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Anybody install a computer desk in their 5th?


oldbutspry

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When we are looking at floorplans we find that some have a tiny spot for a computer desk but it's pretty minimal. Our desks are by far the most used spot in our house. So we're thinking we will remove a couch and put in a couple of regular desks with office chairs for us to sit at, preferably looking out a big window. Anybody do this with their fiver? If so, would you share pics? Just trying to get ideas.

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We had this done two years ago. The pic is right after installation - that is why the desk tops are so clean!
BigSlide02-450x300.jpg

The left desk was modified from the original, almost useless desk and the desk on the right replaced the dining room table/chairs. Works perfectly for us! ~Susan

Susan & Trey Selman | email | HDT: '01 770 VED12 | 5er: '02 40' Travel Supreme RLTSOA | '16 Piaggio MP3 500 | '15 Smart Cabrio | Personal Blog | HHRV Resource Guide | HHRV Campgrounds | Recreation Vehicle Safety & Education Foundation |

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I worked with this for a long time. The problem for me, was that a standard desk is 30"deep and typically takes and equal amount of space in front of it for the user and chair. Depending on where one puts it will make a big difference in available usable space. Depending on how much it weighs may be an issue in some slideouts, too. Drawers fill with things that have weight, too.

 

Our RV had a roll-around kitchen island bought from BBand Beyond which I repurposed to be a desk... of sorts. It has an open "foot" storage area and a center drawer that is deep enough to put a flat keyboard in and still close. The biggest problem has been durability of office type furniture. I have 2 wooden bookcases that I had to reinforce with screws and washers to keep the backs on and hold them together. It is more about the sideways motions on rough Georgia and South carolina roads that shake things apart. I also had a metal filing cabinet that literally tore apart from the weight in it but it was mounted against the rear wall of the RV and had a lot of weight in it. I replaced it with a much better quality 2 drawer metal filing cabinet which is holding up OK.

 

Flakeboard does not handle weight and lateral stresses very well without some serious reinforcing and even then, it will come apart.

 

I am curious to see what you end up with. Right now, most of my computer work is done from my recliner with a 27" 4k monitor on an arm to let it swing around toward me or be stowed facing a user sitting at the front of the desk/table. The 4k monitor has greatly improved my ability to see text on the screen because it lets me have a much finer pixel resolution on the screen but then use windows scaling to blow it up to a size that is useful at this distance. I have always stowed the monitor on the bed for travel, though.

 

Good luck with this.

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I bought a Kreg Pocket Jig at Lowes and a bunch of good wood.

 

Spent a few days building the table and it was a lot of fun. We sanded it all down and stained it close to the interior color of the trailer. Took the legs off and carried it into the trailer.

 

In our case we took out the little table and replaced it, we have 3 labs and use wire kennels to keep up with them. The three fit right under the table and when I need to work I slide the middle one out. Laptop, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse and printer all fit wonderfully.

 

I'll try to upload a picture from my computer in the morning.

2013 Newmar Dutchstar 4318

2019 F150 KR 4X4 

BlueOx 10K Tow Bar

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Not in a 5r, but you might like what I did in my toy hauler so I can work on the road.

 

Www.rvbprecision.com

 

 

I really like what you've done. Having a fold out table on a ramp really maximizes the use of the space! And the monitor mount looks like it would be easy to setup and tear down for movement.

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We had this done two years ago. The pic is right after installation - that is why the desk tops are so clean!

BigSlide02-450x300.jpg

The left desk was modified from the original, almost useless desk and the desk on the right replaced the dining room table/chairs. Works perfectly for us! ~Susan

 

 

 

Now that's the kind of setup I was envisioning! Full size desks that look comfortable and inviting! I don't think we would use the dinette table so maybe that's what we would want. Looks like you had the desk custom built to match your decor. That looks great but I think I would cheap out and just get two sturdy matching desks. Thanks!

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Our trailer came with one and is for sale. http://trucktrailerforsale.blogspot.com/ Only one desk but it has worked for us for over twelve years.

