shelf on hinges.. December 13, 2007, 03:31:03 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87124Underneath the lounge window behind the couch back cushion on the passenger side of my 1986 22' FL LD, is a shelf like thing that hangs down on hinges.. Is there a purpose for this item? Thanks in advance!Ellen D... In my Bodega Brown1986 22'FL/LD[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: shelf on hinges.. Reply #1 – December 13, 2007, 03:52:08 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87125I've got one of those too in my 83 and can't quite figure out what is it supposed to do other than give some angle to the back cushion of the couch when in "couch" mode. Mine has a sliding bolt to position it that way but when I undo the sliding bolt it doesn't do much. I suppose one could keep blankets or bedding behind it when not in use as a bed.
Re: shelf on hinges.. Reply #2 – December 13, 2007, 04:07:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87126"I can't quite figure out what is it supposed to do other than give some angle to the back cushion of the couch when in 'couch' mode." You got it, Rich--that's exactly what it's for. I have one on my 2003 midbath; I think pretty much any LD with a couch has this feature. Aside from holding the sofa back at a more comfortable angle, it gives you a great place to store bedding or other things.Only drawback is that it's hard to get into the space behind it without removing the whole cushion. But I found a good solution to that: unscrew the hinges on top, and let the "shelf" pivot on its bottom bolts instead. Then it's easy to tilt the top of the cushion and shelf forward just a few inches to get at what's behind them. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Storage ideas for a 26MB Reply #3 – December 13, 2007, 04:51:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87129I think this will concern only Mid Baths?1) There is a small space between the street side seat and the refrigerator. In the deepest part of that space, one could store brooms, long guns, etc. I am thinking buying or building a narrow cabinet with two or three drawers that would sit on the floor behind the seat - out of the way - to store things that are needed up front, but will not fit in the accursed doghouse. [Why Ford put four drink holders in the doghouse, for only two seats]Does anyone have any ideas for utilization of this space? 2) I am building a bottle rack behind the curbside seat. There is adequate room, even with the seat all the back to store five bottles vertically. I will post pictures when this is done in case anyone else has need to store beverage bottles.Home is where you roam Don & Dorothy, new to the cult Koko & Pelli
Re: shelf on hinges.. Reply #4 – December 13, 2007, 05:12:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87130"I have one on my 2003 midbath; I think pretty much any LD with a couch has this feature. Aside from holding the sofa back at a more comfortable angle, it gives you a great place to store bedding or other things."Both of our Front Lounge LDs had the same couch back. In the 2003 LD, the space has been put to better use by moving the hinge to the bottom, adding a key-lock and then building a tray, with dividers, to fit into the empty space. A small shelf, across the top, was added at the same time. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157602095131674/>You can never have too much storage space.This type of couch originally comes with a 4"X 6"X 72" foam pillow that fits behind the couch back and maintains a comfortable angle. The pillow waste a lot of space and is often removed by the owner.Larry http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/>
Re: shelf on hinges.. Reply #5 – December 13, 2007, 05:14:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87131We sleep on the drawn together sofas in our MB (we aren't into climbing a ladder for the cabover bed)...and I found that the passenger side sofaback has room for 3 bed pillows (2 foam and 1 down; one could squeeze in a 4th if 3/4 were down). We have to access the sofaback when making up the bed (we sleep side-by-side w/ feet to the front). I'm sure that we haven't yet begun to fully explore the space possibilities, but this one works for us. I use the space between the driver's seat and the refer for the little Camping World step stool and then my briefcase. Between the passenger seat and the dinette I have an RV size ironing board (I know, I know), my hiking pole, and I stuff lots and lots of those plastic shopping bags behind there...I'm always using them for something and they are great to baffle items during travel. Then we store the laptop in its case sliding it in from the aisle.Tina P 2006 MB "Wild Thing" Full-timing 31 Oct - May 2008"I can't quite figure out what is it supposed to do other than give some angle to the back cushion of the couch when in 'couch' mode."Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Storage ideas for a 26MB Reply #6 – December 13, 2007, 05:22:58 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87132Don - I look forward to seeing your pictures. We never travel without wine ( I think it might be illegal to do so :-) ), and we store bottles of wine in the flat cabinet on the curb side of the overhead bunk. It is just the right height to store bottles on their sides. I put every other bottle in an old sock to keep them from clinking together. I heard this from someone else, so I can't take credit for it, but it works great! Cheers!--Al in Bremerton --2002 26.5 MB
