In the galley area, just under the stove a handy bit of space is used by the cook for excess food storage. She carefully puts things that aren't weather or bug sensitive there--canned goods, or dried stuff in air-tight containers. Across the way and under the refrigerator is a handy space that the driver keeps a couple of extra quarts of oil, brake fluid, etcetera.
To some the oddest use is that found in the driver side rear "compartment." Here is inserted a small plastic dishpan, just wide enough to squeeze between the truck bed side and the side of the camper. In the dishpan, cat litter. Nope, we don't keep it there for traction on icy roads (we avoid icy roads by staying where it's warm) but rather, for its original purpose. Yep, our traveling cat uses the pan as her litter box. She access the litter box through a "pet door" we built into the factory access door. Keeps that cat litter (and smell) outside the rig, but keeps the cat safe.When we're settled for a while and want the truck free of camper, a special "kitty condo" mounts up to the side of the camper and she has access to fresh air and cat box.
So how about you? Have any unusual uses for your basement storage? Drop a line to editor at icanrv dot com.
4 comments:
I love that you have considered the cat. What a wonderful idea.
I don't have a TC, but I think I'd be inclined to go for extra battery storage in at least one of the areas. The oil & tool storage is also a good idea, as is food/water storage.
I use it for three things. I do not have any access doors. On the driver's side in front, I installed two 6v Trojan batteries in series, and tied it to the camper's 12v system. They just fit, in battery boxes. I mounted two thin plastic rv style "cutting boards" as chafe strips to protect the camper. I take the camper off of the truck several times a year and service the batteries then. I also added a special type of oil to the cells and special caps to reduce water evaporation, both inexpensive add-ons.
On the back driver's side I added a small metal cabinet that again just fits, plus the same "chafe strips". When I take the camper off of the truck and use it off-truck for camping, it has to have the bottom supported. So I took a sheet of 1/2" plywood and cut 6"x10" rectangles, notched then to fit together (4 per brace), made 6 braces and 6 flat pieces for the tops, and they all just fit in the cabinet. That way if I need to live in the camper off truck I have the braces ready to go and accessible once the camper is removed from the truck.
On the passenger's side, I had a fuel tank custom made (it was not all that expensive) that is an inverted "u" shape; it fills the space in front of and behind the wheel well as well as on top of the wheel well, to the level of the top of the bed rail. It holds just under 50 gallons. I added tapped in hose fittings (I had threads for the fittings aluminum welded into the tank) and connected a rubber fuel hose just in front of the wheel well (at the inboard corners by the wheel well at bed level) to allow the front and rear halves of the tank to flow/equalize. I also added a check valve in line in the hose so fuel would flow to the front half from the rear, but not visa versa. I also had the manufacturer install a fuel fill fitting (top of tank) and another threaded outflow fitting (bottom forward corner). When I need the fuel I flip a dash switch which pumps the (diesel) fuel through a filter and ties into the OEM main tank filler neck. All of these parts can be purchased on the internet. Having approximately 100 gallons of fuel (OEM plus aux tank) gives me a great range plus allows me to bypass high fuel price areas. I also added the same "chafe strips" to the side of the camper.
The only problem with these mods is that it is now a careful process to mount the camper on the truck - it must be a relatively level flat surface and one must back the truck carefully and straight.
But I love the mods and would do them again. I might add that I have two solar panels on the camper roof and boondock a lot.
We use the front right for fold up chairs, 2 small folding tables, table cloth and put table cloth holders in small coke holder. All we need to put out on the patio in one space
What a great spot for the Kitty Potty. We kept the litter box (it had a domed cover and door)sitting in the shower and that worked but this is ever so much better. We're thinking about getting a new "Camping Kitty" to take the place of our 18 year old Miss Kittie who was a seasoned camper. As she aged and would have a bum day, I'd take her out to our truck camper and it gave her a real boost. She just loved her camper! You've given us a great idea! Thanks!
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