About our 17MKE...

Tturbo

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Joined
May 28, 2024
Messages
39
Location
Leduc, Alberta
We just bought the trailer May 30

We have a few issues that we are hoping someone has already dealt with. We also solved a few general ones. Our floorplan includes the dinette not the theatre seating because we want the seating with a table.

Unsolved
  • Have no idea how to arrange the cushions on the dinette to make it into a bed. (Left a comment in another post)
  • Unable to think of a use for the deep corner cabinet with the two shelves that go back 2 ft? What do you put on them so you don't lose them to the depths?
  • Do we store food, plates and glasses on the shelves behind the plexi-glass (throw a tea towel over the door) or just keep it all stored safely until we get where we're going?
  • Need to determine if we need to check our loaded vehicle and RV weights as we might be pushing our F150 XLT V-6.
Solved:
  • Found out how to transfer the prev owner's warranty to me. Just email GD [email protected] with your information and a bill of sale,registration, or title.
  • Found these things and now I know what to do with them.
  • Puzzled out how to load and secure our e-bikes in the trailer (don't want to spend another $1k on a rack)
  • Went to convert our existing BBQ with a quick connect and then it had a "thermal event" (caught fire) a few days ago. So getting a new RV-ready BBQ while we wait for warranty parts on the old one.

Thanks for reading

Tess and Brad
 
We just bought the trailer May 30

We have a few issues that we are hoping someone has already dealt with.
Have no idea how to arrange the cushions on the dinette to make it into a bed. (Left a comment in another post)
Tess and Brad

Remove the backrest cushions.
Push the seat cushion bottoms back tight against the back rest walls.
Place the backrest cushions at 90 degrees to the seat cushions (in the middle).

If this doesn’t work, then swap the cushion placement. You need one on each end, parallel to the seat and two at 90 degrees in the middle.
 
We store plates, both paper and corelle, cups, bowl etc and in 10 yrs the glass in the door has survived. To minimize movement use that waffle weave shelf liner in between all of the plates and bowls.

Not everyone knows what cabinets are where in your Imagine so letting us know the location could help with suggestions on what to store. In our 303 we have deep cabinets next to the sofa but it has no shelf. This is where we store games , a few books and things that don't get used on a daily basis. The other side has some tool bags. If those are the cabinets be sure to pull up the false bottom and add supports underneath or the bottom will drop down on to wiring.
 
We store plates, both paper and corelle, cups, bowl etc and in 10 yrs the glass in the door has survived. To minimize movement use that waffle weave shelf liner in between all of the plates and bowls.

Good idea I think I did that once before in another trailer and it would serve well in all the shelves. Now on my list of dollar store purchases.

Not everyone knows what cabinets are where in your Imagine so letting us know the location could help with suggestions on what to store. In our 303 we have deep cabinets next to the sofa but it has no shelf. This is where we store games , a few books and things that don't get used on a daily basis. The other side has some tool bags. If those are the cabinets be sure to pull up the false bottom and add supports underneath or the bottom will drop down on to wiring.
Ours are in the back corner beside another cabinet that is by the fridge but this cabinet is an upper cabinet with a shelf and even my husband can get his arm in the top one. I put long packages of foil, parchment and plastic wrap in there but they disappeared into the depths. Even stuff we put on the shelf that we can see has a chance to get pushed all the way into this corner. So we may just end up putting a box of some sort in there to block it off. Good for storing foil wrap and the like though.
17mke floorplan.jpeg
 
Good idea I think I did that once before in another trailer and it would serve well in all the shelves. Now on my list of dollar store purchases.


Ours are in the back corner beside another cabinet that is by the fridge but this cabinet is an upper cabinet with a shelf and even my husband can get his arm in the top one. I put long packages of foil, parchment and plastic wrap in there but they disappeared into the depths. Even stuff we put on the shelf that we can see has a chance to get pushed all the way into this corner. So we may just end up putting a box of some sort in there to block it off. Good for storing foil wrap and the like though.
View attachment 51101

Don't you ever wonder what the designer was thinking with cabinets like that, they should live in their designs for a month using all the stupid cabinets they design. That's my biggest dislike with the Solitude 310 is that high up deep narrow bath cabinet @5' 3" it's a show stopper for me.

So you not only have to reach in all the way but also need a stool to reach the full cabinet.
Being in a corner like that kind of eliminates a pull out shelf. Maybe stuff the back side with extra paper towel and TP or anything that does not get used all the time that's bulky ?
 
Ah yes, the wonderful corner cabinet. We owned a 17 MKE for a year and really enjoyed it; 12 weeklong trips. Marla is 5’2”, so that cabinet was mine. We tried most of the suggestions already given. We ultimately decided a combination of spare paper towels, occasionally used mixing bowls and plastic storage containers to fill up the “cavern” portion. We used the space behind the door for toaster, hand mixer and coffee maker storage while traveling. The cabinet space beside the microwave was used for dishes and glasses. I hung an IKEA rack on the very back wall for cooking utensils to save counter space. While in camp, the tucked portion of the counter was perfect for the toaster and coffee maker. We had the recliner version with the folding table. We also replaced all the overhead lights with individual on-off dimmer switch (Amazon); much nicer atmosphere than the full power operating room effect as delivered.

For the size, visitors could not believe how spacious it seemed (Murphy bed up, of course). Great couples trailer and could be parked (almost) anywhere. Nice work on getting the e-bikes onboard.
We wish you many happy camping adventures.IMG_0333.jpeg
 
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For the size, visitors could not believe how spacious it seemed (Murphy bed up, of course). Great couples trailer and could be parked (almost) anywhere. Nice work on getting the e-bikes onboard.
We wish you many happy camping adventures.View attachment 51102
I know we were impressed with the size too but we shall see how much we like the murphy bed vs one that stays out. We did manage to stuff the half dressed 10" short queen Endy mattress into it so that made me very happy. But getting into it along the driver's side is a wee bit of a challenge I had to remove the door handles on the bottom door and the one under the dinette so I don't hurt myself. DH won't changes sides with me so I'll have to up my balancing game .

