Scamp Shelf

[gheicher]

Just bought a 2005 Scamp 16' with side bathroom. I needed a place to store my fold-up sport chairs and bedding. Since I didn't need the top bunk I removed the hinged back, used it for the gaucho seat and installed a shelf even with the top of the front window. Not made for heavy things the way I made it, but is great for lighter items.




The contour of the 1/2" plywood shelf was cut using a cardboard template. Using two 1/2" copper tubing clamps



To keep stuff from rolling off I placed a 4" wide piece of 1/4" plywood paneling at the front of the shelf

and it is loosely secured between the "stuff" and the bathroom wall & wood panel at the door. A more accomplished person could make a hinged door, but mine's good enough.

[gheicher]

Way to go Jerry. What a terrific idea. You are so clever!!!!

[Loren G. Hedahl]

Its always a challenge to come up with a suitable method for mounting shelves and the like to these fiberglass shells. I completely dislike drilling holes, especially in the top or front. Your method of using the attachment points already existing is one of the best.

I've tried several method that didn't work well at all and have one that works fairly well. I buy black rubber air compressor hose, abrade it heavily on one side with a wire brush mounted on a bench grinder. Then I cut away the ensolite and scrape down to bare fiberglass.

I spread a thin coat of polyurethane glue (Gorilla Glue or equiv.) on both the fiberglass and the abraded side of the rubber hose and tape it in place with duct tape. Once the glue dries, I attach thin plywood structures to the hose with truss head sheet metal screws.

It may not be the best, but where there are no existing attachment points it is the best I have come up with, so far.

[jefflynne]

In my mind I keep coming back to the use of spring tension rods to span from one wall to another (such as inside closets or between the two sidewalls of the trailer itself). They have the heavy-duty type for bathtub/shower curtains, or lighter-weight versions for small windows. Wouldn't that be a good way to create something to brace a shelf on without having to drill holes for supporting devices?

[D Shubel]

When I was a child my parents owned a large power boat. Everytime I think of a modification to our trailer, I think back to the days when we would take day trips to Cedar Point....anything that was not completely stable, attached, and secure would end up on the floor. Since our egg will be taking many Upper Michigan backroads, full of washboard, to get to our favorite camps, I'll be keeping those memories fresh.

[Brian B-P]

We have tried a large-diameter spring compression rod (intended for large draperies or shower curtains, I guess) between the upper kitchen cabinets and the refrigerator/closet/bath wall, across the middle of our Boler 1700.

Installed with as much force as I am comfortable using, it falls off in any travel. It seemed like a good idea, but having tried it I'm resigned to screwing some brackets on the cabinets for this year; the alternative would be to take it down when packing for the road, and put it back up when it is needed. Maybe there are better designs, or perhaps end caps with more grip would help?

[Barbara Gardin]

Brian,

If you put more tension on these rods and use them while travelling they will crack and probably eventually put holes in the fibreglass. Ask me how I know.

[Brian B-P]

We have cabinetry of thin plywood on light wood framing, rather than fiberglass, but I still have visions of splintered cabinets! It might be a good excuse to build an all-new interior, but I don't really need more on my projects list...