Sheep Shagger
Adventurer
After looking at, and blatantly copying other ideas posted here, I thought I would post my take on this project as it has a few unique things.
This is going in a van, and I wanted a fridge slider that would work with only one of the rear doors open, so space for the slider with 63qt fridge would be very tight. After sketching out my idea, I did a lot of searching for a shelf lock that would be strong enough, didn't take up lots of space, didn't look ugly and would not have protruding parts to catch my knee on when open. I came up with absolutely zero. So I decided to make my own from things I knew and had available.
After getting some 500lbs draw sliders the frame was simply welded up from flat stock to hold the sliders. It's simply 2 `C` braces bolted to the sliders, 1 at the front and 1 at the back.
The shelf itself is simply 3/4 ply, but for mounting the fridge to it, rather than tiedown or straps and as I wanted to keep everything simply looking. I removed the feet from the fridge and use those holes + some others that are on the fridge to bolt up from the bottom. When you remove the feet, there are 2 edges of sheet metal that fall below the mounting frame, so you can see 2 score marks in the ply shelf so no stress is on these points.
For the latch, I decided to place them at the back of the shelf so they are hidden out of the way, and use 2 motorcycle seat catches (one each side). The catches are very strong and are simply pull cable operated. I machined up some male pins to fit the catches, threaded on one side so I can adjust the slop out of them, then lock nut behind.
What I don't have any pictures of is the release. I used a motorcycle choke knob (similar to ones found in cars years ago, just smaller). Then a motorcycle throttle cable from a bike with 2 separate carbs. This 3 ended cable (pull on one end, and it operates the other two ends) is found on old British bikes and some modern Aprilias.
[EDIT check bottom for release pics]
So once all the shelf slider was done, I simply framed everything out in 3/4 ply, bolting to the draw rails and brackets, and working out from that point, as this is the only thing bolted down. I didn't want to drill holes all over the place in the van, so that's why I worked from this point.
In the above, the whole left side lifts out and can be stored on the right side or just removed. This allows me to still put full height items in the back if I need.
All the ply is coated with truck bed liner (non slip and durable), then edged with C channel ally for the uprights and flat stock for the top shelf just so add a lip. The ally is there to stop the wood edged getting chipped.
While I was at it, I made a few cubbyholes to store all my tools / jack / toeing crap etc etc.
Rest of the pic's.
I also added an extra battery to the frame rail, solar charger & panel, plus automatic charging relay that will isolate the batteries if the fridge drops the 3rd battery too low so I can always start the van.
Voltage monitors, solar charger & fuse box. Voltage monitors are cheap cigarette style ones with the cigarette plug removed and hardwired.
Solar panel on the roof rack.
Updated with pic's of the release mechanism.
This is going in a van, and I wanted a fridge slider that would work with only one of the rear doors open, so space for the slider with 63qt fridge would be very tight. After sketching out my idea, I did a lot of searching for a shelf lock that would be strong enough, didn't take up lots of space, didn't look ugly and would not have protruding parts to catch my knee on when open. I came up with absolutely zero. So I decided to make my own from things I knew and had available.
After getting some 500lbs draw sliders the frame was simply welded up from flat stock to hold the sliders. It's simply 2 `C` braces bolted to the sliders, 1 at the front and 1 at the back.
The shelf itself is simply 3/4 ply, but for mounting the fridge to it, rather than tiedown or straps and as I wanted to keep everything simply looking. I removed the feet from the fridge and use those holes + some others that are on the fridge to bolt up from the bottom. When you remove the feet, there are 2 edges of sheet metal that fall below the mounting frame, so you can see 2 score marks in the ply shelf so no stress is on these points.
For the latch, I decided to place them at the back of the shelf so they are hidden out of the way, and use 2 motorcycle seat catches (one each side). The catches are very strong and are simply pull cable operated. I machined up some male pins to fit the catches, threaded on one side so I can adjust the slop out of them, then lock nut behind.
What I don't have any pictures of is the release. I used a motorcycle choke knob (similar to ones found in cars years ago, just smaller). Then a motorcycle throttle cable from a bike with 2 separate carbs. This 3 ended cable (pull on one end, and it operates the other two ends) is found on old British bikes and some modern Aprilias.
[EDIT check bottom for release pics]
So once all the shelf slider was done, I simply framed everything out in 3/4 ply, bolting to the draw rails and brackets, and working out from that point, as this is the only thing bolted down. I didn't want to drill holes all over the place in the van, so that's why I worked from this point.
In the above, the whole left side lifts out and can be stored on the right side or just removed. This allows me to still put full height items in the back if I need.
All the ply is coated with truck bed liner (non slip and durable), then edged with C channel ally for the uprights and flat stock for the top shelf just so add a lip. The ally is there to stop the wood edged getting chipped.
While I was at it, I made a few cubbyholes to store all my tools / jack / toeing crap etc etc.
Rest of the pic's.
I also added an extra battery to the frame rail, solar charger & panel, plus automatic charging relay that will isolate the batteries if the fridge drops the 3rd battery too low so I can always start the van.
Voltage monitors, solar charger & fuse box. Voltage monitors are cheap cigarette style ones with the cigarette plug removed and hardwired.
Solar panel on the roof rack.
Updated with pic's of the release mechanism.
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Many European bikes use the exact same latches, and Japanese very similar.
