Additional storage area in RV ?

[DaveR]

My wife and I are neophyte RVers about to take delivery of a 2011 PW Plateau TS, in which we plan to full time for a year. Now, being used to living in a 2800 sq ft house and then going to a 23 ft vehicle has us looking for additional storage within the vehicle itself.

Has anyone tried putting up shelving over the driver and passenger seats ? :thinking: Either a cargo net, for stuff like bedding, or possibly a shelf to hold stuff like camp chairs, folding tables, and small propane grill ?

Obviously, I don't want to hinder moving between front seats and back, so it would have to be out of the way enough that we wouldn't smack our heads.

My wife INSISTS on using the closet for clothes. Yes dear, just as you say dear....:bow:

[autostaretx]

We've made fabric storage hammocks running close to the walls and attached to our ceiling.
One foot wide and four feet long.
They get everything from extra jackets to the volume of potato chip bags.

Many people buy a storage box that attaches to a trailer towing receiver.
This: http://www.prolineracks.com/hitch-mounted-cargo-carriers.html
shows a bunch of the beasties (both flat shelves and enclosed boxes).
They're decent spots for the bar-b-que, car tools, etc.

--dick

[avid]

Has anyone tried putting up shelving over the driver and passenger seats ? :thinking: Either a cargo net, for stuff like bedding, or possibly a shelf to hold stuff like camp chairs, folding tables, and small propane grill ?



There used to be a MB part that was a huge shelf for over the driver and co-driver seat. I just spent some time looking and can't seem to find if it is still available. I thought about it but was concerned about another low point to wack my head on.

[israndy]

The Roadtrek has cabinets in that place but I am tall and appreciate the ability to stand in the cab. Several of the class C RVs have a bed up top and you really can't stand up until you get out. I like the ones like the itasca that have that area cut out and let's you stand up when the bed is raised on struts.

-Randy

[DaveR]

Thanks for you input everyone, I've considered the storage boxes that Dick mentioned, but at some point will be employing a toad. The hammock idea has merit, especially since it might be easy to set up given the hand holds, but as Randy mentioned it is nice to have that cut out area to get to the front seats, which might be hard to obtain with the hammock. And, I suspect some of the items we'd want to store would lend themselves to corners pointing down. :hmmm:

If anyone has seen the shelving unit Avid mentioned, I'd sure appreciate a URL or pic.....I'll google for myself too....again, thanks all for the ideas and responses.

[autostaretx]

I've considered the storage boxes that Dick mentioned, but at some point will be employing a toad.
Use the box when you don't have the toad,
stuff the toad when you do have it.

Do you have a standard height (exterior roofline at top of window) or "tall" height (another foot or so) driver's cabin?

Here's an image showing the shelves MB can put above the front windows, but i can't find them listed in any of the Options catalogs (are they "standard"?).

32584

--dick

[DaveR]

Dick, we have the extended roof, which gives us almost 2-3 feet of room overhead. Except for maneuvering from front seats to rest of the interior it would appear that it is wasted space, and even in that use, some is never utilized.

Your diagram is the type of solution I'm looking for (albeit smaller than I had envisioned), as it would provide the storage both w/ and w/o toad. So far I've been unable to find anything on the web today that uses this area. I'm a little surprised something doesn't exist, as additional storage would seem to be a premium (and necessity being the mother of invention.)

Of Course, maybe after I hit my head enough on it.......I'd learn why. :smilewink:

[bl_smith25]

This post is quite old. Any update on what you found for a solution?
I've lived in my Plateau since 2006 but have not had a 'need' to expand my storage to up there.
There was a couple on the yahoo owners group that had a woodworker put something up there that they were quite happy with. Haven't heard from them for some time, so not sure if they still have it or not, but you might search around your area to find someone that could build you something.
Let us know what you did if you're still on here....

[Davydd]

Waldoch custom converters http://www.waldoch.com/ built wood overhead storage cabinets above the cab seats in a 2005 Pleasure-way Plateau for some B van friends of ours. It can be done.