Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Remove Microwave (was elec system)

February 09, 2001, 11:00:02 am

Yahoo Message Number: 1949

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Your suggestion "learn how to do without the microwave" rings a bell for me; we almost never use the one at home, so I think removal is a good option.

Would you mind describing the project? What did you find when you removed the mw? How did you finish the hole? Any problems finding & fitting a cabinet door and shelves?

John

Remove Microwave (was elec system)

Reply #2 – February 09, 2001, 03:15:44 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 1957

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My 83 RL LD doe not have a generator so the microwave is really useless except when hookups are available. What do most people use them for anyway, defrosting frozen foods and heating their coffee or other food. Get an insulated mug and plan your meals a little. In return you get a nice piece of storage space.
I easily removed it. Unplug it and look inside the cabin next to it an see if there is any thing attaching it to the motorhome. Mine was held in by the trim.
Depending on how your HM is finished you can leave it alone or add some wood trim. As to what to do with the space, We added a piece of netting across the bottom half. We use the area to store papertowells, bread and other lightweight items. Determine what your needs are and design accordingly. I asked Steve several years age at LD if a LD could be ordered without a microwave. He said yes and that a door could be installed. The door size in similar to some other door they use.
Maybe they have a replacement door you could purchase.
Just an idea.

Remove Microwave (was elec system)

Reply #4 – February 09, 2001, 08:01:03 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 1962

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It may be that your type of RV use would dictate the optimum cooking unit(s) configuration.

For example, a lot of dry camping would favor the propane stove / oven combination, while primarily RV deluxe resort camping might favor an (expensive) Microwave / Convection oven and perhaps a propane cooktop.

That said, the microwave oven and the propane stove / oven combination seems to us to be an excellent compromise for a very wide range of users.

For example, our particular (perhaps pecular?) favorite is the Convection / Microwave and a two burner propane cooktop, with cabinet space where the propane oven would have been. But, our Lazy Daze has the microwave and the propane stove / oven combination and we get along just fine with that.
We could change it, but it just isn't necessary to do so.

We often use our microwave for preparing meals in our Lazy Daze. For lunch, we usually pull into a freeway rest stop, where Wife prepares lunch while I let our Corgi pull me around the rest area.

Our Lazy Daze microwave takes just 2.5 minutes to prepare a mocha and at the same time I can be baking chocolate chip / almond cookies in the propane oven. (Good thing the cookies get made at four dozen a mix or that propane oven would be going ALL the time.) On our previous rig, which had no propane oven, the Microwave / convection oven did either job but could not do both at the same time.

In summary, the way Lazy Daze has designed the galley is excellent for cooking, whether dry camping or in a RV resort and works very well as it is.

bon apetit! Don

Remove Microwave (was elec system)

Reply #6 – February 10, 2001, 06:50:48 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 1965

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It also seems like your location would dictate your preference.

Living in Texas, I can see myself running the generator on occasion to run the AC unit. With a generator, I may as well have a microwave.
If it is really hot outside, you don't want to fire up the stove to heat up something simple like a baby bottle.

Remove Microwave (was elec system)

Reply #8 – February 10, 2001, 07:21:38 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 1967

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It all depends on how you use your MH. We like camping in places where hookups are not normally available, so consumption of battery power is a major consideration. Charging with a generator isn"t practical unless your have a BIG battery charger to plug into the generator. We try to save power and exist off the solar panels . If you always have hookups, then this is not a problem.

Remove Microwave (was elec system)

Reply #10 – February 11, 2001, 06:22:54 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 1973

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The microwave doesn't run off of the coach battery. Battery consumption isn't an issue unless you opt for the larger inverter (I think, Ed and I never connected on this.) To run the microwave, the motorhome must be plugged into an exterior outlet or the generator must be operating.

You also have to look at resell value. It's alot easier to remove something than it is to add it later.

Remove Microwave (was elec system)

Reply #12 – February 11, 2001, 06:47:55 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 1975

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The original converstion was about running a microwave off an inverter using battery power. I agree that if you did not want the microwave, it would be better to remove after purchase (I have mine in storage). Since we don't have a generator and rarely stay in areas with hookups, the space and weight are better used as storage. I also dislike generator use in campgrounds. We camped for years without a MH. I never did learn to like the sound of gererators being runned to power coffee makers and microwaves in the morning. You can cook just fine on a propane stove and not disturb others with a motor running. I must say that generators can installed in such a way to minimize noise but it can cost a bit extra and most manufacturers don't bother. If you are a user of generators, considered extra sound proofing and a better muffer. Probably best done by a pro.

Remove Microwave (was elec system)

Reply #14 – February 12, 2001, 12:27:45 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 1987

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We have recently purchased and plan to use a small pressure cooker for speeding up cooking on the stove top. It might just be the best alternative to the microwave for cooking.

Counting down to picking up our LD in mid-April,

Robin