Linear Slide recommendations for a DIY tunnel slide

[ksumnole]

Hi guys,

I'm building my own tunnel slide. I understand there are ready-to-go options out there, but I'm a bit of a woodworker/tinkerer myself, so I wanted to build something specific for our family.

Can anyone recommend linear slides that would do well for this project and are of high quality? I can see a lot of Amazon knockoff stuff and a wide price range. I'm looking for a 60" length and support of 200+ lbs per slide. I plan on using 4 in a back-to-back configuration so I can pull out the slide from either side.

Thank you!

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[GreggVA]

Trying to envision what you are suggesting. "4 in a back-to-back configuration so I can pull out the slide from either side" - Is this four stacked on top of each other like a tool chest or something telescoping to give a total of 60" length extended out the side?

 

[ksumnole]

Trying to envision what you are suggesting. "4 in a back-to-back configuration so I can pull out the slide from either side" - Is this four stacked on top of each other like a tool chest or something telescoping to give a total of 60" length extended out the side?

Oops, let me rephrase. Picture a drawer slide one on each side of the drawer. It pulls out only in one direction. Now add another pair of drawer slides one on each side, but facing the other way.

 

[forestwalker]

Oops, let me rephrase. Picture a drawer slide one on each side of the drawer. It pulls out only in one direction. Now add another pair of drawer slides one on each side, but facing the other way.

Like when they suggested going tip-to-tip in the HBO show Silicon Valley...

 

[ksumnole]

Omg, that might work. Tip to tip.

 

[BlueberryQuadzilla]

Have also considered this, the slide, not the tip to tip formula. Keep us posted if you get anywhere. I would think the custom bracket to bolt down to the tunnel would be the toughest part.

 

[JacobAZ]

Having built well over 100 drawers with side mount slides for custom cabinets and furniture, here are a few thoughts.

To have the slide roll out 4 or 5 feet of both sides is virtually impossible. Since all heavy duty slides are designed to slide only one direction, you would need a method to disconnect the slide from the sled when going its backward direction. It could be done, but incredibly difficult to make sturdy .

On the other hand, you could do similar to the EV sportline sled. They have two independent sleds, one on each end with about 2 feet extension. Both fastened to a single base.

As for which brand 200 pound slides ... The typical heavy-duty side mount drawer slides are all designed the same (except for soft close feature, and lock). I suspect only a few companies make them and are branded under various names. The slide should be 3" tall and 3/4 inch thick. I have found no significant different between brands. There are some variations in the locking mechanism. Keep in mind that a 200 pound rating for a 5' slide assumes weight is evenly distributed (40 pounds max, for each foot of length). So don't put 50 pounds at the end when extended. It also assumes vertical installation, level, and stationary.

As someone else mentioned the stationary (base) portion of the slide and how the drawer slides are mounted to this will be the biggest challenge (the part that acts as the cabinet shell.) For 200 lb weight and 5' length you will need to use some heavy gage metal not wood. Look at what companies have done. Range industry uses off the shelf slides (2 vertical and one horizontal). Thunderbolt created what looks like their own custom slide in a unique design.

I looked at building a tunnel sled and decided to purchase. Thuderbolt's instead. I am glad I went that way. I wish you well.

 

[BlueberryQuadzilla]

Electrified overland’s gear tunnel sled goes out both sides. Looks like their two sets of slides are mounted back to back? I’ve had my eye on that one, but my wife made me buy a couch.

 

[JacobAZ]

Petty cool implementation. Yes, they mounted two slides together as a sandwich. The inner slide is mounted to the drawer and works as a normal drawer in that direction. The cabinet side of the inner slide is then attached to the drawer side of the reverse direction outer slide. The outer slide cabinet side is then attached to the truck/base. Curious how they attached the slides together. I see they do not have a weight rating. The slides are mounted at an angle which significantly reduces the weight rating. As I said above, two way can be done by do-it-your-selfer, but its quite challenging.

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