Add a pivoting removable shelf by door

The other day Ii stumbled upon an old TV shelf my dad gave me years ago. Well he hadn't intended to give it to me, he asked if i could fix it. It was brand new, never used, but had been setting around a while, The top pivot had corroded and arm would not rotate. In trying to free it I broke the cast top screw plug that contained spring & held arm on. Oops. He says "uh ya want it?". So I put it in the shop thinking when I got around to it I'd try to fix. That was 20 years ago...

Here it is in all its Copper Tone glory. This is quite old, though I looked and you can still purchase but hard to find. TV shelf originally made by Braund mfg co., Battle Creek Michigan. I was cleaning the shop when I refound it. I started to throw away but then as I started remembering the day my dad 'gave' it to me I decided to put back under the workbench. My dad has since passed, There are a few things, though worthless I've been unable to part with. Then as I was putting it away I kinda wondered if it would work for a shelf by back door of camper...I could almost hear my dad, "Jeesh, I asked you to fix it & you broke it. Then after 20 years you finally get around to fixing and you hang it by the door of the camper". Well I smiled to myself, come on dad-lets see what we can cobble up.

To fix the broken hold down I drilled & tapped the support, used a conical washer nut upside down with a screw thru it. Keeps the spring centered. There is a spring that sits in a recess in arm, the screw goes thru into support, it's supposed to keep tension on arm so it doesn't flop around. The arm pivot is cone shaped, with notches on bottom, the support had two tabs, so the arm would lock into 1 of 2 positions 180 apart? I ground off tabs, so it wouldn't lock, however arm also rode on tabs, now its too low. I had a 1/4 sq spacer that had a hole in it large enough to slip over support. So now it will fully pivot and arm is contained.

Cut a shelf to set on the arm. Material I had, similar to cutting board. Drill holes to match base, Its offset to allow shelf to be closer to door, and when swung out of the way it will set flush against ladder. Counter bored holes in shelf, tapped the existing holes in arm base. I had to disassemble /reassemble the arm and support assembly quite few times, to get it to rotate with some resistance yet not unscrew the screw. Adding washers for less friction till 'we' got er just right.

Working, painted and assembled. I actually found the instructions. Support is intended to be screwed to a wall. As I want this removable I tapped the support. Installed 2 1/4-20 x 2 1/2 screws, with bout half inch sticking thru. I'm mounting this to the scooter ramp that's mounted to ladder, Later (if this works) ill make a plate that will clamp to ladder for use when ramp isn't there. Either way, Ill just drill 2 holes, insert the protruding support screws thru and use wing nuts to hold in place.

Mounted-works sweet-nice though there is a problem, cant do much about. Mounting so shelf is accessible from inside the camper and standing out side. Its the height. I mounted as low as practical, though I can lower about 8" it's pretty low from inside, however when camper is on truck shelf may end up way high to easily remove say plates etc...we'll see. Its either going to work or its not. Hopefully it does, would be handy. If not I'll mount in the shop.

thanks Dad!

Back to Ourelkhorn Camper Modifications page