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DreaminBig · 12-13-2015, 07:12 PM

As you can see by my signature, we own a Wildwood 26bhxl. When you enter the door, the dinette is directly to your left. To access the storage under both seats, we have to lift the cushions, seat boards, etc. We do not have drawer space for the ends, but the DH and I wondered if it would be feasible to cut an access hole in the back of the "door side" dinette seat, and put a door on it. Then we could VERY easily access all the storage space under that one seat from the doorway, without even walking inside. Has anyone ever done anything like this? We're not sure how to do it and still have the seat hold up. Maybe it's not even possible.....

BFlinn181 · 12-14-2015, 03:30 PM

Just make sure your hole isn't going to weaken the structure of the seat base. If needed, reinforce the seat back with an interior layer of plywood to strengthen it.

wrvond · 12-14-2015, 06:10 PM

Get your doors first so that you can tape them in place and outline them with pencil. You'll need to add 1x1 framing inside to affix the door hinges and strikers on. At this point you could hang the doors to ensure the are going to work the way you want, then cut the access holes (smaller than the doors) and dress the edges with small trim from Lowe's or similar.

rbleau6885 · 12-16-2015, 05:15 PM

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I have a 2014 wildwood rear living room my dinette has a pot/pan draw in booth against slide wall that goes all the way back and pulls out. But the other booth next to couch you have to left seat I'm actually going to put a excess door on the out side of slide for more out side storage (hose,electrical adapters, sewer connections) so I have free range under my bed storage. They are great with the huge access door on door side but put a tiny door on slide side never understood that one

Rich,24
2014 wildwood 27rlss
2005 Chevy 2500HD crew cab

Tuquala · 12-17-2015, 10:36 PM

Did exactly what you want to do in a Pioneer 19T4. That model had a lift door in the bedroom for a hamper. With the slope of the front cap, you had to hold the door up or it would slam on your fingers as you removed the clothes!! Made a lift off cover for the hamper and used the door to add access to front dinette seat. Mostly used for shoes and boots. Could open and use area right from outside the trailer if wanted. Door was just to left of entry, low by floor.

Used 1" square wood to frame inside the seat area where there wasn't any structure. Easy to glue and staple. Installed so door opened down to floor, no problems, since the hinges were on the long side. Not really any need for any major reinforcement, just use the wood to frame the opening. Paneling is very easy to slice through slowly with a utility knife, and leaves an almost finished edge.

rbleau6885 · 12-19-2015, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuquala

Did exactly what you want to do in a Pioneer 19T4. That model had a lift door in the bedroom for a hamper. With the slope of the front cap, you had to hold the door up or it would slam on your fingers as you removed the clothes!! Made a lift off cover for the hamper and used the door to add access to front dinette seat. Mostly used for shoes and boots. Could open and use area right from outside the trailer if wanted. Door was just to left of entry, low by floor.

Used 1" square wood to frame inside the seat area where there wasn't any structure. Easy to glue and staple. Installed so door opened down to floor, no problems, since the hinges were on the long side. Not really any need for any major reinforcement, just use the wood to frame the opening. Paneling is very easy to slice through slowly with a utility knife, and leaves an almost finished edge.

Nice great minds think alike.. Where did you buy ur exterior door with framing from only thing I haven't looked in to. I replaced that awful couch with another and have held off on the door under bench because we were deciding to do free standing table/ chairs instead of the booth

Rich,24
2014 wildwood 27rlss
2005 Chevy 2500HD crew cab

Tuquala · 12-19-2015, 10:21 PM

The aforementioned door was inside the trailer on the back side of the dinette, not an exterior door. That trailer had plenty of outside access, so never went that way. The door was orig the lift door for a clothes hamper in the front of the trailer.

As to purchasing an exterior door, there are a bunch on ebay, some fairly reasonable, but most have a ridiculous shipping cost. Never saw any with free shipping. Lots of size's, slam latch if you want, colors. Just got to watch the shipping!!!

rbleau6885 · 12-20-2015, 07:15 PM

Oh I misunderstood and thanks for the info I'm always on Amazon never thought to check. And that's good I only have under the bed for our side storage which is jammed packed I'd like a 5th wheel for the storage but wouldn't want to lose my bed

Rich,24
2014 wildwood 27rlss
2005 Chevy 2500HD crew cab