Custom made fridge slide - information

[shakey55]

I'll try not be to long winded.

The fridge slide in my camper needs replacing.

I have no experience in this area so I'm hoping someone here can help with their experience/expertise.

My current setup is what I want, but the sliding rails have been home made and need replacing.   The current slide (stainless tray) hold 1 x 40L Engel and 1 x 21L Engel.

This is what I have







My question is.

If I were to utilise the stainless tray you can see, is it as simple as getting some solid aluminium angle bar and attaching that to the floor of the camper, then getting some quality slides and attach the slides to the angle bar and the stainless tray, so that the tray slides in and out.

Hopefully you can understand what I am trying to say.

If not can someone give me suggestions and guidance.


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[MDS69]

Essentially yes. Your solution you have described is the answer. Don't scrimp on the slides especially if you are having two fridges on it. Dunn & Watson do some good stuff.

[shakey55]

Essentially yes. Your solution you have described is the answer. Don't scrimp on the slides especially if you are having two fridges on it. Dunn & Watson do some good stuff.

Thanks.

Does the angle bar have to be the same height as the runner or just high enough so as to attach the runner.


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[Bill]

Thanks.

Does the angle bar have to be the same height as the runner or just high enough so as to attach the runner.


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Just high enough to attach the runner will work but if they are a bit higher it allows fo the "I goofed up drilling the hole" factor...
Bill

[Pete79]

I used 50x50x3 steel angle and bolted it through the cross members.
The 50mm height was pretty much spot on to fit the runner over the bolts heads through the floor.
My drawer is just for kitchen stuff and I used a cheap eBay runner the same as normal draw runners in your house, just rated to 120kg. On longer trips when we take a lot of canned and dry food I recon this drawer would weigh heaps more the the fridge.

I've been running these slides for about 3 years now and they're still working as good as the first day that I fitted them.

[shakey55]

I used 50x50x3 steel angle and bolted it through the cross members.
The 50mm height was pretty much spot on to fit the runner over the bolts heads through the floor.
My drawer is just for kitchen stuff and I used a cheap eBay runner the same as normal draw runners in your house, just rated to 120kg. On longer trips when we take a lot of canned and dry food I recon this drawer would weigh heaps more the the fridge.

I've been running these slides for about 3 years now and they're still working as good as the first day that I fitted them.

Thanks for that information. The slides I'm looking at are these from Dunn & Watson





So I'm just trying to work out the size of angle bar I'll need.


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[Pete79]

By that drawing I'd say you might want to look at a 100x50 angle. You'll need a better part of 100mm high to support the 75mm wide runner and have room for a bolt head under if needed.

[shakey55]

By that drawing I'd say you might want to look at a 100x50 angle. You'll need a better part of 100mm high to support the 75mm wide runner and have room for a bolt head under if needed.

If I am to go to this size will aluminium be okay or do I need to go steel


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[Pete79]

My personal preference for load bearing members is always steel over alloy. But in this application I recon you could get away with alloy angle if it's thick enough and there are enough mounting holes in the runner to spread the load across more points.

Unfortunately the available sizes for unequal steel angles are pretty limited.
You can get 75x50x5 that weighs 4.4kg/m
The next size up is massive overkill for what you're needing, it's 100x75x6 and weighs basically 8kg/m. You don't need something that big.
That's using Onesteel sizes, I don't know if there are other mills that make odd sizes or even if it's worth going see your local engineering shop and getting a strip of 2.5 or 3mm gal sheet folded to the dimensions you need.

I don't have much to do with alloy  to know all of the available sizes. But from what I can see it looks like you can get a few sections that will do what you need and all weigh around 2kg/m.
Apparently in alloy they do 75x50x5 or 80x50x5 or 100x50x5.
If it where me, I wouldn't go any thinner then 4 or 5mm if using alloy.

There are a couple of guys on here that do alloy fabrication, they might be able to confirm the actual sizes that are available.

[shakey55]

My personal preference for load bearing members is always steel over alloy. But in this application I recon you could get away with alloy angle if it's thick enough and there are enough mounting holes in the runner to spread the load across more points.

Unfortunately the available sizes for unequal steel angles are pretty limited.
You can get 75x50x5 that weighs 4.4kg/m
The next size up is massive overkill for what you're needing, it's 100x75x6 and weighs basically 8kg/m. You don't need something that big.
That's using Onesteel sizes, I don't know if there are other mills that make odd sizes or even if it's worth going see your local engineering shop and getting a strip of 2.5 or 3mm gal sheet folded to the dimensions you need.

I don't have much to do with alloy  to know all of the available sizes. But from what I can see it looks like you can get a few sections that will do what you need and all weigh around 2kg/m.
Apparently in alloy they do 75x50x5 or 80x50x5 or 100x50x5.
If it where me, I wouldn't go any thinner then 4 or 5mm if using alloy.

There are a couple of guys on here that do alloy fabrication, they might be able to confirm the actual sizes that are available.

Thanks very much Pete. Your advise/information has been invaluable to me as a learner.

The reason I have show pictures of the very heavy duty slide is I may need these only due the the length of run that I need.

I will have to remeasure but I may (hopefully) get away with the next size down an that size are only 53cm compare to the larger 73cm as shown in picture.

If I can use the smaller I can get alloy bar that is 60x40x4 or 60x60x6

Once again thanks.

I have to go away tomorrow so I'll be doing this when I get back. I'll let you know how the finished product ends up


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[BigGUWesty]

Righto first up id be weighing your fridge that you have out the end.
When they talk weight with the slides at x distance and spred evenly over that length..
So length fully open needs to be addressed first and the amount of weight itll be carrying..

Secondly your angle on the original slide is flange out so the slide can sit on the deck.
If your going to use that slide posted above then id be investing in a work shop to fold you a couple bits of angle 70x30 in 3mm zinc or galv sheet..
Space your bolts on the end furthest  from fridges when out maybe 100mm apart for the first 3 bolts as this is where all the load is when the fridges are out..
Then a couple more evenly spaced to secure it will be plenty..
How long is the actual slide need to be??

[shakey55]

Righto first up id be weighing your fridge that you have out the end.
When they talk weight with the slides at x distance and spred evenly over that length..
So length fully open needs to be addressed first and the amount of weight itll be carrying..

Secondly your angle on the original slide is flange out so the slide can sit on the deck.
If your going to use that slide posted above then id be investing in a work shop to fold you a couple bits of angle 70x30 in 3mm zinc or galv sheet..
Space your bolts on the end furthest  from fridges when out maybe 100mm apart for the first 3 bolts as this is where all the load is when the fridges are out..
Then a couple more evenly spaced to secure it will be plenty..
How long is the actual slide need to be??

Thanks for your input

The front fridge 40L Engel weight about 25kgs empty

The stainless tray shown on the original post is about 1120mm. The two fridges sit on this tray and I need it to clear the back of the trailer so I can fully open the rear fridge.

This is why I possible need the heavy duty slide that is 73mm in height.

I do not intend using any of the existing slide as shown. I intend make new slide and attaching the stainless tray.

So I probably need to use their (Dunn & Watson) 1200mm slides which are the ones shown that are 73mm heigh.


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[BigGUWesty]

Id personal go flange out regaurdless so you build it all outside the camper and then place it all in there and fix it down as a whole unit..

Anyway the linked slides are 1.15m long 2.3m extended.
And the graph showing in the add if you sorta imagine the graph continuing up to 2m id think youd be good for 100kg fully extended..
Just first one i found.
Grab dunn and wattson if you like.
But after looking at it all your distance yea grab the 75mm slides..
 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/291715725175