Bed kitchen - how to secure?

[jeepstertim]

I know lots are/ have installed kitchens or pull-out drawers and I'm hoping someone may have found a solution for the question "how can I secure this without drilling holes the bed floor"....

I have the 4 ties down loops and no trail rail system. This is for long distance overlanding and I think ratchet straps will compromise the rest of the bed.

Really welcome your ideas/ pictures as how you have achieved it.

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[TroutFishingInAmerica]

I put stainless steel eye bolts in the trail rail attachment holes for more tie down locations.

 

[Jaxmax]

I have not built my kitchen slide for the bed yet, managed to get most of the parts, fridge, stove , sink and four foot drawer glides together. I'm planning on sleeping on a 26" wide platform in bed with the kitchen slide under part of it, I was thinking of using rachet straps one at the front of bed to the two low tie downs, not really blocking other uses, and was thinking of going from drivers side rear low tie down, up and over and then go under lower edge of tailgate and attach to a mounting point, or what ever is there that works. ....There ya go !.....Jack

 

[RubiNewbCB]

Just an idea... Use flat bar steel, drill for the bolt holes of where the Utilitracs would mount, measure to depth of bed, bend at 90° and then across for bottom length you would need for mounting your kitchen or bed frame, then drill your mounting holes in the flatbar steel. Mount your cabinets, then mount to the upper holes under the bed rail. Also use tensioner to mount to the tie-down loops. Could also make a complete U out of the steel and mount on both sides of the bed walls. Then align your lower mount hardware to the divets in the bed for clearance.

 

[QuintusMaximus]

If it won't be mounted long term, you could also look into a "hitchenette." That keeps the bed space free. Some really cool examples if you do a search.

 

[jeepstertim]

Just an idea... Use flat bar steel, drill for the bolt holes of where the Utilitracs would mount, measure to depth of bed, bend at 90° and then across for bottom length you would need for mounting your kitchen or bed frame, then drill your mounting holes in the flatbar steel. Mount your cabinets, then mount to the upper holes under the bed rail. Also use tensioner to mount to the tie-down loops. Could also make a complete U out of the steel and mount on both sides of the bed walls. Then align your lower mount hardware to the divets in the bed for clearance.

I like this, could also give me dedicated chair and table stowage under the kitchen if I put my 90 degrees short of the bed, got me thinking.

 

[jeepstertim]

If it won't be mounted long term, you could also look into a "hitchenette." That keeps the bed space free. Some really cool examples if you do a search.

Nice idea but the JTR will be heavy enough and I think I'd be putting too much weight so far after the rear axle. I might also worry about security in some of the 'light-fingered' parts of the drive home!

 

[Mules]

I know lots are/ have installed kitchens or pull-out drawers and I'm hoping someone may have found a solution for the question "how can I secure this without drilling holes the bed floor"....

I have the 4 ties down loops and no trail rail system. This is for long distance overlanding and I think ratchet straps will compromise the rest of the bed.

Really welcome your ideas/ pictures as how you have achieved it.

My solution is to use the 2x8 slots in the back of the Gladiator's bed. It's been holding the furniture for 6 months of driving with no tie downs. You could add some turnbuckles to the strap locations if you wanted.

 

[MSFTMatt]

Reviving this thread to see if anyone has updated this situation. I’ll be building/installing a drawer that’ll be about half the width of the bed. Toying with nutserts into bed, turnbuckles to the tie down anchors in corners or maybe something else?

 

[RubiNewbCB]

Reviving this thread to see if anyone has updated this situation. I’ll be building/installing a drawer that’ll be about half the width of the bed. Toying with nutserts into bed, turnbuckles to the tie down anchors in corners or maybe something else?

Wolf Island Diver has a great build post on a DIY half bed slide.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/diy-slide-out-w-sink/

 

[RubiNewbCB]

If it won't be mounted long term, you could also look into a "hitchenette." That keeps the bed space free. Some really cool examples if you do a search.

Like this one...
https://hitchfire.com/pages/the-hitch-kitchen

 

[MSFTMatt]

Rad, I’ll check that out!

 

[HooliganActual]

Reviving this thread to see if anyone has updated this situation. I’ll be building/installing a drawer that’ll be about half the width of the bed. Toying with nutserts into bed, turnbuckles to the tie down anchors in corners or maybe something else?

First of all I put a about half dozen nutserts through the bed. You can see them in the below pic:

FWIW, you can also see the way I am utilizing the over wheel well space to store extra fuel. The strap was just temporarily holding them. In the final iteration, they are actually held in place by the kitchen.

Next, I bolted a piece of 3/8" plywood down with the nutserts. I didn't want that extra 25-30# but the way my kitchen is built, it can't support itself on the bed ridges...I needed a flat base:

Ignore the piece at the front of the bed. It's from a previous concept I had that didn't work. Currently, that front piece is not there.

What is there now is my kitchen and fridge:

The kitchen was actually built for the back of my Wrangler but has been repurposed to the Gladiator. I drilled the plywood and installed wood nuts on the downside face that I can just bolt the kitchen down to. The fridge was a bit more elaborate but does use the inset nuts in the base of the fridge rather than tie down straps on the handles:

Access to the fridge is from the side and isn't terribly annoying:

 

[MSFTMatt]

First of all I put a about half dozen nutserts through the bed. You can see them in the below pic:

FWIW, you can also see the way I am utilizing the over wheel well space to store extra fuel. The strap was just temporarily holding them. In the final iteration, they are actually held in place by the kitchen.

Next, I bolted a piece of 3/8" plywood down with the nutserts. I didn't want that extra 25-30# but the way my kitchen is built, it can't support itself on the bed ridges...I needed a flat base:

Ignore the piece at the front of the bed. It's from a previous concept I had that didn't work. Currently, that front piece is not there.

What is there now is my kitchen and fridge:

The kitchen was actually built for the back of my Wrangler but has been repurposed to the Gladiator:

Access to the fridge is from the side and isn't terribly annoying:

Great set up man! I really appreciate the ideas. Thinking nutserts will be the way to go

 

[HooliganActual]

Great set up man! I really appreciate the ideas. Thinking nutserts will be the way to go

If you decide to go with nutserts, do yourself a favor. Go to Harbor Freight and buy a nutsert tool.

I have installed nutserts on my Jeeps for various things and have always done the double wrench method, which works; but it is nowhere as easy or as effective as the tool. I have messed up a few over the years using the double wrench method and it’s a pain getting them out.

The tool I bought at HF even came with about 10ea nutserts in 4 or 5 sizes. Depending on how many you will ultimately need, that tool and its included nutserts may be all you need.

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