Kitchen design question

[Kirwan]

Hi all - I'm working up the design for a teardrop, and thinking about the kitchen.
It seems like most TD's have a hatch down to the frame, and the counter is somewhat forward of this point... like this: (google image)


Apologies to whoever's this is; it looks like a lovely trailer...... But just looking at trying to use that counter makes my shins hurt. And maybe my back, when I think of the leaning necessary.

I'd appreciate comments on this design element - is it as much a shin-knocker as it appears? How is a kitchen like this to live with?
Are there some alternate design ideas that avoid this?

[mhphillips111]

I have modified mine a little I am going with flat index of curved.


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[JaggedEdges]

How long are you going? If you're planning a 10 footer, you can have yourself the "no-compromise" classic profile, and make the kitchen slide forward, or add flip up counter to front or something.

If like me you're planning an 8 footer, you soon realise that every. last. inch. counts. For maximum space utility, aerodynamics, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kammback and of course, the common sense of not beating your shins or doing all kitchen tasks hunched forward, I am doing mine with a "bobbed" tail.

The best galley arrangement I've found so far in an 8ft design is the one for the "Rimple" at the bottom of the page here..
http://tnttt.com/Design_Library/The%20Simple.htm

I'm basically doing that with a 20 degree slope Kammback instead of the radius curve.

[QueticoBill]

I'm planning a hinged strip that when folded down, and a couple of braces pulled out, it's just an inch or two beyond "bumper".

I've seen some here where the lower "tail" are two large hinged sections that swing out - counter and storage under and all. Now you have a "U" shaped kitchen. Does not fit my current design and some thought on good sealing but quite appealing.

[Nobody]

Guess we must be extra careful (or extremely lucky). I built our TD in 2006 & for 10yrs & 30K miles we ain't bumped a shin nor gotten a back ache yet. Also I still raise the hatch using muscles, no assisted gas shocks. I'm 77yrs old & don't know how long we can continue. Couple of years ago we bought a 17' Casita SD that we love but we still ain't given up completely on the TD...

[Shadow Catcher]

Ours is a grasshopper design so square in the rear.

[tony.latham]

It's certainly a consideration. It depends of course on the 'drop's profile. We always set up a roll table in camp to eat off of and a lot of prep work is done on it––but most of our meals are planned to avoid prep.







Tony

[Socal Tom]

I've got the generic benroy profile, shins are still intact.
Tom

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[Juneaudave]

Shins ok, but I bang my head on the hatch occasionally. Quite truthfully, I prefer to cook on a picnic table and the galley is more for storage!

[NateDogg]

I've been mulling over building from the ground up or doing a cargo trailer conversion. But in both ideas I'm liking the idea of 2 doors swinging open, which could be locked and positioned to provide wind break if needed while cooking. Since the back would be completely flat with this design (or conversion) I could build the kitchen and cabinets almost flush and not have the bumper be as much of a concern.

[KCStudly]

Old post, I realize, but just found this category in the forums and couldn't resist offering another solution.

TPCE is like a Benroy, but with an arched roof and what I call a "bustle" in the hatch, kind of like the rear of a canned ham.
So it is more curvy than a Simple, Rimple and traditional Benroy.

The bustle, or arch in the back of the hatch, isn't just for looks. By arching the hatch ribs out the edge of the counter can be close to the back edge of the floor, without conflicting with the depth of the hatch ribs.

Basically, the hatch bows out giving clearance for the counter.

[tony.latham]

Basically, the hatch bows out giving clearance for the counter.

And that's why with my most recent build --for the book-- the hatch curves out and back in. It puts the countertop within 5" of the user.



It works well.




Tony