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Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Is it just me, what is up with the medicine cabinet LD puts in the bathroom. There is so much quality in the LDs, why skimp on the medicine cabinet. I know my wife (and me) will want to upgrade that once we get ours home. I'm thinking I will be asking if they can beef up that backer board on that wall so I can put a bigger nicer cabinet.

I've seen one mod that someone did, wondering if many people change this or just get used to it. If it works, that is what really counts.

Dan
Have an awesome day!
Dan - on list for a 31' IB White/Sliver

 
Re: Bathroom Medicine
Reply #1
"There is so much quality in the LDs, why skimp on the medicine cabinet."

I agree! I don't know what they're putting in now, but when I last visited the factory in 2012 or 2014, I was very disappointed in the cheap-feeling flimsy sheet-metal medicine cabinet that took up nearly half the former mirror area in the midbath. It didn't even have a mirror on its door! It was definitely not Lazy Daze quality.

It's not to hard or expensive to do better.

For example, Kate Klein took an inexpensive wooden medicine cabinet with mirrored door, and added white-finished wooden plank "legs" (cut down from laminate-covered shelves) at top and bottom to hold it between the bottom counter and upper shelf of her 31 TB's bathroom. (See first photo below.) It sat in front of the mirror, but since it had its own mirror, there was no loss of brightness or spaciousness.

In my midbath, I built a shallow medicine cabinet over the bathroom window. I used four lengths of thin 2.5" x 1/4" poplar, plus a piece of scrap composition board for a door, sizing it to just fill the space. Just as four inches is a good depth for a pantry cupboard, two to two and a half inches is just right for small medicine bottles, tubes and boxes.

Like my pantry cupboard, I built this with no back—the wall behind it serves that purpose. It's just an open frame, mounted to the wall with four small angle brackets, while additional angle brackets support the shelf inside. I added retainer rods made of white coat hanger wire to keep the contents from falling out. (See second photo below.) This left my bathroom's full-width mirror unobstructed.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"

Re: Bathroom Medicine
Reply #2
The cheap medicine cabinet in my 2003 TK was removed very soon after taking delivery; it was heavy, took up too much space on the wall, and the shallow shelves offered very little storage space. It was replaced with wire shelving; the 3-basket shelving is lighter weight and allows storage for TP and other "lotions and potions" in the very compact bath area of the TK. A couple of suction-cup plastic baskets for soap and shampoo are attached to the wall over the wash bowl in the shower area; anything else is kept in a plastic basket in the small cupboard next to the entry door.

YMMV, obviously!  ;)

2003 TK has a new home

Re: Bathroom Medicine
Reply #3
We added a Med Cabinet which is attached to a plywood board cut to the full size from the bottom shelf to top cabinet and then screwed to the wall above and below the mirror.  We did this to try it out with only creating 2 holes above and below the mirror and could be patched when removed.  We may remove the big mirror for a smaller one for in front of the sink and attach the Med Cabinet directly to the wall. 

     Karen~Liam
       98 ~ MB
         NinA


1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags

Re: Bathroom Medicine
Reply #4
This is an interesting series of posts.  When I was changing out the flooring in the RV, I finally came to the bathroom and had to figure out how to put lino on the raised step that the toilet was mounted onto.  The first thing to do was to remove the toilet, which is an interesting thing to do.  Then had to remove 17 years of caked on poop.  Everyone told me to replace the toilet, but none of the current models are the same and have the foot pedal on the opposite side.  So I rebuilt the toilet using original parts from Ardemco.  I also added one of the soft close toilet seats, which is great. 

At the same time I went ahead and painted all of the walls with oil based enamel paint to freshen them up.  My wife asked to put in a rack to hang wet towels and I did so over high up over the toilet.  I glued 1/4" hardwood to the existing wall for additional support and mounted the towel rack. 

While I was at it, my wife wanted a medicine cabinet.  So I removed the mirror and found a nice stainless steel locking medicine cabinet that had polished stainless mirror front.  I mounted it using the 1/4" hardwood like the towel rack.  I then found a mirror that fit perfectly at Home Depot and mounted it up.  I later found out that LD had gone to this same design.

I have attached a couple of photos for those who are interested.

Re: Bathroom Medicine
Reply #5
"My wife asked to put in a rack to hang wet towels."

Very neat project, similar to mine!

I love the towel rack, where did you find it?   8)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!

Re: Bathroom Medicine
Reply #6
Quote
. A couple of suction-cup plastic baskets for soap and shampoo are attached to the wall over the wash bowl in the shower area; anything else is kept in a plastic basket in the small cupboard next to the entry door.

YMMV, obviously!  ;)

We’ve never had much success with the suction cup doohickeys. They inevitably fall off once the moisture has dried. What’s your secret, Joan?  — Jon
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄

Re: Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Reply #7
"There is so much quality in the LDs, why skimp on the medicine cabinet."

I agree! I don't know what they're putting in now, but when I last visited the factory in 2012 or 2014, I was very disappointed in the cheap-feeling flimsy sheet-metal medicine cabinet that took up nearly half the former mirror area in the midbath. It didn't even have a mirror on its door! It was definitely not Lazy Daze quality.

