Safe installation under dinette seat.

[SMan]

I bought a small safe to install under the dinette seat and am wondering how the floor of my Premier is constructed. I assume there is a layer of plywood under the carpet. I see all kinds of screws holding the dinette seat down. Just wondering what they go into. I've used the search function for this but no success. Somebody here must have ripped up the carpet to look underneath? Thanks!

[Blue~Go]

What year is yours? There was a split somewhere around 2002 where I think they started using a partial fiberglass/core composite floor. Prior to that, I can tell you that if it's like mine, most of the floor is constructed of two 1" layers of plywood (2" total). The wheelwells, fuel filler surround, rear step tub, etc. are molded fiberglass that is tabbed (imagine wide swaths of tape but make them fiberglass not tape) to the plywood. The shell sides are also tabbed to the floor.

If you have the composite floor, not sure what they used for core, nor how extensive it is.

You might be able to get an idea by looking at something like where the gas lines come in, where the low point drain is, and/or pulling up a smidgin of carpeting. Or if you have my year-ish, then it's probably 2" of plywood.

There is a line of body bolts that runs along on a line that is something like 18" in from the outside of the coach (at least I have seen the one in the closet floor, and the one under the stove in a line; presume they go forward on the same line). "just one's luck" that you'd end up hitting one of those if you didn't check before-hand.

[SMan]

What year is yours? There was a split somewhere around 2002 where I think they started using a partial fiberglass/core composite floor. Prior to that, I can tell you that if it's like mine, most of the floor is constructed of two 1" layers of plywood (2" total). The wheelwells, fuel filler surround, rear step tub, etc. are molded fiberglass that is tabbed (imagine wide swaths of tape but make them fiberglass not tape) to the plywood. The shell sides are also tabbed to the floor.

If you have the composite floor, not sure what they used for core, nor how extensive it is.

You might be able to get an idea by looking at something like where the gas lines come in, where the low point drain is, and/or pulling up a smidgin of carpeting. Or if you have my year-ish, then it's probably 2" of plywood.

There is a line of body bolts that runs along on a line that is something like 18" in from the outside of the coach (at least I have seen the one in the closet floor, and the one under the stove in a line; presume they go forward on the same line). "just one's luck" that you'd end up hitting one of those if you didn't check before-hand.

Thanks for the quick reply. Mine is a 2004. I heard they switched to composite construction in 2003 but your guess is as good as mine. Good idea on looking near penetrations. All of the screws in the dinette seem to be wood screws. The seat belt re-enforcement angle iron looks like it is attached by bolts that go through the frame somehow. I would imaging there has to be some type of plywood there. I'll for sure do more investigating before running lag bolts into the floor!

[Blue~Go]

Ah, so yours must be firmly in the composite era.

Here are a couple of photos I had saved of a 2004 Club Lounge Concourse with the carpeting removed. I think this must be all (mostly?) composite as my floor would be "plain" plywood in the same view (fiberglass on the underside, facing the road). You can see they attached the safe onto the wheelwell in this rig (fiberglass molding). In my rig it was under the stove, on the carpet-covered plywood floor.

You can also see the body bolts in the dinette area in the second photo. I'd presume they are in the same place on dinette or club lounge (but verify of course).

Anyway, looking at this I'd say it is all cored/sandwich construction. Likely some kind of foam core (mine has nidacore in the roof, not sure that means anything for a later floor though). The pinkish color is the fiberglass top skin. I don't know how thick it is, but I'd guess 1/8" to 3/16".

[SMan]

Well I see what you mean by the body bolts on the floor. I see them by the couch as well. I plan to put the safe under the rear dinette bench however my wheel well doesn't extend towards the center of the coach as far which allows me to set it just inside the door below the bench and sit on the floor prior to the wheel well. I'll try to remember to take pictures and document this mod as well. Again thanks for the pictures Blue Go. It is a BIG help!

[Blue~Go]

Glad they were helpful. I love "guts" photos I should credit that these are of Glenn's former Chinook (of http://www.tosimplify.net blog). He has since "additionally simplified" to a VW bus though.

I'm not sure what you mean about your wheelwell not extending as far in though. That seems impossible if you have a Concourse/E-350 with dual rear wheels. But maybe what you mean is that there is more room under the dinette base (between the wheelwell and the "room side" face) than the club chair base. The club chair base is only about 24" x 24" in footprint.

[SMan]

Yeah that picture threw me with the structure removed. The same I'm sure.

[SMan]

Safe is in. If there is interest I can post a few picks. Thanks for the info provided BG

[Blue~Go]

If there is interest I can post a few picks.

If there is interest? There's always interest in project photos Well, I'd like to see some anyway. Wondering if it's the stock safe, or maybe a larger one, or?

[SMan]

Instead of drilling the floor I used pocket screws to attach to the dinette structure. (The dinette was built out of square.)



I then had to build up the height above the angle iron of the seat belt support with another piece of 3/4 ply. I had to route the plywood to clear the angle iron.



I also installed a back panel to bolt the safe to and separate the safe the other side of the compartment.