U-Dinette Storage?

DTJ9610 · 05-20-2011, 08:53 AM

Has anyone done any mods to their u-dinettes. The Laredo 303TG has one access door on the right seat. Other then that the entire are is available for storage. Wondering if anyone out there has done any modifications and can supply pics. Was thinking of installing slide out drawers just not sure which way to have them go, or at the least access doors.

Thanks

jq1031 · 05-20-2011, 09:55 AM

I have to believe there is something wheather it be duct work, elecrical or whatever in that space. It makes no sence for Keystone not to put a entrance door like on the other side if it's not already in use. In my coach that wall is adjacent to the the shower, so maybe it's plumbing?

DTJ9610 · 05-20-2011, 09:59 AM

Nope.. It's on the slide part and I've pulled off all the seats and lifted the panels and there is nothing but space. Did it as part of my search of the camper, looking behind every panel to see what's there (I must say t was fun).

jq1031 · 05-20-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTJ9610

Nope.. It's on the slide part and I've pulled off all the seats and lifted the panels and there is nothing but space. Did it as part of my search of the camper, looking behind every panel to see what's there (I must say t was fun).

You're right it is on the slide wall....mental relapse!

DTJ9610 · 05-20-2011, 12:16 PM

I know, happens to the best of us. Hopefully someone has done some mods to it and can provide pics. Would like to see a few different options. Such a waste of uneasily (word?) accessible space.

Bob Landry · 05-20-2011, 01:30 PM

I turned one of mine into a space for tools and spare parts with wood dividers and got rid of a tool box that was always in the way.

THedges · 05-20-2011, 03:28 PM

I have the same setup and always thought Keystone should have put an exterior access door. We use that space by lifting the seat cushions, but it sure is a inconvenience!

**JRTJH** · 05-20-2011, 04:40 PM

We have essentially the same dinette in our Springdale. In ours, the center part of the dinette has an outside access door about 12"x30" so we have outside access as well as access from inside by lifting the cushion and luan board. As for the side parts, there is a door on each of the side seats and we bought plastic bins that fit through the doors and just pull them out when we need something. There is a little "lip" on the bottom of the door that you have to lift the bin over, but it hasn't been an issue yet.

I like the drawer idea, but it looks like a bit of extra weight. I wonder how much that drawer weighs with its supporting slides and bracing?

SLIMSHADIE · 05-23-2011, 09:34 AM

I dont have any doors

I thought about the drawer thing too, but Im just going to add access doors. I also thought an outside for the center seat would of been nice too.
Our large griddle just fits between the framing and adding a drawer, it would not fit anymore. So over the winter I seen that our Menards just carries cabinet doors. I was going to get the biggest i could go and add them this spring. Add 1 to each end and add 2 to the center seat also. That would be 4 doors to stain and polyurathane. We hardly use the storage because its not convenient! Shouldn't be to hard, just dont store the TT at home

**JRTJH** · 05-24-2011, 06:10 PM

Slim,

Check with your dealer about getting cabinet doors from Keystone. We recently converted the electrical inlet cable to a Marinco twist on cable and that took the cable that usually stuffs through the "mousehole" out of the trailer. That left a really nice 21" x 23" x 19" box between the two recliners in our trailer. I got online looking at some other Keystone products and saw that some of them had a door on that cabinet. I talked to our dealer and he looked up the door from another Springdale trailer and it was exactly the same size as the opening in the cabinet. Already stained, hardware to match the trailer and shipping was less than $60. It took maybe 15 minutes to install. You might be able to find the exact door that matches your interior and it may be just as cheap or close enough that you wouldn't want to refinish the Menard's doors... Just a thought.

Either way, you'll definitely enjoy the extra storage and with convenient access, it will be a lot more usable.

KanTC · 05-25-2011, 05:59 AM

As JRTJH did - we ordered additional cabinet doors & hardware thru our dealer. Added a 2nd access door to our (regular) dinette booth [pic #1], and also added doors to the 2 existing open shelves above our microwave & refrig.

Depending on the design of your booth/seats, maybe you could also add a piano (continuous) hinge to the wooden seat for easier access [pic #2, not our current Laredo].

Terri, the Chevy co-pilot

SLIMSHADIE · 05-25-2011, 11:12 AM

I'll call my dealer for the doors and hardware.
I like the hinge thing. But when the doors are added the plywood will probably hardly be used. As I'm writing it might be used more than I think in the last/back half of the space. At least make it easier to get too.

The Sod Father · 06-08-2011, 10:31 AM

Nice job KanTC. I would like to do the same thing on our dinette. Right now I store items that are rarely used like the crock pot, pan liners for the Q, a big coffee urn for large groups, board games, hiking packs, fishing gear, etc. I would like to do the same thing to the storage area under the foot of the bed as well. Lifting the mattress is a hassle. Two doors would be way easier to deal with.

coachtrav · 06-24-2011, 04:37 AM

Hey guys,

Looking to do the same mod since I got my 291tg which was a few months ago. Did anyone put something down on the bottom of the framing so things wont slip out when the slide is moving. I had something small get momentarily caught between the floor and the carpet. Maybe a piece of luan(spelling?).

DTJ9610 · 06-28-2011, 10:59 AM

For whatever reason I was at Camping World the other day and picked up a Passport brochure. To my dissmay I noticed that they come with nice slide out wood drawers. I walked in one and took note of the set up which was pretty nice. The drawer itself has "L" bracket wheels (for lack of a better term) on the back side of the drawer and there is a middle roller bolted to the grown that provides slide support. I could either order the hardware for the drawer and back wheels, however installing the center support may be a bit difficult due to it's location on the bottom of the slide. Who knows I'll play arund with some ideas and figure it out.

ktmracer · 06-28-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTJ9610

For whatever reason I was at Camping World the other day and picked up a Passport brochure. To my dissmay I noticed that they come with nice slide out wood drawers. I walked in one and took note of the set up which was pretty nice. The drawer itself has "L" bracket wheels (for lack of a better term) on the back side of the drawer and there is a middle roller bolted to the grown that provides slide support. I could either order the hardware for the drawer and back wheels, however installing the center support may be a bit difficult due to it's location on the bottom of the slide. Who knows I'll play arund with some ideas and figure it out.

starting in mid 2010 outbacks also started coming with a pull out drawer under each seat. Sounds similar to the passport setup.

DTJ9610 · 06-28-2011, 12:15 PM

I stand corrected... It was the Outback I was looking at. Thank you

gregrc75 · 02-11-2012, 09:26 AM

Has anyone gone ahead with this? I want to do the same in my Bullet Premier.

tribalsimba · 02-28-2012, 09:38 AM

I want to add a plastic liner to the entire back section of the U-Dinette and add an exterior access door to that area; to put my plubming/sewer stuff in; since the sewer connect is right there.

Do you think anyone has premolded plastic liners (like they put in many other compartments to create an air barrier between indoor/outdoor access areas)?

Has anyone ever added an exterior door to their unit?

CincyGus · 02-28-2012, 09:57 AM

Have not done it yet but my idea is to build a drawer and put two caster wheel from an old bed frame in the back corners of it. Make the end of the drawer that is seen (the end of the bench) just like one on a dresser where the whole face and drawer slides out.

Planning this for the large storage area under the right side of the bed also. Will make it a lot easier than removing dinette cushions or having to lift the bed to get what I want from under either.

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