I’m still undecided as to whether to leave the dishwasher on the counter or try to find a non-leaking way to install it below the counter.
There’s a service hatch below the stove to get at what I think is the furnace.
(Not a very good pic, I know, but I didn’t think to bring the camera and dock into the house)
That space runs clear from the back of the dinette bench to the plumbing. I could, in theory, run my hoses under there and tie into the water intake and drain. I could then run one of my outlets down and have a really slick, built-in installation.
While I trust my plumbing skills, I am hesitant to do this because I am sure that the RV will have a longer lifespan than will the dishwasher. I’m nervous about breaking into perfectly good plumbing and creating the potential for leaks for an appliance that will probably die before the RV and might not be replaceable.
The other thing is that I am falling in love with the idea of creating a bank of drawers under that counter, some facing into the kitchen and some into the dining area. If I install the dishwasher under the counter, then I can only have drawers facing into the dining area.
I’ve figured out how I would secure the dishwasher on the counter, but the aesthetics of the idea are bugging me (ie. partially blocking the window). I do find that the dishwasher is much easier to load and unload from counter height and that I don’t lose any serious amount of food prep space.
With an equal amount of pros and cons for both solutions, it’s no wonder the decision is so hard to make!
How about putting the dishwasher on the newly built counter in front of the window. Build a housing for the dishwasher and on the back of the housing put a picture or info that will be seen from the outside. I was thinking your header picture “Travels with Miranda, Home is where she’s parked” Kind of like an identifying plaque one sees (The Billy family, Jim Bob and Peggy Sue) This way you can also secure the dishwasher very easily if the housing is bolted to the counter.
Approximately what can you fit into a countertop dishwasher? Not much perhaps, but certainly adequate for 1 or 2 persons. I find myself longing for a dishwasher again, probably because I can no longer get my coffee carafe sparkly.
Tibbar, there won’t be enough overlap to make the visuals ugly from the outside. I’ll need to upload a pic of what it looks like to get a 2nd opinion! We did have the same idea about how to secure it. In fact, I’ll fake the look I’m going for and post the pic.
Martha, you can fit ‘four place settings’ into the countertop dishwasher. I find that there is a generous amount of room! I can fit my biggest pots and bowls in it, too, with room enough for other items to spare to justify washing the big stuff in there.
Have you tried vinegar in your coffee carafe?
If there was enough room to install a “T” in the plumbing (water and drain) you would be able to take the washer out whenever you wanted and cap the “T’s”. It doesn’t look like there is a lot of room to work in there though and it would only work if you had the same material (PVC, plastic).
Croft, there’s more room to work in than one would think, but it’s tight. I also only have limited experience with PVC and plastic. If this was copper, I wouldn’t hesitate. I think I’m going to go the not-so-aesthetically pleasing, but more practical route…