Hinged Countertop

[PopUpSteve]

Something I've been thinking of doing for awhile now is to modify the curbside cabinets so that the countertop would have hinged openings to make access easier. Right now, those cabinets have become a "oh yeah, that's where I put that" place. I think if I could access them from above, I would use the more efficiently. The hinged sections would only be over the areas where the cabinet doors are located.

Thoughts??

 

[Sjm9911]

Do it. Great idea.

 

[generok]

Now that the idea has emerged, how can you not do it? Good luck!

 

[jmkay1]

Crawling On the floor just to access something that slipped in the far recesses of the cabinet gets old mighty quick. Really like the idea myself. Can you work on mine as you work on yours.

 

[PopUpSteve]

My nephew is a handyman and has all the tools to make this happen. He’s going to stop by my campsite this weekend and take a look to see if he can do this for me. I’m just an idea man. A few things I need to consider:

1. Make the cuts that run from the edge to the outside wall narrow enough that it looks good.
2. The cut for the hing needs to be such that the edge still lines up with the uncut section of countertop.
3. Need to come up with a way to keep it from bouncing up & down when on the road so it doesn’t jam the bunkend.

 

[kudzu]

Need to come up with a way to keep it from bouncing up & down when on the road so it doesn’t jam the bunkend.

Magnets? Or maybe some positive latch?

 

[PopUpSteve]

@kudzu Yeah B***h, MAGNETS! (Jesse Pinkman - Breaking Bad)

 

[J Starsky]

Could you have him plunge cut into the cabinet tops, then use the cutouts to make counter top type inserts? You'd add some trim to hold them in place once cut out? Kind of how this countertop sits flush in this square hole below?

I was thinking about RV Sinks countertops, where you'd move the "cutting board" and reach down into your storage? It leaves the bulk of your cabinet structure in tact and gives you the above view and access you're after? You'd have 3-4 of these holes. Maybe I'd skip the spot where that Jackery is sitting. A single bench pad would add some seating, if that's your jam.

Afterthought: Your cabinets will act as some structural integrity and they designed it in as well. I don't know how fun making that hingle would be without reinforcing the cabinet to hold it's shape w/o a top on it.



Fancy Automotive Carpentry Drawings:

 

[PopUpSteve]

@J Starsky I like that idea. I'll keep that as a backup plan. The hinged top will give me a larger opening for items like my Jackery. I just know if I don't make these as large as possible, I'll regret it later.

But I may use your idea on the other side of the camper on the countertop above the water heater cabinet. I've been planning of changing the cold-water line, putting the elbow where the "T" is and moving the "T" down so that the cold-water line to the outside shower would run across the top of the water heater. Then putting a shelf in above the water lines and water heater. First I thought "easy access through the cabinet door". Then I thought I might do the hinged countertop here as well. But I kind of like your suggestion for this side.

BTW, the price of the Cutting Board, Strainer with Basket that you have pictured is outrages. I'll have to see what my nephew can build.

 

[Camping Kat]

My Jayco has hinged lift up cabinets. No lower doors though. I find it's a black hole. Pulling things out constantly to find stuff. Since you have the doors, you might want to consider adding a shelf to create a lower and upper section. Just a thought.

 

[Sjm9911]

I did almost the same when I had the pop up, i ripped out the draws, and shelves. Added labled bins to acess what I needed. I hated almost laying on the ground to get stuff out. This will be a big improvement.

 

[PopUpSteve]

@Camping Kat That was something I was concerned about. I did have my nephew put shelfs in a few years back. So I'll leave those in place.

 

[kcsa75]

Crawling On the floor just to access something that slipped in the far recesses of the cabinet gets old mighty quick. Really like the idea myself. Can you work on mine as you work on yours.

At this stage of my life getting down on the floor isn't a problem. Getting back up? That's a whole other kettle of fish.

 

[Camping Kat]

At this stage of my life getting down on the floor isn't a problem. Getting back up? That's a whole other kettle of fish.

Exactly!

 

[J Starsky]

@J Starsky

BTW, the price of the Cutting Board, Strainer with Basket that you have pictured is outrageous. I'll have to see what my nephew can build.

Oh, I couldn't think of an image to show that flat counter finish... google kinda helped with that, but still not what I dreamed... I would need to reuse the counter cutouts or I would not commit to it - very low cost. I think of some strapping nailed to make the recess, like a manhole cover sits. You could cut it out to fit your jackery, maybe you even want that cabinet vented for charging? Those are investment items 100% You know what you needed. Nice to draw on the whiteboard most days! Thanks

 

[Papa Glenn]

I’d see if you could remove the entire countertop. Make two straight cuts, front to back. Have one fixed section next to the bunk (as narrow as possible to comfortably allow the hinged section next to it to clear the bed) and the other two sections half of the remaining width. Hinge along wall and you’d have unimpeded access. Plus you’d only have four “raw edges” to finish. Add structural reinforcement as needed.

 

[fronsm]

I wouldn't be able to do that in mine, I keep things on top of my countertops so I wouldn't be able to access what's inside easily.

 

[PopUpSteve]

@Papa Glenn that’s kinda the plan. I’ll draw it up next week so you can get a better idea of my plan.

 

[Lug_Nut]

J Starsky, in posts 8 and 15, alludes to a very good reason to recess access covers into a support and that is due the angle of the cover supports restoring a lot of the torsional strength and sagging resistance that will be lost when cutting the present one piece counter top.

 

[MichelleRowell]

I second the idea of the holes punched through the top with lift-out pieces, keeping probably three inches along the edges for structural support. (Of course these could also be hinged, but getting the hinge level with the counter top, and finding a way to keep the hinge attached on both sides might be difficult.)

I would find this most useful to access things when packing up for a trip, particularly when the quad chairs, the add-a-room rug, and other necessities are already packed into the aisle into which the doors open.

Noting that I'd still need the doors to open for those things that are on the bottom shelves!