Today I started disassembling our Sunline, removing the spare tire and the trunk from the rear bumper of our trailer.
This will allow me to remove the rear bumper in order to add an additional 7 feet to the length of our trailer. This additional 7 feet provides room for a walk around bed and a total reorganization of the interior of the trailer.
The bedroom consists of an elevated bed; the base of the bed is 18 inches high.
On each side of the head of the bed is a standing four draw cabinet. Above each cabinet is a hanging closet. Between the hanging closets and above the head of the bed is a two bay overhead cabinet.
The foot of the bed has a four foot long counter that is constructed above the foot of the bed, extending over the bed about 1.5 feet. This is designed to provide adequate space for one's feet. Above the counter is a pantry for food storage. This pantry is within two feet of the axle.
The bed is higher than normal to provide useful under bed storage with easy access to under bed space via 8 draws and two hampers.
Two draws at the rear of the bed , one above the other, are accessible from outside. These draws are 4 feet wide x 2 feet. Depending upon what we decide to store here, we may change this to four smaller draws.
On each side of the bed there are two additional draws, one above the other, for bedding and clothing storage they are 1.8 x 2 feet. Also on each side of the bed is a clothes hamper.
There are two draws at the foot of the bed, one above the other 1.8 x 2 feet. These are used for bulk food and paper goods storage. They pull out into the kitchen. The following drawings show the floor plan.
The first is a top view.
The second is a side view.
The brown rectangles under the bed represent the 8 draws and two hampers. The bedroom contains 12 draws, 2 hampers two hanging closets and 2 hampers. The bedroom TV mounts to the rear of the Pantry at the foot of the bed.
The frame to support this is made of aluminum, bolted to the existing steel frame. The aluminum frame is topped with a 2.5 inch thick floor. .
The floor consists of a top and bottom layer of ¼ inch plywood with two inches of foam between the plywood. The elements are glued to each other and screwed and glued to the floorThe new floor will be extended to the entire trailer, improving insulation and stiffness, adding to the beam strength of the trailer. This floor will eliminate all existing floor OSB.
The aluminum frame needs to be electrically isolated from the steel. A standard zinc based coating will be used to prevent anodic issues.
As well as the addition of the frame, the axle will have to be moved about 3 feet. While moving the axle, the axle will be flipped to get additional clearence, raising the trailer with respect to the ground. Presently the trailer is 12 inches off the ground and the flipping should provide 16-18 inches of clearance.
Following the Sunline tradition, at least in my little Sunline, all heavy, or potentially heavy elements are located directly over the axle or very near to the axle. The exceptions are the battery and the propane tank. This means I have to move all fluid tanks, the refrigerator and stove. In general the ends will contain light items, the bed at the rear and the couch at the front. Both of these elements will be of light construction, ala Sunline methods, no Flex steel furniture here.
Our goal is to use as much as possible from our Sunline, including the windows we have come to love. We will use the windows directly out of our trailer. Even in continuous 80+ degree daytime weather in Florida during April this year we never felt the need for air conditioning with our jalousie windows. We noticed this was not the case with most of our bigger rigged neighbors.
We are providing space for a traditional window type air conditioner (not to be visible from outside the rig) for future summer trips to really hot climes. The air conditioner will be built into the refigerator's floor to ceiling cabinet
Heat. We will not use the Sunline's gas furnace or the water heater. Our plan is to use radiant heating in the floor and a tankless propane water heater. As a backup for electric heat we will have a ventless propane heater and of course our electric blanket.
Kitchen. The kitchen is basically L shaped and 8 feet of counter space is large for any trailer. There is also 8 feet of overhead cabinets above the foot of the bed. Two four foot overhead cabinet sections, one above the other. There is another four feet of overhead caqbinets above the stove and sink area. As well in the kitchen area besides those in the pantry, there are 12 more draws in the kitchen.
Across from the sink, is a cabinet that contains our 4.1 cubic foot, all electric refrigerator. We have traveled for two years, some 17 months of the last 24, with it and have found it easily meets our needs. Beside the refrigerator cabinet is the bathroom.
Bathroom. The bathroom is 6 x 2.5 feet. One end contains a 30x30 inch shower. The other end is a toilet with a Overhead cabinet above it. A small counter is on the outside wall with a even smaller sink.
Tanks. The grey tank is located immediately above the axle and holds 23 gallons. The black tank is below the toilet sitting on the floor of the trailer and holds 10 gallons. The water tank is under the kitchen cabinet and holds 18 gallons. Since the tankless heater contains little water, this represents a loss of 6 gallons. I hope to be able to increase this either with a new tank or some other means.
Living area. The living area consists of an L shaped couch. One end of the couch has a 2.2x 2.5 foot table that easily provides enough space for two to eat. This table is expandable to sit 4. Above the L shaped couch is 12 feet of overhead cabinets with 5-6 bays. Under the couch are 8 draws, similar to the configuration of draws under the bed.
At each end of the front portion of the couch, there is a draw accessible from the outside only. One contains the 2 batteries, the other draw contains the propane tank. The propane tank is a fiberglass propane tank that weighs half as much as a steel tank. These two compartments need to be adequately vented.
We have plenty of draws and storage space in our extended Sunline. The goal isn't to carry a lot, but rather to have a place for everything in an uncrowded manner. Like the new floor construction, no OSB will be used in any cabinets. Presently our little Sunline's cabinets are loaded with OSB. Our goal is a much lighter construction.
As I progress, I will add pictures to the site. My next posting will be of the frame.
