7 Common RV Interior Design Flaws (and Solutions!)

What the RV group is saying about the most typical RV inside design flaws… and what the RV design business ought to do about it’s the subject of this well timed put up.

As a virtually $30 billion greenback business, you may solely think about how a lot cash and man-hours go into designing useful and enticing interiors within the RV Business. However typically even the very best plans don’t translate to the very best real-world outcomes. The one actual approach to know what works and what doesn’t is to show to the folks utilizing it.

RVers be taught to adapt to the tiny life-style, developing with every kind of intelligent options and hacks. God bless the RV designers who’ve given us an amazing head begin, however there’s all the time some form of impracticality to beat.

Our group within the RV Lifestyle Group on Facebook has been having an excellent discussion on what RV designs are in want of enchancment. So, I assumed I’d share the principle considerations that popped up within the dialog probably the most together with some nice ideas on methods to repair them.

I really imagine the RV business excels at listening to its prospects, so hopefully, we’ll be a part of that dialog by means of this text.

The Most Frequent Points with RVs

The problems that have been talked about probably the most revolved across the kitchen, laundry, shoe storage, and accessibility.

I feel the options for these issues are actually achievable, even when they’re supplied as choices as a substitute of normal options.

Impractical Oven

The oven got here up probably the most within the dialog. Whereas some folks do love their oven, many discover the oven to be too small or too ineffective to be definitely worth the area it does take up. It appears many RVers are content material to make use of convection microwaves or air fryers of their place.

Listed below are some ideas RVers supplied:

• possibility for convection microwave and dishwasher drawer as a substitute of an oven
• possibility for 9-in-1 built-in air fryer as a substitute of an oven
• bigger oven that may maintain not less than a big roast

Understandably, preferences can fluctuate broadly in terms of ovens and cooking. So, it actually appears the very best answer is to have extra choices! Let the RVer have extra of a say of their cooking home equipment once they buy an RV.

Extra Counter Area

RV designers have tried to maximise counter area with out encroaching into the dwelling area an excessive amount of. Two primary options they’ve provide you with are boards that cowl the stovetop and sink when not in use. Whereas these are useful typically, they aren’t actually helpful whenever you’re in full cooking mode.

In spite of everything, isn’t it whereas you’re cooking whenever you want probably the most counter area? You find yourself having to push these boards apart when, say, sauce is simmering on the range and pasta is draining within the sink. That simply takes up extra room, not create extra!

Probably the most wise options appear to be:

• Sturdy pull-out boards (just a few fashions have these)
• Sturdy flip-up boards from facet of cupboard (some fashions have these)
• Pull-down shelf from beneath the cupboards

I notably just like the pull-down shelf thought because it appears we simply want extra room to set issues down that we take out of the pantry or fridge. The pull-down shelf takes benefit of the vertical area, making a pseudo-double-decker counter. As soon as the substances are put away, the shelf hinges proper again beneath the cupboard.

Adjustable Cabinets (& Extra Cabinets!)

Adjustable cabinets seem to be such a easy answer… as a result of they’re! I’d wager it’s one of many least expensive but only modifications each RV model may implement in each class and mannequin. This downside got here up with each pantry and closet storage.

We all the time say, “Reap the benefits of vertical area!” and what higher approach to try this with cabinets. Having the ability to customise the peak based mostly on the merchandise you retailer can be a HUGE assist.

And designers shouldn’t be stingy with the cabinets!  Give us not less than a pair extra cabinets to work with!

(By the way in which, our companions over at Organized Obie have some nice vertical storage options for RVers!)

Mike and Jennifer’s Summer time T-Shirts in your subsequent journey

Drop-Down Higher Storage

Loads of storage in RVs is within the type of small cupboards above the sofa. It seems that lots of people, both due to their top or their age, have a tough time reaching these areas. They’re excessive up, plus we now have to succeed in over a sofa.

But, these cupboards usually retailer the on a regular basis gadgets we have to get to usually!

It looks as if probably the greatest options follows that very same thought because the pull-down kitchen shelf. It will be nice if RV designers may make these small storage cupboards hinge down and out in the direction of us.

Soiled Laundry Hamper

Possibly RV designers haven’t heard that we’re not alleged to air our soiled laundry, as a result of they haven’t given us a very good place to place it. I’ve truly heard this criticism a number of occasions even exterior of our Fb dialogue.

We want a chosen place for soiled laundry that is not the bathe area!

Shoe Storage

Shoe storage! Shoe storage! Shoe storage!

It appears everybody agrees we want extra of it. Sure, there are after-market door hangers however why not combine shoe storage into RV design?

I notably agree with one member of our group that advised shoe storage by the entrance door. All of us find yourself leaving footwear by our doorways, they usually grow to be a tripping hazard. A cubby or area for a few pairs of footwear by the door and extra shoe storage within the again can be excellent.

Some fashions have this near-the-door shoe storage now. If that is necessary to you, be sure to test to see if the mannequin you might be viewing has it.

Higher Accessibility

Loads of the dialogue centered round accessibility and emergency exits, and I couldn’t agree extra. The RV Life-style is about freedom and discovery, and it needs to be attainable for folks with disabilities and mobility points. To not point out, a giant a part of the RV group is senior residents which might be solely getting older.

Newmar has Wheelchair Accessible Luxury Diesel Motorhomes

And Winnebago has several models they called Accessibility Enhanced

One of many largest obstacles for folks with disabilities and seniors with extra restricted mobility is the entrance entrance. The large steps grow to be a critical security hazard if not an entire blockade to the within.

RVers would really like extra choices in terms of how they enter their RV. Some ideas embrace:

• An electrical carry (like a miniature model of shifting truck lifts)
• A slide-out ramp
• Extra graduated steps
• Swing-out or collapsible hand rail alongside steps

The subsequent largest space of concern on this space was a extra reasonable emergency exit for seniors. Many older folks fear about the concept they may sometime have to flee by means of the escape window. Would they actually have the ability to get out the window? Would they harm themselves doing so?

A second emergency exit door in lieu of an emergency window looks as if an possibility many individuals would pay further for.

Talking of emergencies, you may need to tune into our podcast episode on When the Worst Happens: Medical Emergency on the Road.

Be a part of the Dialog