The new Decked system for midsize trucks like the Toyota Tacoma swaps in a single, wide drawer, rather than the two drawers of the original. While dual drawers was more convenient, the set-up greatly reduced overall capacity. WIth the one wide drawer, Decked upped the amount of usable space by nearly a third. That, and a new squared-drawer design, means more room for your stuff. (Photo courtesy of Ray J Gadd/Getty Images)
February 17, 2025
By David Draper
Drawer systems for trucks and SUVs have become increasingly popular among off-roaders and outdoor enthusiasts–probably because we also have an increasingly insane amount of stuff we take afield with us. From long guns to fishing gear to recovery supplies to what-have-you, all that equipment needs a home. A drawer system not only keeps it organized, but also helps secure it from theft and loss. Decked is one of the leaders in truckbed systems and the company recently introduced a new version of their popular drawers. Here’s my take on the updated Decked system I added to a 2017 Tacoma.
Out of the Box The Decked drawers are delivered to your door (via freight truck) in pieces, and some assembly is required. However, it’s intuitive and can be tackled in an afternoon. While one person can manhandle the installation, it’s a lot easier to have an extra set of hands. The included instructions are easy to follow, and there’s also a great video on their site that walks you through the installation.
Single-Drawer System (Photo courtesy of Ray J Gadd) For midsize pickups, like the Tacoma, Decked did away with the double drawers and went to a single wider drawer. This, along with a new square drawer shape, increased the volume by a whopping 30%. (The squared corners make fitting totes, boxes and similarly shaped stuff a lot easier.) Combined, this creates nearly 1/3 more space for your stuff, and the new drawers extend fully for easier access to items stored at the back of the drawer. The slight downside is making sure everything is off your tailgate before pulling the drawer out, but that’s a minor flaw. The single drawer can accommodate up to 400 lbs., yet still pulls easily thanks to the high-grade wheels and rails. (Full-size trucks still get an offset, two-drawer design, though that model also gets a volume upgrade that’s 10% bigger.)
OCD-Level Organization Decked scored a homerun when they introduced the gear boxes for their legacy drawer systems, so they include two new storage boxes and a bin with their current line of midsize drawers. Like a free hit of crack, that’s just to get you hooked. One you discover how convenient the organizers are you’ll be buying more of the modular, stackable bins for all your gear-storage needs.
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Full-Length Cargo Capacity (Photo courtesy of Ray J Gadd) The new Decked system forgoes pockets in the corners and instead has space to store longer items thanks to a pass-through design. That offers access to the full length of the bed at the wheel wells. For those that want even more handy storage, Decked includes four stash bins that slide into the spaces in front and behind the wheel wells to maximize storage efficiency.
Weather Protection Like the original, Decked states its new drawers are fully weatherproof. They even enhanced it with an upgraded weather seal that promises to keep your gear protected from both water and dust. $1,600 ; decked.com
David Draper
Editor-in-Chief
An avid hunter and accomplished writer, David Draper has traveled the globe in search of good stories and good food, yet his roots remain firmly planted in the soil of his family's farm on the High Plains of Nebraska. As a young man, his dreams were fueled by daily trips to the original Cabela's retail store, which stood a short four blocks from his childhood home. The ensuing years spent chasing his passions for adventure and the outdoors have taken him from the shores of Africa's Gambia River to Alaska's Brooks Range. He has hunted birds and big-game on five of the seven continents.
A 20-year industry veteran, Draper has worked in communications, writing and editing roles for the biggest names in the industry. In addition to bylines in scores of publications, he also served as the editor for the hunting journals of Dick and Mary Cabela and contributed to several books on the outdoors. Draper is Editor-in-Chief of Petersen's Hunting magazine, where he also writes the Fare Game column covering all aspects of processing and cooking wild game.
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