A clever purchase + a few mods = parental bliss

[ThePair]

Been pondering this project for a while now, and finally managed to make it happen:

One large annoyance/issue I've had since we started in our TM has nothing to do with the TM, rather our choice to eat off of plastic (melamine) plates, cups, and use real flatware. I personally don't like using plastic flatware if I can help it, and DW doesn't like eating foods other than sandwiches off of paper plates, again, when we don't need to. So, washing dishes is a part of our camping chores, and quite the chore it can become if one lets it sit too long.

Enter this: http://amzn.com/B00SU6RBHG

It's a manual dishwasher with 2 "buckets", one with attached brushes for washing, the other side rinses.

So what can this thing do that a sponge can't? Simple. It can get my 9 year old kids to do the dishes. So now, after every meal, they know that their task is to collect the dishes, scrape them into the trash, and use this to clean and rinse. They then stack them into a dish drain-bin (silicone, collapsable). This is all done outside the TM, on a table I've set up.

At this point, I'm going to want to rinse the dishes again, and make sure they're all actually clean. But...didn't want to have to keep going into the TM to do this. Enter phase 2: bring the kitchen sink to me, outside.

The first pic below is the set up (sink on left, "counter" with drain bin on right). The second pic is a close up of the water supply lines and drain. The third pic is where I tapped the water lines -- I just used the low point drains (hot & cold), 1/2" flex polyethylene tubing, and Flair-It 3 way drains for this side. The supply pipes are 1/2" PEX, the drain pipe coming back is 3/4" PVC going to a hose. I used a Pfister faucet that has quick-release pins for the supply lines, so it's very quick to set up and knock down. Hot & cold running water at counter height without having to go into the TM. Very convenient! Drain goes to the bushes, so I'm not filling the gray water tank with dish rinse water--which can quite legitimately be used for watering the bushes.

Almost all the sink/shelving hardware is Elfa. The only part that isn't would be the horizontal rail -- I found the Menard's rail system (which is lower profile that the Elfa) will hold Elfa verticals, as long as you trim the upper corner off the verticals. I put it as far up on the side of the TM as possible, using a combination of metal glue, clear caulk, and screws/bolts. The spots that cannot be seen from inside have bolts with large washers, the more visible spots are screws instead. The bar (once I got it up, don't ask!) is rock-solid. I wouldn't put a huge amount of weight on them, but for my needs it's fine. The benefit is that it's always level (with the TM) and not dependent on the ground, so the height can always be 3' counter height regardless of the campsite pitch.

I've also included a pic of the 4x4 sleeve I installed to carry my collapsing 5' tall ladder -- helps a lot to set up the awning. And...party lights! LED strips (multicolor, I'm just showing green here) under the edge and within the awning. Just for fun

[Craigrrr]

Nice setup for the outside sink!!!

[Lesherp]

Interesting idea. Seems like this setup could be used for multiple things. How do you attach the rail system it to the TM? Is it permanently attached to the TM or must it be taken down to fold up?

[ThePair]

Originally Posted by Lesherp

Interesting idea. Seems like this setup could be used for multiple things. How do you attach the rail system it to the TM? Is it permanently attached to the TM or must it be taken down to fold up?

The horizontal rail is permanently attached. I put it as high up on the wall as I could, and got it in white, so it's pretty invisible with nothing attached. This was purposeful. The back shell closes just fine over it, and it ends up "higher" than the window treatment, so it's not rubbing against anything while the TM is closed. The rest of the hardware all removes: 3 vertical rails (I have 4 in case I want to separate or reconfigure the set up), the shelf, the sink/basin and small shelf with faucet attached. That small shelf stores in the sink. There are 4 horizontal spacers (2 above, gray, 2 below, white) that make the unit solid, but easily pop out for storage. All the plumbing takes < 30 seconds to attach or detach. Most of the stuff stores in the bumper, the shelf slides under the bed, and the faucet in the sink is the only somewhat awkward part (as the drain from the sink, while collapsible, still does stick out) but I've found a place inside to store the unit while traveling.

[tentcamper]

Looks great! Now that is a real setup for dishes.

[ThePair]

Funny thing, dishes and pretty much anything else is easier to clean if you can wash it right away. I found myself using this more than I thought I would, trying to rinse things immediately... cut down on the overall effort immensely. Plus, you know, getting the kids involved in helping. Washing hands is a huge timesaver, as well, since we don't need to go inside to the sink every time.

Next up: I'm going to Tee into the cold water line to set up a mister to go along the leading edge of the awning, for those hot summer days.