Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

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Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

July 19, 2018, 08:31:20 pm

So... we are in the market for a larger coach. I'm wanting to stay Grand Avila and maybe go 93-96 GV Diesel with the cool unihome body and huge basement storage.

Gonna do a little interior gutting and floor plan modifications. Make a triple bunk for the kids in one. Have lots of ideas and drawings depending on the floor plan and model we eventually find.

My question is this... can major plumbed appliances be moved and just recipes to the tanks? Or are they drained directly into the tanks? Does anyone know?

For example... if I wanted to move the shower... could I do that by just putting it in its new location and rerunning drain and supply pipes? Are the pipes sandwiched between the subfloor? Are the pipes in the storage compartment?

I don't currently have any plans that involve doing major moves like this. More just changing minor existing spaces and cabnitry to do what I want...

But if it's possible to do this kind of relocation... without having to do a complete gut (which I don't want to do). Just kind of want to switch rooms around. I'll start thinking about it.

It may be a better question to ask after I've got a coach and can take it into MoT or Foretravel.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #1 – July 19, 2018, 09:46:33 pm

I suppose anything is possible, but even in a 40' coach, there is little flexibility to rearrange the "rooms". I think moving the shower would be tough to do, because where else would it go except in the bathroom? On our coach, the toilet sits directly over the black tank (Drop & Plop), and the shower is slightly offset from the grey tank, but still very close. The shower floor is raised up above the coach floor level to make enough room for the (nearly) horizontal shower drain pipe and u-trap.

Your best bet is to find a floor plan that is the closest to what you think you need, and then make reasonable changes. Modifying the furniture to your liking can certainly be done. The floor plan diagrams at Beamalarm are helpful in visualizing layouts:

Foreforums Foretravel Wiki

I know you are familiar with Trent and Siobhan Walker (Walkerfam7), and the changes they made to accommodate their 5-boy crew. They managed to fit all the kids into the bedroom space, which was quite a feat, in my opinion. You might be able to adapt some of their modifications.

Tour of our 95 U300SE, Including bunk room remodel!

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #2 – July 19, 2018, 10:10:21 pm

Just so happens we ran into Trent and Siobhan at a Thousand Trails park in Hershey PA just last week!

Very nice people and they give us one of their CDs. Their youtube channel was on the CD so I checked it out.

Here is the link to a video that where they show off the mods they have done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG4Bjyi0n-w&t=1325s

As you your question I will respond with the response from a Bell Labs guy I was working with. Everything is possible with time and money.

As for the plumbing there is not much room between the tanks and the floor. You would need to keep the standard 1/4" drop in plumbing to get everything to flow correctly. You would have some leeway but not much. I would stick to the WTB (Walk Through Bath) and avoid the side aisle coaches unless you really want to get crazy.

Putting the kids in the back with early bedtimes will give you some private time in the front of the coach. An air mattress pad on a jackknife sofa would go a long way towards making that doable.

see ya
ken

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #3 – July 19, 2018, 11:28:56 pm

Maybe talk to a fiberglass man, may be easier and better to add bunk space over the cockpit like a "c" RV. Just a thought. With all of our stuff on the roof it may improve aerodynamics.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #4 – July 20, 2018, 01:24:14 am

With our 36 foot WTBI, the dinette could be removed just to the left of the entry and a double for kids installed. Even a bunk arrangement with curtains from privacy. Don't think I would do much in the bath as it's perfect now and there is not that much room as posed above between the floor and the tanks. I want to run larger radiator hoses to the front but having a hard time because of the tight floor to tank clearance.

With a double bed just on the left of the wooden entry wall, that wall (for lack of a better word) could be made to fold down so someone taller could fit in the space. Would have to fold it up to exit the coach.

Pierce

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #5 – July 20, 2018, 09:42:17 am

Yeah... my plan is to turn the dinette space to the left of the door into a triple bunk. And put in a table in the living room. When I figure out how to get better drawings. I'll show you.

But I had another idea that involves moving the shower... didn't think it would be possible. But i figured I'd check.

Thanks!

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #6 – July 20, 2018, 10:09:06 am

The living room already has a pull up and out table unless it's the model with two sofas. Perhaps not easily seen in the drawings online.

