drawer glides or wooden runners?

[bmacke]

I'm finally to the point of installing drawers in my galley. We've used the tear a few times in the last year and I think I finally know what I want.
I've come up with a layout that includes 6 real drawers, a small slide out for 3 lanterns, a small tray for lantern parts and a big slide out for the cooler.
The question at hand revolves around the expense of drawer slides. Obviously the cooler and probably the bigger drawers should be on good drawer slides, but what about the other drawers? Should I spend the money or work on wooden runners for the smaller stuff?
Here's a pic of my proposed layout. Let me know what your ideas are.




Thanks,
Brian

[kirkman]

I did the wooden runners on my cheep little drawers they work fine.
I don't have very much weight in them.

[aggie79]

Drawer slides are expensive. I decided I would use them and am glad that I did.

If you decide to use full extension slides, Knape & Vogt make an "RV" slide that keeps the drawers held in during travel:
http://www.knapeandvogt.com/8400_RV_Stay-Close_Full_Extension_Drawer_Slide.html?page=details.56

[wagondude]

Tom, that is a great source for slides. I noticed that they also have full extension slides that lock in both the open and closed positions. Those would be handy for those building slide out galley features.

Bill

[Tom Kurth]

Your skill set is probably the determining factor here. If your skills are up to making wooden slides, they will be both cheaper and lighter. If you use purchased slides, I suggest buying ball bearing slides rather than cheaper slides: easier to install, more functional, more durable. If you make your own make sure you build captured slides--bouncing up and down the road in the back of teardrop would have stuff all over the place.

Best,
Tom

[S. Heisley]

Just an FYI:

If you decide to go with wood, you can buy the wooden runners and the coordinating plastic glides to go with them at Lowes; so, you don't have to make them. They might be worth a look because you can cut the wood runners to whatever length you need. I don't know how well they work because I didn't use them. I went with the metal glide sets.

[deceiver]

I've done both and the ball bearing slides win over time. Some decent ones from home depot will last the life of the trailer. And they're not that expensive.

[halfdome, Danny]

Cabinet shops stopped using wooden drawer guides in the 70's for good reason.
People want a better slide and want a full extension guide vs a 3/4 extension guide.
You could go with no glides at all like I noticed a well known and respected teardrop company do.
They use a barrel bolt to hold the one drawer in.
I use the 16" ball bearing full extension guides with a detente to keep the drawer from opening.
Wholesale they were $4 each, probably $12 retail, a real no brainier in my opinion.
Danny