Creating a cupboard...any thoughts?

[Peggy S]

My 13' Scamp was delivered to me here in Florida a year ago with the icebox (not refrigerator) mounted slightly askew. Since I was going to use it for storage and not keeping food cold, I foolishly overlooked it. Over time the jouncing on the road caused the poor installation to suffer and the frame actually cracked and one rivet came out. This may not be a totally bad thing. We took it out completely yesterday. Scamp said they would make a custom cupboard door to cover the opening that will look like the other doors. My problem is that removing the icebox left me with one big hole. I have talked to a very handy guy about creating what amounts to an insert to slide in there (with a bottom, two sides, and back) to create a cupboard (and let's add a shelf, too). Ultimately, I will have increased storage space and a much nicer door for it than the crooked icebox door. I'm wondering if any of you who have made modifications can recommend the best material to use for my little cupboard insert? Of course weight is always important, I would prefer it not be heavier than the icebox was. Any thoughts I can pass on to the guy who is going to create it? Thanks in advance~

[Matt in SV]

You might make the carcass out of 1x lumber and line it with 1/4" plywood. You could probably even use 3/16 ply with some kind of melamine paneling glued to it as a liner. The cabinet floor and shelf attachment points would need some additional bracing. Be sure the frame is glued (carpenter's glue or Liquid Nails) AND screwed together. Stay away from particle board type shelving. It looks good but it's very heavy and susceptible to moisture.

Regards,

Matt

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Peggy S

Scamp said they would make a custom cupboard door to cover the opening that will look like the other doors. My problem is that removing the icebox left me with one big hole.

What is the cupboard under your sink like? A built-in Icebox is essentially one type of cupboard mounted inside another type of cupboard. I think Scamp assumes you'll want to utilize every square inch of space inside the lower kitchen cabinet, therefore thinking that all you need is a door to cover the hole.

[Peggy S]

Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson

What is the cupboard under your sink like? A built-in Icebox is essentially one type of cupboard mounted inside another type of cupboard.

When we took out the icebox there was a big hole. No lining, no type of bottom (two strips of soft foam, a hole in the bottom of the camper where the icebox had drained, some sawdust). The right is the back of the edge of the kitchen construct, to the left is the rest of the under-sink cabinet area, which is a finished area. The copper tubing and various wires are exposed behind where the icebox was. There is no way to affix a shelf in there, so some sort of insert is necessary in order to use that space.

Paneling on top of plywood would look nice and finished, good idea Matt.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Peggy S

to the left is the rest of the under-sink cabinet area, which is a finished area.

Thank you, I didn't understand that before. The kitchen in my Fiber Stream is a counter top and a cabinet face, nothing more.

[Roger C H]

A cupboard is what we ordered in our '09 Trillium and Tom said, "Never again." He had such a hard time fitting a box in the space. But there again, I would think once you have the measurements, it would be just a matter of reproducing the first one. Which is one problem with custom work, the first one is always the hardest. You learn how to do it with the first one, and subsequent units are easier.
Frame the opening with 1x1, behind the FG, then screw the box into the frame from the inside.
Do you any other access to the space like through a drawer opening or easily removed sink, stove, etc?