Easy basement access with slides?

[DiverBob57]

Three of our large storage compartments do come out with our large slide out. I keep lawn chairs, grill, other stuff that comes out at the campsite so I empty them prior to hitting the Extend button.

[fcbbob15]

I have seen the pool noodles used before. The guy had multiple florescent colors on all sides. Don't know why I haven't tried it yet. Still doesn't help under the slides. Thought about my bicycle helmet but haven't tried it.

[Rob_M]

Originally Posted by fcbbob15

I have seen the pool noodles used before. The guy had multiple florescent colors on all sides. Don't know why I haven't tried it yet. Still doesn't help under the slides. Thought about my bicycle helmet but haven't tried it.

I just got a chuckle imagining someone donning a bicycle helmet every time they unload stuff from under their slides.... but it would definitely be better than a bump on the noggin.

[777 Driver]

I purchased one of these:


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Tra...-Pad/634956813

from Walmart. I cut it into six pieces (12" X 20"). I place one piece in each storage bay that's under a slideout.

As others have suggested, I do most of my bay loading/unloading while the sklideouts are fully retracted. However, when the need arises to retrieve something from a bay under a slideout, I use the piece of camping pad as a kneeler. It's much easier for me to reach into the bay to retrieve something while I'm on my knees and the pad makes kneeling on the ground much less painful (cleaner, too). I do try to wear a ball cap, too.

Take care,
Stu

[dmholt]

I carry a couple of cheap gardening kneeling pads like this one -- https://www.lowes.com/pd/SAS-Safety-...Pad/1002439692

Still have to bend knees and kneel, but it's a lot easier on my back than anything else.

[Dav L]

I bought some door edge trim to apply to the bottom of the doors to both finish off the edges cosmetically and doubles to make the edge blunt to help the inevitable head bump.
Just need to find an hour to apply it before I hit the door again...

[hewebb]

When we were looking for a coach things were on our list.That the compartments came out with the slides or only two slides with one side of the coach with no slide out. Items I rarely use, mostly emergency items that are not needed when parked, are in the basement area under the slides. I would like side hinged doors.

[Ivylog]

[QUOTE=Xmcdog;5474967. Would anyone care to discuss latitude and longitude? Just a thought. [/QUOTE]
OK...something about a picture and yes it’s a rainy day in GA.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by TXTiger

I have seen some Class A Motorhomes that have the storage area come out with the slide out. It looks like that puts a lot of weight on the slide out. Don’t remember the manufacturer or model. Another option is the have a tray that pulls out which most all Class A now have as standard or at least as an option.

Our MH is built that way, Winnebago states no more than 300# in the basement bays.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by dmholt

I carry a couple of cheap gardening kneeling pads like this one -- https://www.lowes.com/pd/SAS-Safety-...Pad/1002439692

Still have to bend knees and kneel, but it's a lot easier on my back than anything else.

Kneeling is not a problem, getting back up is.

[ruffian]

The best answer to the back problem I could come up with is still a poor solution.


Harbor Freight sells a rubber floor mat, used for standing on cement floors. The mat is thin so a little contact cement and I doubled the thickness of the mat. I then cut the mat into 8" X 20" rectangles. I made enough rectangles to put one inside each basement door.



Now, open a door, grab the mat and put your knees on the mat. Kneeling on the mat, under the basement door is much easier on my back and much better for my knees.


Not an ideal solution but better than nothing.

[HarryStone]

Originally Posted by Dav L

I bought some door edge trim to apply to the bottom of the doors to both finish off the edges cosmetically and doubles to make the edge blunt to help the inevitable head bump.
Just need to find an hour to apply it before I hit the door again...

My slides have corner guards on them and I still managed to split my skull on one, getting up from a storage compartment.

[Money Man]

There is no solution to this problem, save forcing yourself to get out of the seat and go get all the stuff out of the basement (water hoses/water softener/sewer hoses/etc and set it aside while you go back and open the slides.

Of course, this runs counter to the "don't make a fuss in front of the neighbors and get it done quick" school of thought that can't stand the idea of more than 30 seconds of engine run-time once parked (I like opening the slides with the engine running; so sue me).

Oh, and pool noodles on the slide corners.

Of course, until I can train the pool noodles to actually unload the basement items for me, it's still only going to be a partial solution.

After a couple of back surgeries and extremely arthritic knees, I'll do it my way.

[vsheetz]

Good thread. If nothing else to confirm we all have pretty much the same problem.

I keep a large soft kneeler just inside the entry door - easy to grab and a real help. I added a piece of rope to make it easier to extract when done.

I have a slide tray, but dont find it much help with slides extended as there is reduced space as the tray is elevated.

My coach has the wet bay with sewer and other connections between the slides, so no problem there. A full wall slide would be a real pain in this aspect. My power cord bay is under the bedroom slide, which is much higher than the main salon slides.

As others, I retrieve and stow common patio items before slides are extended and after retracted.

Safe travels, and watch your head.