Camper Projects

Three Over The Top Overcab Storage Cubbies

Here are three over the top overcab storage cubbies.  Who would have thought this much storage could be possible in the cabover?

1. Cubbies in Overcab for Added Storage

Submitted by: Mark Siminoff, 2005 Dodge Ram 3500, 2004 Alpenlite Saratoga 935

Before Shelving Cubbies Alpenlite Camper

Above: The cabover before the modification

My wife, two children (who are seven and nine years old) and I do a lot of extended traveling in our truck camper.  We were constantly struggling with not having enough well-organized storage space.

Driver's Side Before Construction, Alpenlite Overcab

Above: The driver’s side cabover before the modification

To address this need, I modified the wardrobe and cabinets on both sides of the cabover area of my truck camper so that we would have room for all of our clothing (both clean and dirty), linens, towels, toys, books and musical instruments.

After Overcab Wardrobe Cubbies

Above: The completed cubbies in the overcab, scroll down to see Mark’s process

The factory installed wardrobe on the passenger’s side consisted of a small, difficult-to-access closet with a pair of doors that opened over the mattress.  It only offered space for items hung on hangers or placed on the floor.  The cabinets on the driver’s side were small, difficult to access, and didn’t have any shelving.

Construction Of Bedroom Cubbies

To better manage our storage needs, I built custom cubbies that are designed to hold folded clothing, plastic bins (for things like socks, underwear, toiletries, and personal electronics), and/or shirts and jackets on hangers.

Measuring Cubby Space First

All of the individual shelves are easily removable so that space can be made for large items if necessary.  On the driver’s side there is a canvas dirty laundry hamper which can be easily carried into the house or laundromat.

Cubby Shelves Going Into Bedroom

A spare flat-folded hamper is stored alongside the open one and can be deployed if the primary one gets full.

Angled Shelving To Easily Make The Bed

On both sides there is a generous space along the floor where long items, like fishing poles, umbrellas, and kites, can be stowed.

Increased Bedroom Storage Camper

Above: The driver’s side of the finished cabover, note the bungee cords across the front of the cubbies.  The top shelf on the driver’s side is designed to carry a guitar and a ukelele.

Inside The Wardrobe Cubbies

In addition to the small wooden lip at the front of each shelf, there are provisions for bungee cords to be attached across the front of the cubby openings.

Bins Fit Perfectly In Cubbies

These will prevent items like books from falling off out while on the road.  By the way, to date nothing has ever fallen out.

Increased Camper Bedroom Storage

The vertical partitions and shelves are made from birch plywood and the front faces are solid maple.

Cubbies Almost Completed

Above and below: The passenger’s side of the finished cabover

Finished Cubby Passenger Side

We now have lots of room for all of our stuff and each person has their own dedicated cubbies that can be used or reconfigured as they see fit.

Still Have Hanging Storage With Cubbies Bedroom

Truth be told, the best part of the whole mod is the laundry hamper.

2. IKEA Storage Cabinets For Overcab Storage

Submitted by: Thomas Bowes, 2010 Chevy Silverado, 1998 Bigfoot 30C10.11F

Need new cabinets in overcab

The bedroom area in my camper was water damaged and needed to be torn out.  I also disliked the hamper cabinets that were part of the original design.

IKEA Kallax shelving units

I tore out the cabinets and the flooring and replaced the cabinets with IKEA Kallax shelving units with drawer and door inserts.  By raising the units to just below the windows, I now have additional storage under them for extra pillows, blankets, and clothing.

IKEA Kallax shelving units cut to size

I used three units to construct the new cabinets, custom fitting them into the angled space at the front of the bunk.  I also added two 120-volt receptacles on each side of the head of the bed.

So far the mod has worked out fine.  The forward facing doors and drawers allow items to be stacked and accessed more easily than the old vertical hampers.  The top of the new cabinets can also be used for sundry items such as boxes of tissues, a clothes basket, and my CPAP machine.

IKEA cabinets in overcab for storage

It’s a little tricky getting into the bottom drawers as the mattress is somewhat in the way.  The bottom drawers are good for small items that can be reached without having to pull the drawers all the way out.

The tilt forward bottom hinge arrangement on the doors has worked out well, allowing them to be tilted out about 45-degrees for access to the inside.

It took me 40-hours to complete this modification and cost me $500.  In my opinion, the skill level of this modification is hard.

3. Overcab Shelves For Bin Storage

Submitted by: Ron Richardson, 2000 GMC Sierra, 2012 Wolf Creek

Before Bedroom Shelf Modification

Above: Before picture of the cabover

We are going the Yellowstone for three weeks next year and the four of us (husband, wife, and six and four-year old boys) need more storage for clothes.  The passenger’s side of the cabover was the best place for shelves.

The window was covered with reflective insulation.  A frame was constructed out of 3/4-inch by 3/4-inch poplar.  Two identical frames were built.

The first frame was put against the wall.  The same poplar was used for horizontal supports and 1/4-inch plywood was put on top of them.

During Construction Of Overcab Shelves

The front frame was added.  More poplar was added to create a horizontal lip and keeps the bins from sliding out.  It’s hard to see in the picture, but the bottom two shelves have it and the top shelf does not.

Final Bedroom Shelves No Bins

Above: Shelves without bins

The shelves give us six big bins that are 13-inches wide, by 16-inches deep, by 7-inches tall.  We use the shelves for clothes, a microwave, and miscellaneous storage.  The bins help us pack at home and are easy to take out when we need them.  The shelf system can also be easily removed in the future.

Shelves With Bins

Above: Shelves with bins

The shelving took me 20-hours to complete.  The staining and finishing was done over several days.   The wood cost $120.  The bins will cost another $70.  In my opinion, the skill level of this mod is medium.

 

Truck Camper Chooser
To Top