This is the front bench seat with the bed opened. It only allows 6" in between. I'll be using the top bunk for storage of most of the items you see plus some inside the bench seat.
How can I cut down these bench seats and the table to make more room ?
+9
I live in a 1976 Chevy RV mini-home. I would like to make more room, a small aisle, when the bed is open. My little home is in shambles because very soon after moving into it I had to have major surgery and my recovery is still ongoing. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for allowing me to ask my question.
Very sincerely,
Elizabeth Nice
The table is bolted to the floor. It does not fold down or come out. I do not need an extra bed anyway.
This is the back bench. I hope you can see that the back is bolted to a wall. But the part of the back that is not allows me to easily cut off a foot.
This is showing how the rear bench, and the front bench go down to the floor.
Why not try taking the shelves out al together, and also the top bunk bed, then refit some shelving if needed above your bed where the additional bunk bed was?
This should give lots more knee space and put the shelving in a more useful position....
Steve from the UK
we cut our bench down in our HILO this summer. we just took the pieces out and trimmed them down to cover the wheel well. then we placed a small chair in it's place and a fold down little table since we sleep on our table. made a huge difference in floor space for us to walk around our dogs. you could remove the benches and table all together and place chairs and a fold down table to allow for more floor space.
I agree. Sometimes the best way is to take it out and redo it the way you need or want it to be. It is less frustrating and more cost effective in the long run. And you can always cut down or reuse existing pieces to retrofit them to your design. And I hope your recuperation is going well. It's hard to get motivated when you're not feeling 100%.
if you need more room for storage of items you dont need to get to a lot , you could get a cargo carrier that you put luggage in & it goes on top of your suv or car , there made of heavy duty plastic , & hold a lot !
Taking everything out sounds like such a waste & way to much work to me! You said that the benches are storage so I would definitely keep them. If you cut like 6" to 10" off of the end of the table it would give a lot more moving around space. I would put baskets on the floor that you could pull out for more easy reach storage. I would cover the underneath area with a table skirt or curtain which would also hide the raw edge of the table. I love 2 sided, self adhesive Velcro or decorative upholstery tacks. I would keep all that nice top bunk space for storage of larger items (blankets, baskets of clothes etc.) and hide it with another curtain matching the table skirt. Matching pillows on the benches, place-mats etc. Same color theme, I mean doesn't have to all be the same fabric. Perhaps the top bunk mattress could go on top of yours so there would be a flat surface for the storage area & fashion your bed like a day bed that just stays in place. Not sure if this helps & good luck!
Hi Liz, I just saw all of the pictures & have a few more ideas. lol If you cut the table like almost to the base you could make it into a drop leaf. (hardware man could help with proper items). Can the TV sit on the table? Then you could watch it from the day bed. Also I saw a plastic drawer set that could hold smaller items & go up in the top bunk storage. Your 76 Chevy is worth a small fortune right now. And keeping it as close to original is important. I really, really wouldn't change too much. But that's just me. I wish I could help you in person. I love to sew & decorate & organize. :)
If it's not real wood and you cut it, you'll have a messy looking edge.
If you can see the bolts, they can be removed. If the RV is drivable, you might go by a Habitat for Humanity Restore Store early some morning and tell the staff that you'd like to donate the shelf and bench if they would please take it out for you.
You should probably do the same for the upper bunk -- but keep the second mattress if it is the same size and add it to your bed. It's easer to slide down off a higher bed than climb up out of a lower one, especially just after surgery. (personal experience).
While you're there, see if Habitat has any kitchen donated kitchen cabinets in stock that would fit to hang above your bed instead of the other bunk and/or place beneath it. If you explain the situation to the staff, you may be able to get them to hang any cabinets you buy for a modest donation -- or find a generous heart to do so for free. In my experience, Habitat has reasonable prices on good used donated stuff and the staff are some really good people.
Aside from the fact that the bench and shelf are in the way, your pictures don't actually show enough to enable more suggestions other than get rid of what is I the way that you don't need. Something mobile rather than affixed -- such as a foldable tv table/tray or a rolling one with legs that fit beneath the bed such as are used in hospitals -- would make more sense and at some point within the last year I've seen each at our local Habitat of Humanity Restore Store.
https://www.google.com/search?q=images+foldable+tv+table+tray&client=ubuntu&hs=OJ0&channel=fs&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwja56ySi4PWAhWryoMKHe-GCC8QsAQI_QE&biw=1218&bih=613
https://www.google.com/search?q=images+foldable+tv+table+tray&client=ubuntu&hs=OJ0&channel=fs&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwja56ySi4PWAhWryoMKHe-GCC8QsAQI_QE&biw=1218&bih=613
If your RV is not mobile, you might visit Habitat and discuss the problem with them anyway -- they know people that volunteer to help others and may be able to suggest someone to help you.
The fold-down idea for the table is a great one . Hardware stores have pull out "metal drop leaf support"s to make holding up the leaf easy. [i looked up the proper name of it, that's why the quotes] Do you need to take out/shorten both benches? Maybe just shorten the one that is really in your way. Or try taking out the table and the back bench and put the bench bottom back in, against the wall of the RV, butting up to the other bench for an L seat shape? If it would fit in between the wall and the table leg, you could keep the table.
Another thought...can you turn the top of the table so it extends over the benches more, but frees up front space some?
I've taken care of several disabled people in RVs and RV parks. Many have a storage shed in their park space. The main thing is to declutter and have a home for everything.
I too would remove that shelf. They do have handymen who are specialized in RVs and mobile homes that come out on call who might be able to help you. As a caregiver I did this for a client using a saw zaw to remove the piece first, then trimmed it out so it was presentable.
You can make the underside of your bed a good storage place by using drawers on rollers with a cloth cover and a pull handle. You can increase the height of the bed with leg adapters made for that. My clients also used their walls for increase bedroom storage of small items but can't put much weight on those vinyl walls and beware of electrical wiring.
Best of luck, hope you get yourself a caregiver to help you.