The storage area under the bench was too hard to get into. I either had to remove the bench seat cushion and plywood or kneel on the floor and reach in through the door that came on the bench seat.So I built this large drawer (one under each of the benches actually). The benches each had a hinged door covering an opening where the drawer now comes out. I removed the cabinet doors, took off the hinges and attached the doors to the drawer fronts (screwed from inside of the box to the cabinet door).I also enlarged the door opening to maximize the drawer / box size while keeping the bench strong and the opening covered by the cabinet doors that came with it.Note that I even notched the very bottom of the opening for the rails to fit. I wanted to maximize the box size and waste as little space as possible.The drawer / box was made with plywood and table saw.Lots of easy to use storage space under the benches now.Ed

Nice job! That is the biggest thing I miss about our old TT. Starcraft made drawers to utilize the space as well. Makes it so much easier to access the storage space. They were really nice, as are yours.

Nice work Ed on both of your mods (the bunk beds and the drawer)! :)Barney

That is a good idea! Well done, looks great!

Very Nicely done and thanks for sharing. We have been looking at Lance Travel Trailers which has this same arrangement under the dinette benches. Some trailers we have looked at only have access by removing the seat cushion and plywood cover, very poor design.

I wish I was handy enough to do that. Great idea!

Large storage drawer under the bench seat | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

pointbrze
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
pkunk wrote:
pointbrze wrote:
Very nice job! This is the first mod I'm going to do to my trailer. No outside door to access under the bench seats and no cabinet doors on the inside. I want drawer space, and this is perfect. I do, however, want to try to match the cabinet drawers and hardware as close as possible. Since I bought my trailer from a private seller, does anyone know if any Keystone dealer could get me the cabinet doors?

Any decent cabinetmaker can make them for you.

I took your advice and I found a local woodworker that also works with the Amish community. I'm taking one of my original cabinet doors to try to get as close as possible. Thank you! :)
klmeenan
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
I love this. I am working on shelves for my closets and pantry now. I wish I had time to do this before my next trip.
pkunk
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
pointbrze wrote:
Very nice job! This is the first mod I'm going to do to my trailer. No outside door to access under the bench seats and no cabinet doors on the inside. I want drawer space, and this is perfect. I do, however, want to try to match the cabinet drawers and hardware as close as possible. Since I bought my trailer from a private seller, does anyone know if any Keystone dealer could get me the cabinet doors?

Any decent cabinetmaker can make them for you.
pointbrze
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
Very nice job! This is the first mod I'm going to do to my trailer. No outside door to access under the bench seats and no cabinet doors on the inside. I want drawer space, and this is perfect. I do, however, want to try to match the cabinet drawers and hardware as close as possible. Since I bought my trailer from a private seller, does anyone know if any Keystone dealer could get me the cabinet doors?
RR24
Explorer
Mar 30, 2013
eb145 wrote:
I measured the drawer today.

It is 20"wide X 11" high X 40" long.

Ed

Thanks
eb145
Explorer II
Mar 30, 2013
I measured the drawer today.

It is 20"wide X 11" high X 40" long.

Ed
Ductape_Dave
Explorer
Mar 28, 2013
I am doing the same as we speak, moving the cushions and wood is just a pain. Just got done cutting the dado cuts with my table saw. Hope to also add a baggage door to access the space under the dinette seat along the wall. A lot of wasted space under there. Nice job!
RR24
Explorer
Mar 27, 2013
Just another question, what is the LxWxH of your draws?

THANKS
69gp
Explorer
Mar 20, 2013
That a nice setup I wish I could do that. I have a 99 class A but there are labels that say not to store anything under the seats. Does anyone know if this draw setup would be ok to use?

Steve
Ski_Pro_3
Explorer
Mar 20, 2013
I just used one of those clear plastic bins you see at any Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Big Lots, etc for $15. Has wheels on one end so it rolls in and out easy. Looks like this but a bit taller;