FB Twin Hidden Storage in Heater Duct compartment

[25Twin]

I discovered some wasted storage space at the foot of the roadside twin bed, in the cabinet that houses the heater duct. Has anyone found a way to take advantage of this and make it useable?

There is a small access panel with two screws that can access this this wasted space through one of the under bed storage compartments. But it is more designed as a service access than for any readily accessible storage.

It would be great to reclaim this 1-2 cu feet of space, but I haven't thought of a good way to do so.

I found this out because I am replacing the plywood mattress support with a wider one so the edge of the mattress doesn't fold over when sitting on the mattress.

[thiel]

It would be easy enough to put hinges on that door or use other attachments (like the ones they use on the panel under the closet.

Seems like the perfect location to store some sorta of contraband!

[thiel]

Come to think of it... if you're replacing the plywood, why not just put an access door in there that you get to from the top? Could be a good place to store extra sheets ...

[glcmranger]

How about taking off the face panel, reconstruct two new panels: 1) bottom fixed that holds the furnace duct, and 2) small drawer slide. You can build a shallow but deep drawer box (or order custom made). I might also try this idea for my 25A signature. For the FC style, go to Wilsonart website and find the laminate. I already took the under bed storage panels off and reapplied on sliding drawer boxes (much more storage).

[dznf0g]

I utilize a lot of small wasted spaces like that, particularly for infrequently used items. There's one problem with that process....I always forget where I have put these infrequently used items, resulting in a frustrating treasure hunt. Started keeping a list of where stuff is.

For example, there is a small drawer under my refrigerator. Under that drawer is about a 4" tall space between the floor and the drawer. My 30 AMP, 25' shore power extension cord, a 20 AMP extension cord and several other small items fits very well there.

Another example: There is also about 4" between the queen bed floor and the top of the under-bed drawers. Spare sheets and towels, and Dyson vacuum accessories reside there.

[sallye]

We have a 20' trailer. There is extra storage under the dinning area seat next to the bathroom, but the cover was screwed down. I took up the cover that the seat cushion sat on and put in a piano hinge. There was enough room in there to store our surge protector plus a couple of tissue boxes or paper towel rolls. The main power supply also runs through that area, making it really easy to wire in the surge protector. You can also access the bathroom wall there, so I took out the medicine cabinet and ran the wire for the surge protector display / control into the bathroom. That was good because the display doesn't bother me while I sleep. (There are SO MANY little lights all over the inside of these trailers!)

But things you put into the storage bins under the seats sit directly on the floor. Since we keep electronics in there, I also put in a raised false floor for them to sit on. That was very useful when the back flow valve in the bathroom clogged and broke, spilling water all over the floor under the bath cabinet and the dining area. Except for the false floor, the computers would have gotten all wet. So be careful of anything, like sheets, that you store directly on the floor. Either use a false floor or store in plastic bags or bins.

It's interesting how much wasted space there is in these things if you just look for it. In another area, we installed an out-of-sight "safe," but I'm not saying where!

[25Twin]

thanks for all the suggestions! I'll see what I can come up with...

[25Twin]

I finished creating the extra storage compartment with the wasted space, and really happy how it turned out.

First I removed the panel with the furnace duct and cut it in half. I reused the upper aluminum angle bracket used to mount it by cutting the bracket in half, and put each half on either side of the furnace duct. The duct panel was now securely re-installed.

I then cut out a piece of pre-finished plywood for the "floor" of the new compartment to cover up the heater ducting, making several notches to clear the various obstructions

To support the floor of the compartment. I made two plywood brackets, and screwed them into the bed frame.

Then screwed the floor into these two compartments.

I found some stainless 1-1/2" piano hinge from Home Depot for $10. (SKU 1000027809). I cut it to length, and then because cutting it with the dremel discolored it and it had pretty rough edges from the factory, I sanded it with the random orbital sander which gave it a nice jitterbug finish. Piano hinge nicely matches the style of hinge used for the lavatory door.

I obtained a matching handle and 10 lb door catches

Airstream 382044https://www.woodlandtravelcenterstore.com/product/airstream-sport-brushed-nickel-pull-handle/

Southco SC-4320 http://a.co/4ysossY

$25 spent plus a few hours.

[SeaLevel]

Nice work. What will you store in there?

[25Twin]

SeaLevel, I have no idea! I just couldn't bear the idea of replacing the mattress support surface and leaving that area unuseable.

[25Twin]

Just discovered that it perfectly fits my Gitzo tripod with Really Right Stuff ballhead, plus room left over for extra water filter cartridge and other odds and ends.

[3wd67rg]

Above a furnace hose/vent? I would warm my jammies in it before bed every night!

[greghoro]

25Twin - what wood did you use to replace the mattress support piece with? How did you finish the edge?

Greg

[25Twin]

I used 1/2" Baltic birch (a bit thicker than the original) with lots of plys. I finished the exposed edge on the router table with part of a quarter round flush trim bit and then finished it by sanding any edges with a handheld random orbital sander. I had to thin one section of the plywood to match up in height with the adjacent cabinet and used the orbital for that as well

[wave man]

I need that space... [emoji848]