Camping set ups without drawers to reduce utes weight.

[John U]

Hi Earthers,

So I made the mistake of weighing my Ranger and as expected it is pretty hefty and getting up towards the GVM packed and ready for a camping trip.

I use it mainly for camping and bush trips. When I purchased it it was pretty well decked out. It had drawers, bullbar, spotlights, Ascent Canopy, roof bars, and drawers. I've replaced the roof bars with what I believe is an aluminium ARB roof rack (magnet won't stick to it), ARB steps, a winch, and lift/bigger tyres (265/75/R16 Maxxis RAZRs).

I'd like to drop a bit of weight without too much impact on convenience. I'm thinking that taking the drawers out might be a good spot to start. I'm wondering if anyone has had reasonable experiences using plastic tubs to hold gear in the back of their ute? The canopy has side windows so access from the side is good.

Another option I'm considering is taking the aluminium ARB roof rack off and putting the roof bars back on, or ditching the staff on the roof altogether. My tent is a 2m long packed so that may create some problems there though. A roof bar of the cabin might fix that.

Bottom line - Has anyone had reasonable experiences using plastic tubs to hold their camping gear in the back of their ute? Photos would be great.

 

[CTL]

Depends. No issue with light offroad but anything too rough with serious suspension workouts or long distance dirt road touring and I have not had much luck with plastic tubs in the past. They crack too easily. I should clarify though that I am meaning the cheaper tubs you buy from Bunnings etc. Have one of those heavy duty space type tubs and it has survived several trips. The better ones are expensive. You can also get aluminium ones but they are not cheap either.

 

[cam04]

NO. Keep the drawers, slap yourself for weighing it, and go camping. I see trade tools sells ally drawers that are about 25 k.g. - you'd end up with that in boxes without the drawers and no convenience.

 

[Albynsw]

Buy the good quality plastic tubs like the fishmongers use and they don’t break. The cheapies crack but the good ones are fine.

 

[Colly18]

Hi Earthers,

So I made the mistake of weighing my Ranger and as expected it is pretty hefty and getting up towards the GVM packed and ready for a camping trip.
..........................................Bottom line - Has anyone had reasonable experiences using plastic tubs to hold their camping gear in the back of their ute? Photos would be great.

I wouldn't say it was a mistake to weigh your vehicle. Better to know in case traffic authorities go on a blitz or you crash a vehicle when over GVM. I expect plenty of other 4X4'ers would be surprised at how much their vehicles weigh.
A few things I've done over the years include;
1) If travelling with just a partner/two of you then I often pull out the rear seat for a longer trip. That saves me a bit of weight and provides more space for the load. Plus allows me to load the vehicle with more weight in the centre of the vehicle (better balanced load).
2) I've a couple of butchers meat trays that I've used for 30 years - no cracking there (see the red plastic box in the pic of the ute tub below).
3) I made up a few pine and ply boxes of various sizes that I have used for the past 8 years (see pic below). They are light and hold together well.
4) In my past 2 utes I've made up a tray that sits at window sill height at the front of the tub/canopy. (see it in the pic below) I usually store chairs, a table and what ever else fits OK and have easy access to it through the canopy side windows.
So there's a few ideas for consideration.

 

[Mulga63]

I use HD canvas bags (like sports bags)

Use different sizes for different uses & also use them to keep all relevant items together i.e. cooking utensils in one, recovery gear in another etc.

They are light, easily adaptable in shape for both the internal contents / objects & with the available space in the cab / tub / trailer etc

Another bonus is, they don't squeak or rattle, & as contents are used up, they can be folded away, gaining even more room

Also, are easy to carry over to their in tended destination, (like near a BBQ, or cooking area) & can move them around to shift weight or utilise the available storage area in the vehicle
Mulga

 

[John U]

I use HD canvas bags (like sports bags)

Use different sizes for different uses & also use them to keep all relevant items together i.e. cooking utensils in one, recovery gear in another etc.

They are light, easily adaptable in shape for both the internal contents / objects & with the available space in the cab / tub / trailer etc

Another bonus is, they don't squeak or rattle, & as contents are used up, they can be folded away, gaining even more room

Also, are easy to carry over to their in tended destination, (like near a BBQ, or cooking area) & can move them around to shift weight or utilise the available storage area in the vehicle
Mulga

Hi Mulga, Haven't heard of this option before.

Is this the type of bag you use? https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/ki...CHnO16jaSPMPjX0idaBHTFGH-wIx4f2RoChgcQAvD_BwE

Does stuff moving around in the bags while driving rub holes in them? If so do you have a way of stopping it?

Hi Colly, I like that shelf idea. I reckon I could even make one of those.

 

[Swaggie]

Depends where your planning on driving, flat country maybe plastic containers, The High Country forget it, if you decide to ditch the drawers don’t sell them until you’ve driven a couple of trips...I use tubs and drawers...
I’ve driven a fair bit of The High Country WITHOUT drawers but never again...

