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Re: Homemade Slide Out Tray

Reply #25 – October 15, 2014, 03:52:38 pm

Great use of the narrow space.

All slide out trays including Joey Bed need a secondary positive lock, as a heavy slider will drive itself right through a compartment door if the conditions are right.

I personally do not believe the drop pin is positive enough as pin can move up, etc on its own.

It is possible to not have the original Joey Bed latch completely fall into its lock.  The original latch can also fail, often from sliding open or closed too fast, having the spring latch catch under load, which stresses the latch.  In our case the latch weld broke.

We and others have added a bolt or pin that has a positive lock.  Ours is a long bolt and a lock washer and wing nut. 

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Re: Homemade Slide Out Tray

Reply #26 – October 15, 2014, 04:17:30 pm

Great Job - now you got me thinking how to do one on my 36'.  thanks for the great pics.

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Re: Homemade Slide Out Tray

Reply #27 – October 15, 2014, 11:43:00 pm

Looks Great Chuck, I started mine this evening and got one side put together. Off to Denver for a couple days for meetings hope to finish it up this week end. thanks again for the pictures.

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Re: Homemade Slide Out Tray

Reply #28 – October 16, 2014, 09:11:51 am

Well played Chuck!  It'll be nice to have a designated place for a tool chest..and on the correct side of the coach too.

One question tho.  I have the same Craftsman tool chest.  To keep the drawers from opening and for security reasons, there are two thin metal pieces inserted from the top and slid into slots on the bottom.  They are then covered when the top is folded down.  Are you using them?  Or do you feel they are not needed?
Thanks in advance

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Re: Homemade Slide Out Tray

Reply #29 – October 16, 2014, 09:20:29 am

Bill,

The drawer "lock" on my inherited 40 or 50-year-old Craftsman chest is automatic.  When you raise the lid, a linkage inside the chest releases a locking device of some sort.  When you close the lid, it locks the drawers shut.  If you do not have a drawer slid in all the way, you can feel the locking device "binding" on the back of the drawer.  I'm sure Craftsman chests have changed a lot over the years, so yours may be a more recent design.  Should still work fine, though, and "Yes" I would lock them when traveling.

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Re: Homemade Slide Out Tray

Reply #30 – October 16, 2014, 08:10:50 pm

  Very nice job.  Makes getting tools so much more convenient.

  Looks like I need to add another project to the list.
 
                    Thanks for sharing

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Re: Homemade Slide Out Tray

Reply #31 – October 17, 2014, 12:02:11 am

Barry, Chuck could put another piece of angle iron below the one in pics and have a nut welded under it before fixing to the coach frame so a bolt can be placed down thru' the top angle and then screwed into the new one below. A small washer welded to head of bolt would make it easy to unscrew. This would remove that "instance" you mention. There are many methods to fix the off chance thing, but I think the one I mention would stop any back and forth sliding even if it is now only a small amount .
JohnH

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Re: Homemade Slide Out Tray

Reply #32 – October 17, 2014, 08:50:40 am

Barry & John,

I appreciate your concern, and your suggestions for improving my "slide lock".  I think it may be more secure than it appears.  In the photo below, you may be able to see that there is a white material showing under the top piece of the pin hole.  Under that top aluminum piece, there is a 3/4" long hard nylon bushing, secured in place with a "U" shape pipe clamp.  The "drop pin" goes through the top piece of aluminum, then through the nylon bushing, then through the tray material, then through the drawer frame.  The pin is a purposely TIGHT fit through the bushing and aluminum holes.  It takes a firm tug to lift it out of the "locked" position.  I don't believe it is possible for it to "move up on its own".

The only sign of any movement of the tray (after our recent 1000 mile round trip to FOT) is a slight amount of rubbing where the pin contacts the bay floor.  The total range of movement possible for the tray (and the pin) when in "locked position" is less than 1/4", as evidenced by the wear mark.

I will keep my eye on the tray.  If I see any sign of trouble, or increased motion while traveling, then I will fix it.  For now, I think it is secure.

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Re: Homemade Slide Out Tray

Reply #33 – October 17, 2014, 12:45:49 pm

Chuck, sounds good and I did not know you had the other things done to that locking pin set up. You did basically what I was referring to- giving it some more resistance to hold in place.
Nice job.
JohnH

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