oven out

[74Sovereign]

All summer long I have only used my oven to store pots & pans. Today, on eBay, I saw a camper with the same interior as mine BUT the oven had been taken out & there was a microwave in the "hole".
So I'm thinking...
Have any of you done this? How difficult is it? And- if I change my mind- how hard would it be to put it back the way it was?
I've been putting off getting a microwave because I don't want to give up any precious counter space but don't know where else I could put one safely.
Any ideas folks?
Thanks so much for all your help

[uwe]

If you remove the oven, then you must cap of the gas line very well and secure it from movement. Any electrical items need to be insulated, if there are any.
I imagine it would be easily possible to run 120V power to the cavity, and install an insert of sorts to accomodate a nice microwave. I would definitely keep the oven in a safe place so it can be re-installed if you change your mind later.
I would do the same in my trailer if the oven was separate from the cooktop. Mine is all one piece.
Remember, though, that you can use the oven on propane when you are boondocking, while the microwave will need city power or a generator.

[BobbyW]

I have seen several Airstreams with the Ovens removed and replaced with Burner tops and a Microwave installed as you have described. This is how in fact MarilynW has suggested we do to our Globetrotters galley restoration. I have no problem doing this except I will hang on to the Magic Chef oven that still works for whoever buys the trailer from me in the future. I am still not convinced this is the route I will take, but it is under consideration.

Microwaves are so small today they really don't take a lot of room. i jokingly told her I would just install the Microwave inside the oven and we could just open the door to use it. I got the "funny eye" from that suggestion.

-BobbyWright

[thenewkid64]

We have recently purchased a small Microwave convection oven that we are going to use in lieu of the gas oven. We purchased a motorhome without any stove or oven.

The main thing to do is to secure it in the opening so if you have to make a sudden stop it doesn't end up on the floor or in the sink! If you disconnect the gas I would highly reccomend capping the gas line. The caps can be purchased at the local home center.

[smily]

We too considered removing our Oven but why deface something so original and intact not to mention very operational.

So,
We bought the smallest Microwave we could find and I mounted it over the stove top. It turned out very well if I say so myself.

There is an Electrical outlet conveniently located to the left of the sink and exactly where I needed it for the microwave.

I can post a photo if you like but my 2 cents is keep the oven and install small microwave above the stove.

Smily

[smily]

I have attached some photos for thoughts on microwave installation. Also you can see my 15 dollar cutting board.

I priced a cutting board similar to this at the local camping supply store and they priced it at 45 dollars.

The stove cover has been sanded and painted to match the counter tops. A inexpensive alternatice to re-chroming the cover.

Smily

[Pick]

Wife loves the oven, and so do I. We like fresh biscuits in the morning, and for dinner. We also like to bake pizza when camping. It also helps warm the inside of the trailer on cold mornings.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Smily.
The MW installation looks good. However, the roof locker will not properly support that weight, unless you tie into the "main bows." From there on, watch it carefully. Heavy objects attached to the bottom of rooflockers, notoriousdly fail when in transit, causing a number of other problems and damage.

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com

[smily]

Andy,
I concur and that is why The micro is not only mounted to the roof locker but affixed to the wall.

Before mounting I kinda field tested the roof locker and I noticed that it did have some pull on the ceiling skin, this cant be good so I had to consider alternative.

I then checked the "sag" when mounted to roof and wall skin, there was no "sag" at all.

Thanks for the words of wisdom and i hope that I dont have to eat crow.

The unit is very small and lightweight also the section of roof locker is a little "fortified" by the range vent assembly.

V/R Smily

[NSMITH]

My Magic Chef rangetop is fine, but oven is shot. Approx $215 in parts to repair. I've purchased a combo microwave/convection oven and am wondering if the A/S ('84 Excella) has the juice to run this thing. 18 amps and 1100 watts. I believe I'm on a 20-amp circuit where this would plug in.

We have tripped some breakers in the past using elec skillet and coffeepot at same time, but I think that's on a 10-amp circuit on the other side of the trailer. Haven't had this very long and am still trying to sort out the electricals.

Thanks,
Neal

[74SovereignInt.]

Smiley, or any who want to answer, what is that object to the right of the sink? I have seen this many other times but haven't been able to figure it out. Wondering if it is useful enough that I should be looking for one to install in my Sovereign. Thanks all.

[InsideOut]

The cutting board or the oven? Both are useful...

Shari

[pjtaia]

We bought our 1975 Overlander in July; it has been "in rehab" at C&G in Bellflower since then. They are now threatening to finish and we hope to bring it home tomorrow!!

We had the old wall oven and the old cook-top removed because they were dirty, corroded, discolored, stained and just plan gross! We bought a nice microwave oven to install in the old oven hole. We had a brand new Magic Chef range/oven installed where the old cooktop had been.

As part of this remodel we replaced the countertop with "brushed aluminum" Formica. They also trimed out the microwave oven cabinet with the Formica. Finally we had the refrigerator refaced with the same "brushed aluminum" Formica. The result is a virtually brand new kitchen.

C&G did a beautiful job on the rework of the cabinet and the tambour doors. The only casualty was the small bank of drawers which were below the cooktop, and the magazine reack on the end, which were both usurped by the new range/oven. We hope to reinstall the drawers somewhere after we get settled in.

I'll post pictures if I can, after we bring the Airstream home tomorrow.

So it can be done! A whole new kitchen with little removal of the original stuff. I would have liked to have had the original appliances in beautiful working order, but a brand new kitchen is a nice second choice!

[74Sovereign]

Thanks for all the great ideas. I think I'd better just leave the oven. Just because I haven't used it doesn't mean I won't. The pizza convinced me!! I like the wall mount, Smiley, but where you have yours mounted- there's an exhaust vent so I guess that's not an option. Maybe my best bet is just to get one small enough to stash in the pantry when I'm not using it.
Again, thanks!!

[smily]

I also have an exhaust vent and my micro wave clears the vent door.

Smily

[RoadKingMoe]

Airstream at least partially supports the factory overhead microwave from below with an appliance garage. I guess they don't trust tying it into the overhead and wall.

The microwave is also in a cabinet much larger than itself and the metal surround is louvered above and below to allow plenty of cooling.

We wouldn't be without a gas oven, especially when boondocking. Would do without a MW first.

Also, as you can see, they paint the stove cover to match the countertop on at least some models.

[ALANSD]

My 82 Airstream motorhome came with a 4 burner gas stove, and a Magic Chef microwave , no gas oven. Sounds like it would have been a nice feature to have, although we carry a toaster oven and it is helpful for smaller items.

[pjtaia]

Here is my kitchen remodel in my 1975 Overlander... There are more photos in my photo albuum.

[danesh]

Smily:
Our 85 Sovereign has a vent on top of the range(oven). We like to add a microwave too. Yours look great. How does your microwave leave room for the vent? Somehow I fail to see the needed space for the vent. Could you clarify this?
thanks

[NSMITH]

I bought a Sharp Convection Oven for out '84 Excella, which fit perfectly into the existing microwave space. However, the power draw is just too much. We would have to turn off everything except lights (and that includes the fridge - when the compressor would kick in the circuit would go).

Ended up fixing the oven (see previous post) and putting microwave back in.

Neal in Indiana