A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

We call this the Short Bus. It is only 22ft long and fits in the driveway. Even better I can actually turn it around in the driveway with careful parking of the other cars. My first MH was 25 ft, had a slide and was wider. I downsized. For me, at this point of RV traveling, I am more interested in traveling and camping. I chose the ability to park in any parking lot and fit into the small campgrounds and smaller roads (not to mention the ease at which I can change directions just in case I might take a wrong turn.....) Since I travel by myself most of the time the slide just took up weight and was something else to worry about. If the pups are under foot, they are asked to move....


The kitchen is on the left as you enter the bus. I made a cover to place over the stove top which I really don't use, but it is there if I want it. The cover gives me counter space and protects the stove top from the crumbs from making sandwiches and/or salads.... I have gotten used to using the blue bowl for washing in the sink. In all I have probably traveled in colder weather more than the summers and find using the bowl a good control for how much water I use. I don't usually even try to use the small built in sink in the bathroom. It is too close in there for me.


I really haven't figured out how to maximize the kitchen storage to the left of the stove. The bottom green container is very long and can be pulled out to access the misc fixit materials that I drop in there. Above it, sits my small container of tools and a basket I throw things in to get them off the counter when I move down the road. My laundry stuff fits in the back.

The bathroom is just big enough for my long legs to fit behind the closed door. The shower curtain is usually tucked up. I put the PVC rack together and then found the lovely small wire basket at Goodwill. It is my effort to provide accessible storage of the "pink stuff" I use in the toilet when I travel in the winter and room for carry on water, with a place for the laundry basket on top. It gives me another place to store stuff - depending upon where I am traveling and what time of year.


This is a shot of the where I took the front dinette seat out for dog crate storage. The passenger seat is set up for Herschel the navigator. For now I store my chairs and extra stuff behind his chair. The crates can be changed out depending upon which dogs are traveling with me. Herschel is the only pup that travels uncrated. When I was showing I was able to get the grooming table and/or ex-pens in this area. Someday I will probably use the back of the MH but for now it fits here.


I founds these shelves doing nothing in our upstairs storage room....so, these spots are useful for storing the flip flops and hiking shoes where I can get to then easily.


The remaining dinette seat! It is pretty comfortable with the memory foam from the bed rolled up. My dream is to remove this seat also, build a small box around the heater stuff and get a small comfortable chair, maybe one that swivels. it would not have to come out into the aisle as far.


I have a dream for the jack-knife sofa too. As it is it extends 36 inches. I would like to replace it with a custom built box that would support a twin size mattress and that would provide more accessible storage and also cover the water tank under the couch. I often use the couch to stretch out on to read or watch TV and, hey, where is the room for the dogs? It would also be easier to keep the bed made up, etc. The clothes closet is on the right.... right past the couch/bed. The tan curtains are just held up with a tension rod. I found adding them this winter did cut down on drafts and helped keep us warmer. Hopefully they will help keep some of the heat out in the summer.


I have a future vision of replacing the TV with a small 15 inch LCD that I can get to go under the cabinets on the left side above the couch/bed. I think all that space above the front there could be better designed. I'm still thinking.


Okay, one more shot looking towards the back. The "shoe" storage on the left really is an everything useful I want to keep in sight storage. It hangs on the bathroom door. I also had a fantastic fan put in after I bought it along with two improved roof vents, so that I can circulate air and still keep dry. With only the two large windows it wanted a way to get fresh air.


Herschel and Remi demonstrate the comforts of home after a long walk in the NC State Park.

nice and cozy, the dogs are loving it too

Looks like a great little coach and you are really making it your own.
Marda

Great pictures! You certainly have used your space wisely. Thanks for posting. Cheryl

Love what you're doing to make it work for you. I'm sure if I wasn't fulltiming (although the 29ft class C we had for 3 years was very workable) and sharing the MH, I would also downsize. carold

That's a great arrangement for you and the pups. I really like the smaller rigs. They are exactly right for me. Your rig is perfect and I'd prefer it over the a-frame that I have. Being able to navigate and turn around, and park in smaller places is wonderful. Even these small motorhomes are very expensive though, so I guess I will have to be satisfied with what I have. I really like how you have modified it to work better for you.

Boy...I like that! It's perfect for one person!

Great job both with the photos and all your custom work.

Great job customizing things to work for you. I love my little mh - but I will never turn my shower into storage - I use it too often. I do have my bar to hang clothes to dry in there, but that's it.

Cedar, I'm going to guess that my mh cost less than your chalet and tow vehicle. Course, I didn't purchase new - but I'm a believer in finding the good used deals out there. I probably paid less for this and my scooter, and the rack to carry the scooter. So either way is doable. And I do like your chalet and tow vehicle, too. And it works for you!

I love the size of your "bus". Now why can't rv manufacturers think like rvers when they design the use of space? I like your idea of chanding the couch out for a twin size bed you can leave made up. That's what I did with the dinette in my Roadtrek.

Very nice MH!
I have a question; I've checked out this rig before and for me I felt I'd need a window in the back to look out as I drive. Guess I'm just use to using my rear view mirror VS the side mirrors exclusively. Was that easy to overcome?

I learned to use the side mirrors easily. After driving a MH 8.5 ft wide trading down down to only 8 ft made the angles with the mirrors much more driver friendly. Also, one of my negotiation points with the dealer was that I get a good rear camera. I can run it full-time. I don't really look at it too much just driving down the road, but it will come in very handy if I ever tow something. And, of course, the camera is a miracle worker when I have to back myself into a campsite or find myself manuvering into and out of parking lots. I also negotiated with the dealer to add the electric steps..... Now I kick myself for not having them add heat pads on the grey and black water tanks....

How is the back camera for being able to accurately judging distance? I have a 'back up' camera (only comes on when in reverse), on my car and it's ok for checking around the rear area, but horrid for trying to judge how close objects really are. It's like the view you get from those side mirrors that say objects may appear closer than they are (or the reverse, I forget).

You really have a lot of storage for a small rig. My main complaint with my motorhome is lack of storage. I put some of the plastic drawers in my only closet. I have some in my bathroom at home that are 10" wide x 15" deep. Something like that might work in your kitchen closet. It has 5 drawers but could be separated if 5 wouldn't fit. The narrow ones are hard to find but I think I found them at Lowe's.

Martha
2002 Coach House Platinum 23'