Outside cupboards or storage

[ColinM50]

I might have posted this before but can't find it so apologies if it's a repost

 

We've got a '15 Swift Lifestyle 686 which overall is v good except there's no easy place to store stuff like chairs or tables, they have to go on the upstairs bed not ideal with wet stuff. On caravans we've previously owned, there's loads of little outside cupboards but none on the Lifestyle though there's room to fit them under the sideskirts. Swift's advice is they can't help or suggest anyone to do it, but there must be someone somewhere who can do this.

 

I'm quite happy to do this myself, but would prefer to get someone else to do it

 

Any ideas please?

[pepe63xnotuse]

Hi..

There used to be a company that made the/a "Beeny box" (under skirt lockers)..not sure if they're still going ?...

 

But by ( " ..'15..) I assume it's a 2015? if so, I'd think long and hard about altering a newish vehicle in such a way...

(you may well alter it...and then decide to sell in a couple of years anyway..)

 

Maybe just look at decent bags for outdoor stuff ( http://www.bags4everything.co.uk/ )? or a rear bike rack and storage box?(rear axle capacity permitting?)

 

edit-Just had a quick Google using "Beeny box" and it doesn't appear to bring up anything recent... :-S

[Thai Bry]

pepe63 - 2016-11-23 10:20 AMHi..There used to be a company that made the/a "Beeny box" (under skirt lockers)..not sure if they're still going ?...But by ( " ..'15..) I assume it's a 2015? if so, I'd think long and hard about altering a newish vehicle in such a way...(you may well alter it...and then decide to sell in a couple of years anyway..)Maybe just look at decent bags for outdoor stuff ( http://www.bags4everything.co.uk/ )? or a rear bike rack and storage box?(rear axle capacity permitting?)edit-Just had a quick Google using "Beeny box" and it doesn't appear to bring up anything recent... :-S

Beeny box were in Dewsbury, i used them once many years ago, but as far as I know, they are no longer in existence.

[Derek Uzzell]

Colin

 

This February 2016 MHFun thread mentions the death of the proprietor of the company that produced Beeny Boxes and - to the best of my knowledge - these are no longer made:

 

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/beeney-boxes.124807/

 

The MHFun thread also refers to “Genie Drawers”:

 

http://www.jhcaravan.com/90270/info.php?p=2

 

As will be realised from this 2007 O&AL discussion

 

http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Genie-Drawer-JH-Caravans/7651/

 

Genie Boxes have been manufactured for at least 9 years.

 

The Lifestyle 686 is a (relatively) short 6-berth model, so if you are carrying quite a few passengers I can understand that storage of bulky items may prove tricky. However, I suspect that, even if you had external storage drawers fitted, these would not be large enough to accommodate ‘traditional’ tables and folding chairs and, although you could disperse smaller stuff into them from inside the motorhome, you’d still be stuck with putting larger stuff on the overcab bed.

 

I think you’ll find that a Genie Drawer will not be cheap, and I’d be wary of DIYing this type of project without it negatively inpacting on the appearance and value of the motorhome. (You might also want to think about whether the Swift warranty might be affected.)

[Guest pelmetman]

pepe63 - 2016-11-23 10:20 AM

 

Maybe just look at decent bags for outdoor stuff ( http://www.bags4everything.co.uk/ )? or a rear bike rack and storage box?(rear axle capacity permitting?)

 

 

That's the route we've gone for when touring in light mode, ie without the trailer and use a big bag on the bike rack........

 

Although their bags are clearly not waterproof in my experience, but as its out door stuff we use it for, its not really an issue ;-) .........

 

 

 

 

[Tracker]

A back box is an alternative although it does make the van longer but can be removed when selling?

 

http://www.fiammastore.com/Fiamma-Storage-Boxes-for-caravan-and-motorhome

 

It depends on it's shape but another alternative could be to fit an underslung gas tank and use the gas locker for storage?

[Colin Leake]

We use a device called a flat dog box to solve the problem in our Warwick XL. It's a massively strong black box in which we store all items we don't want to keep inside. When we get on site it goes under the motorhome. It is also strong enough for a shorty like me to stand on to reach the awning legs and fold them down. Big Quatro levelling blocks are transported inside on the floor. On site they are either used or also pushed under the motorhome. Bike when we take it goes on a rack on the back.