Storage Space, and our fix for the lack there of.

rjtimmer · 02-23-2015, 10:09 AM

In response to the horrible storage of our WPF 40 RLS.....we altered the interior storage a bit....

We added cabinets over the dining table extending from the kitchen cabinet to the garage wall.
A 32" tv fits in the far end pocket, on a hinged swing arm mount. a toaster oven will fit in the lower forward pocket next to the microwave. The micro wave / oven combo unit sucks....and we didn't want to lose the cabinet under the stove top, so we went this direction.
the openings here will be covered with cargo netting while we travel, to prevent unwanted cargo shift...cargo shift is bad....

we also added three drawers under the slide out / couch.
the drawers are 13" deep, on roller track slides, 18" wide and 7" tall.

and did some work to the under seat storage at the table....you cant see it, but the "lid" panel now has a hinge and gas struts to support it in a full 90 degree open position.

And some much needed tool storage in the garage.

we also added a cabinet over the toilet in the bathroom, but i failed to take a picture of that.

All the new wood work is solid cherry, stained a varnished to match as close as possible, to the faux cherry "wood" work that was factory installed.

Brother Les · 02-23-2015, 10:42 AM

A lot of room to put in high cabinets in the garage area.

rjtimmer · 02-23-2015, 11:39 AM

i had contemplated that, but turns out, there's not as much as you would think. me being 6-4 and about 2bills, once i jam my jeep in the garage, there isn't much room for me to crawl over the tires to get to tie down points, or to get out of the thing.

Brother Les · 02-23-2015, 11:57 AM

Wow, I see what you mean. Nice jeep and setup.

RVBikers · 02-23-2015, 01:33 PM

NICE!
I have been wanting cabinet doors on my dinette storage but I am not at all a carpenter...nor do i pretend to be one.

The Wandering Irishman · 02-23-2015, 02:02 PM

Those cabinets\drawers look great...as does the Jeep!

Did you build them yourself? I'm curious as to the finish you applied and how closely you were able to match the existing in the unit? They look spot on in the photos.

Tom

rjtimmer · 02-23-2015, 02:30 PM

Thanks!

You can order/purchase the cabinet doors from Forest River, but only in the sizes they currently use. as for hardware, I went to Bontragers Supply in white pigeon michigan, a treasure trove of stuff for the DIY RV'er.

A friend of the family did the carpentry work. I can sling some saw dust for sure, but his work is second to none. He is a cabinet maker by hobby, and an architect by trade. Detail is his passion.

The finish is Minwax Red Cherry, with 3 coats of varathane clear finish, then polished and waxed, after a few hours of surface prep.

As for the jeep, every nut, bolt, inch of weld, piece of tubing, and wire was designed, fabricated, and ran by my hands. she was built to abuse, and i do that well.

The Wandering Irishman · 02-23-2015, 02:40 PM

Awesome! Thanks for all of the info and links. I too am good at making saw dust, but my finishing work needs some practice.

I had a '91 YJ that I built to abuse in the AZ rocks when I lived out there, sold it to my father-in-law after I moved back to the frigid Midwest. I got the Jeep back last summer to rebuild in preparation of my 15-year old son turning 16. It mostly sat over the past 10 years, and it sat outside, so the IL weather took its toll on everything. Currently debating how far I want to take this thing...knowing that whatever I do now sets the stage for the next 4 kids in line when they turn 16. ha ha

Great looking setup you have there, thanks for sharing with us!

Tom

rjtimmer · 02-23-2015, 02:46 PM

my children inherited the taste for expensive hobbies......and i have no one to blame but myself.....

mtnjeepers · 03-03-2015, 06:04 PM

cool..thanks for the ideas, here's my 30 fbw

rjtimmer · 03-03-2015, 07:43 PM

wow, you have that TJ a long way forward. I assume its to get the tongue weight set proper....

mtnjeepers · 03-03-2015, 07:57 PM

the front end of the jeep is just over the tt wheels

rjtimmer · 03-03-2015, 08:16 PM

I'm sure its where it needs to be for that trailer. it just looks way forward in comparison to my set up.

Where are you from, and where do you use the TJ?

beyerjf · 03-04-2015, 10:24 PM

I haul a 1996 Geo Tracker in my 34FK, a little lighter at about 2200 lbs. I was going to add more cabinets but I figured I would load them up and eventually go over the GVW of 16,000 for the trailer. I live full time in this so it is easy to accumulate as George Carlin puts it "STUFF".

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