Toolbox Slide-Out
Toolbox slide-out using drawer slidesI had a problem getting into my three-drawer toolbox, which is located in one of the exterior bins of my type C motorhome. So I designed a simple slide-out to solve the problem.
My toolbox weighs 56 pounds loaded, so I went to the neighborhood home improvement store and purchased a pair of cabinet drawer slides designed to handle 100 pounds. Purchase the longest slides that will fit your storage compartment. I used 16-inch slides, which allow the toolbox to slide out 12 inches.
I used scrap lumber to form the frame, mounted the slides to the frame, added the toolbox support to the slides, and then bolted the assembly into the compartment. The total cost was approximately $20, plus the lumber.
Skip Ferguson, F153954, Ingram, Texas
Door Light
Using fence-post light as door lightHow often have you found yourself returning to your coach on a dark night and realizing that there’s not enough light to find the door lock to insert your key? Or, worse yet, when nature calls during the night and you can’t find the toilet in the motorhome without turning on a bright light or fumbling with a flashlight?
We found the answer to our lighting problems by purchasing a small, solar-powered fence-post light, which is available at many home improvement stores for approximately $10. The light fastens to a tiny bracket that we mounted next to our entry door and slightly above the door lock. This location allows the light to shine on our lock and steps. Upon entering the motorhome, we can opt to bring the light into the bathroom, setting it on the counter for use as a nightlight. When traveling, we simply unclip the unit and lay it on a sun-filled, interior windowsill in the motorhome. A day’s charge easily lasts one, if not two, days.
Tom and Mary Mosher, F228131, Seattle, Washington
Buddy Seat
Buddy seat for dogThis tip is for those who love to have their dog by their side while traveling. I made a 3 1/2- to 4-inch-wide padded extension seat for the dog to sit on while traveling. All you need for this project are two legs, metal brackets for the legs to screw into, and a board with a padded top. The material I used for the top closely matched the color of my seat. Simply attach the legs to the padded board using the brackets, measure the height of the seat, and trim the legs accordingly. Once the legs are cut, place a rubber cane tip on the bottom of each one. The buddy extension can be wedged between the seat and the side wall of the motorhome, allowing plenty of room for you and your pet without having to hold him or her the whole trip. My little Sissy loves it.
Brenda Anderson, F386582, Rural Retreat, Virginia
Bedside Storage
Bedside storageThe tables beside our bed slideout are very small and do not have room to hold a tissue box, TV remote control, magazines, etc. The wood trim around the bed slideout is a 7-inch-wide piece of light oak. I bought 1/2-yard of fabric to coordinate with the bedroom colors. The material was pressed and cut in half lengthwise. Take one of the pieces and fold it in half lengthwise, bringing the front side of the material together, and sew around the side and bottom edges to a measurement of 6½ inches. Do not sew across the top. Turn the material inside out and press so the seam is in the middle of the back. The bottom edge will come to a point. I then took a square box of tissues and the TV remote, folded the material around the items, pinned it, and sewed the material across. I folded the top of the holder around a 1-inch-by-6 1/2-inch piece of wood and tacked it to the molding with small nails. Now our books and magazines can be placed on the bedside tables, and the TV remote and tissue box are all right above. Very convenient.
Betty Brown, F204931, Livingston, Texas