This is the third installment in a series of customizations, upgrades and changeouts to better fit one’s RVing lifestyle. In the second article in this series, I noted a full-timer who replaced their dishwasher with a dual pullout spice rack for cooking proximity (you can read about it and see photos here). Their tradeoff? Hand-washing dishes and cookware. This installment we cover replacing the RV sink.
As a full-timer, the notion of maximizing space to fit one’s lifestyle makes complete sense. While two-cavity sinks look great, those models with one smaller cavity, like ours in the above photo, are basically useless. Yes, I’ve cleaned kettles and pans on the large side, but not without careful movement so as not to splash water on the counter and floor. Been there and done that a few times!
When cooking and cleanup is important to your lifestyle
RV sinks are smaller in overall dimension (especially depth of the sink cavity) than many household models. Unless your RV’s sink is large enough to wash oversized cookware, an undersized dual sink may not suit your long-term needs. They look good, but many household models dedicated the small cavity to a garbage disposal. Disposals are not typically offered in RVs. If garbage disposals were to be used, a macerator pump is necessary. Think of the smell and ecosystem that would be growing in your gray tank. Ew!
Full-timers who changed out their RV sink
Some full-timer friends of ours recently changed out their stainless steel dual sink to a one cavity undermount. The Hodgsdons of Florida shared their sink trade out experience with me. They love cooking and I attest to their culinary delights on more than one occasion.
The Hodgsdons decided to make cleanup a lot easier in their 2019 Tiffin Phaeton. Knowing they were not interested in making this changeout a DIY project, they contacted one of Tiffin’s cottage industry facilities experienced in renovation. The facility gave them the critical dimensions for the one-cavity undermount sink. After choosing their replacement from Home Depot, they learned it was not in stock and obtained it from Amazon, shipping it directly to the facility in Red Bay, Alabama.
Note: You can find a ton of RV sink options on Amazon, but triple-check sizing before ordering!
The sink was approximately $300, a new faucet and drain were $150, and installation was just shy of $300. That brings their total sink cost to $750.
Thinking about this DIY project?
Thinking about following suit? Changing out a double sink for a single sink sounds easy. It’s not. If you’re not handy at plumbing and carpentry, think about employing someone who works on renovating RVs. It helps to be a contortionist as removing the old sink is no picnic. You’ll be working in a confined area while on your back.
For you DIYers…
During our research, I asked Nathan Davidson of Davidson RV why RV sinks tend to be shallow. Nathan tells me it’s necessary for proper drainage. So, if you decide to make this a DIY project, make sure the dimensions are spot-on. Don’t buy a deep sink without insuring you will have adequate room for proper drainage. Ask a plumber if you’re unsure.
##RVT1012
Now that they have 1 sink, where or how do they rinse dishes. My first home had an old farmhouse sink. Like 54 inches long, big drainboard. Put the washed dishes on the drainboard and pour water over them and let water run into sink,being careful not to overflow sink. Not really a good rinse job and a large waste of water i think.
That’s what I thought. One sink for wash, one for rinse.
Yep. Another solution looking for a problem.
We have a farm sink in our motorhome, we found a dish strainer that just squeezes in leaving several inches under it for dishwater.
In my Epro 19 recently changed the factory sink to a larger bar sink from Lowe’s. Since was about 2 inches deeper had to notch the drawer below for the drain to clear. Takes up just a couple inches of drawer space and doesn’t affect me. With new faucet too, it’s like night and day over what I had. Can actually wash a dish or pot without water going all over the counter. Under $200 and couple hours, mostly checking measurements before cutting
When we ordered our Newmar, we ordered it with a single sink so we would have room to wash pots, etc. We don’t regret it at all. Home sink is same way.
Our first MH had a double sink and it was frustrating for the 10 years we had it.
The OEM divided sink in my 2015 Dynamax DX3 was TERRIBLE. Neither side allowed a standard dinner plate to lie flat on the bottom of the sink (and forget about pots or pans). I got a Dynamax factory tour right after I purchased my DX3 and mentioned this problem. The Dynamax manager basically blew me off. In 2019, I paid a custom shop to replace the crap OEM sink with a MUCH more useable, single bowl stainless steel sink. I also paid for a commercial grade faucet. Said upgrade is SO much better that the dual bowl OEM crap. Obviously, the
clownsum “designers” who choose what goes in to their RVs RARELY (if ever) actually DO any real RVing. PS: for the VERY few times a “dual bowl” would be advantageous, I simply use a plastic Rubbermaid or Sterlite bin. Once said “need” has been satisfied, the bin comes out and I have my LARGE bowl sink again.I guess my wife and I are with you on this one. We enjoy a large single stainless sink in our home kitchen, and plan to replace the divided porcelain sink in our Newmar motorhome with a single large stainless sink.
I am fortunate in that my sink is like a house sink both sides the same. One side fits a dishrack and is solely used for that. I would never want to replace it.
I’m with you! I like my double sink.
I have a single bowl sink and I do not like it. No where to rinse dishes when you wash them in the RV.
Kate,
What makes you think that having a garbage disposal would cause any problems at all?????
We have been full timing for 22 years with a garbage disposal used every day .
Zero problems.
In a 2 sided porcelain sink!
Ye old adage: You can please some of the RV’s all of the time & all of the RV’s some of the time! But never all of the RV’s all of the time!
Snoopy
I need the double sink! How does one wash & rinse dishes in such a large sink? If I were to have the one large farm sink the first thing I would need to do is go buy a Rubbermaid wash tub to soak & wash dishes in leaving space to rinse them. Water usage would increase significantly without one.