bicycle front Wheel Hitch: amzn.to/2A1UARh
Bolts to hold Aluminum to brackets, 1/4x20 x 3/4": amzn.to/3hJhA8q
Front fork mount bolts, 1/4x20 x1-1/2": amzn.to/2AP3B0a
Nylon insert lock nuts, 1/4x20: amzn.to/2ALqeCQ
Mending Strips: bit.ly/3dyrVkj
Here are some of the things that make VanLife easier and more enjoyable for us: www.amazon.com/shop/timshannon
Our Electrical System Components:
BattleBorn 100ah Lithium Batteries (x4): amzn.to/4byxQnz
3000 watt inverter: amzn.to/3VTLhsB
Solar Charge Controller: amzn.to/3RPhekf
100 watt Solar Panel: amzn.to/3Wa0EhK
Cerbo GX: amzn.to/4buFBuK
GX Touch 50: amzn.to/4bxr6pS
Lynx Distributor: amzn.to/3xVbsa5
Electrical Distribution Panel: amzn.to/4cK8VhR
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These slides have a Right and a Left marked “R” and “L”. If you are lifting the latch I think you have them switched. You can not see the “R” or “L” if you have the brackets in place. I noticed this after I had one slide built with all four brackets. Took it all apart and started over. Right on the right side and left on the left side and the latches un-lock pushing down.
You are correct. I too noticed that after completing the project and video, and same thing - took it all apart and corrected it. Sharp eye you have. Thanks for the comment!
@@TimAndShannonLTD Your video was very helpful. Perhaps highlight the comment, so others don’t trip down that same path. Very thankful for the parts info on the brackets. I really appreciate not having to build this with plywood sides and footing. The brackets make the pullout lower profile giving you more handlebar room and it saves space on the sides. Thank you!
I picked up the same brackets. Fortunately I lucked out and installed up from in proper direction. I do need to go back and check for the "R" and "L" on the bracket.
Simple and to the point, and no annoying music. Thankyou
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment!
great work!
Thanks a lot!
Just watched this, fantastic instructions, thank you
Glad you liked it Fiona - thanks for reaching out and letting us know!
Very informative
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for letting us know!
I found this very helpful and it generated some new ways for us to build our pull out bike tray. Thanks for sharing your expertise ! I like how you were able to squeeze all the bikes into the small area. Awesome!
Cool, so glad you found it helpful. Good luck with your build!
This was a super clean idea! I’ve been looking for a design for RV cargo slides and this is it. Thank you
Glad you liked it and so happy this was helpful to you - thanks for the comment!
Great job! Can't wait to see your next project. You always do such a good job of explaining the process.
Thank you so much Terry! So good to hear feedback like that. Coming up next is how we're gonna mount our solar panels on the roof. Hopefully in a week or so... Cheers -
@@TimAndShannonLTD I've installed a few solar panels on vans and one tip is you can plug the MC4 cables, positive and negative , together and put a clamp-on amp meter around the wire and read the current being produced at that moment in the sun. The panel will not over load the wire, as it is self limiting and only can produce it's rated max. This is a way to check individual panels or strings to insure all is good before connecting to the charge controller. Cheers
Ha! I just built this same drawer - same materials, same dimensions - following your instructions. This video was very helpful! Thank you!
Cool - so glad it was helpful!
Great project !, I will now incorporate this into my van build! 🍻
Cool! Have fun with your build! 😀
Hi, pretty solid construction. Good job 👍🏼 we like that you took advantage of the mounting brackets for this slide! Have fun traveling!
Thank you!
Solid...⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🚎🏴 Fab Job..need to make a smaller version to hold 2 foldable bikes ...thanks, great help 👍👍👍👍
Awesome - glad it was helpful. Thanks for the comment!
Looks and works great. Getting 4 bikes in that small space is impressive, but please radius the corners of the trays to stop someone walking or tripping in to the points and hurting themselves, better still a strip of 2x1 hardwood would look smart and act as a handle to slide them out.
@Dump Chump - Thanks for the comment! As far as a 1x2 on the end, our old tray had a similar feature, but it was difficult to sweep dirt off of the tray, so we wanted to make this flat at the end like this. But a radius corner is a good idea and I think we'll do that - thanks!
