podmod: Rear Shelf |
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Outbound
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767 |
Topic: podmod: Rear Shelf Posted: 26 May 2011 at 5:39pm |
I had gotten very tired of fishing out my duffel bag of clothes from under the bed on our 2009 RP-171, so I decided to build a shelf over the curbside window of our bed. I wanted it to be:
I sketched a shelf of simple design which mimicked the existing open shelves of our R-POD (the one over the microwave and the other over the sink). To start, I pencilled the walls where I wanted the shelf. I then traced the back onto a piece of paper in order to capture the curve of the wall. The shelf is 16" deep and runs just over the valence on the curb side window. I ripped-down some pine I had in my garage and built a frame: Note: the shelf is level on the wall - my photos, however, are slightly skewed The angled piece which meets up with the curved wall was interesting... I had to create a little jig for my table saw in order to get the angle right. Using molly bolts, I fastened the frame to the walls. After that, it was a simple matter of ripping down some 3/16" leftover plywood I had in my garage from another project for a top and bottom. I angled the right side of the plywood on the table saw to (roughly) match the curve of the wall. The trim for the front was made from a piece of select pine - I copied the curve on the left from my traced template and I used a roundover bit on the bottom. Then it was a coat of sealer, a couple coats of stain (light walnut) followed by a couple coats of satin varnish. After a light sanding of the varnish, it was done. I screwed everything in place. I still haven't found what I want for a netting or plastic hooks matching the rest of the trailer. I knotted the temporary netting you see in the picture using light-weight bungee cord and held it in place with some 3M Command Hooks. Overall, I'm quite pleased with the results!
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Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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HuronSailor
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: Owosso MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 704 |
Posted: 26 May 2011 at 5:46pm |
Nice job. Did you use a regular stud finder to locate the wall and ceiling studs?
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.: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :.
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Outbound
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767 |
Posted: 26 May 2011 at 6:02pm |
Thanks! I just used the knock-on-the-wall-with-my-knuckle technique, along with the look-for-filler-the-factory-used-over-the-staples technique to locate the studs. There wasn't a single stud that I could use. So, I used 9 molly bolts to hold it in place.
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Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 26 May 2011 at 6:58pm |
It looks great and with support on 3 walls it should be plenty sturdy too!
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 26 May 2011 at 8:53pm |
Sweet, nice looking job. Look for "cargo netting" in auto supply stores. That is exactly where I want to install one. I also want to put a shelf on the corner in that space above and forward of the sink. Not sure if I want to put one on the other rear corner. |
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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TerryM
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950 |
Posted: 27 May 2011 at 4:27am |
Very good job! It would also be a good place to put blankets and pillows.
Terry |
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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
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Snowbound
Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Location: Edmonton, AB Online Status: Offline Posts: 270 |
Posted: 27 May 2011 at 10:39am |
Oooohhhh! I like! Tom, sweetie ...... B
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Tom and Bette
in our 177 "The Gastropod" |
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DocTom
Senior Member Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
Posted: 27 May 2011 at 4:11pm |
What length bolts did you use, & how thick are the walls? Very professional looking! |
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Brush and Floss, It is the Secret of Life!
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Outbound
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767 |
Posted: 27 May 2011 at 5:44pm |
I used 3/4" molly bolts. But, I used longer screws I had bought separately in order to accommodate the width of the shelf's wood frame. The longer screws were 1 1/4". The curbside (straight) wall is about 7/8" thick and was the one I was most concerned with. Even though the molly bolts say 3/4" on the package, the included screw is a bit longer: right around 7/8" and in the danger zone for doing damage to the exterior skin of the trailer. Before beginning, I used a pair of wire cutters to snip the end of the included screw to a hair's width beyond the end of the molly bolt. I carefully drilled the holes in the wall (just breaking through the inner paneling) and inserted the molly bolt. I then tightened the screw to seat the bolt. Finally, I removed the screw, leaving a seated molly bolt ready to receive the shelf and longer screws. The inner bathroom wall was about 1 1/4" thick as was the curved wall/roof.
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Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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DocTom
Senior Member Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
Posted: 27 May 2011 at 9:39pm |
Thanks, information appreciated. I will probably try this before the summer is out! Great place for sweatshirts,towels, Tee's, etc.
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Brush and Floss, It is the Secret of Life!
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