Attaching cabinets to Airstream

[spanky1313]

Just wondering what is the best way to begin on installing new cabinets. I am looking at a completely gutted airstream and fairly limited cabinet building skill. Are there any semi-prefabricated options? Is the aluminum runners with wood inserts (what was originally installed) the way to go? Or is there a better way of attaching cabinets to the walls? Not tackling the overhead storage yet, just around the sink/stove/furnace etc. Any help would be so great. Thanks

[InsideOut]

The base cabinets in ours are primarily screwed to the floor. There are a few screws into the side walls, but mostly the floor and each other. The one thing you have to be most careful about, is adding too much weight with new cabinets - all the originals are/were VERY lightweight, not like typical residential cabinets at all.

Shari

[spanky1313]

Thanks for that advice. Is the thin plywood still the best option? And I'm also wondering in terms of laying a new floor if it would be better to install the new floor and then do the cabinets, or vice versa. I hope by now my greeness is shining through!

-kyle

[InsideOut]

Yes, thin 3/16-1/4" plywood should be fine.

Depends on the floorcovering - In ours, the marmoleum is run under the cabinets just like it was done originally - makes for a clean "bottom shelf". I wouldn't run carpet or thick wood/laminate floors under them though. Carpet would be too tough to replace later and wood floors would add too much weight.

Shari

[spanky1313]

Muchas Muchas Gracias!

[jdalrymple]

At places where the cabinet walls need more than basic screwed to the walls support, such as room dividing bulkheads, AS riveted light aluminum angle to the interior wall of the trailer to provide a rigid mounting edge for the plywood.