Thor Forums

[FW28z]

I converted the forward under seat void in my dinette to storage as it too was simply screwed down. Don't know why Thor didn't provide storage space in that area as it seems a waste of space.

I first thought it might be due to weight concerns as the dinette is located on the slide out... but I noticed that newer coaches of my same model do have a storage drawer in the dinette. So it is probably more cutting corners than anything else. Or perhaps the weight concern was alleviated in later years.

One thing I was concerned with though is if I removed the screws holding the top down, it could become a hazard when driving down the road if I had to quickly stop. I don't want the seat top and all of the inside contents to come flying out in a panic stop.

To solve that concern, I used velcro to line the under surface of the seat top so it will not come off in such a situation. I applied velcro to the front, back, and both sides of the top and base, and to my surprise, it held so well it was difficult to remove... so I had to remove the velcro along the two sides.

Even now, the Admiral (my wife in boat speak - I don't know what the proper equivalent RV term is) - she cannot pull the seat top off without my help because the velcro is so strong. But that means the top is pretty secure.

editorial note: no, calling the wife Admiral in the boating world is not derogatory, it is complementary. You see, the Admiral lets the Captain (husband) pilot the boat, but the Admiral (wife) actually owns the boat and makes all of the command decisions. Afterall, an Admiral outranks a Captain.

But I digress...

A future project will be to add a drawer to the side of the rear seat base. But the other doors in the coach are made so cheaply that even though I am an accomplished woodworker, I cannot replicate cheap to match them. Those doors are typically wrapped with vinyl, and not cabinet-grade hardwoods.

So I think I will make a trip next spring to a RV surplus outfit I know of - located in Elkhart, In (about an hour from where I live), and see if I can find a matching cheap door/drawer front.

My rear seat base also has seatbelts along with some electrical wiring in it, so I cannot use it just as a storage bin, which is why I am considering installing a drawer to clear those obstacles.

And an observation. I don't let anyone sit in the dinette (located on the slide out) while we are moving - even though it has seatbelts. I should remove them. My concern is if we have any kind of an accident, the only thing preventing the slideout from getting chucked out the side of the RV is a couple of Schwintek gears. Not a comforting thought.