Counter Top Extension Mod

Our new Rockwood 2604 came with a counter top extension. At first, I wasn't sure we'd want to use it. Since we had it with us on our trip to pick up the trailer though, we gave it a try. We discovered that the extra couple of feet of counter space by the sink is actually a really nice addition.

What I didn't like about it though was how it attached to the cabinet. It had a pair of steel tabs that sat into corresponding steel slots to support it on the end of the cabinet and a swing-out adjustable leg to support the free end. 

This arrangement meant that when you're ready to travel, you must remove the entire assembly and stow it somewhere. The only place we found for it to safely travel was on the bedroom floor. Not a huge deal I suppose, but a bit of a pain when you're ready to roll. Plus, if you're only stopping for a quick overnight and don't need the counter top extension, you really had no choice but to install it anyway just to get it off the floor.

It occurred to me that a far better arrangement would be for the extension to simply fold down on the end of the cabinet. This seemed a really simple solution and rose to the top of my list of "must do" modifications when we got home.

A quick run to Home Depot yielded the two simple parts that I needed to complete this mod.

• 12-inch steel piano hinge
• 3-inch stainless steel hook and eye latch

Step 1: Remove the old hardware.

Step 2: Install piano hinge on the underside of countertop extension.

Step 3: Attach piano hinge to end of the cabinet.

Step 4: Attach latch to the underside of counter extension and the eye-hook to the cabinet. The latch holds the extension snugly against the cabinet so it doesn't bang around during travel. 

Step 5: Admire my work!

The result is a vast improvement.  Flip up if needed; leave down if not needed. No more moving it back and forth to the bedroom and tripping over it on the floor. Rockwood, if you're listening, this would be a great addition straight from the factory!