QS 10.0 Rear Kitchen Mod

[allenincalgary]

So I was recently inspired by a post on Pinterest to solve a problem I was having with the whole "pop up" design. Recently i was growing frustrated by the fact that, while folded closed, it is near impossible to effectively load or prep the trailer for a trip; specifically food and linens.

The post showed a janky old teardrop with a pullout "kitchen" accessible from a hatch near the front of the unit.

I started to plan a similar pullout in my 2006 10.0, but couldnt come up with a design that was large enough that didnt render the interior useless.  Then it dawned on me- why not add a complete drawer unit on the back of the 10.0?

Had my 10.0 been equipped with the rear deck, life would have been easy. I began the project by removing the rear bumper and adding aluminum hollow beams to the existing frame to create a deck space.

Let me add some photos.

[allenincalgary]

Here are the bumper mod images.

[allenincalgary]

The next srep was to create an aluminum exterior waterproof box to attach on the modified bumper. Note the creation of a track by attaching a 1 by 1 1/8th aluminum angle within a 2 by 2 of the same thickness. The bottom of the kitchen "drawer being test fit is shown. The entire structure is riveted together uding aluminum rivets with steel mandrels. 

[allenincalgary]

The box is then attached to the trailer and the drawer is built.

[allenincalgary]

Finally, the unit is completed and taken on a maiden voyage. The bunk arms were shortened to accomodate the bottom brackets that were moved further aft. Two sets of bunk "buttons" on the bottom of the bunk ends were also removed in favor of trapping the tent material betweern the bunk ends and kitchen "top". The completed unit accomodates a drawer that is 80 inches long by 22 deep by 22 high.

[allenincalgary]

The pics

[allenincalgary]

The unit is now too light on the hitch. Ironically, I had moved my deep cycle marine battery inside on the axle to remove tongue weight when I pulled the trailer with my 2005 Passat TDI wagon. Ive now moved it back to the hitch. Pics to follow and an update on how it pulls now.

[allenincalgary]

Yes I added propane to the 10.0. One line is routed inside the traiker to a Big Buddy heater ehile the other terminates just in front of the right wheel, where a second hose is attached when set up.

[husaberger]

i like it..  i will not show this to the wife, because you know what she will say 'MAKE ME ONE!"

[gnies]

Wow this is really neat!

[admin]

I really like this as well. This looks like a great project that I wish I had the tools to tackle.

[mjmoore17]

There should be an award for most practical and extensive mod. This looks great and extremely useful.

Michael

[allenincalgary]

Thanks! I was surprised how easily the aluminum checkerplate was to cut just with a jigsaw. There is a wax that you dip the blade into occasionally but it cut as easily as wood. The major impediment is really the cost of the aluminum. I was up to $660 CDN for the metal alone (thats after getting 3 sheets of checkerplate off of Kijiji for half the price of new) when I decided I needed to "sell out" and use some wood! I varnished it with several coats of Spar Urethane before assembling it though.

[admin]

Yeah, working with aluminum is surprising. I help a buddy with his boat that we have outfitted for flounder gigging / bow fishing. Cutting the metal is as easy as cutting wood and we found that no special blades were needed. The hardest part for us was learning to arcuately weld on it. He has extensive steel welding experience with just about every method available, as a body tech working in the automotive field. I on the other hand have basic MIG skills. Moving over to aluminum was interesting because I can only describe it as more delicate. I kept burning through at the start but it eventually came together. I still wouldn't say it looks like a good weld, but it gets the job done and it keeps the water out

I dont know if I'd be confident in the look of my finished product on a project like the kitchen.

An awesome job!

Interesting, I used to own a 6.0 without the extended deck.  I called Livin Lite to see if there was any option of adding a deck.  I was told that it was simply not possible.  Looks like your great mod proved the "experts" wrong.