Store Home | Your Account | Your Cart | Checkout
How Do the Best Heavy Duty Slides Stack Up?
You wouldn’t expect a small compact car to haul a load of construction equipment, right? For that job, you would need a heavier duty vehicle. You might have to pay a bit more, but it is suited for the loads you will be carrying. It is the same with drawer slides. When you have drawers which will be handling heavier loads, such as tools, pantry items, and industrial equipment, heavy duty slides are an absolute must.
Heavy duty slides will typically be side mounted and rated up to 500lbs. Although Blum’s Tandem slide is available in capacities up to 125lbs. Beyond that, however, how do you know which slide system will be best for your needs? Always read specs and reviews before making your decision. Here is a comparison of the top five models and what you can expect.
This is an extra-heavy duty Chromate Steel slide system that has a test weight capacity of up to 500 pounds. In lengths of 12" – 36", 42", 48," and 60" the full extension system mounts flat or on the sides. Steel ball bearings provide smooth, durable movement, while a bumper ensures a quiet closure. These are used in a variety of residential and industrial applications, including modular storage cabinets, toolboxes, pantry pull-outs, storage drawers, service truck tool drawers, RV storage drawers, and vehicle battery trays. With moderate use, the Accuride 9301 can handle 500 pounds; frequent use allows 400 pound capacity; and mobile use allows 300 pound weights. Flat mounted versions handle 150 pounds.
Now, the all important price: DrawerSlides.com offers an Accuride 9301 12” 500 pound slide for just under $65 a pair, substantially less than other vendors.
This side mounted slide system is non self-closing and features full extension and a cold rolled steel construction. It has a 400 pound load capacity and smooth, quiet movement from the unique ball bearing system. The 7500 series uses the quad ball bearing structure, which is integrated into a triple slide design. It can be used in heavy duty situations, including fire truck pump drawers, truck body fabrications, and tool chests. This is available in 12” – 28” sizes. The 12” pair costs $45.15 at DrawerSlides.com.
This German designed system features non self-closing side-mounted construction. The tracks are sturdy and provide superior precision movement for the steel ball bearings. The full extension tracks are self-cleaning and maintenance free. This slide is made of Chromate Steel with a zinc finish. The 500 pound weight capacity makes it a great choice for a wide variety of industrial applications, including toolboxes, vehicle drawers, and more. They have been called virtually indestructible. The 12” inch Hettich 3320 is $52.85 per pair.
Ryadon’s non self-closing system can handle 500 pound capacities. It is side-mounting. The tracks are resilient and sturdy, offering smooth action with precision-guided steel balls. The ball tracks are maintenance free. The Ryadon is constructed of Chromate Steel with a zinc finish. In addition to its applications as is, it can be re-engineered and customized to meet your needs. It is also a direct replacement for the Hettich 3320 series. A pair costs $49.59.
Accuride 9308. This side-mounted, full extension Accuride system also accommodates capacities of up to 500 pounds. It has a lock-in and lock-out feature with front latch release. The Chromate Steel construction and zinc finish is durable and rugged, allowing for use in emergency equipment drawers, utility vehicles, battery pull trays, and vehicular store compartments where lock-in and lock-out are essential. Like the 9301, the weight capacity decreases for frequent use and vehicular use. These are the most expensive slides at about $91 per pair.
Depending on your needs and your budget, you can find affordable, quality heavy duty slides. It is worth paying a little extra initially to get the superior quality offered by these five models. You will not have to worry about substandard performance or replacing slides every six months. Various warranties and guarantees ensure satisfaction. If your weight capacity requirements fall in the 100 pounds to 300 pound range, you can also find excellent models by Knape and Vogt, Fulterer, and Blum.
Related Articles