Whether cruising in a van or a kitted-out 4WD, storage space is a vital commodity when camping. After all, once you leave home and hit the highway, you won’t have a big kitchen or a walk-in wardrobe to stash your ever-growing collection of stuff.
Seasoned campers adopt a minimalist approach, forgoing nice-to-have items in favour of crucial, everyday gear. In addition to ditching non-essentials, the best way to solve the lack-of-space conundrum is by installing custom-designed camping drawers.
At Best Off-Road, we build efficient, high-quality camper drawers tailored to your needs. Our bespoke designs utilise every square inch to optimise storage space–we’ll even manage to squeeze in the kitchen sink.
Types of Camping Drawers for Every Need
First time fitting out a camper? It’s worth getting up to speed on the lingo. Here are the most common camper drawer types and a brief rundown of their pros and cons.
Pull-out Drawers
The most common camping storage solution is the classic pullout drawer. Much like your chest of drawers at home, this design allows you to pull a drawer outwards to access the contents inside.
But a decent camping pullout drawer is way sturdier than flimsy wooden furniture. Full-extension, ball-bearing rails let the drawer support heavy loads and improve storage efficiency. The precise maximum load varies depending on the dimensions, the materials used, and the quality of the rails. Our heavy-duty designs boast best-in-class load ratings between 150 and 300kg.
Pull-out drawers usually come in single or double-drawer designs and are suitable for stashing smaller, lightweight items. Examples include cooking utensils, food, clothing, and miscellaneous camping gear (a head torch, insect repellent, etc.). Dividers can prove handy to separate items into neat little squares.
Pros:
- Space-saving designs
- Relatively inexpensive to install
- Suitable for storing a wide array of items
- Easy to access and organise gear
Cons:
- Not suitable for heavy or bulky items like fridges and stoves
Heavy-duty Drawers & Slides
As the name suggests, this heavy-duty design sees the entire slide or drawers pull outwards using either a ball-bearing or roller-style slide. This long, metallic sliding mechanism can support heavier loads than a standard pull-out drawer. To achieve such sturdiness, one bracket is attached to the vehicle and another to the bottom side of the drawer.
Due to their heavy-duty design, slide-outs are a bit more expensive and take up more room. The advantage is that they can support big, bulky items like a stove, a chest-style fridge, or even the kitchen sink. Slides intended to hold heavy loads, such as kitchen setups, often come with a fold-out support leg.
Pros:
- Creates an extension of the vehicle frame.
- Capable of supporting large, heavy items, including kitchen gear.
- Suitable to use as a benchtop workspace for preparing food.
- Sturdy sliding mechanisms make pulling the drawer out easy.
Cons:
- Often more expensive than pull-out drawers
- Requires a little more space to accommodate the sliding mechanism
Camper Kitchen Drawers: Keep Cooking Gear Tidy
Slide-out drawers make great camp kitchens because they can support bulky items and heavy loads. Many designs include an adjacent pullout drawer for organising cutlery, utensils, crockery, and other cooking-related bits and bobs.
False Floors for Campervans
Perfect for compact campervans, this option involves hiding a pullout or slide-out drawer underneath a false floor (a new base built above the original floor). False floor drawers go either by the side sliding door or the tailgate or barn doors at the back of a van. A sturdy design and robust materials mean they’re strong enough to walk on, just like a real floor.
Slide-out kitchens hidden under a false floor create an instant outdoor cooking space at the front or side of your van. A side-mounted awning or the back tailgate door will provide some shelter when it rains–but expect to get at least a little wet.
The downside is that a false floor will reduce the interior height of your campervan. Even just a few inches could make the difference between standing up inside and crouching.
Slide-out 4WD kitchens
Slide-outs make great kitchens for 4WDs, too. One popular option is to install a slide-out and pull-out combo at the back of the rig, with the bed resting firmly on top.
Tradies often install slide-out kitchens in their ute canopies so they can cook in the bush. This convenient setup lets you remove camping gear during the week to make room for your tools. Come Friday afternoon, you can slot your fridge/stove/battery back into place and hit the road.
Where to Buy Camping Drawers and Storage Solutions
Pre-fabricated camper drawers made overseas typically work out cheaper than local, custom-made products. But they’re often not the best option.
If you’re passionate about camping, it’s worth spending a little extra on quality, tailor-made camper drawers from a trusted brand like Best Off Road. We tailor our bespoke camping drawers to your vehicle’s specifications to optimise storage space.
Not only do you get more storage, but you’ll also enjoy a heavy-duty product suitable for harsh Australian conditions. A sturdy design and high-quality materials ensure that all our drawers can withstand extreme temperatures, prolonged adventures, and rough, corrugated roads.
Conclusion: Make Your Camping Trips More Comfortable with the Right Drawers
Whether you’re on a lap around Australia or a cheeky weekend away, high-quality camper drawers add a touch of luxury to life on the road.
Pull-out drawers are perfect for stowing smaller everyday items, such as clothing, cooking utensils, and miscellaneous gear. For the ultimate outdoor kitchen setup, a slide-out drawer can withstand the weight of all your cooking essentials, including the kitchen sink.
Not sure which option to choose? Or perhaps you need help planning your dream camper setup?
Backed by almost two decades of experience, our Melbourne-based, family-owned business can provide the perfect custom design for your needs. Quality materials, expert craftsmanship, and state-of-the-art computerised technology put us ahead of the competition.
Contact our friendly team today to organise a free, no-obligation quote.