Appreciate the info on toilet operation, seems easy peasy to set up and use.
Also the heads up on ground clearance. We don't intend to boondock off the beaten path, but that is a very prudent precaution for when we change our minds. I'm planning on taking the missus next weekend to go to some manufacturers/sales yards and see what is out there, how amenable they are to customizing (moving the front door position, the spring over, etc.) Pretty sure once she's climbed into one, the project can begin in earnest.
Close, but not perfectly to scale, but have to start somewhere.
*Thinking a queen size futon for pulling double duty as a day couch/night bed. One of you geniuses welded up a beautiful design with steel and wood slats that is really what I'd like - much more stable than typical futon frame.
*Instead of a built-in kitchen, I think it would be cool to have a sink and stove on a rolling cart (maybe some counter space-but have to consider length for the following reason: We plan to use the ramp door as a "beach club", meaning using jackstands to hold the ramp level with the floor as a patio of sorts. Then if nice out I can roll the kitchen onto the deck to cook, or if chilly for breakfast or rainy - can still cook indoors with the bed folded up. Some removable screen panels and one of those magnetic walk-thru screen doors should help keep flies at bay. Our 10' pop up canopy should provide shade and rain protection over it too.
*For simplicity I'm trying to avoid extensive plumbing. The toilet would have it's own pressure/pump fresh water system and blackwater tank. This mobile kitchen would have a small water tank with some sort of pump/pressure system, and just drain into another holding tank/bottle. Just enough to wash hands, brush teeth, wet dirty dishes for cleaning, etc. The cooktop will be a Coleman Classic 2-burner that I have new in box for past few years. Original one is working fine but will sell with the teardrop when the time comes.
*I want to put upper cabinets above the kitchen all along the wall that has the door in it. Can see that area for dishes, linens, seasonings, utensils, etc. I'm hoping I can find a small wall-mount microwave to put in that area too (A full size is way to big). If not a sturdy shelf will suffice (miss not having evening popcorn sometimes-lots of seasonal fire restrictions in these parts).
*The toilet would be in a partitioned off area up front. Ideally dumping into a blackwater tank directly below, and the fresh water from a tank wall/shelf mounted in the room. (I'm still hoping the backpack sprayer tank idea might work - manually pump it up for pressure and voila!)
*I was thinking the little area in the v-nose might be good for a couple batteries and the power center. But again, in another thread, someone noted to keep an eye on weights and balances - something I hadn't considered until then, so maybe it will have to become a hanging closet for jackets.
*For clothes storage I want more upper cabinets above the bed. Maybe mount some sort of directional, focused reading lights under them so they concentrate light in the correct areas.
*This will have A/C, probably in the side wall, higher up, between the bed and toilet. Or maybe just one of these portables:
Just a little hole to vent the heat and can better aim it if needed.
*I will be running a bit of electrical. I like having reading lights near the bed, overhead lights for general illumination, and a combination of 110V, 12V, and USB plugs spread around for charging duties (and the occasional margarita blender). Also porch lights and something to shine onto the beach club. I like the idea of (2) powered roof vents for something this size (Fan-Tastic) - but maybe 1 is enough.
That leaves a lot of floor space and some wall space - so that's a good thing. We don't go out for super long trips that we would benefit from a shower - if we do there is a hotel scheduled mid-journey. Soap, water, towels, and a great invention: "Dude Shower Wipes" get us by day to day mostly. Just going to mull over all the other great ideas people have done so storage and space is best utilized.
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