New Microwave Suggestions

[ViewRVs]

The old unit died. Anyone replace theirs? Suggestions?

I am thinking about

(1) bolting it down - can most store bought units be screwed down?

and

(2) ventilation. Do I need to worry about grills to cover the open space or just slide it in the space and forget about it?

[thenewkid64]

Many of the store microwaves can be "cabinet mounted" but require a kit. The kit will fill in the hole and allow for ventalation as well as secure the unit in place. This may require a more expensive microwave, but save you from having to make brackets.

I would highly reccomend securing any thing down, or at least getting tension rods to hold it in place as you travel(that is how I keep mine from falling on the floor).

No matter what I would give the new unit some breathing room.

Here is a link to a company that makes trim kits
http://www.microtrim.com/microwaves.htm

This site sells sharp brand ovens and has the trim kits too
http://sharp.smartermall.com/searchr...p?search_id=10

[Jim Clark]

Originally posted by thenewkid64
Many of the store microwaves can be "cabinet mounted" but require a kit. The kit will fill in the hole and allow for ventalation as well as secure the unit in place. This may require a more expensive microwave, but save you from having to make brackets.

I installed a microwave in my 68 GT. Fit it nice and tight into the cabinet. I made my own trim kit. I placed it on a sturdy shelf and used a couple of L Brackets to secure it. Bracket screwed to side of cabinet, remove a screw form the microwave cabinet and attached the bracket. I used only existing screws as was somewhat afraid to drill into the cabinet. The unit has rear and side vents, I have a lot of clearance around the unit. I believe yours is a 84. The new units are much smaller so you should have more than enough room for venting.

On venting I have a large muffin fan mounted under my cabinets which pushes air over the Refer coils and up the Refer vent. Helps a lot, wired to run when ever the trailer is on shore power. This also vents the microwave. BTW I have the same setup on my boat except in addition to the brackets I have a copper bar which is place across the front of the unit when uderway, nothing like a microwave flying across a cabin in heavy weather.

My wife works for Macy*s so we purchased a small Sharp Microwave, well under a $100.00. Figured if it lasted a year good enough. I belvie the unit on the boat is also a Sharp, it gets very hard use and has held up fine.

[LKappenman]

WE purchased a micro/convection and with a small amount of tweeking it works great we measured the opening first then just got on the phone and started calling. We did not have a oven only a micro so this did the trick very well

[RMB]

I own a 23' International, 2010. We never used the Dometic micro that often so I was surprised when it conked out a few days ago while trying to reheat some coffee.

Anyway, that's another issue!

I pulled it out and found that it was not some custom built-in cabinet model...just a normal ordinary counter top model. Off to a local shop where I bought a GE stainless 1.2 cu ft microwave 20" wide that would fit the width of the cut out. without sawing or cutting. The depth and height did not exactly match the Dometic dimensions. All I had to do was drill 3 holes on the top of the microwave oven to remount the AS supplied vent panel, and then insert the micro, reattaching the said vent panel. The lower vent pant just slid in and I screwed it back where it belonged.
to the wood cabinet.
The differences in height and depth were accommodated by moving the AS top vent panel upwards an inch or so. The cabinet itself is deep enough to accommodate a horse so no issues there.

That's it.

[AWCHIEF]

I was thinking of replacing my microwave with a combo convection microwave. I pulled it out to see what would be involved. Looks like a pretty straight forward swap. Definetly plenty of extra room to work with if I wished to go with a larger unit. I rarely use the oven in my house, same in the trailer. It does make a good space to store pots and pans.