would this work on conserving counter space?

[Mary C]

I was interested in conserving space on my counter , placement of grey water and all sorts of other space relationships when I visited a woman who in her bathroom she had the new sink. The kind that looks like a bowl sitting on the counter top when the light went on. I thought about a bowl with a drain pipe on it. then put a hole in the counter with a little Larger pipe. insert the bowl pipe into the larger pipe and wash the dishes , you can use a stopper. When finished pack the bowl and cover the hole in the counter with a piece of wood ( the one you cut to put in the pipe. Does anyone have any comments. I am not a plumber or electrician so when I build I want to decide before I make many big mistakes with my Ideas. could it work?

[bobhenry]

but you still have to "store" it so how is this different than a small tub?

Are you using the cabinet under the sink for other storage?

Here is my version I stoled the idea from Becca











but mine mounts outboard

here is the complete how to link if you are interested......

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=43504&highlight=side+tables+again

[M C Toyer]

I see no reason why that wouldn't work. You would need some sort of seal, like a neoprene o-ring, where the sink drain entered the main drain and trap. The advantage here would be additional space below the countertop. If only the 1-1/2 inch main drain penetrated the countertop a large flat rubber shower stopper would suffice.

Another alternative, if you don't want to lift and then find a place to temporairly store the removable sink, would be a normal through the counter top sink installation then a flat rigid cover over the sink like a cutting board. Manufactured trailers and RV's generally have those and new store bought sinks do also.

The freestanding camp kitchens have a plastic trough-like sink and a full rigid cover hinged at the back just lays down over the sink when not in use (or fully of dirty dishes when you have visitors.)



Another thought would be to use a shower pan for a combination sink and countertop. It would be somewhat shallow, but if the same size as your countertop (actually it coud be the countertop) then you would have a full flat surface all the time.

M C

[Mary C]

bobhenry I sorta used that same Idea in my Bar sink in my house, the problem is : I want more space under the "sink" cabinet to store more heavy items like can foods. The sink bowl is very light weight and I can store it in the cabin using it to contain small items. I was planning to use a good sized seal on the two pipes. would I have to put a I don't know what it is called, sideways 's'. I'm getting older and the names just don't come to mind as easily I am not a plumber but I guess my brother can figure the rest out how to connect it to the grey water container. TRAP thats it! the stuffs in the brain I just gotta give it time. Mary LOL

[Mary C]

m c My son has been looking at the kitchen you have in your picture. I really am trying to get my TD self contained, with as little extra stuff contraptions ect. I plan my " Big trip" in 2015 and really want to be self contained and compact as I can. When I get home I can always go for the bigger and more elaborate camping site. I have a pretty good camping set up now but it takes the full truck load to get it there and being 62, I want to compact and get it down to a minimum amount to pack, unpack, sleep, pack and go. I know I will have lots more questions, ideas and just need info as I plan My Southern Bell, peachy with cream, Magnolia Teardrop Haven't decided yet but something like that. Mary

[S. Heisley]

bobhenry I sorta used that same Idea in my Bar sink in my house, the problem is : I want more space under the "sink" cabinet to store more heavy items like can foods. The sink bowl is very light weight and I can store it in the cabin using it to contain small items. I was planning to use a good sized seal on the two pipes. would I have to put a I don't know what it is called, sideways 's'. I'm getting older and the names just don't come to mind as easily I am not a plumber but I guess my brother can figure the rest out how to connect it to the grey water container. TRAP thats it! the stuffs in the brain I just gotta give it time. Mary LOL

The way I see it, if you have a removable sink, you'll need a place to store it and at least part of the drain piping; plus, when you put in place, you'll have to move those food cans to put it there. It'll end up being a hassle and will probably leak under the counter and you'll have to dry it well before putting it inside your teardrop. If you use a shallow sink, you can leave it in place and it won't take up much room under the cabinet. Then, you can just get a cutting board or a cut out ,like Bob Henry has, to fill in on top to give yourself more counter space when you need it. The RV sinks have a width and length that is smaller than a standard dishpan and they are only 5 inches deep.

If you have the sink on one side, you could probably add a folding counter that folds over the sink/counter area and then folds out to give you even more counter space or something like that. You could even put your bowl sink in the fold out part so that you don't have to worry about leaks or having to move cans to install it. To support the one end, add one of Bob Henry's adjustable crutch legs or something like that, to adjust the ground to counter height, as needed. If you go with the fold out sink counter, you wouldn't even need a trap because the sink could empty directly into a bucket, on the ground, underneath the sink, using a very small amount of drain pipe. ..Just a few thoughts/ideas....Hope they make sense to you.

[droid_ca]

not really conserving counter space but I am using a mixing bowl for a sink might have to come up with some sort of cover for it now though.hmmm

[Mary C]

Thanks Sharon every bit of info is appreciated I am still in the planning stages and by the time I have finished every bolt, screw, fastener, electrical component will be accounted for and bought prior to the Build, I am still learning and I have read about half of what is on the the forum and still reading. I have tent camped for many years. I camped with my parents and two older brothers and my late husband and I had two boys and we went camping three months after my son was born. I have hiked all of the appellation trail in GA and some into NC. I have always tent camped. Now this will be the first camper. I am so excited. I have had occasion to use everything for sinks. Usually I pick the largest pan I cooked in give it a little wash then put it on the stove with water and heat it up I then have hot soapy water to wash with I use another clean pan with a little water and rag to rinse with. I put a towel down and to put the clean on. everyone always laughs but I take a little Clorox and put some in the water. that way I can say if it aint clean it has been sterilized. so to even have a sink isnt really important to me and I am not really used to having one. I have read that in bear country to not throw out the dirty water with food particles because it draws bears. so for that reason I was concerned as I hope to make some federal parks on my visit list. Mary

[S. Heisley]

Mary, there is nothing wrong with adding a little bleach into the dish water. Before electric dish washing machines, restaurants would add a tablespoon or so of bleach to the dish water to disinfect the dishes.

