When my DW agreed to "downsize" to a A-Frame we had to find a Porta Potti that she would approve of instead of the tiny unit that came with our trailer. She decided on a Thetford Curve as it is very tall and she likes the overall unit. Not a bad choice...but it won't fit anywhere in the trailers storage areas unless it is disassembled!
So I started looking for a solution... First, it is only us in the trailer so we don't need the front bed capability. Second, I hate that heavy weight dining table that came with the trailer. So out with the factory table!
After ditching the table I had plenty of room to add a storage cabinet in the nose of the trailer. After some serious searching I settled on a Home Styles Natural Kitchen Island Model #: 5040-95 Lowes Item #: 432267. It was the largest unit I felt comfortable installing as it dimensions are 28.5" wide, 18" deep, and 34" high. Since I did not use the caster the unit is about 31 inches high. I think it looks pretty good...you can see it
Here at Lowes.
When I assembled the unit I did not install the casters, nor did I put on the handle / towel holder. I just ignored those parts of the instructions. The unit assembled easily and uses screws, not cam locks like some other brands, to hold it together so it should be quite solid. Assembled it just barely went through the door of our trailer with about an inch to spare.
After getting it in to the trailer I found the first "gotcha". The doors wouldn't close with the Curve sitting inside of the unit. I needed about an extra half inch of space. No problem... Since the cabinet does not sit flush against the trailer wall a little brute force punching out the center section of the back solved the problem. If anyone else buys this unit just don't install the center back section. You will need the top and bottom sections to hold it together. Here is a picture of the unit, sans back in our trailer:
But what about a table? To replace the table we bought a folding
Spider Legs table. That is it sitting to the right of the cabinet in the above photo. When it is opened up you have this:
Not bad...
Now I have solved both issues! A table for during the day, that easily folds up at night, and an open space to place the "Curve" during the night!
Last here is a picture of everything in "travel mode":
I have a few issues to resolve before I'm finished. Mounting the cabinet will be done with perforated steel strap tape. It will run from the back of the cabinets sides to the factory table support on the trailers back wall. To further keep the cabinet from shifting or moving I'm using 3M's Red automotive trim tape to "stick" the cabinet's base to the floor along the edges. That tape will stick just about anything to anything and it won't loose its grip! Also the magnetic clasp that holds the doors shut will never hold while traveling. So a carabiner, or other latch type, will be used for that. I'll follow up with more pictures when I can get back to the trailer to finish this off...
Not only did this mod give us more space and storage the cabinet top is just the right height for a coffee tray to sit on while relaxing at the dinette. And the drawer holds all the pieces and parts and chemicals that came with the "Curve".
I hope this helps anyone considering adding more storage space, for whatever reason,
to their A-Frame. Let me know if you have any questions...
Linear Mode
