Small Space Living

[InterBlog]

I looked at that water bowl pictured above and decided the footprint was too large for our needs. Our dog uses this one which was five bucks and we've never had a problem with it. It also works well when she is staying in her Alcott Explorer pup tent which is what we take with us on the road instead of a full-sized crate. The bowl works well because it tucks into the corner of the tent where she doesn't spill it.

Something else I recommend: Hughes bins from The Container Store. They are polypro crocheted, semi-rigid storage bins that can be machine washed and more importantly can hold a lot of stuff while being crammed into odd-shaped spaces, such as under the counter to the left of the sink. One of the available colors is T1N Interstate gray.

[bugsbunny]

We use the same dog dish as Interblog both in the AI and at home and love it. In the AI, it sits happily in the sink with the lid down as we travel.

Katy

[InterBlog]

Possible stocking stuffer... "Bondi Unique Flexible Cell Phone Holder Made of High Quality Silicon" (Amazon description), shown here suspended from our rear and side camera monitor using two Gear Ties.

It was made for smaller phones and is really not large enough to hold the iPhone 6 Plus properly - the "arms" barely reach around - but it's better than some of the other options I've tried. I'm still searching for an ideal way of holding phones on or above the Interstate's dash. These things are about twelve bucks and they come in about twelve colors, so the cuteness factor is definitely there, even if the functionality is not optimal.

[OTRA15]

Are you sure you want that thing swinging around on rough roads and curves? Visually it might be really annoying, as it is in the driver's peripheral field for road hazards on the curb side. My brain would latch onto the motion I think, and distract the eyes from looking straight ahead.

Even on an Interstate, even slight left/right course corrections will turn that thing into an annoying [IMO] swinging pendulum.

[Lily&Me]

I use little mesh holders with peel and stick backing that I picked up at autozone, I think.

Have one mounted to the right of the steering wheel, left of the radio, etc., in a space on the lower dash there.

Works well.

This is similar, on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/262441672177

Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I've been looking for an outdoor mat for the Interstate, hard to find in a pattern I liked and a color that will work well, but I just ordered this one from Home Depot....$19.99, and free shipping.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Foss-Chec...3VH/202674701?

Reviews complain it is too lightweight, but that's what I want.

I have a red chair ...should look nice.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Are you sure you want that thing swinging around on rough roads and curves? Visually it might be really annoying, as it is in the driver's peripheral field for road hazards on the curb side. My brain would latch onto the motion I think, and distract the eyes from looking straight ahead.

Even on an Interstate, even slight left/right course corrections will turn that thing into an annoying [IMO] swinging pendulum.

Not with two Gear Ties on it as shown. With one, yes, it becomes a pendulum. The sales photos usually show it with a charging cord coming out of the bottom of the phone, to stop the sway.

I routinely hang my UE Boom Bluetooth speaker in the same manner. Sway is minimal.

[Lily&Me]

The mat I ordered arrived today, and it is nice, also very lightweight and easily manageable by solo me.

It folds easily to go into an existing mat bag that I have.

It's more an outdoor rug than a mat, but I'm going to see how it does....taking it on the next trip, and will use it when I am going to be in one place for a few days or longer.

I would pull it up if it's going to rain, but am excited about having something like this underfoot.

Maggie

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Are you sure you want that thing swinging around on rough roads and curves? Visually it might be really annoying, as it is in the driver's peripheral field for road hazards on the curb side. My brain would latch onto the motion I think, and distract the eyes from looking straight ahead.

Even on an Interstate, even slight left/right course corrections will turn that thing into an annoying [IMO] swinging pendulum.

And illegal in many states. For a good reason.

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

And illegal in many states. For a good reason.

Ditto.

I vastly prefer my Keenu Airframe for mounting a cell phone or Garmin Nuvi in the truck.

https://www.amazon.com/Kenu-Airframe.../dp/B00D901B4W

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Llando88

Ditto.

I vastly prefer my Keenu Airframe for mounting a cell phone or Garmin Nuvi in the truck.
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I've categorically ruled out any vent-mounted device, and I bet there are many other Interstate owners who would do the same.

We already have tremendous difficulty with the fact that such a large volume of space is cooled only by the cab a/c (unless one fires up the generator and runs the roof a/c while rolling down the road, which would create problems of its own because our rig is propane-limited). Nothing can block our vents, not even partially. In fact, we often run a 12 volt fan from the cigarette lighter outlet to push air from the vents toward the rear of the rig (it does help).

I'm curious about this notion that devices partially blocking any part of a windshield view are illegal. What immediately comes to mind is that every law enforcement officer now has a laptop computer mounted to the right of his/her drivers seat that, when open, blocks a portion of their windshield. Perhaps they are supposed to do their actual driving with those things closed, but they generally do not. They keep their screens visible.

[Lily&Me]

I wouldn't mount anything to vents, either, tho I do have a windshield mounted holder for my IPad mini, as I use it for navigation.

I've not had a problem with using it, tho apparently there are a very few states that prohibit them.


Maggie

[bugsbunny]

When we bought our used 2007 Interstate, the previous owner had mounted a phone holder to the vents. Several were broken by the mounts and to the point that we had the assembly replaced.

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

And illegal in many states. For a good reason.

WHICH states?

The state I live in actually PROMOTES things that dangle from the rear view mirror. (handicap parking permits, for example. They are solid, non-see-thru plastic sheets about 4 inches wide and 10 inches long. Talk about blocking the view!)

[mimiandrews]

The handicap parking tags I've seen have a placard on them that cautions the driver to remove them while the vehicle is in motion. They're for parking.

[unifreck]

California requires removal handicapped tags from rear view mirror when vehicle is in motion, and only allows front windshield blockage of 7 square inches in lower right corner. AEW

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by unifreck

California requires removal handicapped tags from rear view mirror when vehicle is in motion, and only allows front windshield blockage of 7 square inches in lower right corner. AEW

Florida Statute 316 applies here in the Sunshine State.



(b) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of such vehicle which materially obstructs, obscures, or impairs the driver’s clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.


http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/...0316.2004.html

Do what you will, but I've never understood the whole 'wrap necklaces around the rear view mirror so they dangle down' thing.

[MaineStreamer]

There must be an anti-fuzzy-dice lobby! :-)

[InterBlog]

[QUOTE=Llando88;1883150...which materially obstructs, obscures, or impairs the driver’s clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.
....[/QUOTE]

There's a degree of subjectivity in the interpretation. Technically, my oversized backup and side camera monitor obstructs part of my windshield, but I'm a lot safer with it than without.

[LB_3]

I think the key word in that statute is 'upon'. It seems to me that they are trying to eliminate suction cupped radar detectors and the like being attached to the actual glass.