I love what you did with the kitchen wall; the colour looks awesome. We did a similar thing with our last unit in chrome subway tile but will likely do something like yours. Thank you.

Tess and Brad
 
We also swapped the mattress for a Mattress Insider Park Meadow pocket coil. I never found a good foam mattress. Fortunately, it was shipped compressed (but still heavy) so getting it in the trailer didn’t require hardware removal. With correct positioning, it fit the Murphy bed enclosure without damaging the coils. We liked it so much, we order the regular queen for the 23 LDE.

We’re both post-Medicare age and the Murphy bed became more of a daily bother on our extended outings. We also wanted both a dinette and the recliners; hence the 23 LDE swap at the perfect time.

The couple who bought our 17 MKE were ecstatic with our decorations and mods. We had fun and learned a lot.

IMG_0328.jpeg IMG_0325.jpeg
 
We’re both post-Medicare age and the Murphy bed became more of a daily bother on our extended outings. We also wanted both a dinette and the recliners; hence the 23 LDE swap at the perfect time.

The couple who bought our 17 MKE were ecstatic with our decorations and mods. We had fun and learned a lot.

We like our Endy memory foam some people dislike how firm they are but we like it. If necessary we might just leave the Murphy bed out all the time (you know...naps!!). plus there is more room in the middle with the slide.

I can see why people liked your back-splash updates. And I found the ones you used for your kitchen - yay!! DH isn't too happy having to do it yet again so I offered to do the bathroom one :) I think they look finished with those back-splashes besides keeping the walls from getting wet.
 
Remove the backrest cushions.
Push the seat cushion bottoms back tight against the back rest walls.
Place the backrest cushions at 90 degrees to the seat cushions (in the middle).

If this doesn’t work, then swap the cushion placement. You need one on each end, parallel to the seat and two at 90 degrees in the middle.

Well I tried this and asked GD about it but sad panda. i think the only way we can do this is to buy - yet another - foam piece to fill in the gaps. I can't believe they sold this as it is without making this dinette usable.

Before moving cushions.

IMG_4730.jpg

After trying to position cushions as indicated. We can't even wedge the back cushions into the middle they're just too wide.

IMG_4733.jpg

This is the tetrus version but its missing a piece :( I can't even just put all four back cushions on it they're too wide.

IMG_4739.jpg

It's not a deal breaker, but I was hoping I could use it if we needed to pull over somewhere and not put out the slide. Maybe we will figure it out with something else that works.
 
Your MKE appears to have a somewhat different dinette design than our MLE.
We ol
We only have four cushions. They do hang over the end of the table slightly but I sleep on it with no problem. Did last night.

Good luck.
 
Might you post a pic of your dinette in its eating position with the cushions in place?

Thanks.
 
Might you post a pic of your dinette in its eating position with the cushions in place?

Thanks.

This is the eating position only the table top has been lowered. It's on a single telescopic pedestal

IMG_4730.jpg
 
This is the eating position only the table top has been lowered. It's on a single telescopic pedestal

View attachment 51112

So you can sit and eat on three sides. That is different than our two sided seating. In the MLE, the table is against the wall so only two-sided seating is offered. You got a lot of cushions. I’m going to guess you would not use them all.
 
I guess they did this to fill the space but didn't think about it actually being used as a bed. I might just use it with the gap in the layout. Or just make a bed on the floor if there's enough room with the slide in. I means what's camping without a little adventure and creativity. :)
 
We just bought the trailer May 30

We have a few issues that we are hoping someone has already dealt with. We also solved a few general ones. Our floorplan includes the dinette not the theatre seating because we want the seating with a table.

Unsolved
  • Have no idea how to arrange the cushions on the dinette to make it into a bed. (Left a comment in another post)
  • Unable to think of a use for the deep corner cabinet with the two shelves that go back 2 ft? What do you put on them so you don't lose them to the depths?
  • Do we store food, plates and glasses on the shelves behind the plexi-glass (throw a tea towel over the door) or just keep it all stored safely until we get where we're going?
  • Need to determine if we need to check our loaded vehicle and RV weights as we might be pushing our F150 XLT V-6.
Solved:
  • Found out how to transfer the prev owner's warranty to me. Just email GD [email protected] with your information and a bill of sale,registration, or title.
  • Found these things and now I know what to do with them.
  • Puzzled out how to load and secure our e-bikes in the trailer (don't want to spend another $1k on a rack)
  • Went to convert our existing BBQ with a quick connect and then it had a "thermal event" (caught fire) a few days ago. So getting a new RV-ready BBQ while we wait for warranty parts on the old one.

Thanks for reading

Tess and Brad

We have a 17MKE and I really can't tell you how to arrange the cushions without going out to do it myself. It makes sense once you finally see it.

The cabinets at the back corner are limited for sure, but with some long basket/drawer organizer, you can get some stuff stored and still retrieve it. Use your phone camera to check it if needed...we mainly store empty frig containers on the top shelf.

Waffle shelf liner is a must for all cabinets, and we've never had an incident with the glass doors.
 
In response to the F-150 question - have same and it does just fine...
However with a lower torque engine you will rarely see 10th gear and the corresponding good mile per gal as seen with the empty truck. No special springs etc.
We do a basket for cupboard I am tall so not an issue.
 
We just use a grabber for stuff in the deep upper cabinet, mostly used for storage like extra rolls of paper towels and little-used appliances.
 

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