Was there all along but...

[imstilllarry]

This is crazy but in my 2014 UMB I had a panel above the pantry that I looked at for over 5 years and wondered what was behind it. In the closet there is a little cover that has a label about satellite wiring. I finally opened this up by pounding the panel into the hole pushing out the staples securing the panel to the back of the trim. Inside was a huge opening with a few loose wires. I coiled the wires and pushed to the back. Cut a few pieces of 1/4 inch plywood and pushed them in for a back, floor, and right side. Used the panel for a door, added a handle and 1/2 inch piece of plywood that exactly fits the hole. And with very little effort and a $4 handle, a really nice cabinet above the panty that is very accessible. I can not believe I left this space go to waste for all these years.

 

[SSTraveler]

I too have always wondered what was behind that square panel. When I was working with Gamma1966 on his installation of a Multiplus 3000w Inverter he showed me this discovery. I am planning to open this up as well. How did you secure your door? Hinges, magnets? I was thinking maybe a stretchy mesh for my opening. Nice little usable space!

 

[Dawn]

WOW!!! Brilliant!

 

[aarpskier]

At some point there was an LTV re-design. On our 2017 UFX, the pantry goes up much higher, and the 8' x 10" or so space above it is a finished cabinet with a door and handle.

 

[imstilllarry]

How did you secure your door? Hinges, magnets?

I cut 1/2" plywood to fit perfectly into the hole. By sanding it and putting a little bit of angle to make it a wedge. Now when I push it into the hole no latch or holds of any kind are required.

As many things that I have improved on this coach I'm amazed that this one took me so long.

 

[SSTraveler]

I meant the front door with the handle, how are you keeping it in place?

 

[blue]

Our 2011 Unity CB came with a finished cupboard above the pantry, so LTV must have eliminated it for later models. We use it to store plastic wrap, aluminum foil, waxed paper, paper towel, etc. Being high, small, and deep, it has limited used. Perhaps a wine rack?

 

[imstilllarry]

Seriously it just jams into the hole and is quite secure without magnets or latches. Not perfect because the panel was a little torn up by the staples but no one is going to notice but me.

 

[220629]

Seriously it just jams into the hole and is quite secure without magnets or latches. Not perfect because the panel was a little torn up by the staples but no one is going to notice but me.

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Not to be a wet blanket...
But as you ramble down the highway has it ever popped loose? That may damage something as it finds its way to lower places. A couple magnet units might help to prevent that.

I appreciate the fun of discovering storage space in an RV that can be leveraged. I've found a couple places in the Jayco 23b trailer that provided more storage. Some of it is "secret". Well... not completely, but it gives us some places to stow stuff where it might not be discovered.

vic

 

[Gamma1966]

Here is Photo of items that now use that space in my 2014 UMB
I mounted the control panel for the Victron MP3K charger / inverter and some Refrig temp read out displays.

 

[bobtuba]

In the 2020, the pantry door goes all the way up to within a couple of inches of the ceiling. I’m guessing that it therefore has one more rack inside than the previous models? Or did it just get shifted up, as there is about 16” of black metal screen below the pantry...

 

[Scarecrow]

It's amazing, to me, that Leisure did not convert this to a storage cabinet. They just blocked it off? What were they thinking?

 

[SSTraveler]

I took my panel off today and here is what you find. It looks like those are the wires for the satellite pre-wire, three coax cables and two wire pairs. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the space yet but for now I'll just push the wires back against the wall with the face plate panel and use it to store my Camco Refrigerator/overhead compartment spring bars.

 

[imstilllarry]

Looks exactly like mine. Cut the panels one at a time so you can measure after each is installed, starting with the back. You can see on mine I only secured with 3 screws, panels were cut to wedge in. We are packing now and it really makes a great space for panty overflow items.

 

[drsat]

Panty overflow ?

 

[Bone Head]

 

[imstilllarry]

Not sure if that was a Fredian slip or just an old man thing.

 

[imstilllarry]

Not to be a wet blanket...
But as you ramble down the highway has it ever popped loose?

Dammit was just about over LaVita Pass north of Toas NM and it popped out with a Big Bang on the floor. I’ll wedge a piece of rubber for now but I’ve got to make some kind of secure closer. Geez

 

[SSTraveler]

I'm loving my new cubby, I'm just leaving it open and then I can just throw all kinds of stuff in it when we are parked so I don't have clutter on the tv cabinet top.

 

[imstilllarry]

That might be best idea. The entertainment cubbies are open. You can save money on a handle.