A Dozen Features that are Nice to Have

RVs are a personal thing. Some people like the versatility of a lightweight trailer while others wouldn’t be caught dead in anything less than a forty-five foot bus conversion. In any case, there are a few features and characteristics that are nice to have in any RV. Some are usually only feasible in larger motorhomes or fifth wheels while others are viable in any RV. Keep these in mind when you’re planning your next remodeling project.

1.  Easy to Maintain Floors

Regardless of the type of flooring you prefer – the key is maintainability. If the floors in your RV are hard to keep clean and difficult to maintain, you’ve got the wrong flooring. For ease of maintenance, look into vinyl tile, linoleum, or plastic-laminate wood. For a good compromise, consider mixed flooring. Check out Chapter 7 for further information.

2.  A Re-Configurable Dining Area

Removing a fixed dinette and replacing it with a free-standing set of table and chairs is one of the most commonly performed remodeling projects. Unfortunately, some manufacturers make this task a great deal harder than it should be. Nevertheless, it’s still worth the effort for those that want this particular arrangement. Chapter 13 describes several dining area remodeling options.

3.  An Island Style Bed

An ‘island style bed’ is not an exotic bed that’s designed by indigenous islanders for ritualistic purposes. Instead, it’s merely a bed that can be accessed from three sides. Beds that have two sides against a wall can be a real challenge when changing the sheets. Furthermore, when two people are sleeping in the bed, the person against the wall not only has less breathing room – they also have to find some way to get up without climbing over their partner.

4.  A Flip-up Kitchen Counter Extension

RV kitchen counters are habitually short on useful workspace. A large flip-up extension can provide badly needed counter space whenever you need it. See Chapter 12 for details.

5.  An Adjustable Television Set

Most RVs have televisions that are fixed in one spot. As a result, people have to twist their bodies, turn sideways, or move their chairs to get a good view (assuming the chair even moves). It makes a lot more sense to have a television that can be configured for the viewer. A good example is a wall-mounted flat-screen television that can be extended, rotated, and tilted in all directions.

6.  Flexible Wardrobes

When it comes to closets and wardrobes, most RV manufacturers install a closet rod and call it good. However, with some adjustable shelving and a few bins, wardrobes and closets could be easily configured to meet the precise needs of everyone.

7.  A Dedicated Workspace

Most RV manufacturers haven’t yet addressed the fact that RVers need a dedicated place to work. A few RVs have token desks but they don’t offer enough surface area for serious use. Moreover, many of these desks are located in the bedroom rendering them useless for those that work after hours.

Genuine work areas should have enough surface area for a laptop computer as well as a printer. They should also have enough space for a real office chair. Chapter 11 provides detailed design standards for a typical computer workstation along with some suggestions and examples.

8.  Separate Vanity and Toilet

When a bathroom vanity is in the same room as the toilet, both fixtures are tied up when either one is being used. When they’re separate, one person can brush their teeth while the other uses the toilet. This may sound trivial but in a one-bathroom ‘house’, issues like this can make a big difference.

9.  Well-designed Food Pantries

The best RV kitchens have pull-out food pantries with fully adjustable (and removable) display-style shelves. Take a look at Chapter 12 for additional insight.

10.  An Accessible Bathroom

Some RVs have ‘private’ bathrooms that are located in the rear of the bedroom. The concept is similar to the master bedroom that is often found in houses. However, in a real house, there is usually more than one bathroom. In an RV, this design means that everyone has to parade through your bedroom to use the toilet. Not a good idea. Chapter 14 focuses on RV bathrooms.

11.  Real Doors

Privacy is no less important simply because you’re staying in an RV. Accordingly, bathroom and bedroom doors should be solid and capable of being locked. Likewise, in toy haulers, there should be a solid door separating the living quarters from the ‘garage’.

12.  Lots of Windows

RVs are largely about experiencing the great outdoors. Windows help to bring the outside in. They also make an RV seem brighter, bigger, and more cheerful.