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frankfreda

Posted 2014-12-07 11:00 PM (#2448)
Subject: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: 345 Ridgecrest Dr. Santa Barbara Ca. 93108
(68.6.125.116)

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO. Looking to acquire a coach and remodel the area behind the bathroom and closet. Installing a double bed across the coach in the left rear corner. A 3' desk between the bed and bathroom. On the right side between the closet and bed a 5'8" couch facing the desk which would have a fold up backrest as a sleeping bunk. My question has anybody installed a full size bed in the rear and how low were they able to cut down the engine compartment. If this has been done what are the problems in doing so. Of course the bed would hinge and lock in the up position for very open engine service. Thanks Frank Freda (frankfreda@cox.net)

denshew

Posted 2014-12-08 2:57 AM (#2450 - in reply to #2448)
Subject: Re: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: Canton, (Sixes) GA
(24.131.52.9)

Frank; I am aware of a couple of coaches with a double or a queen size bed. They are pretty high and are not cut down and to my knowledge do not fold up. Maybe lift up a little. There is very little to be gained from trying to lower that area. Removal of the cabinets would give you some wiggle room, but the power panel and a/c unit relocation would have to be dealt with. Seems like a lot of trouble for so little gain. Coach integrity and noise/heat issues are also some to the issues that come to mind with your plan. You may want to consider converting a transit. It would give you a clean slate to work from, those generally turn out very nice. Why the desk?

B. Sitton

Posted 2014-12-08 8:32 AM (#2452 - in reply to #2450)
Subject: Re: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: Ignacio Colorado
(174.125.141.216)

No real room to drop the roof of the engine compartment. It is small as it is and the heat aspect is an issue as well. I just picked up a transit with a double bed in the center of the rear area. It sits over the engine compartment. One thing is we can get to both sides of the bed but the downside is headroom. Bill

5Dollar

Posted 2014-12-08 11:52 PM (#2458 - in reply to #2448)
Subject: Re: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: Bethune, SC
(165.166.72.232)

If you are going to heavily modify the interior layout of a coach, you have probably picked one of the worst coaches to modify. The Transit FMC may be an exception. Another that is a tough shot is a GMC. From what I have seen, buses are the easiest. In the old motor home environment, Travco's and Barth's seem to be easier than most because they were also sold as commercial vehicles. Blue Bird's were built the same way. Superior's were RV's and commercial vehicles so they would be a candidate. Superior RV's, particularly the 2500, compress so much into a small space that it would take the relocation of a lot of stuff for an interior modification.

Do not forget that the roof of the engine compartment also serves as a firewall. That has kept me from getting creative with an engine access hatch on the top of the compartment, probably the hottest part of a fire.

Henry

frankfreda

Posted 2014-12-09 12:04 AM (#2459 - in reply to #2448)
Subject: Re: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: 345 Ridgecrest Dr. Santa Barbara Ca. 93108
(68.6.125.116)

Hello Denshew, thank you for your comments. The big picture, heres what our needs are. In order to get on the road and be in peace we need to continue to manage our commercial properties, partially by web cams. My wife needs a permanently setup desk with a mounted 24" monitor, which we both often look at together and have discussions. I need to sit on the couch rear of her and carry on about the days business and review her letters. We both will be working from MacBooks with a wireless siginal and a router on board. When necessary as a temporary work space i will move up forward to the dinette with my laptop and cell phone close the bifold door at the bathroom giving privacy to both of us. The double bed can also double as a place to review plans where they can be left open and out of the way, being a large flat area not generally used in the day time. For engine service it would be nice to raise the bed with mattress in place. As far as engine noise while under way, this are is easy to insulate for sound and heat, plus the mattress should also help. Unlikely anyone will be in bed while under way. Of course a quiet power plant is needed. I have had two FMC"S in the past and looking for the wright gas unit to redo. All this is within my skill level and have the wood and metal working tools. But what the future holds who knows. Thanks again for your comments and I welcome others. Frank Freda

fmc708

Posted 2014-12-09 12:31 PM (#2460 - in reply to #2448)
Subject: Re: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: Soquel, CA.
(73.170.144.94)

Hi Frank,

I had a notion to remodel the back bedroom as well when I got my FMC. I wanted to create a bed that we could walk around on three sides. The problem I ran into is that the only floor space you could walk on was the center aisle. The edges of the stock bedroom, where the twin beds are, are over the gas tank, propane tank, and wheel wells. So, you could put a bed in the middle, but there would be no walking around it. Crawling maybe. But then, you would probably want to remove the upper cabinets too.

