Wondering about bed & dinette modifications

MountainTop

Active Member
Looks like our accident damaged 181 might be repairable, so we're considering some changes. We like the size of the fixed bed, but when not sleeping or en route, it's kind of wasted space. Has anyone modified the fixed bed in a 181? We're wondering if it could be converted into bunks or storage. We know the water heater is under it next to the sink end of the slider. Not sure what else is there other than storage bays.

If we made that change we'd have to use the dinette bed, a little small as is, so might try to figure a way to widen it by removing the little entertainment podium between the dinette bench and the slideout. It's pretty useless anyway (there are other places to mount the radio/CD player). Has anyone made any changes to the dinette, and if so so, what did you do?
 

kb0zke

Well-known member
MountainTop, glad to hear that your mpg may be repairable. You can't widen the dinette any without blocking the door. On our 181, we have opening windows on either end of the front bed and a fixed window in the front wall. I would think those would be in the way of any bunk arrangement there.

Under the bed is just the water heater and furnace, both on the street side. The rest is the storage space accessible from outside. In order to get to the water heater valves you will have to raise up the mattress, take out some screws, and raise the plywood on the street side.
 
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