Replacing Microwave/Range Hood

[K-Star]

My microwave/range hood over the stove is starting to have issues. Has anyone replaced theirs with a residential units purchased from an appliance store rather than an over price RV unit? I am thinking about replacing this one with a combination Microwave/Vent/Convection Oven from Lowe's, or elsewhere.

[KIX]

We had a Sharp Micro/convection over the stove unit. It had a built in vent fan. I replaced it with a micro/convection unit from Sears. Nothing special about it. I did have to rearrange the mounting hardware to keep it in place but not too big of a job.

[RV Wizard]

The only difference will be the price! Most over the range microwaves or micro/convection ovens are not mount the same way as is instructed in the owners manual. There is not enough room above the oven to do so. Once you figure out how yours is installed it should not be that much of a deal to remove and install the new one the same way. There may even be screws coming from side cabinets into the skin of the oven. I have seen RV manufactures run screws into components on lower end TTs but the oven never even worked from day one! Be carefull with this and the micro/convection will be much heavier than the straight microwave; get some help.

[Clay L]

A word of caution:
I have replaced two microwaves with convection types, one in my last motor home and one in my present unit.
I would highly recommend getting the "build-in kit" for whatever brand microwave/convection you get.
In convection mode, convection micros get much hotter than the standard ones. When it was first installed, the temp behind mine got up to 200 degrees F after 45 minutes in convection mode.
I did not get the build-in kit for my first installation and went through a lot of hassle getting the temp behind the unit down to a reasonable level. I ended up adding a grill above the microwave and an exhaust fan blowing air through the side of the motor home. This involved a lot of work and cutting through the side of the motor home.

The second time I got the kit and the job was much easier. There was additional sheet metal in the kit that formed ducts to move air in from the front and back out the front. It also came with decorative grills that make the installation look like it came from the factory with the unit already in place.

Note that there are some minimum clearances in back and on the sides that must be met. You should make sure the convection micro you buy is small enough to allow for the proper clearances.

The one I installed in my present motor home is a Sharp Carousel Grill 2 Convection R-820-BK (the BK stands for black, I think WT will denote a white one).
The dimensions are 20.5(w) X 12.1(h) X 19.7(d).

It was a little too deep but we (DW really) got a little creative and figured out how to trim the sheet metal on the build-in ducts so they fit behind the supplied grills. Also had to move a junction box on the back wall behind the microwave a few inches over.
It looks like a factory installation.

[RV Wizard]

As Clay has mentioned there is a difference between an over the range unit and a built in unit. Make certain that the unit is compatible for the heat of the stove top as well as its own generated heat. Built ins will definitely need a build in kit.