 

Yeah, I looked at your truck and trailer. It looks like a really good deal! We're not really ready to buy yet. Just trying to decide what kind of trailer would work best for us. Thanks!

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I worked with this for a long time. The problem for me, was that a standard desk is 30"deep and typically takes and equal amount of space in front of it for the user and chair. Depending on where one puts it will make a big difference in available usable space. Depending on how much it weighs may be an issue in some slideouts, too. Drawers fill with things that have weight, too.

 

Our RV had a roll-around kitchen island bought from BBand Beyond which I repurposed to be a desk... of sorts. It has an open "foot" storage area and a center drawer that is deep enough to put a flat keyboard in and still close. The biggest problem has been durability of office type furniture. I have 2 wooden bookcases that I had to reinforce with screws and washers to keep the backs on and hold them together. It is more about the sideways motions on rough Georgia and South carolina roads that shake things apart. I also had a metal filing cabinet that literally tore apart from the weight in it but it was mounted against the rear wall of the RV and had a lot of weight in it. I replaced it with a much better quality 2 drawer metal filing cabinet which is holding up OK.

 

Flakeboard does not handle weight and lateral stresses very well without some serious reinforcing and even then, it will come apart.

 

I am curious to see what you end up with. Right now, most of my computer work is done from my recliner with a 27" 4k monitor on an arm to let it swing around toward me or be stowed facing a user sitting at the front of the desk/table. The 4k monitor has greatly improved my ability to see text on the screen because it lets me have a much finer pixel resolution on the screen but then use windows scaling to blow it up to a size that is useful at this distance. I have always stowed the monitor on the bed for travel, though.

 

Good luck with this.

 

That's a lot to think about. Need to find sturdy desks that don't weigh too much and fit the space well. I assume we don't have to worry about weight too much as long as we put our filing cabinet somewhere else. Is there any sort of standard weight limit for slides?

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I bought a Kreg Pocket Jig at Lowes and a bunch of good wood.

 

Spent a few days building the table and it was a lot of fun. We sanded it all down and stained it close to the interior color of the trailer. Took the legs off and carried it into the trailer.

 

In our case we took out the little table and replaced it, we have 3 labs and use wire kennels to keep up with them. The three fit right under the table and when I need to work I slide the middle one out. Laptop, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse and printer all fit wonderfully.

 

I'll try to upload a picture from my computer in the morning.

 

I'd like to see that. I don't think I could make furniture that looks good enough for my wife! We'd wind up buying furniture after my attempts got rejected. :)

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We had this done two years ago. The pic is right after installation - that is why the desk tops are so clean!

BigSlide02-450x300.jpg

The left desk was modified from the original, almost useless desk and the desk on the right replaced the dining room table/chairs. Works perfectly for us! ~Susan

This looks great!

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We bought a custom desk for our dinette area from www.braddandhall.com to match the rest of the woodwork in our fifth wheel. We really love it. I can't get my photo downsized enough to post, but if you go to their website and look at desk/dinette pictures you'll see what we have. We used our existing table and chairs with the desk. The quality on the build is excellent, it's Amish built in the Elkhart,IN area (they ship). We have it in a slide and weight does not seem to be an issue.

 

Vicki

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Fulltime and having fun!

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Sorry it took so long got busy this morning. Had to resize it, hope it works.

 

This is before we stained it.

 

I had 2 sets of measurements I had to go by; the first was the 3 dog kennels had to be able to fit underneath it and work. The second was it had to fit in the slide where the old table was. So it had to be small enough to fit in the slide with the theater seats and still be able to close the slide.

 

We took our time and all we had was a saw and a drill. Oh and most important was the visegrip deal from Kreg, it mated the boards together and in turn needed very little sanding to smooth them out.

post-31385-0-13522900-1484005687_thumb.jpg

2013 Newmar Dutchstar 4318

2019 F150 KR 4X4 

BlueOx 10K Tow Bar

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