Chad found his knack for building custom drawers out of necessity.

While on the trail, gear and equipment organization is key. Whether it’s tools when something needs fixing, medical gear in an emergency, or just being efficient with getting dinner prepared, you’ll be happier and more efficient if everything is in its place. One of the most popular ways to keep your kit uncluttered is a drawer or two in the back of your vehicle. We caught up with Chad of DrawerSystems.com to talk about why it’s essential to stay organized, how he got started building drawers, and what’s next.

OX4: First, how did you get involved in the overlanding hobby?

Chad: I grew up in a small town in northeast Connecticut and spent a lot of time in the woods camping and off-roading. As I got older, I gravitated towards the city and lost track of my roots, but after losing my father, getting married, and having my first two kids (we have three now), something inside of me was calling me back to nature. I was browsing YouTube one day and came across Expedition Overland’s YouTube series on Alaska. I immediately went down the rabbit hole and binge-watched the entire series. The gear, mods, rooftop tents, and full kitchen builds amazed me. I started searching for videos on everything and anything related to overlanding. I decided to create an overland vehicle build of my own, so I researched vehicle makes and models for about a year. After watching Andrew St. Pierre White drive a stock LR4 through Baboon’s Pass in Africa, I decided on a 2008 Land Rover LR3 to be the platform for my first overland vehicle build.

 

OX4: How did you get started building drawers at the level you are now?

Chad: The first time I took it on an overland/camping trip, my LR3 was essentially stock, and after fumbling all weekend with bins and totes, I realized that the drawer system was the first thing needed. I like to be organized, and with three kids, it’s an absolute necessity. For my first stab at a drawer system, I started with some very basic plans sketched on paper, basic tools, and in my free time building out the first ‘system.’ We then went on a camping trip. After returning home, I immediately ripped it out of my truck and began to modify it. This process happened several times (I’ve lost count at this point!) until I got the drawers dialed into where they fit my needs perfectly. For a while, lol. I then decided to go yet another direction with the drawer system and posted it for sale. To my surprise, it sold within about 15 minutes of posting on Instagram! One thing led to another, and after building a few more systems for my LR3, I also started building drawer systems for friends and through referrals. My hobby essentially became a side hustle and then a real gig.

OX4: You specialize in Land Rover systems, but do you build drawer systems for other truck and SUV platforms?

Chad: I currently own two Land Rovers and have been fortunate to meet some amazing people through the brand; it naturally allowed me to build on the LR3 and LR4 platforms. I’ve also recently had the opportunity to work with Warren Henry Auto Group in South Florida (who happens to be the number one Land Rover Dealer in the US) and build a few drawer systems for the new Defender. Along the way, I’ve also built systems for the FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Jeep, and then I started building out vans. By the time you are reading this, I’ll have already finished a really cool drawer system upgrade for an Airstream Travel Trailer and started work on a Ford Transit custom build-out for a videographer to help with transporting and organizing all of his video gear. So yes, I’m happy to build on any platform.

OX4: What do you think sets Drawer Systems apart from other organization products?

Chad: My main strength is people and customer care. Having spent over 25 years in the hospitality industry taught me a lot about how to treat people and the emotions that come with making purchases. Drawer systems are not cheap, and my goal is to deliver a quality product that fits the customer’s needs while developing a relationship with them through the course of the build. I really try to connect with the customer to determine what they need, how they will use it, and then base the design and build from there.

OX4: You seem to be the beach camping experts, given your locale. Any insider tips and tricks for taking your 4×4 to the coast?

Chad: I absolutely love beach driving and camping, and if you have an opportunity to do it, it should be on everyone’s bucket list! Airing down is the first thing you should do prior to driving on the beach, as it creates a larger footprint for your tires on the sand. Think about walking through deep snow; with normal boots, you sink down to the ground, but after putting on snowshoes, you literally expand your footprint and can walk on top of the snow without issue. It’s a similar principle for your tires when you air down your tires to drive on the sand. Your tire footprint becomes much larger, and driving is much much easier. I usually ‘air down’ to around 18 PSI and always bring a shovel, tow rope, and recovery boards just in case. If you are driving on the beach at the ocean, although it looks fun, never, never, never drive your vehicle in or close to the water! Saltwater will wreak long-term havoc on your vehicle no matter how well you wash it, as it finds its way into every nook and cranny of your rig. Also, the sand at the water’s edge has a suction-like effect which can trap your vehicle or make it much harder to recover.

OX4: What’s next for Drawer Systems? Any new products or updates you’d care to share?

Chad: To this point, I have done all custom work, and I’m currently trying to focus on a scalable platform that is more affordable, faster to manufacture along with a distribution channel. Last year I did a custom “chuck box” for one of my good friends and will be offering this as a lower-cost alternative to a dedicated vehicle drawer system. It’s great for kitchen storage/cooking will fit basically any vehicle, and can easily be removed with one or two people. I also truly admire DIY drawer systems and have been thinking a lot about how to incorporate them into the website/social media as a means to showcase home-built drawer systems.

OX4: What advice would you give to someone thinking about building or buying their first drawer system?

Chad: First, I think either option is great. If you have the time and capability to build one, it’s a very rewarding experience. If you want to buy one and save the hassle, I think that’s great too. There are tons of models and options to choose from, and with custom drawer systems like mine, you can literally build it to fit any vehicle. My first piece of advice would be to decide on what you want the drawer system to do, i.e., will it be mainly used as a kitchen, tool storage, hybrid, etc? Second and probably more important, take all the gear that you have or are planning to carry in your vehicle and design the drawer system around it. For example, if you already have a fridge or know the one you want to buy, you can build your drawer system to fit that fridge. Proper planning and being strict with measurements allows you to save a lot of space and to avoid time refining the system after the fact. The last bit of advice is to don’t overthink it. Draw it on paper, get some materials, and start working! Again, built or bought are great solutions, and whichever way you go, I promise that once you have a drawer system in your vehicle, you will wonder how you ever lived without it!

You can reach Chad at info@drawersystems.com

Editor Note: The Around the Campfire series is brought to you in collaboration with our friends from 67 Designs, proprietors of the finest mounting solutions for your mobile devices whether in the backcountry, around town, and at home. Learn more about 67 Designs by visiting www.67d.com.

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