Re: Storage ideas for a 26MB Reply #7 – December 13, 2007, 05:42:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87135My vacuum, the Feline Funhouse & insulated coverings for vents fit
Re: shelf on hinges.. Reply #8 – December 13, 2007, 07:52:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87142Another reason for the hinges is so when you use the sofa as a bed, you undo the holding pins so that the back pivots on the upper hinges and when you lay the back cushion to the horizontal position for sleeping, you have a few more inches to stretch out if you push the pivoting shelf all the way back until it catches on the velcro behind it.JC
Re: Storage ideas for a 26MB Reply #9 – December 13, 2007, 09:50:16 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87157Now kids, why waste clean socks when you have those plastic bags that grocery stores insist on using (those recycle fabric bags are only as good as you remember to bring them into the store)...I wrap wine bottles in those bags and baffle same in the (a) dinette seat (MB model - dinette lift top seat-outside door cabinet, (b) under the sink, and (c) under refer cabinet. I've found that a bottle or two in the dirty laundry bag (which I've learned to store in the shower) works, too. It's all very exciting to find a bottle of wine unexpectedly on laundry day, not to mention when one is looking for a new roll of paper towels! Can recommend "Three Blind MIce," in a Pinot Grigio, here in FL Publix at $8.99 per, and a surprising "Conundrum" white table wine from CA, (if you can find 2005, really great; 2006 are more common now, and are quite good) in a screw top bottle for $22-25 (can be found (often) in grocery stores as well as dedicated liquor stores)...screw top wines are increasingly common and not just for beach picnics anymore! Can also confirm that 9 12-oz cans soda/beer/whatever fit in each of the bottom drawers of refer in MB. Outside door light often burns out at 200 hours; automotive bulb 1003; easily found at Auto Zone chain ((I'm sure among others; this is our recent experience); look for twin pak Sylvania 1003LL lamps; easily replaced by very non-handy owners. For those disinclined to remove the mirror in their MB bath, note I have purchased at Target, 3 of their 097 08 0515 bath suction caddy "holders." Placed them one above the other, spacing your choice, along the window side of the mirror, quite close to the blinds, leaving room for same to maneuver; caddies hold small items like chapstick/lipsticks, tweezers, Q-tips, mascara, nail polish...those small and light items which won't drag (my word) on the suction cups...which do appear to hold rather well for extended periods of time...and same items won't likely cause damage to the countertop should the suction cups fail...in any event, I do recommend that unless in use, keep toilet lid down as a general caution. We also find that for the two of us, the Target suction cup item that holds the toothpaste and toothbrushes (3--one each for us and one for company, or the cat) works great...fixed it above the sink (height depends upon users)...and put one of those magnifying suction cup mirrors just above that...in all, a very scary morning if the sun is just right...and if you can't take it, experience has informed us that a half-gallon of Dewars fits neatly (no pun intended) beneath the sink on the floor. Any one who needs to know about those suction cup thingies for the shower doo-dads, you'll just have to ask directly as I don't want Andy to have to blow the whistle before you just all die of exasperation.Tina P From Retirement...Gawd, it's Good!!!Al Kurkoski al@...> wrote: Don - I look forward to seeing your pictures. We never travel without wine ( I think it might be illegal to do so :-) ), and we store bottles of wine in the flat cabinet on the curb side of the overhead bunk. It is just the right height to store bottles on their sides. I put every other bottle in an old sock to keep them from clinking together. I heard this from someone else, so I can't take credit for it, but it works great! Cheers!--Al in Bremerton --2002 26.5 MB
Re: Storage ideas for a 26MB Reply #10 – December 15, 2007, 08:54:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87225"It's all very exciting to find a bottle of wine unexpectedly on laundry day, not to mention when one is looking for a new roll of paper towels!"I like the way you do housework!wolffie
Re: shelf on hinges.. Reply #11 – December 16, 2007, 08:51:46 am Yahoo Message Number: 87230Hey Andy, I tried your idea of taking off/disconnecting the hinges on the couch backboard and using the bottom latches as hinges on my t/k model. What a difference such a little thing can make. I use that space for files and extra reams of printing paper and dreaded going
