Community Forums

happycookin · 02-19-2020, 06:27 AM

We are looking at buying a diesel pusher coach. The one we are considering (2009 Monaco with a tag-axle) has the floor plan and other features we like except it has a strange stove - the same type of stove which seems to be common in many DP. The attached picture shows the stove top. The issue is that it appears you can't use a decent sized pot or frying pan on the stove nor could even have two cooking pans/pots on at the same time.

Does anyone have ideas for how such a stove top can be modified? Is there an after market retrofit? Thanks much for any and all suggestions.

We cook virtually all our meals and like to be creative in preparations.

Finance · 02-19-2020, 09:12 AM

Portable induction cooktops are popular, if electric works for you.

153stars · 02-19-2020, 10:17 AM

I have a similar top ,mine is longer rectangle one bigger and a smaller burner. When you want a bigger single pan meal .I recommend the original deep gold/copper square ceramic cook pan or higher quality copy. Two big round pans just don't work. But its not as bad as it seems when you want to cook inside.Maybe we can buth find a griddle that will help.Yeah the high gloss black is a pain to make look nice and clean as well.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/As-Seen-O...iece/574220453

450Donn · 02-19-2020, 10:39 AM

Since we used the oven a lot I personally would tear it out, go buy a range oven combo measure and cut out the top to fit, modify the lower cabinets and slide in the oven.

johnhicks · 02-19-2020, 10:48 AM

That is truly asinine. I'd cut/have it cut out and drop in a three or four-burner cooktop. Probably around $400-$500 including installation. Assuming you have a microwave you can easily replace it with a convection/micro.

Greg5OH · 02-19-2020, 11:33 AM

Just put in a 30" thermador 4 burner in our coach. Just need a corian shop to make me a piece for the front now.

rodekyll · 02-19-2020, 11:36 AM

What are the dimensions? I have the recessed top too, although mine is open to the front. I like it because I can flip down the lid and double my counter space. So when I tossed the old Atwood cooktop I looked for one that fit the old space. Both ebay and amazon had a number of 2, 3, and 4-burner tops in the ~24" class. IIRC, my space was 24x22.

I chose my poison and Amazon shipped the 4-burner, 20# top for free. It has one tiny burner in frontR, a large burner frontL, and two medium ones in the back. It *almost* fit the space. I had to trim the Corian (sp?) slightly for the grills to clear. Corian trims easily. I used a cutoff wheel on an angle grinder.

Since I was trimming for the fit, I also adjusted the height to the point that the lid still closed (notched for a grille bar), but the cooktop deck was above the counter well surface enough to accomodate the big spaghetti pan.

Then the flame sensors to the right side burners got goofy. They'd only stay lit in the ignition position -- not in the operational positions. So I had to ship it back. Shipping was free all ways, and they cross-shipped the replacement. It took a week for the replacement to arrive. The replacement works properly.

While all that was going on my sister bought me a cheapie countertop induction hotplate. It turns out that unless I need more than one burner at a time, it's more the go-to than the new cooktop. Such is life.

barmcd · 02-19-2020, 12:24 PM

Those are easy to modify and you can probably find material to match. I replaced the propane stove top with an induction unit which was smaller. I just dropped in a new piece on top of the old recess panel so the new stop top is about half an inch higher than the original. I could have easily shimmed it with plywood to raise it so the burners were on top of the counter surface.

Domo · 02-19-2020, 09:50 PM

Remove the cooktop. Take the original cover, add edge reinforcement and glue it in place. Cut out for the cooktop and mount it flush on top of the (now permanent) cover. (This could also be an excellent opportunity to switch to induction - but beware - you'll have to have relatively low-power units (120 VAC) unless you will always have plenty of power from shore/gen/big inverter.

Or,

Remove the cooktop and purchase a larger cooktop the will overextend the existing "hole/depression." Mount the new cooktop flush with the countertop surface so you can't see the original location.

MSHappyCampers · 02-20-2020, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barmcd

Those are easy to modify and you can probably find material to match. I replaced the propane stove top with an induction unit which was smaller. I just dropped in a new piece on top of the old recess panel so the new stop top is about half an inch higher than the original. I could have easily shimmed it with plywood to raise it so the burners were on top of the counter surface.

Nice job Dennis!