Decked System - Pros and Cons

[Beemer533]

I thought about this at one point. But opted to not get them because:

cost
extra weight
makes other items in bed sit higher raising center of gravity
didnt want to have to lower tailgate and pull out slide 4’ just to get to something - especially if backed against a wall or tree

All that being said, extra weight was the biggest factor for me. Its quite heavy And that was a big sacrifice I wasnt willing to accept.

But they are really nice options.

This pretty much exactly sums up why I didn't go with one.

My buddy added one to his zr2 bison for our road trip and while it is functional and we'll made I feel like it wastes too much space and weight for the money.

If it was something you could just pop in and out as needed I might have a different opinion.

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[Barnaby’sdad]

I can see them being great if you have a particular use in mind. I.e. Hunter that wants a secure way to transport long guns.

Absent a clear use for them, they cut the usable bed space down, add weight, and they aren’t cheap.

 

[Sportsbiz]

I can see them being great if you have a particular use in mind. I.e. Hunter that wants a secure way to transport long guns.

This was precisely its only pro to me the short time I had one. Otherwise too many cons.

 

[GCHunter]

I have my Decked system installed and I am extremely impressed with the quality. I am thinking about that rare occasion when I might need to place some luggage on top of the Decked system Does anyone have a recommended cargo net or luggage container to tie on top of the Decked system?

 

[htremper]

Have one for a year now. All the pros and cons said here are valid.

That being said I will add my $.02

Cons
1) Heavy - Combined with my rack/RTT/batwing and when carrying water etc it definitely rocks (not in the fun way)
2) Space - The mechanics make for some "wasted" space but they do give two cubbies towards the tailgate...they should have created two more towards the cab...not easy to get to but could always use the space.
3) I Lined the bed and then put the drawers in...should have thought that through
4) Back of the drawer you still have to dig to get to
5) It covers the Passenger power outlet. So if you are installing...put some extensions or something before dropping it in.
6) If you put something in...lets say a hammer...and it flips up blocking the drawer from opening...its a b*tch to get that unstuck
7) The bottle opener is too low...longnecks dont fit ( Mean...come on R&D people...)

Pros
1) very durable...I think you can even stand in an open drawer
2) Waterproof (makes sure your tie-down tracks are in exactly the right holes.
3) SUPER easy to get to your stuff. So if you are camping and your kitchen is near, storing food in the drawer protects it and easy to get to
4) Comes with tool boxes (that I converted into kitchen stuff)
5) Comes with dividers...dont really use them but can see where it will be handy.


Overall I love mine...but my ride is pretty much only for camping etc and not my daily

Given the opportunity I believe the MOPAR Decked is cheaper and lighter ...I would probl go for that one only because the $ and looks like there is no middle section so guessing drawers are bigger?

https://store.mopar.com/oem-parts/mopar-truck-bed-storage-system-82215594ab

 

[htremper]

I have my Decked system installed and I am extremely impressed with the quality. I am thinking about that rare occasion when I might need to place some luggage on top of the Decked system Does anyone have a recommended cargo net or luggage container to tie on top of the Decked system?

I use those cheap boxes from Lowes with the yellow tops for that.

 

[BearFootSam]

I use those cheap boxes from Lowes with the yellow tops for that.

Same here! I just keep a solid bungy on the top one and they stay put against the fore wall. We have always used these for camping since they are easy to sort when you emptied the food from one and can push it to the back. Cheap to boot.

 

[GoolsbyMD77]

I had the decked system in my old ZR2, I enjoyed it for a few months then wished I didn’t have it. The storage pull out is nice to store things and leave it there. I used to keep wool blankets, MREs, etc for emergencies and still have plenty of other room. However I again wish I didn’t have it installed after a while because if I put anything on top (lawn chairs, mulch, grills, TV etc) it sat so high the center of gravity was terrible for the load in the bed. I won’t even take a free decked system to install in my JT having had it before.

 

[bakobobby]

Feel like it is a bad idea in general. Would rather have more tie downs and piece together various storage like ROAM and Pelican type storage. Slide outs are cheap if it really comes to needing that sort of thing. Being able to remoce storage when camped is a plus. New it is a lot of money like people said there is a reason they end up for sale used all over forums.

 

[Jefe1018]

I’d maybe consider getting one if I had something like a power wagon, but our 5ft bed barely passes as a usable truck bed and once you add the decked system you lose the bottom half of the bed and 50% of the width as well. I think it’s a neat idea but not for me.

 

[Glad Jeeper]

I love mine. I also installed a fishbone bed rack. I don't miss the bed space, whatever I need to haul it works just fine. I have hauled wood, gas tanks, big boxes etc...

 

[Doc MacNab]

So the added weight is that significant, eh?

 

[Xx~007~xX]

I am a hobby photographer and back when I had a JKU, I had no place to lock up my shooting gear, now that I have the Gladiator, I needed a place to hold all my gear locked up(have a soft top, so not a good idea to keep gear stored inside.) I also have the unmentionable shooting type of gear as well. I thought long and hard before I got the decked system, along with considering all the cons mentioned in here. My wife was questioning me if I would even make use of the system. I pulled the trigger and got the Decked system with the single drawer(if it was only available with 2 drawers then it would have been a deal breaker, the single drawer gives me a lot more storage room)
Now that i have had it for three months, I am very happy I made the decision to get it, I use it all the time for everything, I can chuck all my groceries in it, all my photo gear fits with room to spare, even my other "shotting gear" fits it very well. my system came with several Pelican type boxes, so now I have the gear stored in them for particular events, and it is so easy to just switch them out depending on what I have planned to do, I will also be adding fishing gear to it soon. I have also found that if I need the bed for something, it only takes me five minutes to remove the and/or reinstall the drawer system. so I am basically saying the pros outweigh the cons.....

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