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Old 01-13-2014, 04:39 PM   #1
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DIY door galley suggestions?

Since I'm already in the mood to mod (http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...p?f=13&t=12715), I'd like to also build a door galley. We're discovering that all our shoes take up a large portion of the floorspace. I know, I know, don't bring so many shoes, but when you're hiking, biking, walking around camp, etc., they really start to pile up even when bringing the minimum. So, I was thinking about building a custom "shoe galley", since that is where we mostly change them anyways, and keeps from tracking everything inside.

I've got the door panel off (see below) and see plenty of places to mount but would like to know how others have done it, or how SMB does it. I thought I'd seen some posts in the past that had some details about where to mount things, and some of the hardware used, but I can't seem to find them. I've found a couple posts that help, but not so much about mounting:
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...hp?f=40&t=9780



Unless there are better ideas for shoe storage of course...
-Kevin

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Old 01-13-2014, 06:36 PM   #2
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Re: DIY door galley suggestions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by fancypants
Since I'm already in the mood to mod (http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...p?f=13&t=12715), I'd like to also build a door galley. We're discovering that all our shoes take up a large portion of the floorspace. I know, I know, don't bring so many shoes, but when you're hiking, biking, walking around camp, etc., they really start to pile up even when bringing the minimum. So, I was thinking about building a custom "shoe galley", since that is where we mostly change them anyways, and keeps from tracking everything inside.

I've got the door panel off (see below) and see plenty of places to mount but would like to know how others have done it, or how SMB does it. I thought I'd seen some posts in the past that had some details about where to mount things, and some of the hardware used, but I can't seem to find them. I've found a couple posts that help, but not so much about mounting:
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...hp?f=40&t=9780

Unless there are better ideas for shoe storage of course...
-Kevin
If you really want to get them out of the way, throw them out back in a Trasharoo (if you have a spare tire to hang a Trasharoo on of course). I agree though. Shoes are a huge space taker for us. When we go, we want to be prepared for any activity, and we are four, and we like shoes. That translates to roughly 236 shoes IIRC. I stuff them EVERYWHERE, under seats, in doors, in cabinets that aren't full. And I think they multiply. I'm actually planning to buy a Trasharoo soon for dirty laundry (idea compliments of Twogone), which also eats up a lot of our space.

I think it's somewhat taboo to share door galley ideas here. There are some older posts suggesting this. There is some info on the Expedition Portal though, I think. And I also believe SMB will now sell you a door galley by itself, already made. I'm about to build my own, and as for hanging it there, I'm thinking of using 1.5 or 2" bolts fixed in the door (meaning bolted through the sheetmetal) with slots on the galley itself so it can be lifted up out of it's slots and removed when I don't want it there, or when I want to take it over to a picnic table etc. Sorry if this explanation is not clear, but I'll post up pics of what I have in mind when I build mine.

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Old 01-13-2014, 08:47 PM   #3
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Re: DIY door galley suggestions?

I understand re:door galley design - I'm not trying to steal anyone's trade secrets (e.g. SMB's) - but I guess I'm trying to understand it more from the DIYers point-of-view. I don't know what I'm doing but I do like doing it . I'd like to continue making mods to my SMB as I use it and as I have the ideas, and I'd like to do it in a sturdy or smart way that people may have already found satisfactory and are willing to share. If not, no biggie, I'll figure out something...

So, your idea about bolting the cabinet to the sheetmetal - would the sheetmetal be sturdy enough? I'm thinking maybe some wood-rib backing behind the sheetmetal (to spread the load), luan panel (or some other material) cut to door recess size/shape in front of the sheetmetal, then mounting cabinet through luan & rib sandwich (mmm, rib sandwich... )? Bad idea?

