Small Space Living

[weirdstuff]

The reason I chose this one from Walmart, is 'cause it's less than 15" square. Many of the nicer ones I've seen are bigger, and would stick out more. We can also fit this one between the two front seats, and again, the bigger ones won't fit.

[Lily&Me]

I'm going to have to have one.


Maggie

[Boxster1971]

My latest creation is this mini storage desk combo. I used a small IKEA Billy bookcase as the base and hacked it into a nice fit.

Drop down desk top is at same level as table.


- - Mike
2013 AS Interstate on 2012 MB Sprinter

[Boxster1971]

Here are photos that I meant to include in previous post.


... And with desk top down.



- - Mike
2013 AS Interstate on 2012 MB Sprinter

[Boxster1971]

I also made a small storage bin that attached to side of passenger seat. Used a bin from Container Store and trimmed the top to clear the seat when it rotates.


It attaches to seat base with small wood clips made to lock in under lower seat frame.



- - Mike
2013 AS Interstate on 2012 MB Sprinter

[Lily&Me]

Very nice, Mike!

I really the desk-shelf unit. Is that attached to anything, or free-floating.......do the water bottles hold it in place?


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I just ordered this one from WalMart, for the bargain price of $21.52, with tax. Hard to beat that, and it will tidy things up in the rear.

15" square, which should allow the bed to go down without having to move it, and the top looks smooth enough that I could set my coffee cup on it in the mornings.

Pick up at store = no shipping and handling.


Maggie

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

Very nice, Mike!



I really the desk-shelf unit. Is that attached to anything, or free-floating.......do the water bottles hold it in place?



Maggie

Thanks Maggie,
The bottom is designed to hold 24 bottle case of water and it helps keep it stable. But there is also a nylon web strap that ties it to the driver seat frame and a spacer on the bottom that helps lock it down from sliding forward. I haven't yet driven with it in place. I suspect I'll have to get it more solidly tied to seat base in the future. The open space above the water bottles works as a nice foot rest with a pillow as in this photo.


- - Mike
2013 AS Interstate on 2012 MB Sprinter

[Lily&Me]

Might be a way to attach it to the frame of the seat in front of it.

It will need something, just to keep it from becoming damaged when you are driving.

I'm sure you will figure out something.

Make sure you have a permanent black marker with you, as any scratch on that Ikea furniture will show up near-white, as I recall.......my daughter had some of that, once upon a time.



Maggie

[73shark]

Great ideas!

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

Might be a way to attach it to the frame of the seat in front of it.

It will need something, just to keep it from becoming damaged when you are driving.

On the side closest to the wall, take a strap (metal, leather, whatever) straight up to the clothes hook on the door pillar above and behind the driver's seat. This will help keep it upright.

Also there is a tie-down ring right behind the driver's seat at the bottom of the door pillar, as a legacy of its cargo van origins. You might be able to attach to that ring as well.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

Here are photos that I meant to include in previous post.
Attachment 225771

... And with desk top down.
Attachment 225772


- - Mike
2013 AS Interstate on 2012 MB Sprinter

That is great!! It should be submitted to the Ikeahackers website.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

....Make sure you have a permanent black marker with you, as any scratch on that Ikea furniture will show up near-white, as I recall.......my daughter had some of that, once upon a time.

Maggie

Great tip, I used a black marker to color the nail heads on back side. I also gave the thing three coats of polyurethane, so it will be more durable than the stock IKEA finish.

- - Mike
2013 AS Interstate on 2012 MB Sprinter

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

That is great!! It should be submitted to the Ikeahackers website.

Interesting you should mention the Ikeahackers website. I recently discovered it when I finished this project. I've been building permanent furniture from IKEA parts for about 10 years now. A set of metric wood bits really helps and with my Shopsmith I can duplicated any IKEA panel or joint.

- - Mike
2013 AS Interstate on 2012 MB Sprinter

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

Interesting you should mention the Ikeahackers website. I recently discovered it when I finished this project. I've been building permanent furniture from IKEA parts for about 10 years now. A set of metric wood bits really helps and with my Shopsmith I can duplicated any IKEA panel or joint.