Pierce

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #7 – July 21, 2018, 03:09:49 pm

It does have the pull out table. We will be removing that and adding a second couch. Maybe. And building a beauty wide table that would go between the two couches. And half would fold down easily If you only want one side. Or the whole thing could be taken down and put under couch storage.

This will give us room for 6 to eat. And plenty of room for homeschool work.

Still in the idea phase though... we have to buy the bigger coach first.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #8 – July 21, 2018, 03:46:57 pm

Don't want to steer you away from Foretravel but every now and then a coach is up for sale that has had a fire and needs to be
remodeled,may be something to look at.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #9 – July 21, 2018, 04:25:16 pm

I agree. There was a FT that had some fire damage at MOT about a month ago when we were there. Might be worth an inquiry.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #10 – July 21, 2018, 04:28:47 pm

Quote from: AKATheAlchemist – July 21, 2018, 03:09:49 pm

Or the whole thing could be taken down and put under couch storage.

Under couch storage space can be limited, depending on the year/model of the coach. Under our original couch, for instance, there is a pull-out drawer that is handy for storing pillows and extra blankets, but that's about it. The rest of the space is occupied by the front propane furnace and associated ducting, plus the supporting structure of the couch itself. Other models may have more or less room.

If you added a second couch on the other side, however, it could be designed to provide more useable storage space.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #11 – July 21, 2018, 05:20:56 pm

Quote from: Forewheelers – July 21, 2018, 04:25:16 pm

I agree. There was a FT that had some fire damage at MOT about a month ago when we were there. Might be worth an inquiry.

The last that I knew, MOT was evaluating drivetrain (and other components below floor level) salvage value. Interior components above floor level pretty much done for.

ARPrv (Absorption Refrigerator Protection) Poster Child

HTH,
Neal

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #12 – July 21, 2018, 07:36:12 pm

I built several custom Corian or Formica center drop leaf tables long ago to go between one or two couches. Both sides dropped as you mentioned. Installed leg pockets in floor with carpet plugs to fill holes between use. Obviously carpeted floors. Foretravel used to offer two Formica tables on removeable posts that stored in a cedar vertical box in the closet mounted to one side. Two heads. Then the two metal posts with crimped ends.

We moved one couch away from the drivers wall far enough to slip the folded down on both sides table head.

Raise up the side(s) and turn out the edge supports. The couch backs will be fairly far away from the table. Need a back cushion to allow closer use.

Sure you do not want a 40' at your rate?

If this was easy little kids would do this.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #13 – July 21, 2018, 07:48:55 pm

About those table tops that fit into the floor... our new to US. 86 GV has the two tables and support poles in the closet as you mentioned... but there are NO floor holes to mount the poles... wonder if P.O. re-carpeted and covered up the mounting holes in the floor. Maybe find the holes and cut out the carpet and place stainless rings to keep carpet from unraveling.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #14 – July 21, 2018, 08:52:48 pm

Quote from: Neal Pillsbury – July 21, 2018, 05:20:56 pm

The last that I knew, MOT was evaluating drivetrain (and other components below floor level) salvage value. Interior components above floor level pretty much done for.

ARPrv (Absorption Refrigerator Protection) Poster Child

HTH,
Neal

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #15 – July 21, 2018, 08:55:23 pm

I did not know the extent of the damage just seeing it from a distance. Looked bad though.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #16 – July 22, 2018, 10:32:41 am

Subsliked, the hole ARE there.. try pulling a hand full of carpet up along the couch about 2" from the edge.
There are plugs that fit into the hole-EXPERTLY MADE

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #17 – July 22, 2018, 11:13:00 am

The safe is also expertly hidden under the carpet. My PO owned it for 20 years and did not know it had a safe. Of course he therefore did not know the combination.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #18 – July 22, 2018, 11:46:30 am

Foretravel likely has the combo, even for that age coach.

You will likely need to provide them a copy of title or registration so they know the unit is yours.

Re: Question about moving major stuff in floor plan on GrandVilla Unihome

Reply #19 – July 22, 2018, 03:39:53 pm

Our existing coach has the Formica tables that go in the closet.

@caflashbob - cool to know you built these tables and made it work.

We were planning on adding a second couch and making it so the tcouch is designed to stow the table we design.

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