Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi all,

I have been looking through all of the galley styles for my planning and I am leaning towards two different styles and have a few questions.

I have seen some counters that look like they are stainless material or something....what is this stuff? I assume its sheets of something...how practical is this? hard to install? hard to keep clean?

also, I like the formica some have installed. I am partial to black as I see other have leaned towards too. My question with the formica is, if this is the router I want to do I still install a normal plywood top? does it go over this or completely take the place of the plywood top? same stuff as above...but also..is it really heavy? are there sheets of formica instead of the whole peices I see with backsplashes?

thanks,

mandy

I have formica countertop. I got mine at Home Depot - they sell 2x4ft sheets. I used sprayon contact cement and put it on 3/4" plywood that I edge glued a piece of ash to give it an finished edge on the front. Then I used a roundover bit and rounded the edge. You should be able to see some pics in my build photos (link in signature block). I also used the left over to finish the sidewalls above the height of the countertop.

NOTE: Using formica over plywood with contact cement is really easy (get the spay can) Just plan for some overhang of the formica on the plywood and use a trim bit in a router to finish it up nice and neat.

Hi Mandy

I have used preformed counter top in mine, it is pretty heavy but due to its thickness is also very rigid and therefore does not need a lot of support.

You should be able to get sheet Formica or similar if you want to use it over plywood or another substrate, this would mean using contact adhesive on both surfaces and VERY carefully bringing the two glued faces together, you need to get it right first time as once the two surfaces meet.... that's it.

Up to you of course, but unless you have a great need for lightness I'd go for the counter top option especiallyas there are so many colours and finishes available. Also you may be able to find an off-cut cheap as 4 or 5 feet of the stuff is not dificult to find as a left over of someone's kitchen renovation.

Best of luck with your build

IanJ

Hi Mandy

On mine I am using Stainless Steel with an integrated sink. Although it is a bit expensive it is very light and easy to maintain. The unit I bought is from Ikea, I did not use the steel legs that came with the unit, I just built my cabinets to accommodate this counter. If you don't want the sink a plain counter is also available

Oh wow…these are all great ideas. I do wonder about the weight of the whole counter of the formica. I have a max towing weight of 2000lbs…and I have two kayaks I have to tow on my vehicle along with the trailer (not to mention that 200lbs of ice and beer!). The ikea unit looks awesome!! Although, I do not think I could use it. The width is not near enough of what I believe I need for my counter and my am trying to stick to the gen benroy plans as far as width goes for my first build so that I can utilize the measurements mike has put out. How exactly did you build this into your design? Was your trailer width already pretty close? From my understanding the counter in the back of the benroy is 58 1/2” so I am not sure how you would shrink that down to fit a 49 5/8” width.

Thanks for your replies!!

The preformed countertop is the easiest route to take.
there is no need for additional support other than a wall cleat on each side.
normal kitchen countertops are 25" deep a better alternative for a tear may be a vanity top which are 19" deep saving over 20% of the weight.
To cut the top mask off the good face with heavy masking tape and cut from the underside if you are using a circular saw.

My build is "still in progress" but in general I am building a 4.5'x10' Grumman. Since the counter is about 49.5" wide there is a narrow "filler" next to the sink where I plan to place the Coleman Instant Hot Water unit

Ah yes..i could see how you could incorporate the ikea piece in. it does looks great! Good luck!

Hmm….I wonder how much the counter weighs? Any idea?

rhltechie wrote:Ah yes..i could see how you could incorporate the ikea piece in. it does looks great! Good luck!

Hmm….I wonder how much the counter weighs? Any idea?

It is very light compared to the alternatives, but I cannot remember the exact weight. I will weigh it tonight when I get home and post the results

oh..i appreciate your willingness but I was actually talkin about the full formica counter

I think the ikea is ruled out for me because of its size.

I made my counter with 3/4" ply and stick down floor tiles. These go down easy and fast but will not hold up to a hot pot. What I like they can be changed very easy as your style changes. Ken

Just to close off my commitment, the Ikea stainless steel count w/ sink weighs 20 pounds

Mandy

I cut a bunch of maple stripes and glued them to 1/2" plywood with a bunch of "Newton" clamps and sanded the crap out of it. Then i put a oak board about 1.5 inches wide on the front and rounded the edges over with the router. Then a bunch of oil finish. with the natural support on the sides and full along the back only needed a support in the middle and that was a natural divider when making shelves. Well, I like it.

I used 1/2" birch ply and a couple of coats of poly on it. Looks good. A cutting board is always on it for cutting, hot stuff etc.

It looks good and didn't add any additional weight. I wasn't trying to make it look like a house, I just wanted a counter. oh, I don't have a sink either, but I do have a (plastic) salad bowl I carry. I use if for salad, and as a rinse bowl for washing dishes.

I carry one pot. After cooking, I heat up a pot of water, add 3 drops of dish soap, wash and rinse in the salad bowl.

I don't know why, but somehow I've survived for years using this method... but I've never won any awards for my galley.

pic on page 13 at bottom.

these are all really good comments....i appreciate your help! I am still undecided if am going to just go natural with whatever i find for wood locally or put something on. i suppose i have a while since I have yet to start!