Cooktop replacement

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Cooktop replacement

April 24, 2014, 09:07:04 pm

How much trouble is it to install a 3- or 4-burner cooktop in place of the 2-burner cooktop that comes with many/most Foretravels?

I have no clue how much trouble it may be to cut the required opening in the solid surface countertop. How do you cut a bigger opening? Jig-saw? Router? Other?

With a Formica top I would have no hesitation, but I have no experience with solid-surface countertops.

Has anyone done this?

Wayne

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #1 – April 24, 2014, 09:23:52 pm

Wayne,

Corian tops can be worked with normal woodworking tools. Glues of course ar different but you can buy glue kits if you need to glue anything. The 2 burner Gaggenau cook top is something you can probably sell. I would buy one.

Roger

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #2 – April 24, 2014, 10:23:48 pm

Roger,

That sounds promising!

I've been doing woodworking for a few decades. And I have plenty of woodworking tools. (Whoever dies with the most tools wins, you know.

)

Thanks!

Wayne

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #3 – April 24, 2014, 10:30:54 pm

Quote from: Mountain Couple – April 24, 2014, 09:07:04 pm

How much trouble is it to install a 3- or 4-burner cooktop in place of the 2-burner cooktop that comes with many/most Foretravels?

I have no clue how much trouble it may be to cut the required opening in the solid surface countertop. How do you cut a bigger opening? Jig-saw? Router? Other?

With a Formica top I would have no hesitation, but I have no experience with solid-surface countertops.

Has anyone done this?

Wayne

Most three and especially four burner stove tops do not have a big enough btu output burner to heat a large pot of water. Never boil. The gaggenau has a high output set of burners both front and rear. Almost too high. Almost.

$2,000 unit btw.....

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #4 – April 25, 2014, 12:04:49 am

BTU output on a three burner is a consideration. I guess it depends on what you want to cook or boil. The two burner recessed in the well limits the size of pans you can use. My griddle for making pancakes doesn't fit that well. We had a three burner stove top in our last RV and it seemed to work fine.

I would work with the two burner for a while before making changes. It is a nice cook top.

I have been woodworking for 50 years. I have tools from my Dad, my Grandfather and my Grandmother's father as well as my own. You can never have too many clamps, too many tools, too much hardwood lumber, too much scrap wood or a shop that is too big. Life slows down in the shop.

Roger

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #5 – April 25, 2014, 09:42:16 am

Wayne, our coach had an Atwood stove, three or four burners and an oven in a single unit when we bought it. DW wanted a dishwasher so we took out the unit and replaced it with an Atwood, high output, three burner cooktop and a Vista dishwasher, all at MOT. The biggest hurdle that I foresee is relocating the electric switches on the fascia under the front of your Gaggneau. These had already been relocated to the fascia in front of the sink. Atwood cooktop controls are on the front of the unit and require removal of the fascia in front of the cooktop. If you do this, be sure and attach the towel rod on the front of the stove, I didn't and twice my pants pocket caught on the knobs, tigniting a burner and scorching the under surface of the stove cover.

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #6 – April 25, 2014, 10:10:10 am

When did Foretravel stop installing the four burner gas range with an oven? I can't believe their customers at that time accepted the downgrade on such an expensive coach. I use my gas range every day, including the oven. It would have been a deal breaker for me if this coach didn't have an oven. I could live with two burners on top if I had to. Maybe Foretravel customers don't cook much?

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #7 – April 25, 2014, 10:51:25 am

Quote from: RRadio – April 25, 2014, 10:10:10 am

When did Foretravel stop installing the four burner gas range with an oven? I can't believe their customers at that time accepted the downgrade on such an expensive coach. I use my gas range every day, including the oven. It would have been a deal breaker for me if this coach didn't have an oven. I could live with two burners on top if I had to. Maybe Foretravel customers don't cook much?