It's not to hard or expensive to do better.

For example, Kate Klein took an inexpensive wooden medicine cabinet with mirrored door, and added white-finished wooden plank "legs" (cut down from laminate-covered shelves) at top and bottom to hold it between the bottom counter and upper shelf of her 31 TB's bathroom. (See first photo below.) It sat in front of the mirror, but since it had its own mirror, there was no loss of brightness or spaciousness.

In my midbath, I built a shallow medicine cabinet over the bathroom window. I used four lengths of thin 2.5" x 1/4" poplar, plus a piece of scrap composition board for a door, sizing it to just fill the space. Just as four inches is a good depth for a pantry cupboard, two to two and a half inches is just right for small medicine bottles, tubes and boxes.

Like my pantry cupboard, I built this with no back—the wall behind it serves that purpose. It's just an open frame, mounted to the wall with four small angle brackets, while additional angle brackets support the shelf inside. I added retainer rods made of white coat hanger wire to keep the contents from falling out. (See second photo below.) This left my bathroom's full-width mirror unobstructed.
Excellent, thank you for the pictures, nice changes.
Have an awesome day!
Dan - on list for a 31' IB White/Sliver

Re: Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Reply #8
"There is so much quality in the LDs, why skimp on the medicine cabinet."

I agree! I don't know what they're putting in now, but when I last visited the factory in 2012 or 2014, I was very disappointed in the cheap-feeling flimsy sheet-metal medicine cabinet that took up nearly half the former mirror area in the midbath. It didn't even have a mirror on its door! It was definitely not Lazy Daze quality.

It's not to hard or expensive to do better.

For example, Kate Klein took an inexpensive wooden medicine cabinet with mirrored door, and added white-finished wooden plank "legs" (cut down from laminate-covered shelves) at top and bottom to hold it between the bottom counter and upper shelf of her 31 TB's bathroom. (See first photo below.) It sat in front of the mirror, but since it had its own mirror, there was no loss of brightness or spaciousness.

In my midbath, I built a shallow medicine cabinet over the bathroom window. I used four lengths of thin 2.5" x 1/4" poplar, plus a piece of scrap composition board for a door, sizing it to just fill the space. Just as four inches is a good depth for a pantry cupboard, two to two and a half inches is just right for small medicine bottles, tubes and boxes.

Like my pantry cupboard, I built this with no back—the wall behind it serves that purpose. It's just an open frame, mounted to the wall with four small angle brackets, while additional angle brackets support the shelf inside. I added retainer rods made of white coat hanger wire to keep the contents from falling out. (See second photo below.) This left my bathroom's full-width mirror unobstructed.
Thank you Andy, nice changes, I appreciate you sharing this information.
Have an awesome day!
Dan - on list for a 31' IB White/Sliver

Re: Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Reply #9
I have attached a couple of photos for those who are interested.

Just a question . . . is it hard to use the "facilities" with them sideways like that?  :D
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264

Re: Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Reply #10
The photos are right side up in my computer.  Dont know how to straighten them as an attachment.   :(


Re: Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Reply #12
    This has been a chronic topic.  Almost the first thing I did when I got my new motorhome, (twenty years ago) was to replace  the medicine cabinet with one more to my liking. I got a pressed board 'Oak' one. I drilled holes in the back of the new one to match the mounting holes of the old one. This allowed re-use of the LD supplied internal wall support. I did improve the door hinges and supplemented the latch with another magnetic catch. I didn't want the door/mirror to open on its own. I fixed the shelves in one place, they had been adjustable. I added 3/8" wide aluminum straps across the shelves to keep the contents inside. I am still mindful to close the toilet lid before opening the cabinet.  In a TK the cabinet is just above the toilet. It has worked well.
    The picture also shows the folding shower bar that allows a little more room for the curtain when in the shower. Normally it is folded into the shower.    RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB

Re: Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Reply #13
Parussky, your bathroom with the smaller mirror and painted walls is the look we are going for!  Thank you for the photos, Karen can have a look now and realize her vision!  We have not started to look for the mirror yet.  We also plan to paint the cabinets and have ordered new cabinet doors since we will use the existing bath cabinet doors to be re-sized to go in the kitchen to match the ones there to fill microwave spot and padded fake leather cabinet side piece.  Unfortunately the Mothership no longer has our style of Kitchen door.  We have also added a curved shower pole to give more room in the shower.

                                                          Karen~Liam
                                                            98 ~ MB
1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags

Re: Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Reply #14
The RB LD has a large dressing mirror on the outside of the closet door. This mirror, however, does no good if you are inside the BR with with the closet door open.

I have often thought of adding a full length mirror on the inside of the closet door but I’m not sure how I would secure it since the mirror on the outside is kinda in the way.

Perhaps I could...

Kent
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"

Re: Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Reply #15
The RB LD has a large dressing mirror on the outside of the closet door. This mirror, however, does no good if you are inside the BR with with the closet door open.

I have often thought of adding a full length mirror on the inside of the closet door but I’m not sure how I would secure it since the mirror on the outside is kinda in the way.

Perhaps I could...

Kent
Kent, in a few more years you won't be interested in looking at yourself in a full length mirror.  ;)

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB