Closet Modification: Shelving and Lower Hatch Entry - 13' Scamp

[Shannon Thompson]

Finally grew tired of rummaging around in the lower lost space of the closet around the wheel well to get to the various stored items rolling around down there --- wheel chocks, leveling blocks, camp gas canisters for the portable BBQ, etc. Cut a hatch for a 2nd door and added 2 shelves. Used a Dremel with the cutting wheel attachment for the FG -- so easy. Drape-clothed and bundled everything in plastic to contain the flying dust and asked my neighbor hold the vac along the cutting line. Made all the difference with keeping things clean.

Dust pit of Insanity....

Used Bondo to adhere shelf braces (2 x 2's) to the closet walls. Used a combination of bracing and wedges to hold the pieces in place while the Bondo set up. Used 16" wire shelves (Rubbermaid brand) turned upsidedown so the lip faces up to contain items like so many of you have done. Bent up the back edges to fit into the space. The closet area is 20" wide and about 15.75" deep.... shelving came in 12" deep or 16" deep. Didn't have a vice to bend the shelves so laid the shelving over a 2x4 and whaled away at it with a rubber mallet until my fillings were loose and wrist ached.... Um... "ow".





All hail the Dremel.....

S.

Next project: Install the new LED tail lights that came today in the mail. That will be this weekend's project.

[Donna D.]

Totally cool! Use every possible inch of space to make camping easier and more enjoyable. Good for you!!!

[Carol H]

Well done Shannon. You will not be sorry! I did the same thing and its at the top of my list of the best mods I have done to the trailer as far as daily usage goes. You will also not be sorry about doing the LED lights either! Hint it is way easier to get at the rear wiring under the rat fur if you take the rear benches out. The benches are **way** easier to get out & put back than you may think - only a few screws. Otherwise you will end up with bruises all over yourself from trying to reach inside the hatch to get at the wires & will take twice as long! Dont ask me how I know that! ;-)

[deryk]

Looks Great! I wish I had a deep closet on the other side of my axle lol

deryk

[Jim Bennett]

Great use of space.

[D Davis]

Great Job! Good use of space. Thanks for sharing.

[mary and bob]

I did something similar with our Uhaul, I put plywood behind the new opening so as not to lose any structural strength of the wall. Used fiberglass resin to attach the plywood, did the same where I cut a hole for a new power converter.

[russelld]

Great use of space. We use that lower wheel well space for our dirty clothes. Works great for us.

[Shirley LaMoine]

Wonderful looking closet. I've been wanting to do this, even bought the dremel, but I've not yet found the nerve to cut into my fiberglass. Yours looks really good.

[Shannon Thompson]

Carol, thanks for the tip.... I have no idea how to replace the tail lights. Planned to do a little research and then take everything apart methodically and put it all together with the new lights. I have had to remove the rear benches before... had to repair the water tank once. We'll see how it goes!

S.

[Shannon Thompson]

Bob, thanks for the comment,,, good point on the structural.... I forgot to mention some structural parts... There was a cross support glassed into the closet from the factory between the existing door and the new one I put in... about 3" high, spanning the width. I started my new hatch below it. Along the hinge side I had to add a 1"x2" strip the whole length of the new door for hinge support. Again, from factory the existing door above had a support piece glassed in. Due to the curved inside corner of the closet, I routed one corner of the 1x so that it fit really snugly into the corner and glued it in with bondo. Everything seems pretty solid so we'll see how it plays out over time and bumping down the road.

Thanks. S.

[Joy A]

Nice job Shannon.

Don't you just love those Dremels. I also have a laminate trimmer which is basically a small router. I've used both several times for cutting holes in the fiberglass. I even used a small hand key-hole saw once when I was doing a mod. while dry camping with a friend in a Casino parking area.

[Steve Hammel]

Nice job!!! I did something similar only instead of wire shelving I used aromatic cedar tongue and groove planks. Very strong, light, easy to work with, and smells oh so wonderful!