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Topic: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer (Read 1121 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

I keep the nastier smelling stuff in the rear utility roadside bay (behind the rear wheel).  By this I mean an Oil jug, a coolant jug, the axle oil and such like that.  Also the never-to-be-used set of chains to show if asked.  That stuff isn't that tall, so I ended up stacking odds and ends on top of it.  What a mess.

So I decided to build a drawer, similar to those over the LP tank.  I made it 7" tall and 23" deep. There was a glitch along the way that I'll share.  The compartment is fairly flush on the front (left) side of the opening, but the rear (right) side had the frame sticking a ways out from the wall...about 1/2".  I used ball-bearing rails (22") that I found at Lowes for about $16.  On the rear wall, I found that I had to mount the rail onto a piece of 1/2" plywood. to keep it away from the wall to make sure the drawer wouldn't hit the frame as it tried to come out.  Of course, I then had to tear apart my drawer and make it 11-1/2" wide overall to fit the narrowed rails.

Now I have a place for rags, funnels, hitch grease, wax, wheel cleaner, etc.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #1 –
Nicely done Brad, Keep the ideas and future projects coming. I would hate to think that some day I would run outta things to do :P :P :P

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #2 –
Quote from: ohsonew –
Nicely done Brad, Keep the ideas and future projects coming. I would hate to think that some day I would run outta things to do :P :P :P

Larry
Thanks.  I'm just getting impatient while having to wait for the next step of my slide problem identification and resolution, so I just keep looking at the motorhome and finding odd projects like this to occupy my waiting.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #3 –
Nice job Brad.  I keep our water softener, waste hose ends, extra water hose, nozzle and flairs and I must admit a few other odds and ends.  :D
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #4 –
Did that utility bay originally come with an enclosure? On our 95 U320 it is a completely open space. I've read about some who had an enclosure constructed, but I'm just wondering if your was a later addition or if it originally came enclosed.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #5 –
That may have been standard on later year coaches because I believe that Rich B's 2002 U270 came with such a compartment. I asked at Foretravel parts and they weren't able to come up with a part number for it though... I am buying a welded up a
Aluminum box from Xtreme that would be a fairly simple do it yourself install, but I am not sure what the box itself would cost because I am having them install it. I imagine a metal fabricator shop would do it for less than $500. Of course, depending on your tools etc., you could build one out of angle stock and sheet metal cheaper.
Don
Quote from: D.J. Osborn –
Did that utility bay originally come with an enclosure? On our 95 U320 it is a completely open space. I've read about some who had an enclosure constructed, but I'm just wondering if your was a later addition or if it originally came enclosed.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #6 –
 I put one in our 2000 adnd made it out of PLy and sprayed to exterior with bed liner, It sits in a sheet metal frame and also sits on top of frame at back. I now have one on each side behind rear tires. Pass side one sits above the AGM batteries and has a large slide out storage bow. Cost almost nothing to make and work great.
John
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #7 –
I have a very useful slide-out double deck draw for jugs, bottles and what have you.  Holds gallon jugs perfectly.  Its well built and made from aluminum.  Think it may be factory it's that well made.

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #8 –
How about some pictures John! Especially the passenger side one above the chassis batteries... Do you have a Slide for your batteries?
Don
Quote from: John Haygarth –
I put one in our 2000 adnd made it out of PLy and sprayed to exterior with bed liner, It sits in a sheet metal frame and also sits on top of frame at back. I now have one on each side behind rear tires. Pass side one sits above the AGM batteries and has a large slide out storage bow. Cost almost nothing to make and work great.
John
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #9 –
Late to the thread, but yes, it was enclosed when the coach was built.  Just such a tall area, it begged for at least a shelf, which was my first plan.  The drawer idea came later when I stumbled upon the rails at Lowes for a really decent price.  It is plywood with a metal frame, and it is covered by FT's felt material.  $15 worth of wood; $15 worth of rails, an old leftover drawer pull, and a little bit of free retired time.

The other side has a similar door, but it is all open to the starting battery tray.  I hadn't really looked at it with an eye to adding anything there.  Fuel filter access is there, too, so I really wouldn't want to make access difficult.  I always end up with a lot of empty space. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #10 –
Mine above Batteries is removed by taking 2 screws out and right now as before trip to Dallas I was working under coach and took the box/drawer out so it really cannot be seen in place right now.. I will post when I put it all together though.
Brad, it literally takes me 2 mins to remove for filter access.
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #11 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
Mine above Batteries is removed by taking 2 screws out and right now as before trip to Dallas I was working under coach and took the box/drawer out so it really cannot be seen in place right now.. I will post when I put it all together though.
Brad, it literally takes me 2 mins to remove for filter access.
John H
Please do post pictures.  I always love another good project!
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #12 –
Quote from: D.J. Osborn –
Did that utility bay originally come with an enclosure? On our 95 U320 it is a completely open space. I've read about some who had an enclosure constructed, but I'm just wondering if your was a later addition or if it originally came enclosed.

My 95 has the 2 Primus heat boilers and pump located in that compartment.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #13 –
Here are a couple of pictures the welded aluminum box that is going into our coach. I will be wrapping the outside of the box before it goes in with dinymat and prepping for drawer or a slide out tool box installation.
Don
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #14 –
Don, what is Dinymat?
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #15 –
A cheaper version of Dynamat? ;D  Just a Typo... Dynamat Xtreme I used to wrap the step box before I put the inch and a half polyurethane foam insulation around it, I then wrapped that with aluminum sheet metal and foil tape. I have a bunch left over from the step box project and though a bit of a waste on the outside of the compartment box, it will reflect a lot of heat away from the exhaust. I still have to put the Resonator in... after that, should be a lot cooler back there anyway.
Don
Quote from: rbark –
Don, what is Dinymat?
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Rear Utility Bay needed a Drawer

Reply #16 –
where can I get Dinymat?
always looking for a cheaper version.................. 
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI