Seasoned RVers call it the Rig—that’s all the parts that hook up to the tow vehicle (if there is one) to accommodate the towing of things in a relatively responsible and safe manner.
My Rig was a Camplite 14DBS. It was 16’ long and the DBS means—well I don’t know what the DB means but the S means it has a slide-out. My basic criteria included a dry bath (that means a separate shower), double axle (I think they’re safer), European windows (no curtains or blinds in a trailer!), all aluminum (damp wood makes my nose tickle), and a small package. This little trailer has a lot of amenities crammed in a space about half the size of your guest bedroom.
Other amenities include: fiberglass exterior, slide-out that adds about 3′ of extra room inside (a huge difference!), spare tire, queen bed (called a queen short), a refrigerator that can run on propane, AC or DC, large awning, swivel TV with antenna, microwave-convection oven, air conditioning, a ceramic toilet, and a surprising amount of storage. It had everything, but I still wanted to change a few things.
I remodeled the table into a desk because I would be working and writing part time on the road. I started with a preliminary test set-up using plywood and the original table top to see if it would work. Then I did some research for a new center pole (shorter height—the new one is 25″) and a table top (found the perfect size at IKEA). Soon, I discovered I would also need a new screwdriver. Rigs like this use torx screws. Who knew? I had to google that to figure it out.
The new desk now had two large drawers under the table and 10 narrower drawers on top to hold up my second large monitor. Of course, this means I don’t have the second seat at the table, but since I was traveling alone and needed a desk more than a dinner partner, it worked great.
Of course, you can’t tow with the set up like this in the picture. I had to lay the monitor on the bed and I rigged up a strapping system to keep the drawers shut and in place while driving. I also put my laptop inside the car with me.
In addition to the interior editing, I also removed the swirlie decals and Camplite logos except for one on the front. That was hard (nearly impossible without significant side-effects) so, if you don’t like the swirlies, I recommend ordering your rig new without the decals.
Next, I fashioned a DIY black hose compartment for the back bumper. The Camplite has one on the side but it’s too small (why then?). Finally, I did some extensive research on rear view cameras and added one to the back of the rig.
Find remodeling details in the DIY section.