195 RB - Cooktop Replacement

[MrKABC]

Browsing the 2022 SLX 195 interior, and I see that they have moved to a larger refrigerator (nice, but sacrifices the pantry) and changed out the cooktop.

The new one "Greystone" is NICE! I like the blue LED lighting, the glass cover for when not in use, and ELECTRIC IGNITION.

My 2019 cooktop requires a lighter to ignite. Very small detail but very crude.

I attached pictures of both.

FORUM ADVICE: How hard to you all think it would be to change out to the new one? The cooktop itself I found for $139 (plus shipping, I would imagine).

2022: https://www.recpro.com/rv-two-burner...RoCQZAQAvD_BwE

Probably a waste of time and resources, but what do you all think?

[Jay2504]

IMHO, that would be one of the best mods you could do to a camper that has a cooktop like in the bottom picture! Really would help with the limited amount of counter space. To change it out, more than likely the original cooktop has too big of a hole for the new unit to fill, meaning that a new countertop would have to be purchased. Maybe Jayco has the correct part that is pre cut? If not a new countertop could be bought at a big box store fairly cheap. First step is to measure the hole in the countertop for the current stove. Please post what you find. Jay.

[Jagiven]

I agree the counter top has to be replaced. You will have to modify the cabinet face frame. If your handy this is no big deal. I would expect you will need to add bracing to hold the stove up from the underside.

One last thing to consider. If you purchase a laminate counter, the particle board underneath does not do good with water, and you would need to deal with exposed cut edge.

[Kim Gass]

Good upgrade on the stove. Being left handed I found it very difficult to ignite the burner with left hand ( by hand and my left is stronger) and manipulate the terribly placed controls. It was a burn waiting to happen.

[Jay2504]

If you replace the countertop with a laminate, once the holes are cut for everything coat the entire particle board with several coats of polyurethane. That will stop any water absorption and swelling. I did this on a table I made for the cabin of our last boat. It worked out well. Another possibility is a solid surface countertop. An advantage that hasn’t been talked about, is with a new countertop the sink and stove can be put in any position that you desire. How long is the current countertop on a 195? Jay

[Tunce the traveler]

If I were to go that route I would get a Corian counter top and also install an under mount sink. Think it would be a real clean look and your water worries would be over.

[RogerR]

My weight limits on the 195RB would probably say no to the Corian. It would be nice though!
Check the depth of your old vs the new one as there is a lot of stuff running around down there and you might have something in the way.

[MrKABC]

OK the 2019 cooktop is an AIRXCEL Suburban SDN2. Holy smokes it is cheep.

https://www.airxcel.com/rv/suburban/cooking/drop-in

You can tell Jayco spared no expense on this one. I love the euphemism "match lit" for lighting this thing.

The cut out dimensions for this cooktop (according to the crappy instruction manual) are:

Width: 16 3/8"
Depth: 11 5/8"
Height: 5 7/8" (based on sidewall height info in manual)

Cutout for the 2022 cooktop:
Width: 10 5/8"
Depth: 19 5/8"
Height: 4 1/8"

I'm thinking that I am out of luck. The 2019 cutout is too wide for the two burner 2022 model. I'd have to replace the countertop - like RogerR said, the idea of Corian is nice but I'm already pushing the weight limits as it is, so I can't afford to add anything heavy to the mix.

For grins I looked at the three burner countertop:

https://www.recpro.com/rv-three-burn...op-with-cover/

Cutout for three burner 2022:
Width: 20 1/4"
Depth: 17 3/4"
Height: 4 1/8"

That's some cutting, but I don't know what is underneath the stock cooktop. I think I will pull it anyways to see what's there. The instructions indicate that the burners are secured with "...two thumb screws and two nylon washers..." I didn't see them but I wasn't looking that hard.

I'll report back when I pull the cooktop. Chances are that I'm out of luck but who knows, right?

EDIT: Just realized looking at my pic that the 2019 cooktop is at a 90° from the product literature. So that means it's 11" wide cutout? I'll definitely just pull the box and put a measuring tape on it.

[Kim Gass]

The crappy 2019 instruction manual has the measurements rotated 90 degrees.

I could fit two pots on the stove front to back.. With an 11 inch depth that would have never happened.

[MrKABC]

Well, here are the box dimensions of anyone is interested. Not sure what I can do here without replacing the counter top.

