How to Build Drawer Boxes | Best Drawer Slides for a Van Build

In this video I show how to build custom drawer boxes for your van. These will work on either wood or 8020 aluminum cabinets. I used Blum Tandem Under mount Drawer slides. This was my first time using these slides, and they are the easiest to install and best quality slides I've ever used. I will never go back to side mount drawer slides.
➳ CUSTOM VAN CONVERSION: www.thrivecraftedvans.com
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➳ PRODUCTS USE IN THIS VIDEO
Blum Tandem Under Mount Drawer Slides: amzn.to/3gxF6FA
Setup Blocks: amzn.to/3gsEph3
Kreg Pocket Hole Jig: amzn.to/2SzbyQ1
This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.
➳ AUDIO/VIDEO GEAR
• Sony ZV-1 Camera: amzn.to/3rsnoYX
• Rode VideoMicro microphone: amzn.to/3fXbHUY
• Crane M2 Gimbal: amzn.to/3aIoObK
• Neewer Tripod: amzn.to/2KyKe0g
• Holy Stone Drone: amzn.to/3mncbWF
➳ MUSIC
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➳ WHO WE ARE
We're Lisa & Jeff Warnick. We've been representing Thrive Life freeze-dried foods for over 10 years. It's been a dream of ours to have a van to travel the country, supporting our team and sharing the Thrive love.
After we built our first van, we realized how much we love the creative process of designing and building vans...so now we're building and selling our own custom vans. We also do conversions on client-owned vans.
For more info visit our website: thrivecraftedvans.com/
If you're converting your own van, we hope you find our channel helpful. We've spent hundreds of hours researching and testing the best materials and processes for our van builds. We've put together a list of the materials we (and others in our van community) have used and that we can recommend so that you don't have to spend all those hours on research.
➳ VAN BUILD PRODUCTS USE AND LOVE
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➳ CONNECT WITH US:
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Collaboration/Inquiries: [e-mail]
#vanlife #vanlayout #vanbuild #freezedried
Disclosures: All opinions are my own. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

[@georgewiant2117]

Thanks for getting to the point Sooooooooooo many youtubers talk just to hear themselves and the explanations drag ooooon.

[@EasyRico99]

GREAT video! A lot of Van Life videos on KZbin, but you showed what was missing in all of the others in detail. You certainly earned my subscription. Keep them coming.

[@jimnealephoto]

Thanks Jeff. Another quality video.

[@lamonttblackshire1638]

Wow and wow! I am using 80/20 15 series for my van and this is BY FAR the best method, most clear and crafty video I’ve seen…and there’s only about 3 out there. Thank you for this video. You are my hero today.

[@OurThrivingLife]

Glad it helped. Good luck!

[@mingye]

Great video! Love the detailed instructions. Thank you for sharing. I will be leveraging your knowledge!!

[@hunterhastings6535]

Your videos are way-under rated. Fantastic video & THANK YOU! Cheers.

[@alisonlewis6896]

Hi Jeff. Great informative videos. Thanks. I’m wondering if you can share how the drawers will stay closed without an upper crosspiece to latch into.

[@JonniesJourney]

Awesome tutorial. Thank you

[@fredzuccarelli]

Jeff....your workmanship is inspiring!!!! Im making my wish-list of what's going into my van (which I'm hoping you and Lisa are going to build!!😊) using all of your videos!!!!

[@OurThrivingLife]

Thank you!

[@oliverxxx7740]

A great job...That encourages you to recreate...Best regards from Germany Oliver

[@mitchellcamps7595]

Great video! Thanks for sharing

[@Ballynoes]

Great Channel , love it.

[@OurThrivingLife]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@vincentdeleonjr1039]

nice looks good and you enjoy what you are doing and sharing

[@professionalpiddler1071]

Excellent video! Thanks

[@jamilchavez4592]

Amazing video man. Very helpful for my galley build, and I appreciate you taking the time

[@OurThrivingLife]

Glad I could help.

[@Stefanos.Tsokaras]

Very nice work!!!

[@OurThrivingLife]

Thank you!

[@trex5724]

Have you also got a video regarding the installations of the drawer faces?

[@UrsaMusic]

Nice. How do you lock the drawers in place for driving?

[@crdiaz324]

This is great! I was looking for a way to make a lightweight galley and this looks like the perfect solution. I also noticed that you did something similar for your battery setup. Would you mind posting a short video or picture of what the battery area looks like? Are those 80/20 aluminum frames strong enough to hold 110 pounds of batteries? Thanks for sharing!

[@OurThrivingLife]

Thanks. We did build our mechanical boxes for plumbing and electrical out of 80/20. They are very strong. There are pics on our instagram feed: @our_thriving_life

[@bradgilley]

Another great informative video. Thank you! My sprinter arrives in a few weeks and I can’t wait to get started. Just curious… why did you attach the rear bracket to the p,wood instead of the 80/20?

[@OurThrivingLife]

The main reason is that it’s way easier to mount the brackets to the wood pieces, and then install those on the galley, rather than trying to work around the 8020 frame. Plus, I would have had to add 4 8020 cross members across the back to mount the brackets to. That would have meant 8 more 8920 corner brackets, and they’re about $4 each. Honestly, I’m tired of paying for those.

[@bradgilley]

@@OurThrivingLife gotcha. Makes sense. Looking forward to seeing more of your build videos. I know building a van is a massive effort all on its own, so thank you for taking the time to shoot, edit, and upload these!

