Storage behind the driver's seat

Has anyone added any kind of storage cabinet or box behind the driver's seat?  

We stack a couple of boxes between the seat and the retracted slide.  They are used for canned goods and miscellaneous supplies when we are going to be boondocking for a couple of weeks or more.  The width is about 14 inches on our storage boxes, the depth less than 20 inches.  Since I like to drive with the seat close to the steering wheel, this creates no problem for driving or minor seat articulation.   I am going to see if I can figure out a more permanent storage arrangement there and wondered if anyone else had eyed that space for storage or a custom cabinet.   A cabinet would be rather odd sized and short but it seems a possibility.   I think I will make a mock up at of some paste board to get the fit correct and determine if it is worth the time and effort.  

Maybe someone has already done this?  

Paul

We have a cabinet behind the driver's seat in our 2910. We had it built when we ordered the 2910. It was not standard on the 2910. It holds small items. We posted a picture on our post titled: New Cabinet behind drivers seat in our 2910. It was posted on 10/6/2012.

Initially, the factory did not want to do it because they said that it would impede the reclining of the driver's seat but we never recline the driver's seat! George had to reposition the guages. Check it out.

Judi, I found the post!  That is a nice job and encouraging to me.  What I had in mind was a shorter cabinet so as not to interfere with the wall mounted controls.  The cabinet would have a hard surface finish which( with the slide extended) would make a nice reading table top to the left of the couch.  It would also come out as far as the right edge of the chair, therefore preventing the chair back from being reclined but ever so slightly, which is the way we use it anyway.  Our previous rig had a cabinet right up to the back of the top of the chair and I guess I just got used to it. 

I will play around with this a little now that winter seems to be pretty well over here (I am going to dewinterize this week) and I will post my conclusions.  I enjoy woodworking so this is not a particularly big project for me.  I suspect I will anchor it in the floor in a fashion similar to how the eurochair is secured when in transit. 

Paul 

I purchased an inexpensive light weight canvas drawer storage unit. I wanted light weight and movable and this fit the bill.  It tucks in next to slide when in and I secure with some straps.  This allows driver's seat to have full movement and to recline.  When we camp, it sits behind driver's seat, fits perfectly between two front seats or we use it at the couch as a computer/snack table.  Low enough to not block the control panel/generator button and light enough to easily move about.  It came with wheels which I quickly learned was a bad idea so I put four rubber cane tips on to keep it from sliding or marking the wood floor. My PC is in storage so no photos but here is a link to one that is similar
http://www.amazon.com/Altra-Furniture-4-Bin-Storage-Table/dp/B0091T02WM/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1457029037&sr=8-7&keywords=canvas+drawers
If you want photos or more info I can do that after mid-April.

Paul,

In our 2008 2350 we built a storage box behind the drivers seat with a raised lid like a toy box.  Here is a picture with slideout extended.  


Here is a picture with slideout retracted.



In our 2012 2551 we had PC install the flip up table, storage is minimal.  If we built it ourself we would make it larger because it does not interfere with the drivers seat.

Paul,
     We have a dog box behind both seats, use them for the dogs and what ever we throw on top.

Jim

RheahNL, Barry & Sue......thanks to all of you!

Barry and Sue, that cabinet in your 2350 is exactly what I had in mind!  I can do it a couple of ways but I think I am going to use two pull out shelves behind a cabinet door and a six inch deep drawer at the top.  My total dimensions I am working with are 24 inches deep on the whole shebang, 16 inches wide for the first space, 12 inches  wide for the top two spaces.  In other words,  from the side next to the couch the measurement would be 24 deep by 30 high.  Next to the seat, the thinner top two storage areas would allow acceptable clearance for reclining the seat slightly.   So, from the front view it would be two smaller spaces on top of a larger space.  The top would have a hard surface finish just as shown in your pictures to make a table top 24 inches deep and 12 inches wide.  

I am going to cut out a paste up of this made from corrugated cardboard and make darn sure the dimensions work before I start cutting this out of (probably) birch plywood.  Also, I will calculate the weight of the finished creation before I cut a board to make sure that is acceptable as well.  

Man, it is great to be "doneworking" so you have time to monkey around with things like this!!  All I had to do was work forty years for the privilege  !!

Paul

We find our cabinet space in our 3100 ample but needed an out of the way spot for a  decent sized kitchen waste basket---Ta Da!-right behind the drivers seat. Also is handy when disposing of snacks while driving.

My conclusion...........

I built a cardboard model of what cabinets would look like.  There is nothing like the reality of three dimensions to really make sure how something will work.  My model was a bit too large so I cut it down a couple of inches in width and depth.  I still had plenty of room for me behind the drivers seat and was able to recline the back adequately for my driving comfort.  Then, I compared this modified model to our current storage system we use behind the seats which is using some really neat canvas storage boxes with wire reinforcement for stability (wires are actually more like small steel rods about 1/8 inch in diameter in a folding arrangement).  I concluded that building the cabinet was "too much sugar for a dime" as the old expression goes.  We bought a set of these containers on a "one time special" at a discount store, probably seven or eight years ago and have never seen any others that were as nice.  The have a top that velcros to the sides and front and are very well made. 

What would be lost is the inherent flexibility of the current system.  Use how many of the containers you need for a given trip, or none and store our outdoor chairs and a few doggie supplies there when in transit.  Or, store nothing at all for short trips.  Flexibility won over building much more attractive cabinetry and an enjoyable project.

The most difficult thing about canceling this modification was the moment of truth of admitting that She Who Must Be Obeyed (aka as my wife) was right about this all along!   

The upside was a nice bowl of soup and a nap instead of an afternoon in my shop.   Ahhhh....benefits of being "doneworking"!

Paul