I’ll ditch the girlfriend to save weight before i get rid of those drawers....

Oh Bunnings sell a certain brand of tubs that are hard wearing if you want the name i can look and post it....

 

[coolumbla]

im just sorting out the tub in the new ranger i bought and am deliberately trying to avoid heaviness. ( for anyone who saw what i used to carry in the patrol you will understand!)
I was going to deck it out with drawers and a canopy but realised i mostly use it as a ute and camp for < 5% of a year so am now moving towards quality plastic boxes and canvas tool bags
Looking at somewhat expensive ones here

Cub Pack - by Front Runner

Stop messing around with temporary cargo carrying solutions. Get down to business with these latching, stackable and durable storage containers.

www.frontrunneroutfitters.com

 

[coolumbla]

And to deal with swaggies comments about the VHC ( and sand dunes) i still strap them down

 

[G_ute]

I have built storage units in the past out of alumimium qublok (Capral, Bunnings, , etc) which are pretty light (25mm box section) and using KiTab boxes to slide on plywood. No drawer slides to use up space or fill up with dust.
The KiTab crates have shear vertical sides to maximise storage but the lids are not really made for use in the weather. Perhaps they could be secured if that was a problem.

Heavy Duty Crates – Ki-tab

View our Qubelok Online Catalogue - Alumnium Trade Centre

View our range of Qubelok sections, accessories and connections online now!

www.aluminiumtc.com.au

 

[Kegs1972]

Hi Colly, I like that shelf idea. I reckon I could even make one of those.

i also have made a shelf like this and it's bloody awesome, so handy for our chairs/table etc.

 

[Andrew_LN65]

We use 2 of these:

Tactix 45L Heavy Duty Storage Box

Find Tactix 45L Heavy Duty Storage Box at Bunnings. Visit your local store for the widest range of products.

www.bunnings.com.au

One for "kitchen" and one for "other"
Between them they hold about 90% of our camping stuff. We basically throw in 2 tubs, 2 chairs, food, water, clothes and are ready to roll.

They've survived about 2 yrs of Vic 4wding in the back of my ute and not a crack in them yet. They get thrown in the tub but never tied down. We sit on them, stand on them, use them for a workbench, whatever, and they dont seem to complain.
We tried the $5 plastic tubs but they dont last 1 trip.

 

[Swaggie]

These ones are great, it wraps around the lip, one end clips in under and the other just lift up, I’ve put lift in writing as to not break the tabs at the other end by trying to lift it off, not sure u would but it may become sloppy if you get in the habit of doing it everytime, it doesn’t matter what end you want the tabs, zip tie/lock the other etc

 

[Colly18]

i also have made a shelf like this and it's bloody awesome, so handy for our chairs/table etc.

I should have added I use a few octopus straps to hold things on the shelf down when required. Works for me!

 

[Albynsw]

If you get quality tubs like these you will not break them unless you run over them, they are made from quality plastic like milk crates,

52L Food Grade Plastic Industrial Stack & Nest Container- 645 x 413 x 276mm - Blue - Nally

52L Food Grade Plastic Industrial Stack & Nest Container- 645 x 413 x 276mm - Blue - Nally

www.reflexequip.com.au

I carry 4 to 6 tubs on one side of the canopy and then had this setup on the kitchen/ food side.

I have since changed to a smaller canopy because I don’t need that much room.

 

[Swaggie]

If you get quality tubs like these you will not break them unless you run over them, they are made from quality plastic like milk crates,

I reckon Handy Crates sold Equip the mould...

 

[Mulga63]

Hi Mulga, Haven't heard of this option before.

Is this the type of bag you use? https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/ki...CHnO16jaSPMPjX0idaBHTFGH-wIx4f2RoChgcQAvD_BwE

Does stuff moving around in the bags while driving rub holes in them? If so do you have a way of stopping it?

Yes, they are the type of bags I use.
They take up no room in the vehicle & can pack them away inside each other when not in use, so again, take up very little room.

As for moving around, I have been across the Simpson, up in VHC etc with no issues
Packing will need to be a bit strategic, as in don't pack anything "squashable" on the bottom, but that's as far as I take it
Canvas on canvas is very forgiving as far as wear goes.

 

[discomatt]

We have never had draws , always used plastic tubs and plastic draws, never had an issue, the decent quality ones on the camper trailer did about 40,000km of touring without issue. Some of that on extremely rough roads , even had the camper airborne a few times because I am not one to just dawdle around when we have places to go on limited time frames so they coped a fair beating

 

[cam04]

These ones are great, it wraps around the lip, one end clips in under and the other just lift up, I’ve put lift in writing as to not break the tabs at the other end by trying to lift it off, not sure u would but it may become sloppy if you get in the habit of doing it everytime, it doesn’t matter what end you want the tabs, zip tie/lock the other etc

View attachment 67985 View attachment 67983 View attachment 67984

Commonly known as Nally bins. Tough as boots. Trakshak storage areas were built off nally bin dimensions. I still have 6 odd.