A question about storage under the rear sofa - MY SOLUTION!

Photomom · May 2016

There is quite a bit of storage behind and under the sofa, and I was anticipating keeping our sleeping bags and bed pillows there. I am not sure I want our bedding touching the spare tire (which I intend to keep there for now) and there are wires had hoses on both sides that probably shouldn't be disturbed.

It occured to me that I might be able to cut a piece of 1/8" plywood to rest on top of the boards you can see along the walls and in the middle. I could put my bedding on top of that to keep it off the tire and other stuff.

Has anyone done anything like that?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/c8/uyqfo9iw4fgb.jpg

Tabaz · May 2016

Some of us had our Alde reservoirs leak. I had a comforter under the seat on the driver's side. Went to make the bed only to find the comforter wet with Alde fluid. I now use Costco 33 gallon bags for all my bedding that goes behind the bench seat. BTW, the dry cleaning bill was almost as much as a new comforter.

ScottG · May 2016

I've pondered the same project. My impression was that the additional thickness of the plywood (1/4" minimum) might impede laying the back bench flat, and possibly damage the hinges.

Not that it's not a good idea, just that you would have to recess the panel(s) somehow so they don't add to the height of the frame.

Photomom · May 2016

Good point. Maybe I'll use plastic bags for now. It is too big a space to leave unused.

Allie · May 2016

Can a plastic bin be found to fit? If one is found that fits the length and width dimensions, but is too high, it can be cut down.

Verna · May 2016

@Photomom, I use either those XXXL Ziplock bags or a space bag for my sleeping bag, winter parka, etc. I had the same thought about not wanting to clean or wash if there was a leak.

Nomad · May 2016

I have three of those canvas covered bins (roughly a foot cubed each) and store canned goods etc under there.

jkjenn · May 2016

PXLated said:

I have three of those canvas covered bins (roughly a foot cubed each) and store canned goods etc under there.

How do you reach it? Do you only put it on the passenger side?

Verna · May 2016

jkjenn said:

PXLated said:

I have three of those canvas covered bins (roughly a foot cubed each) and store canned goods etc under there.

How do you reach it? Do you only put it on the passenger side?

Jen, I had 4 of those cubes under the passenger side rear seat. It worked well.

jkjenn · May 2016

Thanks, @Verna . I have been considering those cubes, but not yet pulled the trigger.

I am going to put a suitcase with work clothes in the far back behind the Alde. I might put it in a giant Ziplock or elevate it an inch or two.

Verna · May 2016

jkjenn said:

Thanks, @Verna . I have been considering those cubes, but not yet pulled the trigger.

I am going to put a suitcase with work clothes in the far back behind the Alde. I might put it in a giant Ziplock or elevate it an inch or two.

@jkjenn, I know you're taller than me, but check first to make sure you can pick up the Ziplock since it's such a long reach. A reaching clamp (whatever you call those things that you operate two clamps to pick up something) sure comes in handy.

jkjenn · May 2016

Thanks, @Verna . I will probably put a rope through the handles. I am tall enough to reach, but that angle makes it easy to pinch a nerve in your neck.

DougandMia · May 2016

We had the some idea, Photomom, but the bench wouldn't lay flat. It is amazing how much storage space there is back there. You never know what you might find.

.

Nomad · May 2016

Jenn - Yep, just the passenger side. Sleeping stuff goes behind the upright bench - easy to pull out and put back.

Verna · May 2016

DougandMia said:

We had the some idea, Photomom, but the bench wouldn't lay flat. It is amazing how much storage space there is back there. You never know what you might find. .

Oh my goodness! We found a Doug!

jkjenn · May 2016

PXLated said:

Jenn - Yep, just the passenger side. Sleeping stuff goes behind the upright bench - easy to pull out and put back.

Yeah, my sleeping stuff goes back there, too. Bed is made in under 30 seconds.

Ratkity · May 2016

Now you have photo proof that Doug can crawl underneath and pick up the leetle bitty things you accidentally dropped and rolled into the area. Muhahahahahaha!

DougandMia · May 2016

Now if we could only figure out how to get him out of there.......

cbarnhill · May 2016

My favorite mod. Since I travel solo, sleep wheel-to-wheel, and have a memory foam mattress (2"), I like to keep the bed made. I can still ratchet the bed up 1 notch for tv watching or all the way for company with it still made. Having access to that area from outside for the essentials saved me from carrying so much stuff in my TV.

Moderator's note: photos edited for size.

ChanW · May 2016

I'm itching to do that mod. We usually leave the bed made, too much work to remake it.

I'd love to find a way to add a hatch to both sides.

Cyclonic · May 2016

Another mod I have seen done that I am itching for is to make the couch double hinged so that it can be lifted from the bottom for easier access to that space. Would be really nice to be able to simply slide my bedroll behind the couch and leave the couch up.

Photomom · June 2016

I wanted to make sure the top surface was not higher than the boards that the sofa rests on when in sleeping position, but I also wanted to make sure that whatever I did was lightweight, removable, and didn't block any air flow. I initially thought of using wire shelving (e.g. Closetmaid) but the sizes weren't what I needed. So I constructed barriers from wooden dowels, spaced around 3" apart. The boards the dowels fit into rest on angle brackets that are screwed into the wooden 2x4s and other wooden parts, and secured by wing nuts so they can be easily removed if necessary.

Passenger side:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/5a/883wbhvg065z.jpg

Driver side:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/9v/x32kbgcychtq.jpg

I have two 26x78 thermarests, two rectangular sleeping bags, two fleece bag liners, two full size bed pillows, and the two PVC bench extensions that I previously posted, in the space behind the couch back. And nothing will get into the area where the hoses and wires and potentially spilled Alde fluid are.

Very happy with this solution, but working in that space was very difficult!

Photomom · June 2016

The entire area under the passenger side of the rear bench is still open. We have the spare tire in there now but ultimately will use it for food storage.

Photomom · June 2016

There is still a little unused space under the dowel "shelves" but my arms aren't long enough to reach there for anything, so no loss!

ScottG · June 2016

Nice solution. I just happen to have some dowels kicking around, so I think this might have moved up on the project list!

As you have probably already noted, the space under the dowels on the passenger side is continuous with the area where your spare now lives. I use that space to store long items such folding chairs and awnings that I only need to access when first setting up camp. The other side is blocked by the Alde, but I'm sure I'll come up with some little-needed item I can cram into that space, as well.

Photomom said:

There is still a little unused space under the dowel "shelves" but my arms aren't long enough to reach there for anything, so no loss!

Photomom · June 2016

These are 3/8 inch dowels spaced approximately every 3 inches. I believe that is sufficient for the stuff I'm putting back there. If you have heavier or smaller objects you may want to adjust accordingly. I also have one screw securing the angle brackets to the wooden trailer framing, you could beef that up too if you are storing heavier things.

In retrospect I should have investigated removing the sofa back as it was very difficult working back there.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much space there is behind the sofa. Perfect for bedding.

Ramrod · August 2016

Ramrod · August 2016

Thanks Photomom for the inspiration

Photomom · August 2016

Excellent, @Ramrod, what type of wire grid did you use? That's the sort of thing I originally wanted to do but couldn't find anything that would work.

jkjenn · August 2016

I use the space under the wire rack for storage, too. With your set up, you would have to pull everything out when you make the bed, correct?

Ramrod · August 2016

It is a closet wire shelf from Lowe's. It is attached with screws. Helps keep the mattress topper behind the sofa, protects the Alde plumbing and simplifies storage under bench on the passenger side.

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A question about storage under the rear sofa - MY SOLUTION!

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