Author Topic: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...  (Read 4447 times)

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Offline lilstookie

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For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« on: February 18, 2012, 01:52:09 PM »
We're getting the storage box this week and just talking about need for the gas struts to lift the bed. Do you ever lift the tent to access anything in the trailer when you have the storage box? We're trying to dust proof better and thought that silicon sealing the tent base to the top of the trailer would be a potential fix in that area. Thoughts?

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Offline griz066

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2012, 02:42:53 PM »
We're getting the storage box this week and just talking about need for the gas struts to lift the bed. Do you ever lift the tent to access anything in the trailer when you have the storage box? We're trying to dust proof better and thought that silicon sealing the tent base to the top of the trailer would be a potential fix in that area. Thoughts?

Lil :)

We had the drifta storage box in our camper and never lifted the top, just open the tailgate and slide it out. :cheers:
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Offline Nomad

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2012, 03:01:13 PM »
I generally pack stuff straight into the back or use the escape hatches under the mattress. I've only opened mine once for the side and it was heavy and a PITA. Rather than silicone I would use rubber, at least you can lift it if you need to.

Cheers
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Offline Barrabart

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2012, 08:11:07 AM »
I probably wouldn't silicone it..... as at some stage you'll know doubt need to lift the bed base for mods/maintenance etc........ also a continuous bead of silicone or silastic is a mighty powerful hold down, and will take alot to undo your work. Just my thoughts.
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crackacoldie

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2012, 08:15:28 AM »
Ours is fixed permanently with no side lift, but with the Drifta storage drawere, don't need to lift it, have never even accessed from under mattress.

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Offline simpilot

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2012, 12:14:02 PM »
Well I don't use it when packing the camper, but once on site I sometimes use it to throw in stuff I am not using (such as spare canvas) into the space behind the kitchen. This way it's out of sight and out of the rain.

Offline heath74

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2012, 03:57:08 PM »
I tend to lift the top and pack from above, I just find that easier, but you would not have to do that.  I have kept the gas struts, Jason just installed them in a different position.  it might also be worth noting that this drifta kit, required a different tailgate locking mechanism.  The stock AJs one protrudes quite a bit, reducing the internal dimensions of the trailer, and the drifta kit won't fit. On the 'non hinge' side.  If that makes sense. Please ignore this comment if you have already considered this!

Offline lilstookie

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For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2012, 04:48:54 PM »
Thanks heath but our storage box is 1700 long and not full length so I can fit chainsaw. The full length wouldn't had fit if we had bought it direct
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Offline Bill

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2012, 08:12:08 PM »
We never lifted the bed base once we installed our drifta dpo.
We just slid out the storage box and kitchen to pack/unpack them...
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Offline jeeps

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2012, 09:07:51 PM »
My bed base is bolted to the trailer so I can't lift it. I have the pull out Drifta kitchen & tucker box but not the storage box. Maybe I'm still young and fit because I just crawl in under there, but then again I have higher sides on the trailer.

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Offline Matto

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2012, 08:50:19 AM »
Where we park our camper beside the house, we can't open the tailgate. Therefore, we need to tilt the bed base up for access. Worth considering where you store your camper :).

As for the silicone idea, personally I'd probably just use rubber myself as well. However, if you want to use silicone, you will get a better seal. A best-of-both-worlds idea might be to put cling-wrap down on the top of the trailer walls, then run a big fat bead of silicone around the underside edge of your bed base. Then, gently close bed base onto cling-wrap. The silicone will mould to the exact gap between the two, but you'll still be able to open the top since the silicone will just stick to the cling-wrap. Trim the edges of the cling wrap for neatness, and enjoy. Easy way to make a custom seal.

Good luck!
Matto :)
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Offline Dreama

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2012, 09:09:06 AM »
Where we park our camper beside the house, we can't open the tailgate. Therefore, we need to tilt the bed base up for access. Worth considering where you store your camper :).

As for the silicone idea, personally I'd probably just use rubber myself as well. However, if you want to use silicone, you will get a better seal. A best-of-both-worlds idea might be to put cling-wrap down on the top of the trailer walls, then run a big fat bead of silicone around the underside edge of your bed base. Then, gently close bed base onto cling-wrap. The silicone will mould to the exact gap between the two, but you'll still be able to open the top since the silicone will just stick to the cling-wrap. Trim the edges of the cling wrap for neatness, and enjoy. Easy way to make a custom seal.

Good luck!
Matto :)
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Offline Dreama

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2012, 09:11:00 AM »
Sorry about that,
Hey Matto, that is a great idea with the silastic and glad wrap.  :cup:
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Offline Matto

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2012, 09:46:54 AM »
Sorry about that,
Hey Matto, that is a great idea with the silastic and glad wrap.  :cup:
Cheers mate! I can't claim credit for it - someone told me about it years ago and I've been using it ever since. Probably not good in an application that would see you opening/closing the seal a lot - I'd use rubber pinch-weld for that. But for this sort of occasional use thing, or if you've got a really odd-shaped seal, it works a treat.  ;D It can be a bit messy if you get a bit too generous on the silicone though (which I always do).

Cheers!
Matto :)
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Offline lilstookie

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For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2012, 10:21:32 AM »
Awesome idea!


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Offline Barrabart

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Re: For those with the Drifta slide out + storage box...
« Reply #15 on: February 21, 2012, 10:26:15 AM »
Where we park our camper beside the house, we can't open the tailgate. Therefore, we need to tilt the bed base up for access. Worth considering where you store your camper :).

As for the silicone idea, personally I'd probably just use rubber myself as well. However, if you want to use silicone, you will get a better seal. A best-of-both-worlds idea might be to put cling-wrap down on the top of the trailer walls, then run a big fat bead of silicone around the underside edge of your bed base. Then, gently close bed base onto cling-wrap. The silicone will mould to the exact gap between the two, but you'll still be able to open the top since the silicone will just stick to the cling-wrap. Trim the edges of the cling wrap for neatness, and enjoy. Easy way to make a custom seal.

Good luck!
Matto :)

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