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MOD Adding a home office setup to my motorhome

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Neal

Staff member
RVF Administrator
Joined
Jul 27, 2019
Messages
11,480
Location
Midlothian, VA
RV Year
2017
RV Make
Newmar
RV Model
Ventana 4037
RV Length
40' 10"
Chassis
Freightliner XCR
Engine
Cummins 400 HP
TOW/TOAD
2017 Chevy Colorado
Fulltimer
No
I run a software business and I got into RVing (on impulse) when I realized I could work from anywhere with an Internet connection. I miss the travels from my Air Force days and there is so much more to see than office and home and repeat. I tried for nearly two years to work from the dinette in my 2017 Newmar Ventana 4037 using primarily a 27 inch iMac, exploring different chairs to find something ergonomic for 8 hours at the computer and then the left elbow up on the elevated dinette ledge, on and on it was not ideal. And the corian scratches so easily even just the mouse movements wore on the corian. Easily polished out but it was just not working out for the best.

After my dog passed in which she used the jack knife sofa while traveling I decided to measure and sure enough an idea was forming. I have 72 inch UpDesks at my office and one wasn't being used and sure enough the space where the jack knife is will fit a 72 inch desk with some slight mods needed for the desk feet to fit width wise. The jack knife disassembles into about five pieces from the two sides, the kick panel, the back rest and the seat portion. A few bolts, not a big deal. Two people can get it out with ease, I'm solo so it was a struggle and didn't want to bother a neighbor to help. The 72 inch updesk is heavy but I got that in without damaging anything amazingly! Assembled the legs, secured to the raised floor setup and voila. I have an exact setup of my home office and work office in my motorhome. I have braking casters on the Herman Miller Aeron chair that doesn't roll unless weight is on the wheels. I lower the chair when bringing slides in and the desk goes over top of the arm rests just fine. I can still get around the chair with slides in.

Desks come in various sizes as you know and there are options to get an office in your RV if that is something you need. Yes, it's sad that work plus RV have to mix but at least I can change the view out of my office window and explore at the same time. Work life balance in the RV is extremely difficult, I'm still struggling with it 2-1/2 years in but I'll figure it out.

desk1.png
 
That’s cool, but how do you do without a sofa?
 
That’s cool, but how do you do without a sofa?

I do have a full length sofa bed opposing this. Where the desk is was a jackknife sofa.
 
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My minimalist office...
IMG_4655.jpg
 
I run a software business and I got into RVing (on impulse) when I realized I could work from anywhere with an Internet connection. I miss the travels from my Air Force days and there is so much more to see than office and home and repeat. I tried for nearly two years to work from the dinette in my 2017 Newmar Ventana 4037 using primarily a 27 inch iMac, exploring different chairs to find something ergonomic for 8 hours at the computer and then the left elbow up on the elevated dinette ledge, on and on it was not ideal. And the corian scratches so easily even just the mouse movements wore on the corian. Easily polished out but it was just not working out for the best.

After my dog passed in which she used the jack knife sofa while traveling I decided to measure and sure enough an idea was forming. I have 72 inch UpDesks at my office and one wasn't being used and sure enough the space where the jack knife is will fit a 72 inch desk with some slight mods needed for the desk feet to fit width wise. The jack knife disassembles into about five pieces from the two sides, the kick panel, the back rest and the seat portion. A few bolts, not a big deal. Two people can get it out with ease, I'm solo so it was a struggle and didn't want to bother a neighbor to help. The 72 inch updesk is heavy but I got that in without damaging anything amazingly! Assembled the legs, secured to the raised floor setup and voila. I have an exact setup of my home office and work office in my motorhome. I have braking casters on the Herman Miller Aeron chair that doesn't roll unless weight is on the wheels. I lower the chair when bringing slides in and the desk goes over top of the arm rests just fine. I can still get around the chair with slides in.

Desks come in various sizes as you know and there are options to get an office in your RV if that is something you need. Yes, it's sad that work plus RV have to mix but at least I can change the view out of my office window and explore at the same time. Work life balance in the RV is extremely difficult, I'm still struggling with it 2-1/2 years in but I'll figure it out.

View attachment 209
Lookin good Neal!
 
My wife wanted a desk installed to replace the jack knife sofa just like you did. We were at Classic Coach Works getting the floors and captains chairs replaced so I asked him how much would it be for their cabinet shop to make a desk that would match all the other cabinets in the coach. They pretty much said we could design almost anything and they would build it for $2500. Matching the desk top to the counter tops also. I'm considering having it done on the next trip............
 
That is a damn fine setup @Neal ! The good news is that you now have a super sporty work area and get to travel our fine country while on the job. The bad news is that you have to work while traveling this great country!!
 
My minimalist office...View attachment 2537
Hey @JoeHogan, can you show me a couple more pictures of your setup? I'm a heartbeat from tearing out the sofa on the drivers side and replacing it with an office of sorts. I don't need quite the setup as Neal and you're looks like it'll work just fine.
 
Hey @JoeHogan, can you show me a couple more pictures of your setup? I'm a heartbeat from tearing out the sofa on the drivers side and replacing it with an office of sorts. I don't need quite the setup as Neal and you're looks like it'll work just fine.
This is the the main table in the RV. This office is temporarily setup to accomplish whatever tasks need to be completed, then the laptop gets stored, printer goes to a basement space.
This table serves as a dining area, relaxing area, reading area, video area, whatever. The only improvement I'd like to do is get a smaller printer. The RV has a Pepwave router for WiFi tucked away over the driver in a cabinette. There is plenty of power for all the equipment.
 
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The only improvement I'd like to do is get a smaller printer. The RV was a Pepwave router for WiFi tucked away over the driver in a cabinette. There is plenty of power for all the equipment.
Got it!
 

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