DIY Truck Bed Slide

Thought I would post a few photos of an awesome DIY truck bed slide. Now CargoGlide and BedSlide make some really nice products, however I wasn't interested in dropping $1,500 to $2,000 for a good quality bed slide.

So basically a weekend of design, layout, fabrication, assembly, and a total material cost of $170 achieved the end result in the pics.

The unit itself is fairly low profile, 3" high, so theres not a lot of wasted space where a bed slide frame would normally take up room, especially ones I've seen that are fabricated from wood. This is more like a hybrid, the only wood used is the bottom bearing panel (3/8" plywood), and the actual sliding deck (1/2" pre-finished plywood) the rest of the material is T6061 aluminum bar (for support), "U" channel (side frame) and "L" angle (bed slide perimeter edge rail). The aluminum really gives this assembly some robustness and stability.

This slide incorporates a total of 26 surface mounted roller bearings (16 on bottom panel) and (10 on upper rails of aluminum channel), sort of encapsulating the sliding deck, each bearing is rated at 75 lbs. load.

Also no drilling into the truck bed, the unit is secured using the Toyota factory tie downs in the bed.

It was a fun project, however going with the metal does offer some challenges, tools and machinery for fabrication vs. a total wood assembly, however just the weight and space savings was well worth it!!!

 

Very nice job!

I would love to make this. Do you have anymore pictures?

 

Why yes I do! Enjoy! It was a really fun me and the wife project, she is pretty handy!!

 

That's nice! Thanks for sharing!

 

Just amazing, I want to try this when it warms up.
THANKS! For sharing.

 

Very nice build !!

 

NICE handy work! Great job

 

@BlackRiverGuy did you use flat bar on the underside of the top/sliding piece so that contacted the rollers on the base?

 

Great work! I may have to give this a go...

 

Dude so cool

 

Very nice!

 

Beautiful mod OP

 

How's the slide holding up and have you done any modifications?

 

I feel like a handy man when I change the TP roll, and then there are guys like you doing this stuff!?

This is really awesome.

 

Not to revive an old thread, but I would love to hear how this has held up over the past year! OP, could you please update us on how it has done? Thanks!

 

Probably not going to get a response from the OP, they haven't been on in 10 months

 

You’re probably right - anyone else done this slide or something similar want to share?

 

My diy...plywood slide with hardboard sheet under neath so it can slide easier. Picked up a tin of mistint $9.00 at Homedepot to treat the wood. ideal for lighter items groceries, sports gear. Added the handle with a leather belt as a strap but it's not as study as I'd like so I added the 1x2 at the edge and works great.
Not my idea I found a youtube video and copied.

Would like to hear if others have done similar or provide feedback for simple improvements.

 

A good thing you can do its add couple more rollers on top and bottom at the very front,so when you slide it out it has more support when you fully extended

 

Hello. I just joined this forum to send OP a message. I am building an exact sliding tray for my Frontier and wanted to know where did you get the 3 inch U Channels. I cannot find it anywhere. Can you please let me know. This is the most simplistic yet very good design.

 

Not to change the subject much but I have found used commercially made slides for a few hundred bucks and I would be amazed if you can make one that nice and that cheap?

 

Do you have a link or name of the manufacturer?

 

Ultimately my plan is to install a fridge on top on one side and a pull out drawer for a Stove and other storage stuff

 

Mine is a Bedslide if you are asking me?
If you search fir that on craigslist or fb marketplace used ones will show up

 

yes, sorry i was asking you. Thank you. I will check it out. I have a midsize truck (Nissan Frontier Nismo OffRoad).

 

There are several companies that make these slides and looking on the used market is just a good way to get a nice one cheap.
Bedslide is sort of a generic name and searching with it will get results is what I am saying.
Many beds share dimensions so measure yours and make anyone selling one measure theres.

 

Thank you ezdog for your input. I will keep an eye out for a used one but I checked the prices for my truck on the new one and it is about $900.00 plus shipping. Hopefully, the OP responds one of these days.

 

Question: what type of rollers you are using or what mechanism you are using to slide the drawer in and out?

 

Did you try mcmaster.com for the u Channel?

you can probably get everything you need for this build there