[Jay2504]

From the measurements provided, there is no way to do this without replacing the countertop. A couple of possibilities:
1. Order the 2022 countertop from Jayco. It’s possible that it may already have the correct cutouts for both the sink and the new cooktop. Might be $$$. Might not. Certainly worth the time to price it.
2. Laminate countertop from a big box store. If you measured the length of the original countertop, then weighed one of the ones that are stocked at the store, the difference might not be that great, like maybe 10 pounds. I am thinking that the whole countertop in the trailer now is only about 6 feet long. How long is it?
3. Custom order either a laminate or solid surface countertop at a big box store with the color, edge, and cutouts how and where you want them. Either option #2 or #3 would allow you to put in a different sink or move the one that you have if that is desired. Some people want a bigger or deeper sink than what came with the camper.
When we got our Jayco, the DW really wanted a double bowl sink, which our unit has. Now that we have had it for a couple of years, she says that it’s not important and would really prefer a deep single bowl type sink. Jay.

[MrKABC]

Went to Lowe's today. Counter tops SOOOOO heavy...

[Tunce the traveler]

Corian weighs 4.4 lbs. per sq.ft., just subtract your cutouts.

[MrKABC]

I'm not giving up on this!

https://www.amazon.com/RecPro-Built-...3914120&sr=8-3

Dimensions on this beast:
11 3/4" W x 3 7/8" H x 22 3/4" D
Minimum cutout size: 10 5/8"W x 4 1/8" H x 19 5/8" D

I'm going to pull my cooktop entirely (didn't do that the last time back in 2021) and get EXACT measurements of the cutout. My measuring tape of the flange to flange edge above showed 11 9/16" (going off my old pic) side to side including overlap, so this Amazon cooktop might just do the trick.

Guess there is only one way to find out!

[DaveT]

If the existing hole is too big, could you "patch" it with a piece of nice plywood and cut a hole in the plywood for your new cooktop?


This is a good thread.


D

[MrKABC]

Pulled the cooktop and now I have definitive answers.

The cutout is:

• 16" D
• 11 5/8" W
• 6 1/2" H

I attached a diagram and pix of my cutout. It looks to me like I might be able to add some furring strips on either side to support the cooktop and secure them in the front and back sides where the cutouts need to extend to accommodate the 22 3/4" length of the RecPro. Wiring up the 12v should be no issue at all.

I'm going to order the cooktop and see what I can do here - bummer that it didn't come OEM with the trailer but that's the breaks right? It's looking good though that I should be able to retrofit this one WITHOUT replacing the countertop.

Side note: The countertop is really a heavy MDF type particle board covered with textured "wallpaper". I assumed it was solid plastic but it isn't. It's really glued down good though - I don't think I could remove it without causing a lot of damage.

So here goes the official launch of my cooktop replacement build thread!

[MrKABC]

Cooktop is here! This thing looks do-able. There literally is 1/8" over on either side of the original opening, so visually when installed it should look great!

I'll add furring strips though for support just to be on the safe side.

Next steps:

• Connect 12v wire and fish to cavity
• Attach furring strips to either side of existing opening
• Cut front of countertop to accommodate front of range
• Attach propane, 12v, and mount new cooktop

I'll add pix this weekend!

[CrmznCamp]

Originally Posted by MrKABC

Cooktop is here! This thing looks do-able. There literally is 1/8" over on either side of the original opening, so visually when installed it should look great!

I'll add furring strips though for support just to be on the safe side.

Next steps:

• Connect 12v wire and fish to cavity
• Attach furring strips to either side of existing opening
• Cut front of countertop to accommodate front of range
• Attach propane, 12v, and mount new cooktop

I'll add pix this weekend!

Hi! Did you ever end up adding pics anywhere of this? I just purchased a 2015 model and am interested in possibly also recessing the cooktop or replacing it with a model that is recessed.

[MrKABC]

Originally Posted by CrmznCamp

Hi! Did you ever end up adding pics anywhere of this? I just purchased a 2015 model and am interested in possibly also recessing the cooktop or replacing it with a model that is recessed.

Hello CrmznCamp:

I have the cooktop on my workbench ready for installation. I didn't end up installing it because I am upgrading my travel trailer to a larger model and this project is now... terminated...

If you are interested in a brand new, never used cooktop as shown in the pix, let's talk!

[FISTEP]

Whoever gets your 195RB with all the mods you have done, will be one lucky duck!