Don't buy the XL underfloor storage!

jage · 06-12-2007, 07:42 PM

Ok, having tried to pack for camping I've found that I'm bringing an extra large amount of empty cardboard boxes in order to keep the ton of stuff I put in the XL underfloor storage from bouncing around like marbles in a jumbo jet. I just NEED MORE STUFF!

Velogeo · 06-13-2007, 11:43 AM

When John Steinbeck traveled the country for "Travels with Charley" (Great book) he did his laundry in a 5 gallon bucket. He'd put in clothes, water, and a little soap then let it slosh around all day as he drove. I presume he'd do a rinse cycle the next day.

With the built in drain plug I hear the XL storage compartment has it seems like a natural use of the thing. I think SMB is sitting on a marketing gold mine. How many camper vans have built in clothes washers?

Jeffrey · 06-13-2007, 03:43 PM

Darn it. I was planning on keeping about $20k of camera gear in there. Now I need to get me one of those point and shoot pocket sized thingies.

geoffff · 06-14-2007, 11:16 AM

My XL underfloor storage is filled with tools. How can you have too many tools?

-- Geoff

Colorado Ken · 06-19-2007, 10:35 PM

My underfloor storage catches a ton of dirt road dust. A closer look shows that there is a 1/4 inch gap on one side where the rubber seal does not touch.

Ufortunately, I get a ton of road dust in the entire van, cabinets and drawers included. I think there are some seals not touching.

Jeffrey · 06-20-2007, 10:14 AM

Ken, that is not good to hear. I think it's important that all doors and windows seal very well. I do not want to live in a dusty dirty place. If I did, I'd just take my Land Rover out and camp on the ground like I've done for over thirty years. I am going to hold SMB to making sure I don't eat dirt for dinner.

jage · 06-20-2007, 10:43 AM

Driving home from Colorado I collected a good sandbox worth of dirt in the rear bumper storage. I took measures to seal the rear bumper just to see what difference they made, and left the front bumper storage open. I haven't looked to see how successful the measures were.

The only other place I found dust was the rear window shade... apparently the PO had driven with the rear window open and coated the shade with a good layer of dust. The rest of the van was clean and tight (although the side doors don't seem tight the seal is good.)

Driving in Colorado is definitly a choice way of finding anywhere dirt will come in your van, and as far as mine goes those are the only "problems".

Jeffrey · 06-20-2007, 11:40 AM

I must add that here in CA there are a LOT of long dusty washboard roads that get me to the wonderful locations I seek. The Mojave Desert, Death Valley, Anza Borrego, Eastern CA, not to mention ALL of southern Utah, Nevada and Arizona. This is why I'm spending over $100K.

I don't want dust inside. Period.

scatter · 06-21-2007, 07:50 AM

We've had our van for over two months now and over 2,000 miles on dirt roads and NO dust inside!! This is my fourth van and is the only one that hasn't sucked some dust. I usually have to put the exhaust of my shop vac into a window to pressurize the beast and go around the outside and "squirt" talcum powder around to find leaks. Not this time. I even found places where SMB has sealed up a few spots that Ford missed. I agree, I don't want to sleep in or eat dust. Especially in a $100k rig. I think SMB has gotten on top of the problem.