Hi, I am newly signed up here, but have viewed the site since purchasing our
Trillium. I have been soaking up the advice and pictures on this site for a few years now, So thanks to all of you!
Mike and Maria in CO. We use our camper 3 seasons, generally primitive sites, fewer campgrounds, occasional drive by campings...
We've had our "Buttercup," as the previous owner named her, for 4 years now and love it, but have had to do some maintenence to keep her up.
The Rocky mountain backroads sure are rocky, and my tendency to look for secluded offroad camp spots with tricky access has taken its toll.
The latest: a crack in the corner of the kitchenette. I attached a photo.
I noticed the heater was not in it's usual place, upon removal of the cover, there were no screws holding the heater to face of the kitchenette, there are four obvious attachment points. One where the screw has blown through the
fiberglass.
Our Dometic refridgerator and Duo therm heater both function well but do not look the best. Interior of the
fridge metal is corroded, the plastic is disocolored a little, we just keep it clean.
I am looking for advice on whether to go full kitchen remodel with a new
fridge and heater or repair the existing. My gut is telling me repairing the exisiting is going to be a ton less headache. I also like the patented phrase " keep it simple, keep it stock" or something like that from my 4wd ventures.
Another issue on remodelling the kitchen: is the stock configuration more valuable than a remodeled to some buyers?
To add, we will likely be selling this beauty in the fairly near (post covid?) future. Thoughts on whether we'd get our money out of new appliances?
Kitchen remodel? I have time and have done home bathroom and kitchen remodels, tile, moderate trim carpentry. If I went with new appliances I'm concerned about getting the three way
fridge to match up with the older fittings/electrical. Maybe that's not a big deal?
I am leaning towards repair over remodel. I'm thinking of refastening the heater with larger screws in the original mounting holes, then adding 6-8 new fasteners around the flange of the heater into the kitchenette face. Then epoxy/frankengoop the corner of the kitchenette.
I can take it to the
fiberglass shop to have them repair the crack and make it look normal after this summer, but also worried the crack will worsen if I don't secure it well.
Also, I can access the screws to the sink, but the one on the left is in a pretty tights spot, any advice on how hard it is to remove and reinstall the sink? I can get my hand and a small adjustable wrench into the left at the
electrical panel.
If I can get the sink out I feel like I could reinforce the corner from inside so the crack wouldn't get worse.
I removed all of the screws on the intake/exhaust flange and ports behind the heater but no luck getting the heater out, and I'm afraid to pull it without seeing what's behind it.
I also attached a front view of the kitchenette.
In general, we lucked out an scored a beauty of a camper, and I'm hoping I get some thoughtful advice from you in this community on how to move forward.
Cheers and happy camping!