Cup holder improvements

Topic: Cup holder improvements (Read 1720 times) previous topic - next topic

Cup holder improvements

April 19, 2015, 02:55:41 pm

The one thing I've never been impressed with has been our coach's cup holders. They are very shallow. The one next to the driver is too small for a 20oz bottle. The one by the passenger is to large to hold anything securely.

Shortly after buying the coach I discovered that a 16oz double walled tumbler fit very securely in the drivers cup holder, so I have a few of those.
Amazon has a ton of them: Amazon.com: double walled 16-ounce tumbler

Then a chance meeting with a guy named Larry at camp Foretravel lead me to the Octopus cup holder, and an ingenious way to temporarily attached it to the passenger side cup holder. No damage, or holes in the coach! And the whole thing was about $10!

A 4" muslin buffing pad seems to work for the passenger side, and the two on the dash, and I just got a 3" which seems like it will work on the drivers side, I just need to get another Octopus to try it out.
Amazon.com: Bell CO51 Octopus Cup Holder: Automotive
Amazon.com: White Cotton Buffing Wheel - Choose from 2", 4", 5" or 6" - 50...
Vermont American 17541 3-Inch Muslin Polishing Buffs - Power Rotary Tool...

Later this week we have a short drive, where we will be testing out the new cup holder. I'll report back and let you all know how it worked.

What have you done to improve your cup holders?

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Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #1 – April 19, 2015, 03:02:57 pm

Whoops, two pics didn't make it. Here is a shot of it in action. And one of how it grips a cup.

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #2 – April 19, 2015, 03:03:02 pm

About 6 years ago I got two rubber cup holder inserts out of a Rav 4. Fit inside current hole perfectly, but extend up about 3 inches Factory holders old school- fit 12 ounce can with thick foam coozi, but nothing else

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #3 – April 19, 2015, 03:06:04 pm

Quote from: ScubaGuy – April 19, 2015, 02:55:41 pm

The one thing I've never been impressed with has been our coach's cup holders. They are very shallow. The one next to the driver is too small for a 20oz bottle. The one by the passenger is to large to hold anything securely.
Then a chance meeting with a guy named Larry at camp Foretravel lead me to the Octopus cup holder, and an ingenious way to temporarily attached it to the passenger side cup holder. No damage, or holes in the coach! And the whole thing was about $10!
A 4" muslin buffing pad seems to work for the passenger side, and the two on the dash, and I just got a 3" which seems like it will work on the drivers side, I just need to get another Octopus to try it out.
Later this week we have a short drive, where we will be testing out the new cup holder. I'll report back and let you all know how it worked.

Am I reading this correctly. Only the buffing pad is inserted into your coach cup holder. Since it is not going in very deep won't the cup still fly forward on a quick stop since the bottle or tumbler is top heavy or is it wedged in somehow giving it a little more holding power?

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #4 – April 19, 2015, 03:22:05 pm

Barry,

That's a good question.
It seems to be made to just sit on the floor and hold a drink. It's got a fairly large and heavy base. The buffing pad fits into the cup holder but the base is larger, and actually sits on the dash. Basically all the buffing pad does is keep it from sliding around, it's not to keep it from tipping over. Or so I hope! I might not put a 64Oz cup in it but it can't be worse than the current setup.

ETA: Adding a thin rubber disk of some sort below the buffing pad might be a good improvement.

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #5 – April 19, 2015, 03:27:28 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – April 19, 2015, 03:03:02 pm

About 6 years ago I got two rubber cup holder inserts out of a Rav 4. Fit inside current hole perfectly, but extend up about 3 inches Factory holders old school- fit 12 ounce can with thick foam coozi, but nothing else

Sounds similar to this but actually fits in the current cup holder? Does it hold a pretty large cup?

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #6 – April 19, 2015, 03:51:03 pm

Yes, it is about 4" tall and maybe 1/4 inch thick, fits in hole perfectly

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #7 – April 19, 2015, 06:25:00 pm

My size 13 tennis shoe ((an archaic reference what ever they call them now, but you all know what I mean) on the floor next to the driver's chair will hold my coffee dispensing thermos thing or a water bottle or a can of whatever. Never spilled a drop. The slide out tray doesn't see much use for drinks.

Give it a try, Scuba Guy.

Roger

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #8 – April 19, 2015, 07:54:42 pm

Quote from: Home2fromHastings – April 19, 2015, 06:25:00 pm

My size 13 tennis shoe ((an archaic reference what ever they call them now, but you all know what I mean) on the floor next to the driver's chair will hold my coffee dispensing thermos thing or a water bottle or a can of whatever. Never spilled a drop. The slide out tray doesn't see much use for drinks.

Give it a try, Scuba Guy.

Roger

Interesting, those of us with older coaches don't have that slide out tray.

The older coaches have 4 cup holders. One by the driver's seat, that is about 3" in diameter. My Cummins cup actually works pretty well in it.