Tim & Shannon
I only noticed and commented because I’m the sort of klutz that would trip and impale myself. 😂
Hi Tim, I noticed an interesting set up you have for your skis. Could you share what you did? Thanks, Tim
Sure - it's just a couple of 7 inch U-bolts hanging from the bed frame and clamping the skis in place. One pair of U-bolts for each pair of skis. It's not really easy access to the skis, but it works well for storage and transportation. We used some old bike tire innertube scraps cut into strips and clamped in with the skis to keep from them getting scratched.
Great video!! Do you know what your clearance is from the floor to the bottom of your bed frame?
Yes I do! From the floor it's 36-1/2" - from the top of the cargo trays it's 35-5/8".
That is a fantastic bike drawer. I need something like that. Hope you don't mind if I "borrow" your technique.
Go ahead! We are happy to share - that's why we make videos. Let us know if you have questions!
Hi Tim. Great job in clearly laying it out so we can follow each step with ease, do you think there would be anything that would hinder me using 3/4 marine grade ply instead of sheet aluminum?
Ie... clearance on the mounting brackets or anything else you could think of.
Again thank you so much.
Hi Paul - I think that would work fine. I just looked at mine and it might be kinda tight where the nuts are that hold the mounting bracket to the slide, but I think 3/4 ply should fit. Give it some good sealant and you it should work great.
@@TimDustrude Thank you for the swift reply! I will take that into consideration, If it looks good i will be sure to send a picture, if it doesn't look good you will never hear from me again. 🤣
@@paulbrosnan9789 LOL you're welcome and we hope to see a picture!
Thanks for commenting and hope that answered your question!
What were the costs for the sliders and the aluminum? Did you consider using wood? Great design and job. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Rock, Yes considered using wood but we wanted low maintenance and for it to last forever. Links are in the description for all the parts but I think the slides were about $300 and the aluminum sheets about $150.
Greta job! Could you please tell me how much is the weight of the bike tray?
Hi Peter. Wow that's hard to say - I just looked through all the receipts for the components and NONE of them shows the shipping weight. I did find the weight of the drawer guides - one is 19 pounds and I'm not sure if that is just one guide or one pair of guides. I'm guessing the mounting brackets would be about 10 pounds for one drawer the way we built ours, and the aluminum sheet... Maybe 30-40 pounds? If it's critical for you, I'd check the links in our description and get ahold of the sellers to find out for sure. Sorry I'm not more help!
Did you take the handlebars out for 2 of the bikes? Is that intentionally/required for them to fit?
Hi Jordan, yes the way you see them in this video we removed handlebars from 2 bikes to make them fit, but we’ve since modified it by turning the fork mounts just a bit so the handlebars are angled (not perpendicular to the bike frames) and now they fit without removing them.
Looking at the link you posted for the Mounting Brackets for FR5400, on the link, there are 4 options with different mm measurements, which did you use?
Hi Molly - For each tray, we used 3 pairs of 305mm (12") and 1 pair of 711mm (28"). 2 pairs of 305's hold the drawer slides to the floor of the van, and 1 pair of 305's and 1 pair 711's hold the tray onto the drawer slides. (This is for the 50 inch slides. Different size slides will require different combinations of brackets.)
@@TimAndShannonLTD Awesome! Thank you so much!
You’re welcome - enjoy your build!
@@TimAndShannonLTD One more quick question, what was the length of the aluminium sheets you bought? 60 inches?
@@mollyleadbetter Hi again and sorry for the late reply - the length of the aluminum sheets is 68 inches.
Hi Terry, please can you list the manufacturer of the drawer sliders and brackets?
Thanks in advance...
Hi Andover - it's all in the links above (below the video - you need to click "show more")
Hi Tim, great job on the build and thanks for the detailed video and parts list which are very helpful. How much height is lost to the slide (ie from top of floor to top of aluminum sheet)? Seems pretty minimal but trying to gauge if I’ll have enough room to fit my bike on the slide under the bed. And how much width is lost on each side (slide mechanism plus mounting brackets etc? Also, apropos the pinned comment, is there any problem having the L and R slides reversed and requiring the latch to be lifted to disengage? In theory, in the correct orientation, could something heavy falling on the latch disengage the mechanism and release the slide? Thanks
Thanks DC. Height is about 9/16” above the floor, (top of floor to top of aluminum trays. ) as far as width, I’ll take a more accurate measurement tomorrow but I think it’s about 5” or so. They will still slide just fine when upside down but the locks don’t work as well (or sometimes at all).