Re: shelf on hinges.. Reply #12 – December 16, 2007, 10:01:42 am Yahoo Message Number: 87232Mine only has hinges on the top, nothing on the bottom or any sign there of. It just swings... That is what got me confused for its purpose.Ellen D... In my Bodega Brown 1986 22'FL/LDQuoteHey Andy, I tried your idea of taking off/disconnecting the hinges on The couch backboard and using the bottom latches as hinges [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: shelf on hinges Reply #13 – December 16, 2007, 11:11:09 am Yahoo Message Number: 87234"Mine only has hinges on the top, nothing on the bottom or any sign thereof. It just swings... That is what got me confused for its purpose."Very odd--it's hard to imagine the factory building it that way. Perhaps the bolt hardware was removed by a earlier owner...? There should be a brass-colored sliding bolt on each of the two lower corners of the shelf, similar to the sliding bolt that secures the pullout dinette seat in a midbath LD--the same type of sliding bolt commonly used to secure a garden shed's door. Also near the bottom of the shelf, on each wall there should be a small, brass-colored rectangular plate with a 3/8" hole that accepts the sliding bolt.If you don't have the bolts and plates, you can easily enough add them--almost any hardware store should stock this item.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: shelf on hinges Reply #14 – December 16, 2007, 12:48:30 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87235In the shorter units (we have a 23.5 FL) the backrest uses a spacer bolster rather than the hardware. You should have a small covered foam piece that will sit flat on the main cussion to hold the backrest out at the proper angle.ray-- Quote "Mine only has hinges on the top, nothing on the bottom or any sign thereof. It just swings... That is what got me confused for its purpose."Quote Very odd--it's hard to imagine the factory building it that way. Perhaps the bolt hardware was removed by a earlier owner...? There should be a brass-colored sliding bolt on each of the two lower corners of the shelf, similar to the sliding bolt that secures the pullout dinette seat in a midbath LD--the same type of sliding bolt commonly used to secure a garden shed's door. Also near the bottom of the shelf, on each wall there should be a small, brass-colored rectangular plate with a 3/8" hole that accepts the sliding bolt.If you don't have the bolts and plates, you can easily enough add them--almost any hardware store should stock this item.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: shelf on hinges Reply #15 – December 16, 2007, 12:54:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87236QuoteIn the shorter units (we have a 23.5 FL) the backrest uses a spacer bolster rather than the hardware. I suppose that depends on the year (and maybe floorplan?). Our 2004 TK had the hardware, not a spacer.Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: shelf on hinges Reply #16 – December 16, 2007, 01:22:13 pm Yahoo Message Number: 872372007 23.5FD Has hinges on top and bolts on bottom.Lynn
Re: shelf on hinges Reply #17 – December 16, 2007, 03:49:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87248Bolster rather than the hardware. You should have a small covered Foam piece that will sit flat on the main cushion to hold the backrest Out at the proper angle.>> This must be the case in my situation then... No sign of any hardware like that on my rig. I will still try to rig up something like Andy mentioned in his previous post. Sounds like a great idea to get some extra storage.Ellen D... In my Bodega Brown 1986 22'FL/LD[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Maintenance Checklist Reply #18 – December 29, 2007, 09:33:13 am Yahoo Message Number: 87619As both a new owner and a person afflicted with CRS. I took an existing maintenance checklist in PDF format, converted it to the ubiquitous Word format and uploaded it to: Files > Maintenance & Repairs, naming it Maintenance Checklist. I will use it by inserting the pages in "glassine" envelopes, so I can write in the scheduled maintenance next to each category with an erasable marker.You are welcome to download a copy and improve it for your needs.Home is where you roam Don & Dorothy, new to the cult Koko & Pelli
Bottle storage ideas for a MB Reply #19 – December 30, 2007, 04:44:32 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87680QuoteDon - I look forward to seeing your pictures. We never travel without wine ( I think it might be illegal to do so :-) --Al in Bremerton --2002 26.5 MB OK, Al here they are. http://tinyurl.com/2bfyfhI wanted the bottles low and accessible. Some things just can not wait!I choose to use the space behind the passenger seat. If you stagger the bottle holes you can get 2 or 3 more bottles in the space. However, you may not be able to fully recline the seat. Being 6' 4", I decided to have only 4 bottle holes. This is a simple project. If you don't have a 2 1/2 inch hole saw, try to borrow one. I glued a brace to the bottom of the holder and put four holes through it into the front dinette. Two of the holes are through an existing brace.The last picture shows another place where two glass bottles can be stored. Also low and accessible.PS I have not had gotten a legal opinion on the proximity of the storage and open container laws.Home is where you roam Don & Dorothy, new to the cult Koko & Pelli
Re: Bottle storage ideas for a MB Reply #20 – December 31, 2007, 09:15:39 am Yahoo Message Number: 87703QuoteI choose to use the space behind the passenger seat. In our '83 FL - and I highly expect in your LD as well - the exhaust passes under this area, heating it way beyond ideal wine storage conditions. Still, this is where we store ours, but we use several wet-suit insulated portable carriers that hold 2 bottles each, on top of a towel, and we travel mostly in colder weather. This also gives us the flexibility to move the carriers around as needed, and as they squish small when empty, the space becomes available for other uses as the trip progresses.Steve
Re: Bottle storage ideas for a MB Reply #21 – December 31, 2007, 04:50:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87734When we downsized to our 04MB, I took the old wine rack from the SOB and removed a few sections. It is made from dowels and hexagon pieces. Ours holds 9 bottles and is located