A 20oz bottle however, become a fizzy missile which always rolls under the drivers feet or seat.

Then, there are two 4" X 1/2" deep circles in the dash, only the drivers side one is within easy reach. Because the passenger seat sits farther back, only an NBA player could possibly reach it without getting out of the seat.

Finally there is another 4"x1/2" cup holder built into to top of the wooden magazine rack next to the door. So I'm trying to come up with something that's easy to reach when you inevitably have a cat in your lap. Siren's feet barely touch the ground, I don't think she could pick up a drink sitting in a shoe on the floor. Plus there is the issue of trying to convince Siren to drink a drink which was just sitting in my tennis shoes, that would be challenging!

Can you post a pic of your passengers cup holder?

I like Tim's idea, but I'm unsure it's going fit my cup holders.

Here is mine with and without my fattest foam koozie. Not a good fit

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #9 – April 19, 2015, 08:15:26 pm

In my U280 I bought a plastic dual cup holder from an auto parts store and screwed it to the wall just behind the switch cluster to the left. Worked great and cost less than five bucks.
Gary B

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #10 – April 19, 2015, 08:36:12 pm

Our adapter that we use when traveling is a 4" PVC coupling. I did dremel buzz the inside stop. It holds our hot & cold cups and water bottles. We wound tape around the bottom outside so it sticks tight inside original plastic cup holder rings.

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #11 – April 20, 2015, 10:13:05 am

Classy driver's side cup holder, original passenger's side. Passenger's side holders are only 3/4" deep. Normally OK but a big bump can tip something over.

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #12 – April 20, 2015, 10:27:44 am

Roger, I like the shoe idea, and when you want to change decor you just go by any Good will store for an update.

Gary B

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #13 – April 20, 2015, 11:23:21 am

Here are a few pictures of my cup holder and computer stand. It holds any size cup. It is Corian, to match the rest of our counter tops, and sits on walnut stands to match all walnut in the coach. The stand will lift, and clear, as usual.
Raymond

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #14 – April 20, 2015, 12:02:02 pm

Wow
Raymond that is really nice

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #15 – April 20, 2015, 05:12:34 pm

We found add-on plastic cup holders (installed by a PO) on both sides when we bought our coach. They sound like what Gary was describing. Work great, securely hold almost any size cup,mug or Coke bottle (with a foam insert), plus they have extra spaces for maps and cell phone, etc. Perfect position, even with the arm rests down. Only downside: screw holes in the wall. But since I didn't install them, I can't be blamed!

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #16 – April 21, 2015, 04:10:39 pm

Chuck, Those cupholders are exactly what I installed on my U280. Can't remember what auto parts store they came from.
Gary B

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #17 – April 21, 2015, 08:14:04 pm

Best part about the size13 cup holder is that they are insulating as well as stable. And then you can put them away when your done or wear them. 👟 Roger

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #18 – April 21, 2015, 08:22:01 pm

Roger, if an accident happens, do your feet smell like coffee or does your coffee smell like feet?

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #19 – April 21, 2015, 11:18:43 pm

Well, my Contigo thermous style coffee cup has a very positive seal and hasn't leaked yet even when I have knocked it over. I had a ceramic coffee cup in the slide out tray holder. I hit a bump and the cup broke in the holder. That was a mess. Roger

Cupholder insert

Reply #20 – April 29, 2015, 10:06:00 am

THis is what I use, it is from a Toyota RAV4 - pretty spendy new, best if you can get from a salvage yard: - fills OEM upholder perfectly, holds starbucks/mcdonalds/etc. securely

Genuine Toyota RAV4 Cup Console Box Holder Insert 2006 2011 55618 42040 | eBay

Toyota OEM part number is 55618-42040

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #21 – April 29, 2015, 04:37:05 pm

I am not sure but I cannot remember the last time (if ever) I have used that holder while driving. I do not drink untill we stop for lunch or night. I can go for hundreds of miles without water etc and never (even in car) have the radio or cd player on.!!
JohnH

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #22 – April 29, 2015, 08:15:46 pm

John, Drunk was asked by law enforcement officer when stopped in his MH if he had been drinking, He replied, H... yeah, you don't think I would try driving this big thing if I was sober do you ?

Gary B

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #23 – April 29, 2015, 08:31:14 pm

Quote from: Raymond Jordan – April 20, 2015, 11:23:21 am

Here are a few pictures of my cup holder and computer stand. It holds any size cup. It is Corian, to match the rest of our counter tops, and sits on walnut stands to match all walnut in the coach. The stand will lift, and clear, as usual.
Raymond

Raymond, love your cup holder and computer stand. Where did you get it? Would love the addition.

Thanks, take care.

Re: Cup holder improvements

Reply #24 – April 30, 2015, 01:39:07 pm

The FT cup holders work fine for a soft drink in a can cozie. For other drinks I us a soft plastic holder that sticks to the wood floor.

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