Counter space

[Leningradka]

Hey guys! I was absolutely sure I wanted the 233S until I looked at a couple... and realized there is zero counter space for food prep/cooking. and now I am starting to think that it is worth it to give up the third bunk in order to gain the room for cooking. What have you found?

I am camping with 2 adults and 2 kids, aged 10 and 7, and the kids are getting to the point where we are taking their friends with us, so thats why I was thinking three pop outs. Just throwing out there to hear people's thoughts

[Reverse_snowbird]

For counterspace, doesn't that rig have a cover over the sink? And you can put something like a cutting board over the stovetop. Sometimes there is room for a flip up counter at the end of the counter.

[Tigger1]

Originally Posted by Leningradka

Hey guys! I was absolutely sure I wanted the 233S until I looked at a couple... and realized there is zero counter space for food prep/cooking. and now I am starting to think that it is worth it to give up the third bunk in order to gain the room for cooking. What have you found?

I am camping with 2 adults and 2 kids, aged 10 and 7, and the kids are getting to the point where we are taking their friends with us, so thats why I was thinking three pop outs. Just throwing out there to hear people's thoughts

We have a Rockwood 2104s which has pretty much the same counter space, see photos, 1st is Shamrock, 2nd is 2104s, and we wanted more space too. We bought a rolling kitchen island table that we put directly in front of the stove, it’s just about the same width and height. It has a foldout leaf for extra room. We don’t use the stools. See link. We were not sure at first but it’s working good for us.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[TheWolfPaq82]

As many people say.....and it's quite obvious and probably true to some extent....RV's are not designed by people that camp. Who else could come up with some of the ridiculous layouts. Old Jayco, I took the electric coffee pot outside every morning, because there was no room to make breakfast if the coffee pot was on the counter.

[bikendan]

A 3 bunk hybrid has to sacrifice something and counterspace is usually the first to go.
For the DW, it was #1 so we bought the 23SS. But we didn't need a 3rd bunk end.

[Mainframe]

You need 3 bunks, get the ad on island and maybe do a flip up shelf mod, 3 bunks are going to make or break your trip, counter space won’t be a problem if you adapt.

[benf]

Completely agree with the third bunk. I made the mistake of buying a 2 end hybrid first and traded 1 year later for the 233s. Learn from my mistake! We set up a table outside under the awning and use the shelf that sits on the outside rail for our coffee station. Enjoy!

[Chuck_S]

I'd not buy a 3-bed trailer just for the kids friends. Get a tent for the kids and their friends. They'll love being away from the adults. One pair can use the trailer bed, the older pair gets the privilege of using the tent, or they can draw straws for it. Heck, if it's big enough they can all sleep out there. It's called Camping.

Counter space was high on our priority list when we bought our 23SS.

-- Chuck

[gastan]

x2 what Chuck said. But ......
if you decide you absolutely need that 5th sleeping space you could make a few changes. We wanted more counter space in our TT, too. Since we wash dishes in tubs outside, we rarely - as in never - used the 2nd basin in the sink. I installed a new counter with a single basin (real) stainless steel sink and gained about 17" of counter. Cost was well under $300 and it isn't that difficult (pull the stove and existing sink/faucet). Adding a 12"-15" flip-up next to the range would be a quick fix, also. Add them together and you'd have over 2 feet of additional counter.

[Finster]

With only 2 kids you could get by with a 2 bunk hybrid but you'd be constantly setting up and tearing down the dinette for extra sleeping space. We went with a 233S because we have 3 kids, plus friends so we had to have the extra bunk. The lack of counter space sucks, but you have that with some other models also. We seldomly cook inside the camper anyway so it doesnt affect us all that much. Most of our cooking and food prep is done outside. Either on a picnic table with cutting boards or on the plastic folding table we bring with us that we set up under the awning. We usually have a couple of quick and easy meals planned for rainy or busy days that only require a microwave when cooking outside isn't possible.

[gbaldwin]

75% of cooking and prep is done outside the TT for us. Fold out table... small webber.... small cook top... dutch oven. Much more enjoyable to us... less mess...

[Arti]

That is one of my pet peeves with the camper that we currently own,



The flip up that blocks the door isn't really a good work around as far as I'm concerned covering the sink is not really handy. Poor layout in my opinion.



We have thought about installing a smaller one compartment sink and new counter top to get a few inches of work space.

[jeff64]

When we bought ours, a countertop extension was available through FR. We don't use it all the time but does come in handy on longer stays. It was priced right and matched countertop material

[rbq]

We have a 233S. Use the cutting board that goes over the sink. One of the great benefits of this floorplan is the amount of floor space available. We bought a 4 foot long folding table to use in front of the sofa. This increases the amount of available seating for eating & that table is the extra counter space needed when prepping meals. When you don't need it fold it & put out of the way. We don't the entertainment center at the end of the slideout like the new 233S have so we just stand the table up there at night or when not in use. Another option is put a folding table top on the end of stove that you can open up. This will block the doorway when up, but is an option.

[thestrangebrew]

We chose the 3rd bunk over lack of counter space and it's been great. I setup a few tables outside and we prep and cook everything out of the trailer. We only have 2 kids, but lots of nieces/nephews/friends who have kids our age so there's really never a time the 3rd bunk is not used. And when it isn't used for sleeping, we put our bags/blankets/luggage on the side bunk for easy out of the way access. Go for the 3rd, don't think you'll regret it.

[beachlvr]

We purchase a folding island cart (Wofgang Puck) and it is working out perfectly. Fits great on either side of the fridge, rolls wherever we need it and provides easy access storage in addition to the extra counter space. DH thought I was wasting money when I first purchased it, now he absolutely loves it.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wolfgang-...Cart/710168063

[rlh1957]

We got the 24WS because of long counter

[fella10]

Originally Posted by Leningradka

Hey guys! I was absolutely sure I wanted the 233S until I looked at a couple... and realized there is zero counter space for food prep/cooking. .... What have you found?

this is an idea we use to create a little more counter space when needed/wanted, ... it's very portable, can be removed at any time and also put back in use at any time, ... actually, DW leaves it in place all the time and uses it constantly, ... because for her, there is never too much counter space, ...

[Iwannacamp]

I would be tempted to put a 10-12” fold down extension on the end of the counter. I would mount a 6-8” deep shelf on the wall by the sink(that looks pretty). Color me stupid, but if I could put a rail(pretty) on the door to the right for temporary use I might be tempted to do that.
As stated...they ain’t using them.

[dodr33]

We have 2 adults and 3 kids but have had up to 9-10 in our 233s...the sleeping space is move valuable than counter space!

Use the cutting board, moveable table and other spaces creatively and you will be just fine!