Countertop extension

logcabin · 04-24-2016, 09:08 AM

Hello! Has anyone added a countertop extension by the door attached to the stove?
There is one I could purchase - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EDQQJM/...=II77P8USXCIPR
OR I could just buy the brackets and a piece of wood and make it myself. - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006LA2GA/...I2516E2XN3N2S2
It seems the wall by the door is too thin to support this extension. Would the brackets need to be reinforced on the inside of the wall?
Thank you for any advice you could give me.
Linda & Deny

**Bill** · 04-24-2016, 10:29 AM

Just a couple thoughts.

The cabinet that holds the stove is made with pretty wimpy - errr, light weight - construction. I wouldn't trust it to hold a counter top unless you brace the inside of the cabinet wall with a piece of real wood, glued and screwed. Not a big deal, except that you have to pull the oven out to get at it. In my TM, this wall was trying to pull away from the rest of the cabinet, all by itself, and I have had to re-attach it.

Maybe I'm not getting the right mental picture, but are you considering a counter top extension that extends across the doorway when flipped up? Not a good idea, in my opinion. As soon as you flip it up and set something on it, you'll find a reason why you have to go in or out of the trailer.

Someone on the forum made an extension on the other side of the kitchen, attached to the wall of the cabinet that holds the refrig. Again, glue and screw an interior brace. Would that help in your situation?

Bill

Padgett · 04-24-2016, 11:53 AM

On my 2720SL, any extension at the stove would block the door. Are you talking something that folds ?

ThePair · 04-25-2016, 09:52 AM

I found this thing, I'm going to try this summer. Don't know if it'll fit correctly, as I haven't opened my TM yet from winter, but it looks like it should be adjustable to fit the space. Assuming it works, it'll save me the hassle of having to engineer in a permanent extension, while giving the benefits.

logcabin · 04-26-2016, 08:43 AM

Dear Bill, Yes I was thinking of the area to the left of the stove, in front of the door, but yes we would be trapped inside the TM. We have a stand alone microwave on the right of the stove so I have no countertop space. But I agree that the wall by the stove is too 'wimpy' and would need reinforcing. I don't think that we want to tackle taking the oven out to accomplish that. We don't have enough room next to the refrigerator to add a countertop extension there.
Dear Pagett - Yes that countertop folds down.
Dear The Pair - that is interesting, but too large for what I want. Let us know how it works for you.

Thanks for all your comments.
Linda

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-26-2016, 09:44 AM

Linda -

The first thing that comes to mind when reading your thread is that you are creating a serious fire hazard by blocking your easiest exit. Furthermore, the risk is perhaps even more amplified by the fact that you will likely be cooking much of the time the extension is up, and thus you will probably be using the stove/oven more during that time. And you'll probably actually be using the extension too during that time, and so will have stuff on top of it, including liquids, messy stuff, hot stuff, that may be challenging to quickly remove if you needed to get out.

I just see it being a seriously bad idea for this reason alone. Even if it took you an extra 5-10 seconds to get out, which I would consider the absolute best case scenario, you're in close quarters and that very well may not be enough time for an escape.

Dave

**Bill** · 04-26-2016, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logcabin

We have a stand alone microwave on the right of the stove so I have no countertop space.
Linda

Many people put the microwave in the pit between the end of the counter and the wardrobe. There is even an outlet for it on the wall of the pit. An even better answer is to buy or build a so-called "microwave box". It fits exactly into the pit, filling it, and the top is level with the countertop. You can set your microwave on top of this box. And the box has a drawer just like the one under the countertop - an additional drawer is always a handy thing.

The pit: http://trailmanor.com/wordpress/project/kitchen/

For us, with our stand-alone microwave, the box is a great solution. By the way, the box was invented by a member of the forum, and copied by TM. Who says they didn't watch us?

Bill

Chilean · 05-05-2016, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePair

I found this thing, I'm going to try this summer. Don't know if it'll fit correctly, as I haven't opened my TM yet from winter, but it looks like it should be adjustable to fit the space. Assuming it works, it'll save me the hassle of having to engineer in a permanent extension, while giving the benefits.

Please give the link for the extension
Thanks from Chile

ThePair · 05-05-2016, 10:13 PM

This: http://www.amazon.com/REDITOP-SNLRED...dp/B00GJY7HUC/

I got it on sale off woot.com for significantly cheaper than list. It's OOS at Amazon, so you might need to shop around a bit to find it.