Bespoke Overland Drawer for Defender

One of our customers recently approached us with an exciting challenge: to design a custom drawer system for her 2016 Land Rover Defender. Her wish list was clear — the system had to be practical, allow room for her three dogs, secure a fridge on top, and function as an outdoor kitchen when camping.

But there was one unique request that truly set this project apart: she wanted a drawer that could extend beyond the rear door area, creating a larger work surface when deployed. None of the existing commercial drawer systems offered such a feature — so we knew we had to build something entirely new.

A Special Project for a Special Defender

The 2015 Defender was the final production year of the classic model before Land Rover stopped its manufacturing — making this vehicle a piece of history. We wanted our design to reflect that uniqueness both visually and technically.

The idea of a side-extending drawer came to life early in the design phase. This clever solution would allow the user to expand the workspace to the side, With a 270° awning installed, this allows for easy movement around the vehicle

Solving the Space Challenge

One of the key challenges with side drawers is the loss of valuable storage space due to the extra structure needed. To maximize usable volume, we opted for a Stainless steel sheet metal construction instead of traditional plywood. This change reduced material thickness from 15 mm to just 2 mm — giving us nearly 3 cm of additional storage height while also providing strength and durability.

Next, we needed the right drawer slides — strong, slim, and smooth. We selected a set of 120 kg-rated, fully extendable slides that were only 53 mm wide. While this did reduce the height available for the side drawer, the resulting space beneath turned out to be ideal for storing pans and cooking utensils. For the side drawer itself, we used 70 kg-rated rails, ensuring reliability and stability even under heavy loads.

Building the Perfect Platform

To support the top surface, we designed a set of reinforcement brackets that fit over the Defender’s wheel arches. This provided a solid base for the floor plate and allowed us to create a full-width platform covering the entire rear area — unlike typical drawer systems that leave gaps at the sides.

We finished the top with three textured plywood panels and installed two flush-mounted cargo rails. These rails offer strong anchor points for the fridge and dog cages, making the setup both functional and safe for travel.

A Personal Touch

For the finishing detail, we laser-cut the Defender’s name: "SEEYA" into the front drawer panel and added a brushed stainless steel backing plate. The result was a clean, high-end appearance — and a surprise touch for the owner, who absolutely loved it.

It’s a playful nod to the spirit of overlanding: “See ya!” — because adventures always start with a goodbye.

Installation Made Easy

Despite covering the full width of the vehicle, the installation process is straightforward. The drawer frame (without the top plywood and brackets) fits inside the vehicle easily for marking the mounting points. We provided sufficient clearance so the owner could opt to keep the original fabric trim in. After drilling four 9 mm holes, the frame is secured with M8 bolts, followed by the installation of the reinforcement structure and front panels using rivets and M5 bolts.

Once the cargo rails and top panels are fitted, final adjustments to the latches and side drawer can be made — resulting in a clean, robust, and versatile drawer system that’s ready for adventure.

Designed for the Defender 110 and 90

Our drawer system was designed with flexibility in mind and can be adapted to fit both the Defender 110 and 90 models

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This project not only delivered exactly what our customer envisioned — it also inspired a new product line for our store: a bespoke drawer system that transforms the Defender into a true overlanding companion.

Get in touch to build your bespoke Overland Drawer