This is not a step by step how-to but rather an overview of how I did it. Things I did are not necessarily listed in order and there is some inventing to do along the way. Nothing too challenging and your solutions or approach may be different from mine. Doing what works best for you and is within your skills can get it done. This is a time-consuming project with lots of little things to do but overall I would say easy.
Does a bear (of a man) poop in the camper?
Not if the bathroom is too small which is the case with our Coleman Lantern 202RD. The bathroom is tiny. The counters stick out from the wall almost 16” (see photo below). This crowds the toilet on one side and the door is on the other. So what’s a bear to do to poo? I set out on social media to see if any had gone before me, hoping that I could find some ideas. The resulting commentary advised that I should have tried the bathroom before I bought. Well, thanks but I am looking forward and not back at this point and sometimes life gives you a great deal and you don’t pass because of the bathroom. It was at this point that I realized I was on my own. On my own, perhaps — but not alone. Others were also unhappy with their bathroom situation.
I didn’t want to get in over my head during this experiment, but I knew that one potential result was destroying the current vanity. I considered this an acceptable risk. I knew I needed a smaller sink. This proved to be difficult but eventually, I found one on eBay … sort of. Small sinks aren’t common but I found a guy who takes stainless steel food pans and cuts a drain hole in them. They are also beveled for a drain which is provided and a faucet is supplied as well. I only paid about $50 for the sink!
Next, I needed to know what was behind the lower panel of the vanity. Was it empty space or something big I wouldn’t be able to move? Unfortunately, the panel was secured in place. To knock it out was to head down the path of commitment and possibly regret. So I purchased a scope on Amazon. It barely worked but allowed me a brief look before it went back to Amazon. I do hope to find a better scope that actually works someday. I did manage to discover that the space was largely empty, but there was some plumbing in there.
I ordered the sink which arrived quickly and knocked the panel out. At that point, I was fully committed, but I could also see that the project was very doable. The toilet came out for better workspace and I removed the sink. The sink is partly held on by something sticky and some plastic tabs underneath it. Unscrew the tabs, disconnect the plumbing and the sink pops out easily. Keep some old towels handy. Water drained from both the toilet and sink lines for a bit.
Removing the Vanity
This was easier than expected. Locate all screws that hold it in and remove them. I removed the countertop first and then the cabinet. I then had the cabinet on my outside workbench. Back in the trailer, I had more space to work in with little in the way. I was feeling good about getting a new improved vanity installed.
Searching For a New Countertop
I needed a countertop for this new vanity and set out to find something cheap but decent. I ended up at a building supply store with sink in hand and explained what I was up to. A very helpful man walked me down to the lumber section and made suggestions. Then he spotted it. A step! Yup, a wooden step like you would put on a deck. It was 11.5” X more than enough. I bought two knowing I might mess the first one up. He assured me I wouldn’t. I assured him I wouldn’t if I bought two but would if I just bought one. He agreed and sold me both. The step was cut down to 11”x33.25” and I very carefully measured for the sink opening. I ended up making it bigger than I hoped, but it was still small enough to work. I drilled holes for the faucet and stained it with a penetrating stain that took a while to soak in. This involved several applications of rubbing the stain in and the excess off.
Attaching the Sink to the Countertop
Once the stain dried enough and I was sure the sink and faucet fit I needed to secure the sink to the countertop. Well, this is just a food pan and not a real sink so there is not a mechanical connection to secure it. I put a small bead of silicone around the rim of the sink and on the edge of the opening in the wood itself. I then very carefully placed the sink in the opening. It’s no big deal if the silicone smears around a bit. I then placed a board over the top of the sink and used multiple clamps to squeeze the board toward the countertop with the sink in the middle. Once the sink was firmly pressed into the opening, I flipped the countertop over (with the bowl of the sink facing up) and I noticed a gap between the bowl and the opening in the countertop. I filled this space with two-part epoxy glue and mixed it right in the gap. I used three syringe-type tubes from the hardware store, let it set and the sink seems very secure.
Modifying the Original Cabinet
Now, I needed to either rebuild or modify the original cabinet. I decided to try my luck at modifying and it worked rather well. The first thing I did was notice I could get the thinner part of the original cabinet in closer than it was. At least an inch was to be gained. That was well worth it and all I had to do was remove some wood stapled to the paneling so it could move in closer to the wheel well and trim the shelf. I put it in to make sure it fit and took measurements for how far I wanted the deeper part of the cabinet to come out. That whole piece went on the table saw and was cut down to be the same depth. I fit the two pieces together, returned the cabinet to the camper, and secured it in place.
Adjusting the Existing Plumbing
Placement of the sink opening did take into account where the drain pipe would fit into the trap. I needed to get a different rubber washer on the drainpipe to make it fit properly into the trap. I brought the pieces to a local hardware store to get some help. The hot and cold water for the faucet was not so easy. However, it was not to difficult either. Pex pipe came straight up from the floor to the original faucet and PEX pipe does not bend so well.
I purchased some 1/2” PEX supplies including connectors, crimps, tubing and a set of crimpers. All stuff I wanted in the toolbox anyway in case I ever need to do any repairs on the road. I also purchased some flex line to go from the faucet to the PEX tubing and a couple of fittings. I cut down the PEX and crimped on some 90º fittings. I used the tubing I cut off to make the connection to the brass fittings that connected to the flex line. Now I could reach the new faucet location. The PEX was secured to the drainpipe for neatness, to keep it from flexing while traveling but mostly so a shelf could be fit back in easily.
Installing the New Sink and Countertop
I attached the counter and connected the plumbing. The countertop was secured from below and pre-drilled so I did not split the wood. I admit the wood was not likely to split with small, thin screws but wow I would have been mad if it did, so I pre-drilled as best I could.
Done! Almost. I have a couple of spaces I need to cover up at the base since I made the cabinet shallower and that mystery space behind the panel will make a nice bit of storage space if I can think of a way to leave it open a bit but look decent. The challenge there is that I want whatever I do to be removable in case I need to get to the PEX lines. Or I could just put the panel back. (To be determined.)
So was it worth it? It took two solid days of work … plus some. Partly because I kept forgetting stuff, overthinking, and misplacing my hammer, drill, tape measure, framing square, screws, pencil, part I just cut, pliers, etc. etc.
Success! We Have More Leg Room in the Bathroom!
I gained a half-foot of knee room going from the original to the modified bathroom sink. The difference takes us from not enough to plenty. It is also easier to get in and out of the shower. The sink is only 6.5” deep by 10.5” wide but that gives us plenty of room to shave or brush our teeth.
© Patrick Lynch and artofrv.com, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Lynch and artofrv.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
