Rear bedroom swap for 25' Excella?

caadoptees · 07-31-2003, 02:19 PM

I have posted a few times before about changing the rear bedroom in our '92 Excella 25'. My wife and I aren't to the Robert Petrie time yet where we want separate beds. Our trailer is a twin model. I have removed the twins and have a queen mattress stradling the two platforms but it just ain't right. I know that A/S currently makes a single bed in the rear but it is put right in the middle and with the walk around room I would miss the 'outside' storage.

However, in '92 (and thereabouts), A/S put the bed on the streetside wall with room on one side. I have attached a floorplan from a brochure that shows this.

The bottom line is: IDEALLY I can find someone that has the same 'era' of A/S and wants to trade bedrooms straight across. Single bed <-> twin beds. An alternative is if anyone knows of a damaged or parted-out A/S with this configuration.

Thanks!

caadoptees · 07-31-2003, 02:20 PM

Here is what we currently have:

Pahaska · 07-31-2003, 02:32 PM

is grab my tools and start modifying using the underbed structure that exists. If you aren't "tool savvy", a moonlighting craftsman could do the job.

Curved-corner mattresses aren't hard to have made or you could order a 52" mattress made for the International AS. With just the existing material and a little new wood and foam, I could have a double bed and a seat. With a little more cabinetmaking, I could have the vanity. I would use laminates to get the best match possible to the existing furniture.

j54mark · 07-31-2003, 05:47 PM

Here is a website with photos of a '96 with the floorplan you describe: http://members.aol.com/airstm2268/excella.htm

We actually have the floorplan you picture in our '85 Sovereign 25'. When I first saw it, I was dismayed - no way did I want that stupid corner bed. But I figured I could construct someting else when time permitted.

As we used it, we found that this floorplan gave us both an extra wardrobe and a vanity/dresser AND ourside storage on the streetside! There is no way we would give that up just to gain a walk around bed. Besides, the vanity is great for laying out clothes of a night. Or watching TV.

I thought we would hate the crawl-over-your-partner bed. It has simply not been an issue. I believe we had ours made at 52", so it is a little narrow if you are used to a queen. We sleep on a standard full size at home, so the difference means nothing to us.

One change we have from the pictured floorplan is that a PO removed the small vanity shelf along the back wall for more footroom. We chose not to replace it as it is juuuust barely possible to step back into that corner to make up the bed.

As noted, there are plenty of sources for custom mattresses (there was a thread on this just last week, I think - search the archives). I ended up tearing out the existing (sliding tambour) vanity and built one with four drawers plus a small corner storage area with a hinged door.

With four and a half overhead bins (1/2 of one is taken up by the electric switch box), three large bins under the bed, four large drawers and storage area in the dresser/vanity, and one large and one medium size wardrobes, we literally have storage for fulltiming. Not that I'd want to in a 25'.

This a very rare floorplan. I have only heard of two others.

Pitty the photos area is down or you could see my photos.

Mark

74SovereignInt. · 08-01-2003, 07:37 AM

The head of the bed in my 74 30' Sovereign rests against the streetside wall while the foot goes towards the curbside. I am able to walk around the three sides and have a cubby door under the bed from the streetside. My plans for next year include creating a base, the mattress is on a regular frame right now, that allows full access thru a lift system and access to levelling boards thru the cubby. Is it possible that something like this would suit your needs?

Pahaska · 08-01-2003, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 74SovereignInt.
The head of the bed in my 74 30' Sovereign rests against the streetside wall while the foot goes towards the curbside. I am able to walk around the three sides and have a cubby door under the bed from the streetside. My plans for next year include creating a base, the mattress is on a regular frame right now, that allows full access thru a lift system and access to levelling boards thru the cubby. Is it possible that something like this would suit your needs?

I really liked the crosswise bed in the 25' Safari that I recently saw at the dealer. Even though the space around the bed is fairly small, it is really nice to have 3-side access to the bed. No climbing over someone and the bed is a lot easier to make up.

j54mark · 08-01-2003, 02:50 PM

"I really liked the crosswise bed in the 25' Safari that I recently saw at the dealer. Even though the space around the bed is fairly small, it is really nice to have 3-side access to the bed. No climbing over someone and the bed is a lot easier to make up."

Exactly. Which is why I think the floorplan posted by caadoptees above was never really popular. But man, oh man, the luxury of all that dresser and wardrobe space is something you have to experience to appreciate. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that, once experienced, it is awfully hard to give up. And the curbside exterior storage makes it all the better.

Mark

Pahaska · 08-01-2003, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by j54mark
"I really liked the crosswise bed in the 25' Safari that I recently saw at the dealer. Even though the space around the bed is fairly small, it is really nice to have 3-side access to the bed. No climbing over someone and the bed is a lot easier to make up."

Exactly. Which is why I think the floorplan posted by caadoptees above was never really popular. But man, oh man, the luxury of all that dresser and wardrobe space is something you have to experience to appreciate. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that, once experienced, it is awfully hard to give up. And the curbside exterior storage makes it all the better.

Mark

I understand very well what you are saying. Trailers, boats, and aircraft have a lot in common in that there are size and shape constraints that cause us to make some hard choices. I have one-sided access to the bed in my International and it buys me a nice wardrobe and dressing table that would be lost if the bed were turned crossways.