- - Mike
2013 AS Interstate on 2012 MB Sprinter

We are also into DIY around our house (i.e., we are not just Interstatehackers) and I've had three projects featured on Ikeahackers (they can be found using Google search terms cool teen bedroom workstation, Numerar laundry Ikea hack, and Numerar cutting board with pool cue bumper feet).

We custom-built our house and then spent the following 4 years doing DIY hacks of one kind or another to further improve upon the initial customization. Most projects tend to have convenience, reliability, and enjoyment paybacks that wildly exceed the initial effort required to complete them, so it becomes a self-motivating lifestyle. We had this very much in mind when we bought our Interstate. If we can do it to a fixed house, we can do it with one on wheels.

[Lily&Me]

Some of you guys could develop nice little side incomes doing these types of things for those of us who are not so handy.

On another topic.....I would like to hear from folks who are using their FoodSavers, or similar vacuum sealers, for travel prep. What do you seal up??

I am using mine more the last 6 months or so , to avoid eating whatever I cook until I am absolutely sick of it....instead, vacuum sealing individual portions for my freezer, giving me a variety of choices any day I don't feel like cooking.

This first, long trip, I had a half-dozen or so meals in my freezer, and started out the trip with a couple defrosting in the frig.

Minus electricity, the bags can be put in a pan of water on the stove, add the lid and simmer a few minutes to defrost and reheat.

I am looking for things I can pre-mix and store for my upcoming winter trip. What are others doing?


Maggie

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

Some of you guys could develop nice little side incomes doing these types of things for those of us who are not so handy.

On another topic.....I would like to hear from folks who are using their FoodSavers, or similar vacuum sealers, for travel prep. What do you seal up??

I am using mine more the last 6 months or so , to avoid eating whatever I cook until I am absolutely sick of it....instead, vacuum sealing individual portions for my freezer, giving me a variety of choices any day I don't feel like cooking.

This first, long trip, I had a half-dozen or so meals in my freezer, and started out the trip with a couple defrosting in the frig.

Minus electricity, the bags can be put in a pan of water on the stove, add the lid and simmer a few minutes to defrost and reheat.

I am looking for things I can pre-mix and store for my upcoming winter trip. What are others doing?


Maggie

This is a good idea above - one I hadn't yet considered. Bags in hot water on the stove eliminates the need to use the electricity-pig microwave for quick defrosting and heating.

I was planning to start a separate thread on small-space food management ideas - it has been on my to-do list but we've been dealing with other issues and it was a lower priority for us. My food predicament is larger-scale, though, so I'll start that thread and let folks reply on whichever thread best fits their input.

[Lily&Me]

Small space food management is a great idea for a thread.

We traveled several times with up to four grandchildren with us, small-ish ones at the time, and still found there was no way we could keep from going into a grocery store every few days. Milk, eggs, fresh produce, etc., had to be replenished as there was not adequate storage space in the Interstate and its little frig. Still, a great way to travel with kids, and they loved it.

We also bought a 12 volt cooler, which rode between the two front seats and helped a lot for milk, orange juice, and bottled water, and could be plugged into electricity when at a campsite, serving as an extra frig.

For Doug and I, when traveling we ate a lot of one dish meals that used a combination of fresh and dried/canned items.

Worked well for us, and then when parked for a few days somewhere I would cook for him, frequently using the crockpot for meatloaf, pot roast, swiss steak, etc.....meat for my carnivore hubby.


Maggie

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

There's all kinds of seat back organizers out there, just depends on what one wants.

Those Trucker Tough brand suction cup hooks look pretty nifty but are a bit rich for my blood.....but some here won't care.

The price clashes with my "spend less, do more" philosophy.


Maggie

Duluth trading has a nice & fairly priced seat back storage / organizer ... we find it terribly useful and would highly recommend.

[Lily&Me]

Yep, the Duluth one is the one we bought and use, hanging it directly over their Cab Commander which sits on the floor beneath, all on/behind the passenger seat.

These are reasonably priced, and of great quality, and can be thrown in the washing machine every once in awhile to keeo them looking brand new.

The Cab Commander we have is a good 10 years or so old, and is unphased by its steady use all this time.


Maggie