Restoring plumbing, adding a stove.

[dbhosttexas]

So my Sportsmobile is a 93 with the RB11 (ish) floor plan on an Econoline 250 chassis.

I am, I believe owner #3.

Owner #1 reportedly removed the sink, and lord only knows what else plumbing wise. All I am aware that still exists is the City water inlet in the side of the van.

I fully intend on restoring the plumbing, and if possible, without sacrificing storage inside the van, improving it.

From my discussion with Sportsmobile it should have a 10 gallon fresh water tank. I would like to bump that to 15 gallons.

While arranging for insurance, my insurance agent informed me that they could insure it as a motorhome at a MUCH lower rate if it had a stove built in, and I am not adverse to adding a stove, although there is no propane system in this van that I am aware of...

I know I have seen sink / stove combination units in Volkswagen Westfalia campers I believe, and boats.

I was just sort of wondering, where could I source up a combination sink / stove that would do the job, had a flip down lid / cover, and faucet that folded down into the sink when not in use...

[bigriver]

Search sink stove combo rv... you'll see what's out there

[dbhosttexas]

Originally Posted by bigriver

Search sink stove combo rv... you'll see what's out there

I did after I posted. Yoinks! I want a 2 burner and the combo units are just stinking huge. I don't recall the VW ones being that big. Bad memory I guess...

I'll figure something out, but I think I now know why Sportsmobile didn't include a stove in this floorplan.

I think I need to rethink what I am doing here...

[Twoxentrix]

It may all be subject to interpretation, Jurisdiction, and/or State, but I don't believe it has to be a 'built in' Stove.
I met a couple from South Carolina that had a conversion van (had a RVIA sticker) this past Spring in the Outer Banks. Both interested in each others builds, so gave one another a tour - He had a quick cooking set-up I thought interesting.
I have no idea if he had made this modification or if the builder made it, but it was pretty cool;
He had a portable butane stove he kept in one of his drawers just below the counter top. When he pulled out the drawer there was a stainless plate across the very top of the drawer. when he lifted the stainless cover off, it was actually two pieces with a piano type hinge at the back. Once he raised the stainless plate he had access to the portable stove. Pulled out the stove, folded up the top plate so it sat vertical (which became his backsplash), while the bottom plate laid back across the top of the drawer (serving as the base for the cook top).
Might inquire if something along those lines would be acceptable - would be cost effective, relatively simple, and functional.
Another member here (boywonder) integrated something similar in a gorgeous cabinet he built recently - Post #388 will give you some visual clarification:
https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/fo...-10808-39.html

[BrianW]

I think it just needs to have a cooking appliance in it for RVIA compliance. Our old SMB was all electric and just had a microwave for cooking. Others have the single burner butane stove someone else mentioned. I’d clarify with insurance whether it really needs a fixed propane stove or just some cooking appliance. Also often you’ll need a toilet to qualify as an RV. This can often be met with a Porta Potty in a cabinet (that’s what SMB does).

[dbhosttexas]

Originally Posted by BrianW

I think it just needs to have a cooking appliance in it for RVIA compliance. Our old SMB was all electric and just had a microwave for cooking. Others have the single burner butane stove someone else mentioned. I’d clarify with insurance whether it really needs a fixed propane stove or just some cooking appliance. Also often you’ll need a toilet to qualify as an RV. This can often be met with a Porta Potty in a cabinet (that’s what SMB does).

I will ask the insurance co tomorrow. It has a microwave, just no stove...

[dbhosttexas]

Originally Posted by Twoxentrix

It may all be subject to interpretation, Jurisdiction, and/or State, but I don't believe it has to be a 'built in' Stove.
I met a couple from South Carolina that had a conversion van (had a RVIA sticker) this past Spring in the Outer Banks. Both interested in each others builds, so gave one another a tour - He had a quick cooking set-up I thought interesting.
I have no idea if he had made this modification or if the builder made it, but it was pretty cool;
He had a portable butane stove he kept in one of his drawers just below the counter top. When he pulled out the drawer there was a stainless plate across the very top of the drawer. when he lifted the stainless cover off, it was actually two pieces with a piano type hinge at the back. Once he raised the stainless plate he had access to the portable stove. Pulled out the stove, folded up the top plate so it sat vertical (which became his backsplash), while the bottom plate laid back across the top of the drawer (serving as the base for the cook top).
Might inquire if something along those lines would be acceptable - would be cost effective, relatively simple, and functional.
Another member here (boywonder) integrated something similar in a gorgeous cabinet he built recently - Post #388 will give you some visual clarification:
https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/fo...-10808-39.html

I have heard to quality as a motorhome, obivously it has to be a motor vehicle, and must have three of the four following items if not all four.
Bed.
Toilet Can be a port o potty in a cabinet as they consider those cassette toilets.
Refrigerator or for the purpose cooler in a cabinet.
Stove, or as others mentioned, cooking appliance.

