floorplan question; access to refer with slides in??

[outwestbound]

Hi. Looking to live in a 29-31 (box size, overall 35-36)TT for a couple years traveling the entire US as a couple. I like rear living room plans with 3 slides and an island. All have opposing living room slides and some completely eliminate access to all but the bath/ bedroom. I've never done this, but estimate 20% boondocking/ walmarts and the balance in parks.

How important is it that at least the refer/ pantry be accessible when the slides are in?

Thanks so much.

[NC_Hauler]

Veebyes wrote:
I can't understand why so many place so much on usability with slides in, to the point of choosing based on slides in functionality.

How much time is spent using it with slides in vs set up in a CG? Walmart does not care if slides are out or not. Don't block the lanes. In transit & if the fridge cannot be accesed, pack a lunch. That is the way it is done if going hiking for the day. I will concede that bathroom usability is important while on the road. Secondary roads don't have reststops like interstates.

Never stayed at Walmart...Sometimes when we break camp, depending on the weather, I may bring all the slides in while everything is dry the night before leaving, may even hook up to the truck so as not to make a lot of noise the next morning. With all 4 slides in and still able to use the living room, watch TV, cook, wash dishes, use the refrigerator, take a shower, use the bathroom and sleep in the bed....it makes it nice to be able to do all that and not have to open the slides to do it....just a little "something extra" that some like and prefer more than others.

[outwestbound]

Drew_K wrote:
I don't see how you could get access to the rear unless the island is tiny.

Yep, the island blocks the corridor with slides in. DW wants if for food service. I'm thinking about getting a rear living room plan without an island (because the islands typically have a sink in them) then buy a free standing island from a manufacturer that offers them on wheels. This would be even better for food service than the sink islands with the corian inserts over the sink. I suppose I could wheel it out of the way and access the slides when closed.

[Us_out_West]

First of all we bought the floorplan we liked and wanted.

All this worry about accessing your refer when the slides are in is really overblown and beat to death.

When we are in between destinations and want to stop for a rest, have lunch or do an overnight all one has to do is push the specific slide button and run it out...takes about 10 secounds. Never had a problem with not having enough room to do this.

Again, we have the floorplan that tripped our trigger and that was the most important part of the purchase.

[Bumpyroad]

Veebyes wrote:
I can't understand why so many place so much on usability with slides in, to the point of choosing based on slides in functionality.

How much time is spent using it with slides in vs set up in a CG? Walmart does not care if slides are out or not. Don't block the lanes. In transit & if the fridge cannot be accesed, pack a lunch. That is the way it is done if going hiking for the day. I will concede that bathroom usability is important while on the road. Secondary roads don't have reststops like interstates.

as you admit, reaching the potty is essential. also, a RV can be designed to be functional without running slides in and out all the time. why burden oneself with a poorly designed floor plan. as I have said, I don't even bother putting out my living room slide when stopping overnight. just one more thing to have to do/undo. I want access to refrigerator, sink, etc. also.
bumpy

[Veebyes]

I can't understand why so many place so much on usability with slides in, to the point of choosing based on slides in functionality.

How much time is spent using it with slides in vs set up in a CG? Walmart does not care if slides are out or not. Don't block the lanes. In transit & if the fridge cannot be accesed, pack a lunch. That is the way it is done if going hiking for the day. I will concede that bathroom usability is important while on the road. Secondary roads don't have reststops like interstates.

[Drew_K]

I think the problem you will have is having a rear living area AND an island. The island is going to be in the middle and, with the slides in, I don't see how you could get access to the rear unless the island is tiny. In which case why have it. I've seen rear living designs without an island, and it looked like you could still use the entire living space with the island in.

We have a TT with the design you're considering (rear living with a kitchen island). Awesome floor plan and, while we can always access the bathroom, we have to open the slides to get to the rear area or open the frig.

[outwestbound]

Thanks for the advice; very helpful and shortens my list considerably.

[Bumpyroad]

duplicate posts are not permitted.
bumpy

[Lantley]

I think bathroom access with slides in is critical. Fridge access is preferred as well but not critical. My current rig has a kitchen Island and fridge is not accessible. It has not been an issue as we simply open slide as needed.
I like having the extra eating area and countertop space the center island provides, I have learned to compromise on the fridge access part. So far it has not been an issue.
Honestly if I had to do it over again I would not eliminate the island to gain fridge access. However I would think twice about the additional bunkhouse room 1/2 bath........thats another story!

[NC_Hauler]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
We FT for 7 yrs.
We picked our floorplan based on slides IN

We can get to fridge/stove top/sink, full access to bathroom and crawl into bed with slides in. Makes a big difference is usability

Dang OB, we're on a roll:)...We did the same thing when we picked out our 5er....we have 4 slides and a 4 door fridge, (as someone else mentioned), and with all slides in, you can still get to everything, bathroom, fridge, livingroom, stove, convection/microwave, sink and bedroom....We had a 5er before with an island and you couldn't get into the living room, nor the fridge, (been sometime back, but we "lived and learned" from that one:)

[outwestbound]

good info. in thinking about functionality with slides in, someone told me at a show that walmart doesn't like slides out. also, they stop mid day and get lunch from the trailer. help me understand please; what other situations make access better?

[Old-Biscuit]

We FT for 7 yrs.
We picked our floorplan based on slides IN

We can get to fridge/stove top/sink, full access to bathroom and crawl into bed with slides in. Makes a big difference is usability

[Veebyes]

We have a 4 door reefer. Slides in 2 doors can be opened. Seldom a need for access to top freezer door but access to one side of the lower fridge is nice.