How to build a kitchen in a caravan?

[kylehopwood]

  

I want to build a kitchen at the front of my caravan under the window. 
It’s about 6.5 foot long and 2.5 wide.

Not looking for any particular design for a kitchen, just want some help on how I could build a kitchen here. 

thank you,

Kyle 

[EricL]

Hello @kylehopwood 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your caravan.

What an exciting project to be undertaking! I would love to be doing caravan restoration as well but currently have no space in my house. Building a kitchen is definitely possible, however, I recall one of our members mentioning weight distribution and centre of gravity inside a caravan. I think this is very important especially when locating your kitchen which carries a significant amount of weight. 

I suggest having a look at these guides:

• How to renovate a caravan - Part 1 by @Peggers 
   
• How to renovate a caravan - Part 2 by @Peggers 
   
• How to renovate a caravan - Part 3 by @Peggers 

I also recommend having a quick look at these discussions:

• Onsite caravan and annex renovation by @LizzieCro
   
• Vintage York caravan renovation by @selva 
   
• Classic 1970s Millard caravan renovation by @Peggers 
   
• 1972 York Caravan renovation by @twocutekelpies 

As a general suggestion, I propose drawing your kitchen design on paper and thinking about what materials you'll be using on it. I recommend using light to medium weight timber so that you will not be adding too much weight the caravan structure. I also suggest exploring the other projects shared by our members by typing the word "caravan" on the websites search bar.

Let me call on our experienced members @Peggers, @twocutekelpies and @LizzieCro for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know. 

Eric

[LizzieCro · Accepted solution]

Hi @kylehopwood ,

A great project! I probably won't give you the answer to your question, but hopefully this will be helpful.

As Eric has said, the main consideration for you is weight. You may already know this, and I apologise if I'm telling you something you already know, but you need to ensure you retain the weight that your caravan initially was when it was manufactured. Many people forge ahead installing flatpack cabinets, or using MDF or particleboard panels to build with, only to discover they can't legally use the van on the road. If your van is over its weight and you have an accident, one of the things your insurer will do is weigh your van. If it's found to be over the legal weight which pertains to your specific van your insurance policy will be worthless. This is why vans are built with very lightweight materials. Your van cabinetry would have been built with meranti frames and 3mm ply, both which are lightweight. It's best to replace like with like, and Bunnings carries both of these materials. Smaller Bunnings may not have the Meranti, in that case pine can be substituted.

The other thing about weight, as Eric also said, is trying to keep the heavier items within the van centred over the wheels if possible. It's safer that way.

As I haven't installed a kitchen in a touring van, only in onsite/static vans, I won't try and offer advice about that. It's something I know of and understand, but have never had to do. Shelley @twocutekelpies has done quite a few complete renovations of vintage vans and hopefully will pop in to advise. You can find her very instructive posts on Instagram, and also on the Caravaners Forum. I would strongly advise you do a lot of research before starting the installation. There are many caravan groups on social media, and members share lots of valid information. Find a group specific to your van manufacturer, and ask lots of questions.

My other advice would be to put off doing any of the interior work on the van until you've renovated the outside and know it is watertight. This can be a long process, as every piece of corner trim should be removed, cleaned of all residue and old sealant, resealed and replaced. Every window should also be removed and resealed, as well as roof vents. Lots of people make the mistake of doing the interior first, only to have water ingress which then ruins their hard work. Learn by others' mistakes, it's so much easier.

It looks like it'll be a very rewarding project. Good luck with it, Kyle.

[kylehopwood]

Hi Lizz,

I really appreciate the reply back, I had no idea about any of that stuff and really appreciate the information. 

we will be putting the kitchen along the side now, and will be starting with the out side as we were starting inside out. 

Thanks for the reply Eric really appreciate it. 

[twocutekelpies]

Hi @kylehopwood 

Sorry for the delay in replying, I was out of the country on a holiday with my mum 😊

I can't top what @LizzieCro has said, she has absolutely nailed it. I'm just going to add some pictures of the stick frame cabinetry that is used in caravans to keep the weight down low. I have used both pine and meranti, mainly as my store doesn't stock meranti so I have to order it in, I use meranti mainly in the walls to add noggins etc to fasten cabinetry to. Originally cabinetry is fastened in place from outside with staples and screws before the outside skin goes on, when replacing the interior, often the outside has already been completed to ensure the caravan is watertight so it pays to add extra fastening points into the walls before replacing the interior lining. Even in aluminium framed caravans, I'll add a few timber "noggins"

Timber added to attach overhead cupboards

Initial frame for side kitchen   Completed kitchen

Stick frame can be made into many shapes to cover wheel arches, allow for fire extinguishers etc  Once the frame is fitted and fastened to the wall, it can be skinned in 3mm ply  The wet panel joiners, corners and capping from Bunnings make tidy corners and edges  Completed cupboard

I use an air staple gun to construct the frame just like original construction.  The 3mm wet panel corners and capping are stapled to the frame then the ply "skin" glued in place to add strength.

As mentioned above, I use an air staple gun but I know that pocket jigs are becoming a popular choice for building the frame. 

If you search for wall art joiners, capping, corners on the Bunnings site they should come up, eg https://www.bunnings.com.au/wall-art-joiners-2400mm-linear-wet-area-panel-cap-snow-white_p6660424

I use 2.7mm poly coated caravan ply from The Bunker, I believe a lot of plywood stores carry it or it can be ordered through Special Orders at Bunnings from ForestOne.