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6 DIY Truck Bed Storage Drawer Plans You Can Make Today

white truck bed

If you own a pickup truck, you already know they’re one of the greatest vehicle inventions ever. A pickup truck does everything a car can, with the bonus of all that extra space in the back for transporting stuff! Since it’s open, you can transport items of all sizes, and pickup trucks make trips to the big-box home improvement store much easier.

One drawback of a pickup truck, though, is that the bed is completely open. If, for example, you want to transport small items, they’ll get tossed all over the place while you’re driving. If you’re frustrated by this lack of storage drawers in your truck bed, we have great news! Below are 6 DIY truck bed storage drawer plans you can construct today. Read on to discover all the plans and start crafting a perfect storage solution for your truck today.

car and road divider

The 6 DIY Truck Bed Storage Drawer Plans

1. Durable and Attractive Truck Bed Storage Drawers

Materials Various pieces of plywood, pone boards, pine post, indoor/outdoor carpeting, drywall screws, steel rod, L-brackets, handles, door mechanism, drawer slides
Tools Table saw, drill, tape measure, level, angle iron, sander, sandpaper, metal file, lipstick, router, razor knife, carpenter’s pencil
Difficulty Level Moderate to high

These truck bed storage drawer plans are some of the best we came across while researching. The YouTube video explaining how everything should go together is excellent, and the maker is well-spoken and entertaining. One caveat is that if you want full plans, you need to purchase them for $10.00.

If you want to make these practical, attractive, and super-functional truck bed drawers, it’s well worth the 10 bucks. The results look impressive and add a metric ton of storage space to your truck bed. As a handyman, contractor, or someone who loves camping, hiking, or going off-road, all the extra storage space for your gear will be fantastic. You’ll need a decent wood shop and moderate to high DIY skills to make these drawers, so be aware of the complexity before you start.

These plans would be an excellent project for a parent and child or a couple, although it might take more than one weekend to complete.


2. DIY Truck Bed Sleeping Platform With Drawers

diy truck camper
Image By: Take The Truck
Materials Plywood, oak boards, drawer slides, handles, self-tapping screws
Tools Kreg jig kit, circular or table saw, jig saw, shrill and bits, hole saw, square, level, tape measure, carpenter’s pencil
Difficulty Level Moderate to high

These well-made DIY truck bed storage drawers also have plans to make a truck camper if you like. If a drawer with a stove inside to make cooking outdoors a breeze is what you’re after, these well-crafted plans show you exactly how to do it. You might have to give your email address to get the full plans, but it’s worth it.

These plans are for a half-side drawer idea, so there’s more space for sleeping and carrying other, bigger gear. You could easily modify the plans to make more storage space or have a platform for arranging equipment when you’re out in the wilderness.

The results look impressive and practical, although you’ll need some specific tools (a Kreg jig kit) if you want to follow the maker’s plans to the letter. If more storage for your outdoor excursions is what you need, these DIY truck bed storage plans are a great choice.


3. Easy, Simple & Removable Truck Bed Storage Drawers

Materials Plywood, boards, drawer slides, handles, self-tapping screws, wood screws, hinges
Tools Drill, hole saw, measuring tape, circular saw, carpenter’s pencil, speed square, framing square
Difficulty Level Moderate

These plans are the best if you want truck bed drawers that can be removed from your truck if needed. They’re presented in a YouTube video by a sweet couple who show you exactly how to make them in a fun and entertaining way. These were the only plans we saw that didn’t attach the truck bed drawers firmly to the truck.

If you occasionally need your entire truck bed to haul stuff, being able to remove them is great! Of course, you’ll need somewhere to store your truck bed drawers when you do, and they’re quite large. Nevertheless, if a removable, practical way to store stuff in your truck bed is what you seek, these plans are practically perfect and relatively easy to make.

When in use, you can lay a mattress right over the drawers for camping out and exploring. Lastly, these plans will allow you to make your truck bed drawers for an affordable price, which is great if you’re on a budget.


