| RVs are a personal thing. Some people like the | | | | directions. You can find them in good appliance stores |
| versatility of a lightweight trailer while others wouldn't | | | | or on the Internet. |
| be caught dead in anything less than a forty-five | | | | 6) Flexible Wardrobes |
| foot bus conversion. In any case, there are a few | | | | When it comes to closets and wardrobes, most RV |
| features and characteristics that are nice to have in | | | | manufacturers throw in a closet, install a closet rod, |
| any RV. Some are usually only feasible in larger | | | | and call it good. That works great if everything you |
| motorhomes or fifth wheels while others are viable in | | | | own can be hung on a coat hanger. However, with |
| any RV. Keep these in mind when you're purchasing | | | | some adjustable shelving and a few bins, wardrobes |
| an RV or planning your next remodeling project. | | | | and closets can be easily configured to meet the |
| 1) Easy to Maintain Floors | | | | storage needs of everything and everyone. |
| Regardless of the type of flooring you prefer - the | | | | 7) A Dedicated Workspace |
| key is maintainability. If the floors in your RV are hard | | | | Most RV manufacturers haven't yet addressed the |
| to keep clean and difficult to maintain, you've got the | | | | fact that RVers need a dedicated place to work. A |
| wrong flooring. For ease of maintenance, look into | | | | few RVs have token desks but they frequently don't |
| vinyl tile, linoleum, or plastic-laminate wood. For a | | | | offer enough surface area for serious use. Moreover, |
| good compromise, consider carpeting in the living | | | | many of these desks are located in the bedroom |
| room area and tile (or linoleum) in the kitchen and | | | | rendering them useless for those that work after |
| bathroom areas. In heavy traffic areas, use a carpet | | | | hours. Genuine work areas should have enough |
| or vinyl runner for extra protection. | | | | surface area for a laptop computer as well as a |
| 2) A Re-Configurable Dining Area | | | | printer. They should also have enough space for a |
| Removing a fixed dinette and replacing it with a | | | | real office chair with wheels. |
| free-standing set of table and chairs is one of the | | | | 8) Separate Vanity and Toilet |
| most commonly performed remodeling projects. | | | | When a bathroom vanity is in the same room as the |
| Unfortunately, some manufacturers make this task a | | | | toilet, both fixtures are tied up when either one is |
| great deal harder than it should be. Nevertheless, it's | | | | being used. When they're separate, one person can |
| still worth the effort for those that want the | | | | brush their teeth while the other uses the toilet. This |
| flexibility and the breathing room that this particular | | | | may sound trivial but in a one-bathroom 'house', |
| arrangement offers. | | | | issues like this can make a big difference. |
| 3) An Island Style Bed | | | | 9) Well-designed Food Pantries |
| An 'island style bed' is not an exotic bed that's | | | | The best RV kitchens have pull-out food pantries |
| designed by indigenous islanders for ritualistic | | | | that are specifically designed for canned goods, |
| purposes. Instead, it's merely a bed that can be | | | | spices, and other commonly stored items. Look for |
| accessed from three sides. Beds that have two sides | | | | adjustable, display-style shelves that are removable |
| against a wall can be a real challenge when changing | | | | for easy cleaning. |
| the sheets. Furthermore, when two people are | | | | 10) An Accessible Bathroom |
| sleeping in the bed, the person against the wall not | | | | Some RVs have 'private' bathrooms that are located |
| only has less breathing room - they also have to find | | | | in the rear of the bedroom. The concept is similar to |
| some way to get up without climbing over their | | | | the master bedroom that is often found in houses. |
| partner. | | | | However, in a real house, there is usually more than |
| 4) A Flip-up Kitchen Counter Extension | | | | one bathroom. In an RV, this design means that |
| RV kitchen are frequently short on useful workspace. | | | | everyone has to parade through your bedroom to |
| A large flip-up countertop extension can provide | | | | use the toilet. Not always a good idea. |
| badly needed surface area whenever you need it. | | | | 11) Real Doors |
| You can make your own using plywood and | | | | Privacy is no less important simply because you're |
| hardware from your RV dealer. Alternatively, IKEA ( | | | | staying in an RV. Accordingly, bathroom and bedroom |
| sells a wood drop leaf table (called the NORBO) that | | | | doors should be solid and capable of being locked. |
| can easily be adapted to serve as a countertop | | | | Likewise, in toy haulers, there should be a solid door |
| extension. It cost around $30 (plus shipping). | | | | separating the living quarters from the 'garage' to |
| 5) An Adjustable Television Set | | | | keep fumes out of the living quarters. |
| Most RVs come with televisions that are mounted | | | | 12) Lots of Windows |
| inside a cabinet. As a result, people have to twist | | | | RVs are largely about experiencing the great |
| their bodies, turn sideways, or move their chairs to | | | | outdoors. Windows help to bring the outside in. They |
| get a good view (assuming their chair even moves). | | | | also make an RV seem brighter, bigger, and more |
| It makes a lot more sense to have a television that | | | | cheerful. Many RVers routinely install extra windows |
| can be configured for the viewer. A good alternative | | | | in their RV. Ask your dealer for a list of companies |
| is a flat-screen television attached to a flexible TV | | | | that sell RV windows. |
| mount that can be extended, rotated, and tilted in all | | | | |