I think the mind-set is that the customers in the fahncy-schmancy coaches just don't cook much. I have met plenty of folks in all kinds of coaches who do not cook at all, aside from making coffee or sandwiches and the occasional h'ors d'oevres. One woman told me that her husband insisted that she not cook in the coach because he wanted the interior to remain pristine. They dine out EVERY night, as he doesn't like to cook on a grill. It was fine by her! Not my lifestyle, at all, but there ya go......

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #8 – April 25, 2014, 10:52:03 am

Quote from: RRadio – April 25, 2014, 10:10:10 am

When did Foretravel stop installing the four burner gas range with an oven? I can't believe their customers at that time accepted the downgrade on such an expensive coach. I use my gas range every day, including the oven. It would have been a deal breaker for me if this coach didn't have an oven. I could live with two burners on top if I had to. Maybe Foretravel customers don't cook much?

A lot of Foretravel ladies were using the oven to store bread in dry climates as the lit pilot light generates water vapor. Liability was a concern as is the "serving tray" over the stove.

Corian is flammable as I used to have to prove to customers. And a propane flame in direct sunlight is almost invisible.

I bought a coleman camp stove top and oven combo for nice weather use.

Once the sharp microwave/convection ovens showed up the oven was not needed as much. Plus the heat was easier vented out of the coach as it was nearer the exhaust fan.

All the old eye line and lower oven units rattled. A towel was necessary under the burners while traveling.

I once sold a used vogue motorhome to a old Romanian lady who walked through the used coaches we had until she found that coach. Her comment was that "she cooked for the men" and that the oven coaches did not have enough pots and pan storage. Hey, this was long ago.....

I do miss the oven but not enough to rip out the two burner and the drawers underneath it.

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #9 – April 25, 2014, 11:45:49 am

I have to say that since every single RV we've ever had over the years has had at least 3 burners and an oven, I was concerned that our Foretravel did not have an oven (but did have four burners). The DW (who is in charge of cooking) told me it was not an issue. Even at home - where we have a natural gas stove and oven - she doesn't use more than two burners and the oven is mostly for pizza, meatloaf and macaroni-and-cheese with real sharp cheddar and good sausages (which I love!). She assures me that all of those are just fine in the convection oven. She has an aluminum griddle she puts over two burners at a time for pancakes.

She cooks in the motor home a lot although I have to admit that we are seldom gone for more than 2 or 3 days at a time. And we do a fair amount of outdoor grilling with a table-top propane grill (those stainless models are getting pretty inexpensive - even at the expensive stores). But I gotta think that she knows what she's doing after 40 years of marriage (and cooking).

I just asked her again if she would be okay with just a 2-burner stove and she said, "Yup".

The extra storage (and maybe a dishwasher in the future) is nice, I must admit.

Craig

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #10 – April 25, 2014, 11:57:14 am

So some of the 1993 Foretravels have a three burner cooktop with no oven? Do any of the 1992 models have an oven or was my 1991 the final year for the full gas range?

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #11 – April 25, 2014, 12:14:23 pm

I love my convection oven/microwave. I do not miss a separate oven. And, I cook every day. I also make bread and pizza in it. What's not to love?

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #12 – April 25, 2014, 01:21:30 pm

Interesting discussion.

Our current travel trailer has a (Magic Chef?) range with oven and 3 burners, plus a separate microwave above. I agree that the 2 back burners are pretty puny. The front one is noticeably hotter, although the physical size is no different. I think a cooktop with burners equal to the ones we have now would be okay, although at least one additional hotter burner would be nice. (I wonder if the difference would just be a matter of changing out to a larger gas jet for one of the small burners? Another question for another day.)

All 3 burners are used with enough regularity that I have reservations about getting by with 2, although I'm willing to give it a try. I just wouldn't want to be locked in if swapping out the cooktop, should that become necessary, was a huge problem.

I very much like the idea of a cooktop with storage (or dishwasher) underneath. Convection/microwave seems like it should be fine for us. We don't use either one that much. In the TT, the microwave has only been used as a breadbox. A more important consideration is enough kitchen storage for a respectable assortment of cookware.