4. DIY Truck Bed Drawers Using Basic Tools and Materials

Materials Plywood, boards, drawer slides, handles, self-tapping screws, wood screws, hinges, spray paint
Tools Drill, hole saw, measuring tape, circular saw, carpenter’s pencil, speed square, framing square, wood glue, jig saw, Dremel tool, paintbrush
Difficulty Level Moderate

Some of the DIY truck bed drawer plans on today’s list require specialized tools and a high level of DIY skills. This maker, realizing that not everyone has the tools or skills, makes his plans much more accessible. You can build your truck bed drawers using basic tools most people will have around their garage. That’s not to say that these pans are any less reliable than others.

Rather, if you want truck bed drawers but don’t have a full wood shop of high-end tools, you can still make them yourself. The maker shows you how in a well-done video on YouTube and is very clear about everything. The results are outstanding, to say the least, and will give you plenty of extra storage space in your truck bed for anything you like. As with most of the plans today, these could certainly be modified to fit any size truck bed.


5. DIY Truck Bed Drawers Using Basic Tools and Materials #2

Materials Plywood, boards, drawer slides, drawer handles, nuts, bolts, wood screws, hinges, spray paint
Tools Drill, hole saw, measuring tape, circular saw, carpenter’s pencil, speed square, framing square, wood glue, jig saw, paintbrush
Difficulty Level Moderate

These truck bed storage drawer plans might be the most well-done we’ve seen, with step-by-step instructions in an excellent YouTube video. Like the previous truck bed drawers, you can make these with basic tools you probably already have in your garage. Like most of the plans we’ve shared today, you can customize the plans to fit any truck. The maker made him for his 1988 Toyota pickup truck.

Frankly, they’re similar to the other plans today, but all of the makers use different techniques, show you different things, and have their unique styles. What we suggest is that you look at all of them closely to see which you like best overall, and then choose those plans. As for these truck bed drawers, the results are excellent and look great. The extra storage space you’ll have when they’re done is perfect for storing all sorts of gear and equipment.


6. DIY Truck Bed Kitchen Storage Drawers

Materials Plywood, pine boards, wood glue, sheet metal, drawer slides, drawer handles, nuts, bolts, wood screws, hinges, various plumbing fixtures, hoses, PVC pipe
Tools Router, drill, measuring tape, table saw, carpenter’s pencil, speed square, framing square, wood glue, jig saw,
Difficulty Level High

You’ll need excellent DIY skills and a wide range of professional tools to make these truck bed kitchen storage drawers! If you do, the results will be phenomenal! Not only will you get drawers for your truck that hold all sorts of stuff, but you also get an entire kitchen area to make meals while you’re on the road! The maker shows you how to do everything on his website, and there are links in his YouTube video for all the various products, materials, and fixtures used in the build.

These are by far the most extensive (and probably expensive) DIY truck bed drawer plans on today’s list, but the results are truly spectacular. If you camp or travel the world in your truck, you’ll have everything you need to stay well-fed! One thing you should know before starting, though, is that you’ll need pro tools and a high level of DIY skill to make these drawers. If you have both, they’re highly recommended!

car and road divider

Final Thoughts

Traveling around with your truck is a wonderful way to see the world, explore, camp, and add a little excitement to your life. The drawback, of course, is that truck beds aren’t made to store things easily. If you’re trying to sleep in your truck bed, it’s even worse, which is why many folks add truck bed drawers to their pickup and other trucks. The good news is that all 6 of the DIY truck bed storage drawer plans we’ve shared today will provide ample storage for your tools, gear, and anything else you need. Also, most provide a stable platform for a mattress, so you can sleep comfortably on the road.

We hope the plans we’ve shared today have been helpful and that you’ve seen one or more that you might use to make your own truck bed drawers. If you do, best of luck with constructing bed drawers that make traveling around with your truck much easier! Be safe out there on the road, and happy trails!

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Featured Image Credit: Danylo Samiylenko, Shutterstock

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