At least that is what they say for Skoolie and home built conversions...

[bobthecow]

In addition to the RVIA sticker requirements, there's a definition of "RV" or "motor home" that varies by state. You can look up your motor vehicle code and see how they define it specifically, but most look something like this (from Virginia's motor vehicle code):

"Motor home" means a motorized recreational vehicle designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use that contains at least four of the following permanently installed independent life support systems that meet the National Fire Protection Association standards for recreational vehicles: (i) a cooking facility with an onboard fuel source; (ii) a potable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet, and a water tank with an exterior service supply connection; (iii) a toilet with exterior evacuation; (iv) a gas or electric refrigerator; (v) a heating or air conditioning system with an onboard power or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine; or (vi) a 110-125 volt electric power supply.

Note that they need to be "permanently installed" (i.e. probably excludes portable toilets and stoves), but you only need four so water, fridge, heater and 120V power are enough to meet the criteria in VA.

[dbhosttexas]

Originally Posted by bobthecow

In addition to the RVIA sticker requirements, there's a definition of "RV" or "motor home" that varies by state. You can look up your motor vehicle code and see how they define it specifically, but most look something like this (from Virginia's motor vehicle code):

"Motor home" means a motorized recreational vehicle designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use that contains at least four of the following permanently installed independent life support systems that meet the National Fire Protection Association standards for recreational vehicles: (i) a cooking facility with an onboard fuel source; (ii) a potable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet, and a water tank with an exterior service supply connection; (iii) a toilet with exterior evacuation; (iv) a gas or electric refrigerator; (v) a heating or air conditioning system with an onboard power or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine; or (vi) a 110-125 volt electric power supply.

Note that they need to be "permanently installed" (i.e. probably excludes portable toilets and stoves), but you only need four so water, fridge, heater and 120V power are enough to meet the criteria in VA.

So I need to double check with the Tax office, the DMV in Texas handles drivers licenses only, the tax office does title and registrations and definitions of vehicle types. BUT... At least according to a neighbor that self converted his Promaster van there are similarities to what you posted, but not exacts...

So at least according to my neighbor, the microwave counts as a cooking appliance, however State Farm begs to differ. However apparently an induction cooktop does count so there might be a solution that would keep flames out of the inside of the van...

Potable water system is part of my restoration project. All I have left of the original system to my knowlege is the city water inlet port on the side of the van. Sportsmobile says the original fresh tank should have been 10 gallons and either under the dinette on the passenger side, or in the kitchen cabinet, the way this cabinet is designed, I suspect it was in the cabinet... I am looking into the option of putting a 20 gallon tank UNDER the van but need to get under there with a tape measure and see what I can do... Gray water containment does not appear to be a requirement, and the faucet while required, does not have to be temp adjustable so the spare Joolca faucet I have will do just fine.

Toilet needs to either be built in, or have a "dedicated stowage compartment" which this does. So a port o potty that pulls in / out of a storage compartment fits the definition just fine.

While everyone builds them with them, there is no requirement for heat / AC. My van DOES have Starcool, I do not see anything for heat though. My plan is to install a Chinese Diesel heater under the dinette on the passenger side.

A bed or a seating area that converts to a bed is also a requirement. I have the dinette sleeper, which oddly enough is not long enough either way for me to sleep on it straight on, but is fine for diagonal, and then the Penthouse roof bed, and my old fat tail is NOT going to use that...

So that leaves me with the dilema. Do I permanently attach a small propane stove or induction cook top that I do not want into the van to keep insurance happy, or do I just keep it insured as a passenger van?

FWIW, my plan before this thing with the stove came up was to have a Coleman Stove used outside or inside. I know Coleman says do not use them indoors, but with opened windows / ventilation and a CO detector, not a problem... I just don't want to dedicate counter space to a stove....

[Pntyrmvr]

I'd bolt or strap down a cheap induction cook top and be done with the cooking issue.