On our coach the last storage door on the driver's side opens to nothing. I get a nice view of the engine and transmission retarder accumulator. I'd much rather have another storage bay.
Has anyone found a way to convert this to useable storage?
We have a 2000 U320
George, I believe that James Stallings was converting this space to storage, if my memory is correct he had done this on his FT.
Gary B
95 U280
George.... our 2003 U295 has a storage box in the bay. I'm told that was an option that year.
George H.
One choice would be;
Locate a good sheetmetal shop or fabricator and have a metal "aluminum" box custom fabricated. Be aware that the muffler "HOT" is located just to the rear of this area. I have removed the huge muffler and installed a muffled straight pipe less heat less restriction more power more room there.
Also make sure the "box" is water tite. Box may get warm from engine heat if not insulated, not a good place to carry your chocolate bars.
Gary & Sharon
Hi George. . .The Burrow has a third house battery in that bay. . .came with the rig! ;D
If we ever go to a residential style fridge and if we need to add one or two more batteries, this would be a place to have them installed.
If you are worried about space, I'd be careful about GVW. There is enough storage space in a Foretravel to over-gross our RVs in a heart beat.(Unless you are carrying boxes of ping-pong balls.) Just a thought! ;D
Mike,
Your point is very valid. In March we had our coach weighed by the RV Safety Education Foundation.
At time of weighing we had about half a tank of water and pretty full gray and black tanks and 7/8 load of diesel. We were about 2,000 pounds below the GVWR. Whew!
This was a weighing of each individual wheel.
Did you weigh the CR-V and factor that into the GCWR? You should have a 6,000# leeway. I'm glad that you weighed it. I see many RVs going down the roan wobbling because they are overweight. Weighing each wheel & axle is great too. It makes up for our packing inadequacies, overloading one wheel.
Are you using G or H rated tires? I find G's a little weak on load carring capabilities, especially at the edge oe GVWR.
16 ply H
Ours had the last drivers side bay filled with adjustable shelves. I use it to store water hoses and extra engine belts.