Roger – A man who understands! I have a large assortment of antique woodworking tools that I keep in excellent working trim. People who have used only the modern tools don't know what they're missing. Since we relocated after retirement, I upgraded my shop from 20' X 32' at the old place to 24' X 40' and I still need more room.

Wayne

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #13 – April 25, 2014, 02:45:46 pm

We have a two burner cooktop, no oven beneath, that does not mean to say we have no oven. We have a convection/microwave oven. We have no propane oven. The convection oven cooks everything just dandy, great bread, pies, casseroles, chicken, cookies, ham or whatever. Would be nice if it were a bit larger but we make do. Really like the fact that the plate rotates while baking, really great for bread.....and pies.

Roland

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #14 – April 25, 2014, 04:59:06 pm

I wouldn't change the cooktop. I found on my 5th-wheel that the stove was too crowded to easily put on 3 pans at one time. You can always add a NuWave convection oven or NuWave induction burner.

Rich

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #15 – April 25, 2014, 06:46:51 pm

To add a burner, look at an induction stove next to the two burner. It is much faster than the propane one.

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #16 – April 25, 2014, 06:55:57 pm

I like the idea of a NuWave induction cook top. Lots of times it is all you need. It would work under my cast iron griddle for pancakes better than the gas stove top. We have an electric kettle (tea pot) that boils water fast (1 minute per cup). We also use the convection oven a lot. Cakes, pie, cookies, bread, pizza. We haven't done meat stuff in there yet and probably won't. Not sure I want to have to clean up after that. That is what the grill is for.

Roger

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #17 – April 25, 2014, 07:47:49 pm

An issue for us is that we often camp with no hookups, and I hate to run the generator to run electric appliances only (or recharge the batteries just from running electric appliances thru the inverter). Gas cooking would be preferable, although it's not a deal-breaker.

Just trying to understand our options.

Wayne

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #18 – April 25, 2014, 08:49:19 pm

The extra burner induction for those times you need it might be a cheaper tradeoff to run the generator for 20 mins and charge stuff up and cook then buying a new 4 burner.

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #19 – April 25, 2014, 10:01:08 pm

@Scott Our 92' has a propane 4 burner Magic Chef with oven. So maybe 92' was the last year?

see ya
ken

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #20 – April 26, 2014, 12:16:45 am

So by 1993 Foretravel owners started eating out a lot!

The gas range is also useful as a slow, steady, almost completely quiet source of comfortable heat that is 100% efficient and uses no electric power from the batteries. As soon as it starts to get dark outside cook supper and leave your oven on the rest of the night. You probably won't have to use your furnace at all unless it's really cold outside. It works great when you're camped in a WallyWorld parking lot, truck stop, rest area, or any campground that doesn't have electric hookups. Because I still have all my original gas appliances, I hardly ever start my generator when I'm dry camping. I can't imagine starting my generator just to make a cup of coffee or cook something, but we're all different. A lot of Foretravel owners run their generator all the time, even while driving down the road, something I only do in an emergency, like when I lost my alternator last summer. Truck drivers run their big diesels all night long just to keep the cab warm so go figure.

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #21 – April 26, 2014, 08:53:25 am

If you use the gas range as a heat source you need to ensure that your CO detector is working. You may sleep comfortable but you may never wake up......
Gary B

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #22 – April 26, 2014, 10:45:23 am

I know exactly where I'll wake up when I die.

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #23 – April 26, 2014, 05:37:14 pm

Is this what you are looking for ?

dave

Re: Cooktop replacement

Reply #24 – April 26, 2014, 10:01:45 pm

Nice looking MCI conversion... Why are you looking to change? Love our Foretravel, but I was originally drawn to the idea of a bus conversion. Just never found one that appealed to me (anywhere close to our budget anyway...). Just curious

Don

Quote from: sledhead – April 26, 2014, 05:37:14 pm

Is this what you are looking for ?

dave

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