Hilux 4x4 Forum

Had a bit of time on hand and decided to tackle my fridge slider. I have a lot of bits and pieces of material lying about, so decided to use what I have rather than buy unnecessarily. Pulled out 6 x 1 metre off-cuts of galvanised angle (40x40x3 so not too heavy), and cut to sizes. Welded up the carrier .... made it a little oversized because I was going to fit the runners with bolts and nuts and wanted to leave a little space around the fridge for the nuts as well as the thermal bag on the fridge.


Took one of the scrap off cuts and cut a latch out of it after measuring up and determining where the runner bolts would go. Drilled and welded in a threaded pivot pin and a 'hook' point for the spring, also cut and bent a stop. This all probably took up most of my time.


All I had to buy was the runners .... couldn't get the heavy duty alu ones in the length I required, so just got the steel ones that are rated at 45kg on full extension ..... a lot cheaper at only R50.30 incl. for both, so if they're not good enough I can always replace with the correct length alu later.
Anyway, it was only when I got to the point of fitting the runners that I realised I didn't have any nyloc nuts for that small size bolt (will have to get tomorrow), so in the meantime I just drilled the holes a little smaller and tapped threads into them as an interim solution.
Mounted the runners to the side rails and then to the carrier.


All that was left for now was to cut the groove for the latch to locate and I was done for today.


All the brown marks on the steel are just dirt, so I will have to give it a good clean-up before fitting into the van. To fit I will just use Tech-screws ... about four or five per side rail. Also have to still cold-galvanise all my welds, cuts and grinds. Of course I will also still have to make some kind of arrangement to secure the fridge ... for this I have a couple of canopy clips and will use them to make a couple of adjustable quick-release brackets.

Will post more pics when it's completed.

Nice and simple

I like... might work for me too...

What size fridge is this one for?

OOOOMS wrote:What size fridge is this one for?

45 lit / 65 lit Campmaster. The internal measurements of the carrier are 700 x 500mm

Very nice......

How did you cut the latch..... It looks like its laser cut

Nothing wrong with that

Thanks for the post, Andy.
I'm about to start making my own slide and like your catch idea! Very clever

Nice Andy!

MOFASA wrote:Very nice......

How did you cut the latch..... It looks like its laser cut

You might be surprised at what can be achieved with a hack-saw and a file.

I hope you made two while you were at it, Andy... ;)


-F_D

Family_Dog wrote:I hope you made two while you were at it, Andy... ;)


-F_D

Yes, one for the 45l and one for the 65l fridge.....

No, the 45 lit and 60 lit CampMaster units have the same base dimensions .... just the height varies.

Well done Andy, when to we leave for the first outing to test the fridge ?

Will have to make a plan soon, Edge (with or without the fridge) .... both me and the Lux are having withdrawal symptoms ... it's been almost a month since I engaged the short lever!

Seeing that you have all this time on your hands, about one for m.......?

Geez, I wish I had another 8 hours in every day ..... then I'd make for whoever wants. It's quite simple and inexpensive to make ..... actually 'Aunty' Val is going to try make one for herself, I believe!

For now it's lying in the shop where I left it on Sunday .... haven't had a chance to get near it again yet .... might have to wait for the weekend again.

Very nice indeed

The 60l is bigger than the 45l, but the 45l will fit

60l - ·G.W./N.W.:27 KG/25 KG
·Dimensions 72cm (w) x 52.5cm (d) x 59.5cm (h)

45l - G.W./N.W.:23 KG/21 KG
Dimensions 69cm (w) x 49cm (d) x 47.5cm (h)

I like your slide, straight forward and practical. That clip is a super good idea.

Thanks for the compliments guys! Ja, simplicity has its advantages .... less work :shifty: .... and less to go wrong.

Mark, where did you get those measurements? Before cutting my material I checked my manual and it gave the base measurements as the same for the 60l I also checked my 45l base measurements physically just to be sure.

Mud Dog wrote:Thanks for the compliments guys! Ja, simplicity has its advantages .... less work :shifty: .... and less to go wrong.

Mark, where did you get those measurements? Before cutting my material I checked my manual and it gave the base measurements as the same for the 60l I also checked my 45l base measurements physically just to be sure.

Goooooogle'd it.

Ok, just to finish this off, I dismantled the slide, cleaned up all the old steel, cold galvanised all my welds and grinds, painted it with 3 coats black oxide etch primer and assembled it again after letting it cure for a week or two.

Then I set about making up some clips .... again, kept it simple and used two canopy clips with a bolt welded to them and a pair of slightly modified 'J' hooks. This allows it to be adjustable to a small degree, allowing about 20mm adjustment.


I then tested positions in the load bin for clearance and mounted it to the floor with tek-screws. Works just fine.
The only hassle I have is the power cable when sliding the fridge in and out .... it tends to get in the way when sliding the fridge back in, so I've just been keeping the cable nicely tucked in along the side and just disconnecting before sliding the fridge out / reconnecting after sliding in. A bit of a hassle but I assume that most may have experienced a similar problem .... any ideas? (Thought of sewing a couple of velcro loops to the side of the fridge cover to route the cable and keep it clear of the slide. ).

Very neat work Andy.Looks great

Nice Andy, looks good

Yip, cable jamming is a concern with a slide, def. :!:

What I dis with mine, sleeved it with that black stuff from Mid@s. Attach the cable fairly high on the side of the fridge the with a something elastic, so that it pulls straight when the fridge is 'out'.

I have the 60L to get the cable out of the way I just fitted the fridge on the left hand side so that the fittings on the fridge where it plugs in is showing to the inside and extra baty is also on the left against the "wall" so only left 1m of the cable under the slide frame and have no hazzle with plugging in or out when sliding it out.

Very nice Andy, I like the clips holding the fridge in place