Where do you put your cuppa in your motorhome?

Sues
Sues Forum Participant Posts: 33

We've  just moved from a caravan to a motorhome.  The model we thought would best suit us has a rear lounge.  The only drawback we can see at the moment is that there's nowhere to put your cuppa.  You can either hold your cup until you've finished your drink or keep getting up to put it on the kitchen side.

We've looked into having a single pedestal table fitted but it would be more of an obstacle than a help.  We've also looked to buy a very small coffee table but then there's the chance we'll topple it over.  Our thought at the moment is fitting a "flap" to the end of a cupboard, much like a worktop extension found in some vans and motorhome with different layouts.

We're looking for inspiration.  Any ideas fellow caravanners and motorhomers?

Thanks in anticipation.

Comments

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited December 2016 #2

    some rear lounge vans (and even others with permanent beds) have small quadrant shaped shelves mounted in the rear corners...

    this would also serve for a morning cuppa while in bed.

     

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
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    edited December 2016 #3

    We have a permanent table so we use that. It's a bit of a space hogger but as this is our third motorhome with one, it must be something we accept. In the cab, we use cupholders; the driver has a ledge where he puts his drink if we are stationary.

    Thinking about it more, we do tend to cuddle our cups 

  • Bellsboy
    Bellsboy Forum Participant Posts: 68
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    edited December 2016 #4

    We use a small folding table we picked up at a local camping accessory shop.

    This is the type of thing :

    http://www.jacksonscamping.com/kampa-camping-low-table/p6469

     

  • JD6620
    JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
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    edited December 2016 #5

    Our friends have a rear U shape lounge in their motorhome.  They tend to sit one either side and use a long narrow tray on the seat between them for cups.  Seems to work well and no spillages.

  • RJLJ
    RJLJ Forum Participant Posts: 148
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    edited December 2016 #6

    We've used a muggi, both inthe van and at home. It sits comfortably on a sofa and takes up to four mugs.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,139 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #7

    We have the rear lounge and solved several problems in one go. We removed the end cushion and replaced it with a matching drawer/table unit from a caravan. It's a vast improvement and can easily revert to the original if needed.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #8

    , it might be worth looking at a caravan breakers to see if you could get a drawer type unit and just remove the end cushion

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,139 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #9

    Exactly what we did. The unit came from a breaker. It was in good nick and matches the other woodwork.

    It provides a table for cups, phones etc and slides out to allow two of us to eat without having to wrestle the free standing table out of the wardrobe. We also gained two drawers for storage.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #10

    One side of our MH has a handy ledge, but fitting a drop down leaf is an option. Rotated seats are comfy, and nice ledge on dash for cuppa.

    We are considering rear lounge options when we come to change. A small folding tray will solve a mug problem, and we keep one in MH as I have a fiddly little hobby when away, that needs to be whisked out of the way of wagging tails and clumsy fellow passengers!laughing

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited December 2016 #11
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited December 2016 #12

    True, DD.....someomes got to do it....wink

    ps....17 presses of thr smilie button to get it to stay on the ipad screen...

  • Sues
    Sues Forum Participant Posts: 33
    edited December 2016 #13

    Some really good ideas.  Thank you to all who replied.  Not sure what a muggi is but will google.

     

    Once again thank you.

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
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    edited December 2016 #14

    Just a word of caution. If you use a centre drawer unit in the rear lounge of a motorhome, it will be potential missile  in the event of a collision. Either the drawers or the whole unit could break free unless it is very well secured. In a caravan it is against a bulkhead. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,139 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #15

    Only a complete idiot would fail to adequately secure such a unit and it only takes a small degree of competency and common sense to achieve this.

    The drawers don't come right out and some rear lounge layout MHs are built using identical units as fitted to cvans.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #16

    A clever friend of mine fabricated a window 'clip' on shelf. Just the ticket I thought but I've never have got round to making one.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #17

    ?

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #18

    exactly what we have done too, removed the middle rear cushion's, bought a flip top table with 2 drawers. OH fitted it and its all we use now in the van. The big main table has also been taken out of the van as its just toooo heavy, a lighter folding table with adjustable legs now sits in the cupboard and is used outdoors.

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
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    edited December 2016 #19

    Oh I am so sorry for posting. I should have realised that everyone including you is so competent and sensible. Lets hope that a complete idiot doesn't get it wrong then because a 20kg missile can do a lot of damage at 60mph.

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
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    edited December 2016 #20

    Is a 20Kg missile an unsecured pet dog? tongue-out

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #21

    Your post was a valid point .....

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,139 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #22

    Hey, what's all that about?

    There's more chance of a high level locker opening and projecting its contents around the van in the event of an accident than a hulking great, well fixed, cabinet flying about.

    Thankyou for your concern.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #23

    People's pets would be secured , wouldn't they ???

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,139 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #24

    Great minds, TG. It was an obvious solution for us.

    We once had a Bessacarr caravan and then a Bessacarr MH. They had the same table/drawer units - in the front of the cvan and the rear of the MH. The only difference was that the cvan version only relied on the weight of the cushions sitting on wooden 'outriggers' to keep the chest in place whereas the MH version was securely screwed in place.

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
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    edited December 2016 #25

    As this section of the forum is headed New to Caravanning and Touring,  I posted what I think is sensible advice. I have been Caravanning for over 40 years and in this time have seen some pretty appalling modifications carried out by enthusiastic amateurs to their pride and joy, which have been potentially very dangerous. Unlike towed caravans, motor caravans travel with people in them. Whether these modifications are carried out with the knowledge of the vehicle insurer I have no idea. There are plenty of people around who don't have the competence to hang a picture, so a modification to a motor vehicle would be inadvisable. 

     

  • Sues
    Sues Forum Participant Posts: 33
    edited January 2017 #26

    Just to say muggi purchased, sits on a non slip tray when in use and stored away when in transit.  Very pleased with the outcome with very little effort and cost.  

    First outing with "Dora" over the New Year and whilst very different to our breaks in our now departed caravans still great.  Can't wait for the next one.

    Once again thanks to all, best wishes for 2017 and happy, enjoyable road trips.