Think your van build is complicated? Wait until you try installing something that has to have perfect measurements and alignment. This is what makes it really complicated. Installing drawer slides into my van was exactly this headache.
After taking about six hours to install drawer slides on four drawers, with four people, I learned a few things. If you haven’t yet started a van build or aren’t sure why this is so complicated, just remember not everyone is a professional carpenter, and hardly anything is straight in a van.
Most van build’s require a do-it-yourself (DIY) level of experience. Some experience, knowledge and tools are helpful, but it’s not impossible.
Usually, the result of a DIY van build (not done by a professional carpenter) ends up being a bit imperfect. Normally the imperfections go unseen. But, for installing drawer slides in a van, everything has to add up perfectly, which is why the installation can be such so complicated.
Read on for instructions and tips on how to install drawer slides perfectly, the first time.
Check out my full van build article which includes everything done in this van build. And, find out the entire cost breakdown for how the van build was done under $400.
Why are Drawer Slides Important?
Installing drawer slides into a van is the difference between living a comfortable life style or not. There’s no competing with the ease of sliding a drawer with proper drawer slides. Believe me, I did wood on wood previously and it was a nightmare. This is because of weight, strength and reliability.
Although it can be difficult to install drawer slides, they’re vital for sliding heavy drawers. And let’s face it, your drawers will be heavy because your life is in the van. In one of my big drawers, there’s 30 litres worth of water tanks. Without drawer slides, I couldn’t push or pull the drawers, when the water jugs were full. The heavier the drawers are, the less useful they’ll be without drawer slides.
The strength of the drawers is another big variable in whether having drawer sliders is a good idea or not. It’s okay to slide drawers wood on wood, but overtime it can deteriorate the strength of the drawers. It also means the drawer must be able to handle more. Often strength translates into a thicker and heavier material, it’s all something your van is carrying. And heavier drawer materials means using more fuel when driving.
It’s easier to use a thinner, but still strong material for drawers in combination with drawer sliders. Wood on wood sliding just doesn’t have the same benefits over time, even if you use a wood wax to help with the slide.
Lastly, reliability sums up the best reasons to use drawer sliders. Wood on wood drawer sliding can be noisy, difficult and annoying. It’s also easier to get stuck or jammed. Using drawer slides is more reliable from the bearings that help move them along. They go in, and out and that’s it. Simple and reliable. No unnecessary strength needed.
Pro tip: Remember to purchase drawer slides with the proper weight capabilities for your needs, so they don’t break. Buy ones that can handle more versus less, if you’re not sure.
How to Install Drawer Slides into a Van
Materials
- Drawers
- Side drawer slides with proper weight capability (preferably click to open)
- Materials to hold slides on side and 90 degree angle brackets
- Minimum three posts, height of drawers plus space to slide
- Posts or beams that can be affixed parallel to slides
- Plywood wall, height of drawers plus space to slide
- Screws necessary for affixing materials to hold sliders
- Battery Drill
- 90 degree angle tool
- Ruler (at least length of sliders)
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Hook or latch lock (to prevent drawers from opening while driving, this can break the sliders)
- Decide on location for drawer slides
Drawer slides can be installed in a variety of place—all on the side of the drawers. Most places don’t make a big difference. It’s better to not install them directly on the bottom or the top of the drawer. Allow at least five centimetres (two inches) instead. My drawer slides all-around are installed in the middle of the drawers, towards the top.
The portion of the drawer sliders that go onto the drawers are towards the front. This positioning depends on whether the drawer must open 100 percent or not. My drawer slides are 65 cm and my drawers length are 85 cm. Meaning the drawers don’t open up 100 percent, but it’s enough for what I need.
- Install walls or other material to hold up slides
The next step is to install the material that hold up the slides outside the drawers. Use the 90 degree angle tool to make sure—from the top and bottom—the wall or posts are the right angle. The material to hold up the slides must be a perfect measurement for the drawer and slides to fit in-between.
If you’re not 100 percent sure, don’t screw in the brackets towards the end of the support walls or posts. Instead, focus on the front and screw in the back after. That way if you have to make adjustments, it’s only adjusting the front, which is usually easier to access. Then, screw the 90 degree brackets in, giving extra support.
- Measure out drawer slides placement
It’s time to measure out where the slides will go, both on the drawers and in the van. A key to measuring my drawer slides was to start at the top and measure down, because the floor isn’t perfectly flat or straight. And with these slides half a centimetre can make a big difference.
First I decided on how high off the ground I want the slides. Then, I made notes on the drawer for this amount. Next, I did a similar measurement for the outside of the drawers. Except I added in the amount I want the drawers off the floor. After making three dots or small lines, I used the big ruler to draw a solid line through all three dots. This line is where the drawer slides will be placed.
- Screw in the drawer slides
On both the outside of the drawers and inside of the van, screw in the drawer slides on the specific line that you just drew. It’s best to have someone help hold the slides in place while another person uses the screw driver.
- Attempt to slide together the slides (repeat, as necessary)
It’s really important not to force the slides. If the measurements or positioning is off at all and they’re forced in, they can break. This is best to do with a few people. Begin to install the drawer slides slowly. If they’re not aligning properly look from the front and back to identify why they aren’t.
A few problems, which usually equate to the measurements being off, is that the drawer slides are too close, too far apart, on the wrong angle, or the drawer is sliding into something. Based on the problem(s), fix it and try sliding it in again.
- Make final adjustments and install again (if necessary)
Once you’ve ironed any trouble with aligning the drawer slides, install them again. When they’re in and fit correctly—and without knocking into anything—screw in the back brackets, if you haven’t already. Finally, the slides should slide smoothly.
- Install hooks or turning wood blocks
After the slides are in and the drawers are in place, install either a turnable wooden block or hooks. This must prevent the drawers from sliding in and out while driving. If the drawers are moving around too much while driving, or slamming, they can break. However, going with the push and click system helps when you’re using the vehicle and it’s on an angle. This is the final step for installing drawer slides into a van.
Interested in other DIY van build guides? Check out my complete van build guide for everything you need to know in building out a small-ish van!
