slide out fridge freezer in camper van

Ingenious Sliding Drawer System for My Campervan Build

Every campervan build comes with its unique challenges, and one of my biggest ones was figuring out a space-saving yet sturdy sliding drawer system for both the fridge and porta potty. I didn’t want to use a bulky 18mm plywood divider, as space is already at a premium. Instead, I came up with a slimline dual drawer slide solution using aluminum angle, M5 T-slot nuts, and Allen head screws—and honestly, I think this might be one of the cleverest things I’ve done so far!

The Clever Drawer Slide Solution

By attaching two sliding runners to a single aluminum angle, I created a low-profile yet rock-solid base that doesn’t take up unnecessary space. This means I could mount the fridge on one side and the toilet on the other without needing a bulky divider.

Once the runners were installed, I made some adjustments:
Raised the drawers slightly to clear the van’s existing rails.
Trimmed the fascia panel to fit snugly around the sliding trays.
Left only a few millimeters of clearance to maximize space.

The result? Smooth-sliding storage that makes the best use of the available space!

Securing the Fridge & Porta Potty

With the 55L fridge fully loaded, I knew it would be too heavy to rely solely on the front panel for support. To keep everything secure:
✔️ I installed D-ring hooks on either side of the drawer.
✔️ I used heavy-duty Velcro straps (leftover from my first build) to hold the fridge in place.
✔️ I reinforced the front panel to act as a stopper, preventing movement during travel.

This setup ensures that even on rough terrain or in the event of sudden braking, the fridge and porta potty stay firmly in place.

Final Adjustments & Future Improvements

While this mockup works great, I’m considering redoing the fascia panel to fine-tune the design. The current one is about 12-15mm too short, and I’ve had to make some extra cutouts due to unexpected reinforcements. But that’s part of the process—refining each piece until it’s just right!

On to the Next Project!

With the sliding drawers installed and secured, the campervan is getting closer to completion. Now, it’s time to move on to the next task—maybe a test trip to see how everything holds up in the real world?

If you enjoyed this update, give it a thumbs up, subscribe, and stay tuned for more campervan build progress!

Happy Days! 🚐⚡

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