[@essentialaffiliatemarketing]

Nice work! On a side note, you sound like Nikki Sixx from motley crue when you narrate lol

[@davevolpe1190]

Great discussion. what is the name/company you purchased the sliders

[@sherilucas6025]

HI there - thanks for the great video. Is that frame metal frame screwed together or welded together? Do you need welding experience to make it?

[@michaelcummings7246]

No welding just brackets. For some of the more hidden ones you might need to drill hole through or thread tap the end but it seems few people use them

[@timchan1783]

Nice! How do you plan on locking them so they don't open when you are driving?

[@OurThrivingLife]

These are very strong slides and have stayed closed without any latch, magnet or catch.

[@ketomuscle2174]

Hi thanks for the video in the description for draw slides when you go to amazon it shows 15 inch draw slides. Did you order 18 inch if so how did you change the size

[@OurThrivingLife]

The length of you slides depends on the depth of your cabinet. Blum recommends 3” shorter than cabinet depth, so for 21” cabinets I used 18” drawer slides. These slides have been tough to find lately, and prices on Amazon are pretty high. I’d check Rockler, Imeca, or cabinetdoorsandmore.com

[@scotttannehill3533]

Hi great video. I am planning on building using T-Slot aluminum and Baltic Birch drawers, pretty much exactly as you did. I want to install Slam Latches with the drawer face on the outside of the framing. I need to install good latches. I cant tell how you were going finish out your drawers. were you going to install aluminum cross bars above each drawer front to allow for the installation of latches? Any advice?

[@scotttannehill3533]

Sorry, I should have read "all" of the posts here first. Any update after two years of driving. Are your drawers still staying closed without any latches?

[@OurThrivingLife]

We ended up putting bars across the top of each drawer. Slam latches work, but I’ve found them to be extremely temperamental. We now use 90 Lb magnetic latches. We have a video on the channel going over different latches.

[@bobburk9797]

Is there a reason you didn't use a kick space? Sure seems like a nice touch in a cramped environment.

[@OurThrivingLife]

Good question. It’s kind of a pain to do a toe kick with 8020. It’s doable, but just requires more parts. Most people who do 8020 galley units don’t do a toe kick. This galley is only 21” deep, so it does take up much space.

[@txtoth]

I'd tried putting pocket screws in 1/2" baltic birch ply using a clamp on Kreg jig but the screws poked out. How deep do you drill and what length screw do you use?

[@OurThrivingLife]

I use 1” screws and set the collar on the drill bit a little short of the 1/2” setting

[@davidschmaus1]

Curious how you are keeping the drawers closed while driving abs making turns. Are the Blum slides strong enough to keep them closed?

[@OurThrivingLife]

Yes. So far the Blum slides are staying closed. They’re quite strong.

[@jeffsteinmetz7188]

@@OurThrivingLife Are those Blum slides still staying closed on the sharper turns? I am planning to use your guidance on this, but have the 1010 going across the top of each drawer, so I can install SLAM latches.

[@kevinmorin7965]

Preface: I have welded aluminum for decades and have done many boat interiors with just angles, bar and T shapes- all welded. So spending the (incredibly high) costs for these exotic extrusions seems pretty over the top to someone with a TIG torch and band saw or carbide blade miter saw? By simply cutting and fitting all the frames- then finding a TIG welder to do the joint work: I'd estimate the savings or 1000 to 3000% over the folks who use these 'platinum' priced extrusions! The stiffness of cabinets comes solely from the panels' attachments to one another- or the frame.. So framing elements that will be panel covered gain 0% from rigid extrusions as shown here.

[@ryankim3612]

Agreed. I have a bandsaw and tig torch. I may not know how to use the torch, but I sure as shit will learn, and I think there will also be the benefit of gaining more space in between the shelves and drawers simply due to the fact that that 8020 is so thick. LET THE LEARNING BEGIN!

[@kindnesscartel3457]

You have to think about a one time build situation. How much did your tig welder cost?

[@jonathanhall7903]

​@@kindnesscartel3457 Good point. Or get friendly with a person who welds.

[@brookestephen]

you should use a top-open fridge or freezer, because every time you open a side-door fridge, it draws power for 10 min. Top-open fridge and freezers don't do that! Take look at Dometic!

[@ericturner2477]

My biggest gripe about top-open fridge is that everything is stacked on top of everything else, so you have to dig around to find what you want. But they are more energy efficient.

[@brookestephen]

@@ericturner2477 lol the best ones have S H E L V E S

[@dennismowry3139]

Is this 10 or 15 series?

[@OurThrivingLife]

10 series

[@MrRwp1]

Dumb question do u need a back on cabinet. I want to copy you technique regards

[@OurThrivingLife]

I only put a back on the section under the sink, since you see that when you open the door.

[@waltdenson1]

I really wish I had discovered your vans before I got locked into the deposit on the one I bought.

[@MAGAMAN]

Pocket holes on MDF is literally the weakest possible joint you can have.

[@MAGAMAN]

Learn to check your audio levels.

[@GaryMacKenzie]

$66 per drawer = expensive solution.

[@GoatZilla]

Drawer slides seems like a waste of weight for a van build.

[@OurThrivingLife]

🤷

[@Patty747]

How did you make the aluminum frame?