Drop frame van RV

I don't want to post a floor plan but, the front wall of the trailer, 26" counter full width, double sink in the center, cabinets full width above. Right side nose, 12' slide side by side refrig, U shape settee 8' wide. Left side nose, 7' slide 34" double oven range centered with cabinets and counters either side, microwave and cabinets above. Left side short wall 8" then 9' slide with an 8' couch. Right side after dining slide small entertainment cabinet, 36' entry door.

That is right at 20' of interior space, partition wall then bathroom, 5' long with a 30X60 shower one side, 30" vanity and toilet opposite side. Partition wall then bed room, 7' slide with king bed, cabinet dresser opposite wall, closet doors across the back. That is 35.5' of space not including closet. The bedroom and bath are two steps up from the main floor, the main floor is actually 9" above the upper deck height. The car nose goes under the bedroom and closet a couple feet. The toy deck that is above the car actually has the closet and washer dryer on the forward end, the effective deck size is 9' deep, 98" wide .

 

The bedroom is the lowest height at 80" the bath is 87" and the kit/living is 95". The trailer is an 18" drop with 126 inside the drop.

Steve

 

A single drop with 22.5 have at most 10' the trailers with 19.5 123-124" the trailers with 17.5 are 125-126"

I had thought about trailers with Dallas Smith rear suspension, (axleless single wheel box) They are just a couple inches too tight and they are really heavy, I almost bought a Kentuck with tri-axle DS suspension. That trailer weighed 18K and change. The other thing I an not real keen on is how low the belly is on some of these trailers. In the areas I travel, some RR Xings could be a problem. A single drop with belly boxes still have better clearance. I will not really add belly boxes but have equipment below the subfloor.

For example, the generator will be under the bathroom and it will be on a platform that lowers down to service it. The platform will be a few inches below the bottom of the trailer when raised. I do plan to have some storage in belly boxes the lowest of them will still be about 20" high at ride height.

I also looked at a single axle Great Dane double drop that was very nice, ex furniture van from High Point. The inside height was not really that great 133" IIRC My working height for the overhang part of the car garage is 42" add 4" for Xmembers and floor on the upper deck, the double drop would get an almost flat floor but, it would require single wheel axles and axle boxes. The cost and effort are not worth the gain IMHO. A purpose built frame could do the car low enough for a full length interior with only a car garage below. I have pondered all these options, I keep going back to a single drop with 17.5 tires as the best compromise. Many of the high end 5th wheels still only have 80-84" ceiling height in the bedroom. Honestly, unless you are 6'8"+ it isn't an issue and, heating and cooling the bedroom with a lower ceiling is easier.

Steve