Ok just measured it. 1-1/2” of width is lost on each side. (And with 2 like we have that’s 3” in the middle as well) so a total of about 6”.
Many thanks Tim, very helpful to know re both points. Cheers
You're welcome - good luck with your build!
Hi Tim,
Nice work you have done. What is the height between the lowest part of the bed frame and the top of the floor.?
Thanks for your answer.
Richard from Québec, Canada
Hi Richard - it’s about 1/2” (12mm) higher than the largest bike height with the seat all the way down and the front wheel removed. (I think it’s 35 inches but I’ll measure it in the morning and then edit this comment if needed)
Cheers!
Finally remembered to go measure and it's actually 36-1/2" from the floor - and 35-3/4" from the top of the cargo trays. (And yeah, that gives about 1/2" clearance for the larger bike. We specifically positioned the bed height to accommodate our bikes with minimum clearance :-)
@@TimAndShannonLTD thanks Tim. Will probably start converti g a new 159 ext 3500 PM next march. 😎😎😎👍🏼
Hi, the bikeslide is perfect. I‘gona bild this for my sprinter as you did… can you tell me how think the alloy play is?
0.190” aluminum sheet. Full list of components is in the video description.
@@TimAndShannonLTD Thank you and have a nice Sunday… Greetings from Switzerland
Oh thank you! We love Switzerland! We were there for our best vacation ever in 2008. Beautiful place and the SBB CFF FFS was awesome! ❤️❤️❤️
curious why you went with aluminum for the trays and not plywood?
Aluminum lasts longer with less maintenance.
might have missed it but what was the thickness of aluminum?
It was 0.190” sheet.
I want a full length 6ft pull out draw under my bed in my sprinter, do I need 6ft draw runners or can you use smaller ones?
Hi Angela - I'm no expert, but I would guess you could get away with 4 foot slides centered, so that one foot of the drawer would hang off each end. However, I'm not sure how you would reach the lock/unlock lever. If the 4' drawer slide is accessible from the outside, with enough room to get your hand in to unlock the lever, then I think it would work fine. I don't know what else you have around your drawer so, tough to answer definitely. But assuming you can access it, then yes, a 4 foot slide would be enough for a 6 foot drawer I think - notice that our slides are 18" shorter than our tray and so the ends are 9" in from the ends. (hope this helps)
@@TimAndShannonLTD thanks, I'll look into what you've said and hopefully I can get one built, don't want to keep pulling everything out to just get to the back for something 😀
@@angelamelville67 agreed. Nice to have things easy to reach.
why did you choose aluminum for the trays? i'd think the edges, cost, and availability would make it less appealing. thanks,
We wanted durability.
Four bikes, four front wheels, two front wheel mounts? Or did you do the other pair at the forward end of the tray?
Sharp eye - the other 2 are off to the side of the tray.
Gotcha. Why *not* add two more wheel mounts at the rear of the tray?
Also, gotta say, I'm impressed with how little space you got four bikes to fit in, laterally! I'm looking to do something similar with a build soon, though just two bikes and probably will have both bikes facing out the back, staggered a little so handlebars don't knock. I found I could get them snugged up pretty close without pedal-whacking being an issue.
Hi Tim. What is the distance between the floor and the bottom of your bed to acomodate the bikes? Thank you. Rafal
We designed our bed so its lowest point was about 1/2 inch above the highest point on our bikes which was the seats. But later we replaced the seat posts (dropper posts) on our bikes and the newer ones don't go as high, so we now have about 3 inches of clearance between the seats and the bed frames. I think it's about 37 inches total, but I'm not positive, and I'm away from the van for a couple of days so I'll reply again to this comment if it's different, but I wanted to put this answer here now to let you know I read your comment.
Hi Tim. Thank you fot your help.
OK, I've just measured and it is 36-1/2" from the floor to the bottom of the bed frame, and it's 35-3/4" from the top of the bike sliding tray to the bottom of the bed frame. Hope this helps.
Thank you again. This will help me greatly. I'm starting converting next week. All the best for you.