I like the Trasharoo idea, although the bears may think it is an extra-fragrant dinner! We were also considering some kind of hanging storage from the penthouse bed bottom but that gets problematic for night nature calls, or building some additional shelving under our platform (seen in other thread above) but that is already getting claimed by other odds-n-ends. Hmm, maybe a trailer "shoe caboose"...
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Old 01-13-2014, 09:04 PM   #4
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Re: DIY door galley suggestions?

I think SMB West sells door galley hardware. One of the best things I had in my SMB is the door galley. I purchased a used one last year and bought parts through SMB to install it in my rig. Good Luck.
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Old 01-13-2014, 09:43 PM   #5
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Re: DIY door galley suggestions?

Thanks surfgeek. They do seem useful.

Adding link for future reference: http://sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic. ... 820#p44820
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Old 01-13-2014, 09:57 PM   #6
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Re: DIY door galley suggestions?

Another reference link: http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...build-up/page4
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Old 01-14-2014, 07:24 AM   #7
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Re: DIY door galley suggestions?

Yep, neat ideas in those links. I couldn't find the hardware at the Sportsmobile Store, just a single latch. I was thinking they were just mounted to the door sheet metal though, but that was a guess. With at least 4 bolts and decent sized washers I would think it would be plenty strong. My idea is to build mine where it just meets the floor when the door is closed, very little clearance, so if someone leaned on it or something (read kids) it wouldn't flex enough to tear anything up. You would need to make sure no one used it as a grab handle to pull themselves up in to the van though!

Perhaps an SMB owner can shed some light on how they mount them. I think Jage removed his and built his own too if I can find that thread.

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Old 01-14-2014, 08:16 AM   #8
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Re: DIY door galley suggestions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 86Scotty
.... I think Jage removed his and built his own too if I can find that thread.

Think this is the post you're thinking of.

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=9780&hilit=galley+door+build


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Old 01-14-2014, 10:27 PM   #9
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Re: DIY door galley suggestions?

Thanks Herb!
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Old 05-15-2014, 12:53 PM   #10
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Re: DIY door galley suggestions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 86Scotty
Quote:
Originally Posted by fancypants
Since I'm already in the mood to mod (http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...p?f=13&t=12715), I'd like to also build a door galley. We're discovering that all our shoes take up a large portion of the floorspace. I know, I know, don't bring so many shoes, but when you're hiking, biking, walking around camp, etc., they really start to pile up even when bringing the minimum. So, I was thinking about building a custom "shoe galley", since that is where we mostly change them anyways, and keeps from tracking everything inside.

I've got the door panel off (see below) and see plenty of places to mount but would like to know how others have done it, or how SMB does it. I thought I'd seen some posts in the past that had some details about where to mount things, and some of the hardware used, but I can't seem to find them. I've found a couple posts that help, but not so much about mounting:
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...hp?f=40&t=9780

Unless there are better ideas for shoe storage of course...
-Kevin
If you really want to get them out of the way, throw them out back in a Trasharoo (if you have a spare tire to hang a Trasharoo on of course). I agree though. Shoes are a huge space taker for us. When we go, we want to be prepared for any activity, and we are four, and we like shoes. That translates to roughly 236 shoes IIRC. I stuff them EVERYWHERE, under seats, in doors, in cabinets that aren't full. And I think they multiply. I'm actually planning to buy a Trasharoo soon for dirty laundry (idea compliments of Twogone), which also eats up a lot of our space.

I think it's somewhat taboo to share door galley ideas here. There are some older posts suggesting this. There is some info on the Expedition Portal though, I think. And I also believe SMB will now sell you a door galley by itself, already made. I'm about to build my own, and as for hanging it there, I'm thinking of using 1.5 or 2" bolts fixed in the door (meaning bolted through the sheetmetal) with slots on the galley itself so it can be lifted up out of it's slots and removed when I don't want it there, or when I want to take it over to a picnic table etc. Sorry if this explanation is not clear, but I'll post up pics of what I have in mind when I build mine.


How I am using the Trasharoo with shoes, no spare tire on the back of my van.
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