Storage/TV Cabinets Access - Montana Owners Club

mallardjusted · 08-16-2006, 12:58 PM

Our large capacity storage cabinets and living room tv are only accessible when the main slide-out is open. We like to keep extra food, like bread and rolls, in one of the cabinets.

What I did was buy 2 cabinet doors from Home Depot (approx 23" x 14"?). They I cut our two access holes on the side of the storage cabinets, installin the doors. It gives great access to the mentioned cabinets. The nice thing is, the upper door gives easier access to our top shelf (came with a subwoofer, but was to high to reach without a stepstool). Now I can stand on the steps going upstairs and reach.

The pic (if I can attach it, that is), shows the lower door.

... Semper Paratus ....
Matt, Amy, & Chocolate Labs Sasha & Webby
- 2004 3255RL Montana, 2005 F-350 CC 4X4 PSD
- Advance truck bed folding cover
Washington state.

mallardjusted · 08-16-2006, 01:07 PM

Here is a 2nd picture. This is the lower of the 2 cabinet door openings. Please excuse the rough look to the openings, I am in the process of putting trim in the openings.

The upper openings are similar, except one is not for storage, but for access to the tv and wiring.

... Semper Paratus ....
Matt, Amy, & Chocolate Labs Sasha & Webby
- 2004 3255RL Montana, 2005 F-350 CC 4X4 PSD
- Advance truck bed folding cover
Washington state.

Devildog · 08-16-2006, 03:29 PM

Still looks like the same picture. I hate to tell you, but yur lower access door looks just like a chocolate lab. Pretty dog, but will she fetch the chips when the slikes are closed?

Jim, Angie and Anna the Wonder Retriever
2001 GMC Sierra 4X4, CC, D/A
Air Helper Springs, New Engine
2006 3295RK fitted with some of the improvements from valuable MOC owners!

Edit: the original pictures I looked at did not show the doors. Once I posted the reply, they showed up!
Still, good looking pup. Face just like my golden retriever!

Montana Sky · 08-16-2006, 04:04 PM

Such a great addition! Your handy work has paid off as that door looks like it has always been there.

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

Wrenchtraveller · 08-16-2006, 11:51 PM

This is a great idea and something I want to do down the road. I want to get rid of the 26" tube TV some day, put in a plasma TV and then put a door in to get at the space behind the TV.
Thanks for the pics. They both show on my computer.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

Emmel · 08-17-2006, 02:45 AM

mallardjusted, great idea. First, what size LCD tv did you get to fill the hole where the 26'' tv was? Second, the lower door in front of the water pump, have you thought about turning it aroung so the hinges were on the other end. This allows me to winterize without opening the slide. We have the 3280 and the access is the same for the tv and the upper cabinet when the slide is in, keep up the great work! Are you watching Keystone?

Steve&Patti 2004 model 3280
2002 Duramax 4x4 crew cab SB

jrgwdenner · 08-17-2006, 03:32 AM

Nicely done!

Judy
http://spaces.msn.com/bamatravelers/
http://bamatravelers.blogspot.com
Traveling with Glen and Greta in our 2004 Dodge dually and Montana 3380 RL

sreigle · 08-17-2006, 06:42 AM

Great idea, Matt and Amy! I have cataloged this idea to see if we might want to do something similar.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

Ozzie · 08-17-2006, 07:12 AM

That's a nice tip...

It's good to know the Home Depot has that style of doors.
I might be interested in a door in our rig in a different area, can I ask what color stain you used? Do they come prefinished?

327RKS

mallardjusted · 08-17-2006, 10:55 AM

I can't believe I didn't think of doing this earlier (we've had our unit 2 years), as it was relatively easy to do!

I did not have to stain the cabinet doors - they were pre-finished (Oak), and match just great. I'll see if I still have the packaging around for the exact part number on the doors .....

I didn't replace the big TV, although that is on my list down the road. The access let's me have some partial storage in the tv area, but will also make replacing the tv much easier to do. And then it will free up a large area accessible from the new openings.

... Semper Paratus ....
Matt, Amy, & Chocolate Labs Sasha & Webby
- 2004 3255RL Montana, 2005 F-350 CC 4X4 PSD
- Advance truck bed folding cover
Washington state.

Ozzie · 08-17-2006, 11:13 AM

Thank you for that reply mallardjusted. We have a Home Depot close to home,and it would be really great to find what I need and not have to stain it.

327RKS

mallardjusted · 08-17-2006, 04:58 PM

Unfortunately our paper recycling was this week, so the packaging is gone.

For these style cabinet doors, they only had 3 colors: oak, white, and something real dark. You might print a picture to take with you and ask someone at HD.

btw, the actual doors I used measure 12" by 30". They had several other sizes as well. The hinges are 2" brass. The door handles are EXACTLY the same as the ones on our unit, which is nice.

... Semper Paratus ....
Matt, Amy, & Chocolate Labs Sasha & Webby
- 2004 3255RL Montana, 2005 F-350 CC 4X4 PSD
- Advance truck bed folding cover
Washington state.

Ozzie · 08-17-2006, 05:03 PM

Thank you for checking anyway...it was a big help just knowing where they have these doors and even in the right color.
I'll be making a trip over there after our weekend out...

327RKS

sreigle · 08-18-2006, 06:45 AM

Ozzie, both Home Depot and Lowe's sell the doors in several different finishes. They both will order to your specifications so take your measurements with you. Ours match beautifully and they'll have a chart where you can pick the color you want. I'm not positive but it seems like ours are something like Honey Oak. That might not be right. At those same stores you also can buy hinges that are a close match for what's on the Montana already, although there is a slight difference, too small to be noticeable. I got the spring loaded ones that will stay open until you close the door. That worked best for our application.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

Ozzie · 08-18-2006, 07:21 AM

Ahh...thanks for that Steve - I'll make sure to bring a door with me...

327RKS

sreigle · 08-19-2006, 07:09 AM

Now that I've said they have matching doors, I probably should qualify it by saying they match what is in our 2003 Montana. I do not know if they match the newer ones. Haven't checked for that. yet.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

mobilrvn · 08-19-2006, 07:37 AM

WrenchTraveler, Think that most flat panel TV research says that you want a LCD screen, not a plasma screen. LCDs last longer and are not affected by altitude. Think that after SuperBowl weekend, we'll see much lower prices on flat panels. Went to WallyWorld yesterday and the 15" flat panel we bought for $248 had been "rolled back" $20.

MoBillTuxRex&Princess
Fulltiming since '93
'04 3575; '06 2500HD Duramax/Allison

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