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Baby Gate

I am making preparations for the upcoming season and our travels.  High on the list is the design and installation of a baby gate before Miss Annabelle makes progress from sitting to crawling and walking. My current theory is to make a post with a bracket to the right of the stairs as you enter using a plate on the floor that attaches to the same mount for the easy chair.  My struggle is that I want to make the gate hinge and slide behind the half wall on the left of the stairs as we are removing the dinette to make room for the playpen. Currently I am in the broad strokes stage so any suggestion of kits or hardware etc are appreciated. I am trying to avoid putting a whole bunch of holes in that I have to try to hide when I can remove it all.
Toby a 94 u280
Cummins 8.3
6 speed Allison
Exhaust brake


Adopted by Derek and Annabelle

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #1 –
How about a hinged cover that would fold up against the half wall when you are using the stairs.  When you are not using the stairs it would fold down to cover the stair well and make a flat floor in front of the door.  Probably wouldn't be any more hassle than the baby gate, and would gain you a few extra square feet of real estate inside the coach when it was down.

I actually seriously considered doing this to our coach, after the DW almost fell down the stair well right after we got our GV.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
How about a hinged cover that would fold up against the half wall when you are using the stairs.  When you are not using the stairs it would fold down to cover the stair well and make a flat floor in front of the door.  Probably wouldn't be any more hassle than the baby gate, and would gain you a few extra square feet of real estate inside the coach when it was down.

I actually seriously considered doing this to our coach, after the DW almost fell down the stair well right after we got our GV.

I actually did this to the '81 as when my wife would go the refrigerator to get me a Pepsi she fell into the well while I was driving after that I made the cover.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #3 –
I had initially thought that a cover would be the way to go but I was concerned about how heavy I would have to make it and how cumbersome it would be to pull the cover up from inside the coach with a baby in hand. My friend had a factory cover in front of his passenger seat for when in motion and it was a long way down to stow it away from inside. @craneman how did you lift the cover out of the way from inside?
Toby a 94 u280
Cummins 8.3
6 speed Allison
Exhaust brake


Adopted by Derek and Annabelle

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #4 –
How about an 'inverted stair' made of blocks of high density foam.
Light, easy to pull out and a soft landing if she falls?
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #5 –
@dave head that's an idea that never crossed my mind. That would really eliminate adding any holes to the interior.
Toby a 94 u280
Cummins 8.3
6 speed Allison
Exhaust brake


Adopted by Derek and Annabelle

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #6 –
Quote from: its toby –
I had initially thought that a cover would be the way to go but I was concerned about how heavy I would have to make it and how cumbersome it would be to pull the cover up from inside the coach with a baby in hand. My friend had a factory cover in front of his passenger seat for when in motion and it was a long way down to stow it away from inside. @craneman how did you lift the cover out of the way from inside?
Didn't have baby in hand. Had small hole to put my finger in and it wasn't heavy 1/2" ply wood. Our coaches are probably different but middle entrance and width of steps should be similar.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #7 –
The wife has a couple of big bed wedges. A sharp knife, some glue and fabric - put a velcro band around it for a handle.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #8 –
I'm surprised they didn't make an air step cover optional for mid entries...
One could engineer a built in sliding cover just like a drawer.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #9 –
The foam would be at least an excellent temporary option and a good one to try first. If nothing else it buys me some time only have a month until the first trip and working six day weeks right now. The sliding drawer might work if I find some really great drawer slides and figure out what is under the main floor behind  the steps.
Toby a 94 u280
Cummins 8.3
6 speed Allison
Exhaust brake


Adopted by Derek and Annabelle

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #10 –
Quote from: its toby –
...and figure out what is under the main floor behind  the steps.
If it's like our coach, under the steps is open area in your forward storage bay.  That is where my original inverter was mounted, along with the 12v aux air compressor.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #11 –
@chuck & Jeannie  that's a good long term solution.  In the mean time I am attempting to figure out which short term solution will function better for me either the gate or the foam. (wood working guy comes sunday)  Also on the books is removing the factory dinette to create space for the play pen. 

For those of you who have removed the dinette am I up for any hidden suprises? I see some of you have reused the brace that comes out the wall for the table top to support the shelf but I will be removing it completely.
Toby a 94 u280
Cummins 8.3
6 speed Allison
Exhaust brake


Adopted by Derek and Annabelle

Re: Baby Gate

Reply #12 –
Quote from: its toby –
For those of you who have removed the dinette am I up for any hidden surprises?
There is probably a duplex electrical outlet on the support, which will have to be relocated (to the wall?).
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"