Dwyer Kichenette with electric fridge in a bus?

[sorenbarr]

I was in an architectural salvage place today and found a Dwyer metal free standing kitchenette. I'm just starting the conversion of my bus and this seems like a much cooler kitchen than the generic RV kitchen I was planning (using salvaged camper / RV parts). It's almost exactly like this one:

http://retrorenovation.com/2008/03/18/1961-stovefridgecabinetsink-todays-craigslist-find-courtesy-florida-leslie/

I have a few questions and want any thoughts on this.

The stove and oven is almost certainly natural gas. I'll need to convert this to propane, which seems like it should be pretty easy, has anybody done this?

It's porcelain painted metal, but a not so attractive 70s yellow. How hard is it to paint porcelain?

The biggest question is the refrigerator. It's a simple electric fridge. But a 110VAC fridge is not ideal in a motorhome (I've read a few of the threads). I could run it as is with an inverter / shore power setup, and I'm willing to make sure I have a strong enough battery bank for that if needed. The other thought I had was to gut it an turn it into a propane fridge. These are, in theory, very simple, but I'm not sure if the parts to make this conversion are readily available or reasonable in price. Anybody have any idea if this is worth considering?

I am an engineer with lots of building / hands on experience, so I think this is within my capabilities, but want input.

Soren

[lostagain]

Converting the stove to propane is just a matter of changing the orifices to propane ones.

Running the 120V fridge off an inverter is certainly doable. However I wonder how energy efficient a 1961 fridge is? It might suck a lot more electricity than a modern one of the same size.

The yellow colour would be OK if you do your whole bus in a 1960s theme.

JC

[belfert]

One of the Boy Scout camps locally has a family camp with cabins that have these exact unit in them.  I thought the units were fairly nasty, but it doesn't help that the cabins have been rented by the week for 40+ years.  Volunteers are actually renovating a few cabins each year.  The first thing to go is the stove/sink/fridge combo.

[Brassman]

That range top pictured sure looks to be electric. And today, for electric, induction hobs seem the way to go for bus conversions, not reisitance hobs. So I'd say it's a no go.

[sorenbarr]

That range top pictured sure looks to be electric. And today, for electric, induction hobs seem the way to go for bus conversions, not reisitance hobs. So I'd say it's a no go.

They made gas and electric, and the electric seem to be more common, but the unit we are looking at is gas.

One of the Boy Scout camps locally has a family camp with cabins that have these exact unit in them.  I thought the units were fairly nasty, but it doesn't help that the cabins have been rented by the week for 40+ years. The first thing to go is the stove/sink/fridge combo.

I think many of these were poorly cared for and poorly maintained. We're planning on restoring this unit, which should be pretty easy as it's pretty clean. I like this a lot better than a generic new unit from a style standpoint, but I know that these would not fit to everybody's tastes!

Converting the stove to propane is just a matter of changing the orifices to propane ones.

Running the 120V fridge off an inverter is certainly doable. However I wonder how energy efficient a 1961 fridge is? It might suck a lot more electricity than a modern one of the same size.

Very helpful, thanks. I do think in restoring it that we'll re-insulate the fridge, which will help a lot for efficiency. Is there a significant difference in the actual compressors in modern fridges? That will be worth investigating.

Soren

[belfert]

I believe there are companies that can restore the exterior of kitchen appliances.  I would check with them on changing the color.  I would not recommend paint as the top surface doubles as a countertop.

I would consider the weight of the unit before doing this although it may not be any heavier than cabinets made of wood.

[crown]

 hi you need to check the hight to see if it will work . and can you get it in the bus thats a one piece unit ?
john

[Cary and Don]

If this is the look you are going for and you plan on really restoring the unit,  maybe you can refit the fridge with new mechanical.  The new Danfross compressor would make it a really good unit.  If I remember right boat builders buy the mechanical parts and make the box any size and shape they want.

Don and Cary
1973 05 Eagle
GM 4107
Neoplan AN340

[belfert]

Based on the picture I see some screws/bolts on the back splash that probably separate the top from the bottom.  I can't imagine carrying a whole unit like that in one piece into a house/apartment/cabin.  Height could certainly be an issues especially placed along a sidewall of a bus.

[Lin]

Isn't the frig kind of small?  I have seen painted porcelain that did not look to good and had started peeing. I suppose it could be done better, but would be dubious if I were doing it.  Maybe a place like IKEA would have modular kitchen units that would work.  You could call an RV frig rebuilder and find out what they say about switching the unit over to absorption if that is what you want.  I would not think it would be cost effective.  It all depends on how committed you are to this look.  Anything can be done with enough work and cash, but it seems that one would be sacrificing some function to a rather bland form.

[sorenbarr]

Thanks for the further input everybody!

I believe there are companies that can restore the exterior of kitchen appliances.  I would check with them on changing the color.  I would not recommend paint as the top surface doubles as a countertop.

To your point on the counter, I don't think paint over the porcelain would work very well. It looks like there are some paints designed for this, but I need to do more research and may need to find a restorer for advice. Or maybe I'll leave it yellow in the end.

I would consider the weight of the unit before doing this although it may not be any heavier than cabinets made of wood.

Yes, I'm not terribly concerned with this as this will be a bulk of the weigh added (besides tanks), but I do need to consider it. Besides modern coaches (with newer, larger engines of course) commonly have tile and granite counters, that's got to add a lot of weight!

hi you need to check the hight to see if it will work . and can you get it in the bus thats a one piece unit ?
john

The unit we're looking at is disassembled. I don't think there is backsplash with it any more. It's the freestanding lower unit and the upper cabinets that I'll probably use as matching lower cabinets with a new counter on top. Each piece is not too hard to manage.

Isn't the frig kind of small? 

It is small, but reasonable. We're not living aboard, and will not boondock much, so I think this will be ok for us. These were originally units for apartments, so some people lived with this as their primary fredge.

If this is the look you are going for and you plan on really restoring the unit,  maybe you can refit the fridge with new mechanical.  The new Danfross compressor would make it a really good unit.  If I remember right boat builders buy the mechanical parts and make the box any size and shape they want.

Don and Cary

Hmm, this is worth looking into!

Thanks,

Soren

[belfert]

Your coach can almost certainly handle the weight, but can your pocketbook pay for the extra fuel?  Some of the new coaches get some pretty dismal mileage in part because of the weight.

[robertglines1]

Most buses were designed to carry passangers at 250 lbs per each one.  you have also removed seats. So a guide line for what your bus was designed to carry. The 250 was to allow for luggage and varied size. rule of thumb.   In the end do it your way and keep to a theme . looking forward to the out come.  This board,the members can share our mistakes, please feel free to ask questions. No dumb question except the one not ask....   Bob

[Lee Bradley]

Just my thought but isn't that going to rattle going down the road.