AirDownGearUp SS1: Drawer, Kitchen, Storage and Sleeping Platform Systems for GX550

Hello 550 Series Owners!



Air Down Gear Up is pleased to introduce our GX550 system. As a brief introduction to anyone who may not know us from other vehicle offerings, we specialize in making premium vehicle storage, sleeping and kitchen systems. Our system utilizes an all-aluminum frame mounted directly to the vehicle via a solid, machined aluminum 'anchor bar'. We focus on integrating as cleanly with the vehicle as possible. We want our system to enhance the appearance of your vehicle AND provide a lifetime of high performance.

We created an exact fit system to perfectly compliment your GX550. Our system can be configured with or without the integrated, convertible sleeping platform. The sleeping platform is fast to deploy/stow and does not impact the 2nd row in any way.



The drawers feature full extension, ball bearing slides that provide full and easy access to all of your gear. The slides feature a lock-in and lock-out mechanism (an all-metal component for a lifetime of predictable use) to provide safe, rattle free access to your gear. We utilize a particular slide with adjustable stops, meaning there is ZERO noise from these drawers when stowed. In addition to the lock-in/lock-out mechanism, a keyed lock can also be included to prevent unwanted access to your valuables. The drawers contain 100% rattle-free, moveable dividers so you can dial in your storage exactly to your needs.

The drawers are compatible with both our slide out table and the drawer top work surface. The slide out table is a fantastic addition to the system, as it provides a great place to prepare food, stash gear, hold a drink, run a stove, anything you need! The slide out table is quick deploying and can be used with the drawer open or closed.



This system can also be configured with an integrated Dometic CD30 Drawer Fridge. This is becoming a very popular configuration with our customers, as the powered fridge offers enough space for most trips while still providing a flat cargo space above the system for sleeping or other cargo needs. This offers a high degree of flexibility with the system. Alternativley, a fridge slide can be mounted on top of the system to allow for a full-sized fridge option as well. We will also be releasing a kitchen for the GX550, so stay tuned!



What additional details can I provide about our systems?

You guys certainly make some beautiful stuff!

Bluegill said:

You guys certainly make some beautiful stuff!

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Thanks for the kind words!

Would be helpful if the website showed how much it weighs with each option. Also, what happens to the shallow storage bind at the rear of the cargo area?

Snooperstyle said:

Would be helpful if the website showed how much it weighs with each option. Also, what happens to the shallow storage bind at the rear of the cargo area?

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Our standard dual drawer + sleeping platform in the black-hex material comes in about 140 pounds. Swapping a drawer for a 3-stage (fridge slide, stove tray, work surface) kitchen adds about 20 pounds.

We gave considerable thought to that shallow storage bin near the hatch, and ultimately decided that preserving that small amount of storage wasn't worth the added complexity (translates to price) of making our system accommodate it. The storage volume of the drawers obviously far eclipses what was available in the factory bin.

I wanted to provide a little more detail on our sleeping platform for the GX550. We have updated our original folding sleeper design, making it an even more refined offering.

There are essentially two features that make our sleeping platform unique: A hinge/Reinforcement design that makes the platform completely rigid when deployed, and a tie-down feature for when it's stowed so that it remains completely silent.

Starting with the hinge/Reinforcement plates: The sleeper deploys with a simple dual-folding hinge design. This allows a sleeping platform that is long enough to create a 6ft sleeping surface. In order for this length of sleeper to clear the roof, we add the 2nd hinge to allow a fold. This would create a 'floppy' surface on it's own, so we have added some components to keep things totally rigid.

The hinges are mounted on opposing sides of the panels, allowing the sleeper to fold but remain self supporting when deployed.


This on it's own doesn't have enough strength, so utilizing CAD and FEA design we created reinforcing brackets to support the hinge and resist any deflection while loaded. We will likely be submitting this concept for a patent, as it is a proprietary ADGU design.



This results in a sleeping platform that is lightweight, low profile, fast deploying and totally rigid. Here's a demo of some initial (EXTREMELY SCIENTIFIC) testing, you can see that when it's loaded with a person's body weight, there's no deflection of the sleeping platform.

The 2nd new sleeper feature is the tie-down mechanism when stowed. This is another proprietary ADGU design that secures the sleeping platform to the system while it is not in use.



These 'hooks' are 3D printed from fiberglass reinforced carbon fiber nylon; making them incredibly strong. They are designed to provide compression to a small rubber bumper located under the sleeper, so everything is under light tension when stowed. They pivot in and out of a receiver mounted on top of the drawers, providing a fast, tool-free means of securing the sleeper.



The tie downs, combined with the opposed hinges, means there is no movement possible from the sleeper. This results in a system that is totally quiet and ready for some sweet jumps. The sleeping platform is capable of supporting weight when stowed, and we have retained access to the cargo tie-downs. This means when you don't need the sleeper, you can load it up with however much gear you need, and have a means of securing heavier items.