Sewer Hose storage solution

Pop-T@B

This is my first post, so here it goes. Hello everyone, my wife and I just bought our T@B S Max last month and are thrilled with it.  We are really impressed with the quality and workmanship that was put into it, I truly feel it is one of the best built units out there. But as with everything, I like to tinker with it. One of the things I was looking on the forum for was a good place to store the sewer hose away from everything else. I am one of those guys that has to have a place for everything.  I did see quite a few great ideas, but I was still looking for a way to keep it away from everything that was not sewer related. As every owner knows storage space is a precious item on these great little RV’s. So I looked around and found a space that was not being used at all, it was the space between the “A” frame tongue and it goes clear back under the front storage box. I took some cardboard and made templates for the top and bottom and went to work. I made the bottom piece with expanded metal and the top door is made with aluminum. The top door in the picture is the prototype, the finished door will be made of diamond plate to match the front of the T@B. The storage area is big enough to store two standard 10' sewer hoses and fittings, a sewer solutions drain with 20' of hose, a 25' non-potable water garden hose, and black water treatment drop ins.  The guys that make the T@B go to great lengths to make a great looking unit and I did not want to ruin that, so here is what I made. Please let me know what you guys think!

 Thanks, Shawn

bgualtieri

Very nice!!

DurangoTaB

Ditto to bg...nice!  

Nomad

Ya, nice job. I have my tire mounted up there so would need a few adjustments but could still work. Don't see your hookup cable. Mine is wrapped around the frame (the extra). What did you do for that?

Pop-T@B

PXLated, if you are asking about the 7pin trailer connecter cable, when the jack was removed I fed it thru the end of the frame and comes out next to the ball mount. there is plenty of room for the cable. when the jack is not mounted, I make a loop in the extra cable and use one of the pins thru the mounting plate on the frame to hold it in place.

Nomad

Ahhhh - Thanks

Photomom

That would be a great factory option!

Pop-T@B

Photomom,  Yes I agree, I would love to discuss this with the factory! It really makes a great space for something no one wants to see or touch. It keeps everything nasty, away from the things we need to get to, like the propane tank and battery, plus it gives us more storage space. Maybe they will contact me, or we may just see it as an option on future T@B's 

Thanks for your input!

Nomad

I alerted Mike and Verna to this thread so they may be passing it on to the factory guys.

JodellR

This is a really great solution!  Knowing how much this forum enjoys discussing names, I took the liberty of brainstorming in case this becomes a real feature.

How about the Toilet T@binet?  
Slogan: "Hoses stowed where they are towed to"...

Too soon?

Nomad

It could be used for other things besides hoses.

Photomom

I will be ordering our T@B with the front aluminum platform, with the intent of mounting a couple of plastic storage boxes on either side of the propane cover. I was thinking that one would be for sewer related stuff and the other for potable water hoses, filters, etc. Ideally I would like to have everything needed for setting up the trailer in or on the trailer itself. This would be an excellent place for storing anything you'd rather have in the trailer than the TV.

Pop-T@B

JodellR,  very clever name, I really haven't  thought of any, wasn't sure if anyone would like it or not.  How about Sto-T@binent ?

JodellR

Sto-T@binet is great.

 

Playc

Shawn- Great idea and thanks for sharing.

Would you please post the detail including parts, materials,  dimensions,  etc.

Like to use your list and go to (Lowes?) and build the same. Hope it's not too difficult. 

Pop-T@B

I do not have the dimensions written down, I used a template ( I figured I was only going to make one). Here is how I made it, I held a large piece of cardboard up against the bottom of the a-frame and had my wife trace the outside of it, then I trimmed it out and around the gray water drain pipe so it fit flat against the bottom of the frame. I added about 5" to the length of the template, this was the part I bent up at a 90 degree angle for the back edge. I used 1/8" expanded metal for the bottom, trimmed it to match the template with a hand held angle grinder with a cutting wheel in it, bent the back lip up with a hammer and block of wood, checked fitment and made any adjustments needed for a nice fit, painted it and attached with SS self tapping screws. one note I capped the protruding screws on the inside of the frame rails so the wouldn't damage the hoses when they were stored in the compartment. the top plate was done with the same template, just not as long, it goes back under the front box about "3.5-4", the hinge point is 14" from the center of the curve on the plate the jack is mounted to. It is currently made out of 3/16" aluminum plate ( but I am going to change that to diamond plate) with a welded on aluminum piano hinge, this could be bolted on if you don't have a welder. the lock is a is the same ones used on the outside shower door lock they can be picked up at the local HD or Lowes, drilled the proper sized hole with a stepped drill bit to install the lock. The top is then bolted on with 4- SS bolts with lock nuts. It took me about 4-5 hours to lay it out and to get the parts cut and fitted, the paint took a little longer for drying time, I also clear coated the aluminum to keep it looking good. I hope this is enough detail to get you going on it, if you are ever in Ohio you are welcome to stop by an check it out in person

RollingLagrima

Good stuff!

Playc

Shawn - Thank you very much.  We are in Texas.  Post if you plan to visit our state parks.  Hope to see you in campgorunds sometime.

Verna

Pop-T@B, Pleasant Valley really likes your hose storage idea. It has been sent to the R&D department.. Thanks. 

Nomad

Cool

Pop-T@B

Verna,

Thank you for sending it to Pleasant Valley, hopefully they contact me. It would be great to see it offered as a standard feature or as an option.  Thanks everyone for your interest and positive feedback

Photomom

Wonder what the turnaround time for new ideas is? We are ordering in October for next spring delivery! I would totally get this.

Photomom

Oh, and @Pop-T@B , I think your wonderful craftsmanship is responsible for the interest in this. It looks really nice, like it might have been there all along.

JodellR

@Pop-T@B , for a humble first post on this forum, you knocked it out of the park!  

Nomad

Photomom - Betting awhile but it would probably be considered an accessory you could order anytime and you or a dealer could easily drop in.

Playc

Shawn - Just a thought, may be you should turn this to a venture.  Twit the design and make install like IKEA does. I'll be your first customer. 

Pop-T@B

Thank you all for your kind comments!!!  I am a very picky person when it comes to adding something to anything I own. Little Guy builds such a great looking RV with the T@B, there was no way I was going to ruin it's appearance.  I was going for something that looked like it belonged.  From what all of you are telling me, I think I may have achieved that.   Thank you!!!!

webcrawler

Very nice design!!!
 
The expanded metal at the bottom is an especially nice touch....

ELK

Thoughtfully done!!! Great idea!

Nomad

Was wondering the same.

Photomom

Sandra said:

Did I miss this? What are the two black 'pipes' in the 5th picture?

The picture @Pop-T@B posted on Sept. 28 shows two black tubes mounted on the passenger side of the tongue. I think he has some other neat mod he "needs" to tell us about!