Discover This Cool RV Hiding Place
5th Wheel RVs have a basement. This is the area behind and below the king-pin where you'll find a massive storage compartment. This area is so large on many new 5ers that you could use it for separate living quarters for your mother-in-law. 
One of the problems I experienced with my 5ers was access to the stuff in the center of the basement. One of the ways you can solve this problem is to install a cargo tray that slides your gear out for easier access. Another way you can access you center basement is to install a trap door over the top.
Here is an example of how a fellow RVer used this technique to have easy access to a freezer. He installed an electric outlet in his basement and put in a freezer. He cut a hole in the floor, reinforcing the the area around the hole and installed a trap door. 
Now they can easily access the additional freezer and a few items in the center of the basement. I would not do this without first consulting with the RV manufacturer because there may be structural problems (cross beam supports) that may prevent you from doing this. It never ceases to amaze me at how creative RVers are when it comes to modifying their rigs to suit their purposes. Keeping you up to speed on cool ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
One of the problems I experienced with my 5ers was access to the stuff in the center of the basement. One of the ways you can solve this problem is to install a cargo tray that slides your gear out for easier access. Another way you can access you center basement is to install a trap door over the top.
Here is an example of how a fellow RVer used this technique to have easy access to a freezer. He installed an electric outlet in his basement and put in a freezer. He cut a hole in the floor, reinforcing the the area around the hole and installed a trap door. 
Now they can easily access the additional freezer and a few items in the center of the basement. I would not do this without first consulting with the RV manufacturer because there may be structural problems (cross beam supports) that may prevent you from doing this. It never ceases to amaze me at how creative RVers are when it comes to modifying their rigs to suit their purposes. Keeping you up to speed on cool ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
2 Comments:
I have a similar area in my big horn 5er. It does give you great additonal space for storage but, the difference in mine is that it is enclosed from the underneath and only accessible from the trap door inside. One point that was made to us was that there are a few other models that come with this type of trap door and, as the article stated, you can make one yourself BUT, the salesman was telling us about campers that had a trap door to the underneath and, how it was an easy access to thieves to gain access to the inside of your camper from the underneath. Ours is enclosed and no way to access our camper from the underneath storage area. Just a thought to consider.
By escaped_mom, at 5:11 AM
It's not so amazing if you think about this: Most of these RV owners were smart enough to be able to earn enough to afford their RV's. When they're relaxing they can't help but to think about how to solve problems that are immediate. Brain power plus buying power equals problem solved.
By tealeel, at 6:09 AM
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