Your plan could still work, but the bed is probably going to be higher than you are thinking, so that it can stay above the engine compartment and be moved back far enough to give you the room you need for the desk. I have seen several beds up high like that in FMC's and it works, for the most part. For the desk, the problem will be getting leg-room and knee space since the desk will be above a wheel well. So, that has to be worked out.

I have come to the conclusion that love it or hate it, the stock layout of the FMC was well thought out for how they thought motorhomes would be used and changes are not that easy. This is especially true for the floor space. In addition, if you look at the ceiling liner, moving things around like cabinets and the location of walls and major elements is not that easy to accommodate, assuming aesthetics are important.

frankfreda

Posted 2014-12-09 10:00 PM (#2462 - in reply to #2448)
Subject: Re: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: 345 Ridgecrest Dr. Santa Barbara Ca. 93108
(68.6.125.116)

Hello Greg, thanks for your comments. Yes we know floor sopace is liminted and the bed may be higher then desired. A higed for storage step can be builtin for better bed access. Hopefully the top of mattress will be at least 6" below bottom of window. The bottom section of the rear window could be painted out and padded. All of the lower cabnietry including the ac. if any will have to go. We will need at least enoght space to sit up in bed. If the upper cabniets have to go we will pad that area to cover up any contour of the ceiling. I will sleep on the isle side as I make an occasional run at night. The desk will be the full depth of the bathroom wall 30" or 36" hopefully giving sastisfactory toe and knee space. The deep desk also works well in keeping things in place between the bathroom wall and bed wall. Thanks Frank Freda

5Dollar

Posted 2014-12-10 8:11 PM (#2463 - in reply to #2448)
Subject: Re: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: Bethune, SC
(165.166.72.232)

I just got some parts out of my 73 Superior that is a custom design for a horse barn construction company. I am temporarily using it for storage. I had forgotten how the clerical area was set up.

The rear of the RV has a nice removable conference table with upholstered seats on three sides. There is a mini-galley on the passenger side of the RV and a bathroom on the other. The whole front area is a reception/clerical area.

The part of this layout that may be of interest is the passenger seating area. By stopping the dash at the passenger side of the engine hump, a large, flat desktop can be substituted on the passenger side. A fully adjustable captains chair is mounted as room is available. In an FMC, I have seen pictures of captains chairs used with a cabinet between the driver and passenger. Using a 24" monitor when driving would be problematic, but a laptop or large tablet might suffice. Knee room would be acceptable, and the surrounding area would be more open than in the rear. Communication would be more convenient while traveling. In an FMC, the smaller fresh water tank might need relocation/elimination, depending on your needs.

A different approach, but one that may be simpler to implement. I am having problems seeing where you can get adequate knee room and a comfortable seating accommodation in the rear, as well as a double bed. There is really not much space below the benches due to what is already there. Even if the benches are removed from the FMC, most of the space under them is already taken.

Henry

frankfreda

Posted 2014-12-11 9:49 PM (#2464 - in reply to #2448)
Subject: Re: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: 345 Ridgecrest Dr. Santa Barbara Ca. 93108
(68.6.125.116)

Henry, thanks for the comments. Can you measure the distance between the wheel well and the outside edge of the bathroom wall ? That would be my tow and knees space. The desk top will come out to the edge of the bathroom wall. Thanks Frank Freda

5Dollar

Posted 2014-12-22 9:15 PM (#2469 - in reply to #2464)
Subject: Re: REAR DOUBLE BED & LARGE ENGINE ACCESS

Location: Bethune, SC
(165.166.72.232)

See Picture.

As I had guessed, zero. That is where the fuel tank is located.

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