I have been told and have read on this forum that in many parks, especially national parks, you can be cited for discarding dishwater on the ground. All that aside, to catch food particles, simply put a piece of netting on the bottom of the drain pipe and secure it with a rubber band or tie it with a string or make a wire that hooks or simply use a drain pipe with threads and screw on a matching pipe nut with a screen glued into the end. On your sink, you can get and install a sink strainer kit to catch the majority of food particles.

[pete42]

your idea would not require a very large hole to be cut in the counter
where would the waste water go?
through the floor onto the ground?
or in some sort of a container under the counter?
the lower pipe would need to be larger than the bowl pipe if it is
to small then you would someway to seal them but if it were larger it would flush
without backing up and overflowing
I have been in the hospital many times they use to include a plastic pan for baths I have several they work very well for dish washing
bob's idea stolen from Becca looks great too.
pete

[bobhenry]

every bolt, screw, fastener, electrical component will be accounted for and bought prior to the Build, Mary

Anyone besides me having trouble with this delusion !



I am still buying pieces and parts for my 07 build !

[M C Toyer]

I use a standard 5 gallon water cans (plastic actually) for collecting gray water.



The pouring spout on the one in use is connected to the sink drain trap with a short neoprene hose. When full I swap it out with an empty. They can be dumped at a station or carried home.

M C

[coop74]

m c My son has been looking at the kitchen you have in your picture. I really am trying to get my TD self contained, with as little extra stuff contraptions ect. I plan my " Big trip" in 2015 and really want to be self contained and compact as I can. When I get home I can always go for the bigger and more elaborate camping site. I have a pretty good camping set up now but it takes the full truck load to get it there and being 62, I want to compact and get it down to a minimum amount to pack, unpack, sleep, pack and go. I know I will have lots more questions, ideas and just need info as I plan My Southern Bell, peachy with cream, Magnolia Teardrop Haven't decided yet but something like that. Mary

I have the same campkitchen shown. It folds down into a small fabric bag that is not bigger then a large but thin suitcase. The real advantage to it is that you can put it where you want on the site with out worrying about smoking up or god forbid burning down the camper. you can actually set it up with one or both side tables down. I use one side table for cooking on and food prep in the middle and on the other we put out the food we are going to eat. It is a well thought out product, notice the metal rack below the center table that allows you to air dry dishes you have washed. We have discovered that putting two small basins in the green sink is easier since you have one to wash and one to rinse with. It also allows you to properly dispose of the water. For us it is the bathroom, a drain near by and for when we leave to use to put out the fire pit.

Here is a shot of mine. We dont use the big green cupboards that hang below the side tables and dont use the two upper lantern pole extensions so it is fairly ease for one to carry but with the two handles it is easy for two. We put ours in just inside the door as it is the first thing that comes out so it takes little storage. what you can get however is whatever view you want for the chef.



and BTW, my wife loves camping because I do all the cooking!!!

[Mary C]

bobhenry, Ithink I have that right, I will have to buy everything for the major build and take it from GA to TX. I have to have everything because I don't have a lot of time to build and I am referring to the major build I will be doing some decorating projects but I am talking about the major build. I have to have everything priced if purchasing in TX before I go because Social Security doesn't leave much for mistakes . I will do this and get it done I have camped all my life and it is the getting out and putting up and the heavy lifting I am trying to eliminate. I want to have my kitchen /galley as compact and efficient as possible. I know that most people building at home is long and usually live in the city near the Parts places and have time to wait for shipments but I will not have that time and when building I will be approximately 50 miles from a hardware store and 72 miles from a "depot" type store so I don't know why researching and pre purchasing or pricing everything is such a laughable thing i know that this is not perfection but I have to do it this way, I don't have charge cards and I am not building in my yard. I will pay for things as I can then go to TX to build. I have already bought some things and have scrounged from friends things like 4 boxes of floor tiles. An old counter top, I have some electrical wire12G and have 2 gal of poly to finish my wood and lots of 1x4s I can cut down to 1x2s. I am doing this mainly by my self but if you would like to come to Ga to help or bring supplies to help I will appreciate it. I was only asking if anyone had ever tried or thought the hole in the counter for the drain to a tank would work. I have not seen any reference to that type of drain on here at all. It was a legitimate question.

[S. Heisley]

Mary,

Many teardrop campers think a sink is over-rated and either don't have one or wish they hadn't added it. But, some love their sinks. You may not know for certain which group you fall into until you start camping with your teardrop.

Once you cut that hole in your counter top, there is no going back. If you are building a teardrop, you could wait and decide on the sink later, when you are exactly certain of what you want. Meanwhile, you could use a fold-up TV tray and a plastic sink basin. The TV tray could be stored on the counter or on/under the mattress, when you travel. I understand that you are trying to get everything for your build now; but, I would think that you could pick up a stainless steel bowl and a few plastic drain parts later on, if you still think you need them, when you go to town for groceries.

What I usually do is warm water in a pot on the stove to the desired temperature, add soap to it, and wash my dishes, etc. right in that. The main thing I use my sink for is rinsing dishes or food preparation. With camping, most food is prepared ahead of time. If I had built a teardrop instead of a standy, I don't know if I would have added a sink. If I did, it might have been in a fold-up counter where the sink's counter is hinged to fold out at a 90 degree angle to the teardrop's stationary counter for use and folds over the teardrop counter, with the basin and its drain pipe still attached and upside down for traveling. ...I guess it all depends on how you are planning to use your sink.

I hope you don't mind my repeated comments. I am trying to be helpful but don't know if I am.