Flush Mount Glass Top Stove vs. regular stove

[Bill D]

I'm looking at building a shell. The cost to upgrade to a flush mount glass top stove isn't that much extra.
It's $495 vs. $295 (Have to have a furnace, which I plan on getting).

I think it would be a nice touch, and give a little bit of counter space, given I won't have any at all in a shell.

My questions are... looks aside what are the differences between the flush top stove and the regular stove.

Is the flush top stainless steel vs. a baked enamel?
Is it a pain in the butt to keep looking clean?
Is the glass top strong, or do you have to worry about breaking it if you place items on top of it?
Worry about scratching it?


To me it seems worth it to gain a bit of counter space and have a better look.
I however don't want some artsy fartsy stove, that is simply form over function.

BTW, I don't plan on building a counter.

Comments...

 

[Kispiox]

I find it very usefull and durable. I often use it as my workbench. Throw a non-skid rubber shelf liner or place mat and it is durable. I'm not saying I pound on it or anything but I take stuff apart, clean firearms, fishing reels, etc.

 

[W6USA]

Yes the flush mount stove is stainless steel under the glass. I really like mine for the counter space it adds. Simple enough to keep clean, but I don't do 7-course meals.

Scott

 

[brianjwilson]

I agree. I had a SMEV stove in my last small camper and it was very nice to have the flat space with the cover closed. I don't cook much (honestly I use my jetboil more than a stove), so I appreciated the counter space. The raised cook tops are always awkard to me, placed in the middle of the counter and making a large unusable space. I'll order my fleet with the flush mount stove and sink for sure.

 

[Alley-Kat]

Glass top all the way.

It's stainless steel.
Not too bad to keep clean, I use Clorox wipes and a cotton bar towel. The dust that gets inside the camper does show up on the black glass, however, a quick wipe and it's gone.
I've used the top by putting a bamboo cutting board on top then any thing else I want, like a hot pot that I just cooked something in.
Haven't scratched it yet.

If I had my druthers, I'd like to have the two burners separated a bit more so, I could get larger pans next to each other. If they made a single burner, I would have purchased two of those and then placed them as far apart as I wanted to on my cabinet top.

And, if you are thinking about the two burner SMEV PI8022US, get it at Panther RV it's only $345.
Other choices in SMEV stoves from Panther RV.
Send me half the $ you save.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

If you haven't purchased the furnace yet, Panther RV has a few Atwood units.
I went with the 8012 - II (top left corner of web page). Only 12,000 BTU, but that's plenty enough for me. And, that one is the LOW AMP DRAW of 1.8 amps per hour. It a little different mounting than most of the others, it's only got a front discharge, so lacking some flexibility on that feature. To get more mounting flexibility you have to get the higher amp draw of 3.4 amps per hour.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Panther RV has excellent customer service, I didn't see that I had a choice of furnace grill color when I ordered on-line. Shipping was a reasonable cost, (they are across the Columbia River from Portland, OR) and the units arrived quickly to me. Once it arrived I saw the default color was black and I wished that I had ordered Brown. Called them up and they sent me the brown one, before I could get the black one packaged up and sent back to them.

 

[super doody]

Alley, I'm building out a shell as well. Thanks for the link. I did not realize, SMEV had sink and stove comb. Looks interesting.

 

[Bill D]

Thanks all... sounds like it's a winner.

I was more concerned with someone saying that they regret the upgrade.
ie. It's nice to look at, but I wish I went with the conventional stove.

That doesn't seem to be the case.

Thx again.

 

[longhorn1]

We have it for the stove only. In our 2014 Grandby front dinette, it is in the very rear on the drivers side. When we sat down with Sean Dempsey at Go Anywhere LLC in Wisconsin, our original plan was to order the glass for the stove and sink. However, Sean suggested getting it for the stove only. This allowed us to get a marine grade faucet which pulls out ($100 up-charge and not a posted option). We can pull it out and use it as a sprayer or normal flow (several settings), or leave it in. jd

 

[Stalking Light]

I have the upgrade and find it handy to have the extra counter space, especially since I don't cook much.

 

[100acrehuphalump]

In hind sight, and after reading this thread I kind of wish I had gone that route too. I know that if you get the flush mounts, that you can for another $375 get a King sized slide out bed. I just couldn't afford another $975+

 

[Bill D]

In hind sight, and after reading this thread I kind of wish I had gone that route too. I know that if you get the flush mounts, that you can for another $375 get a King sized slide out bed. I just couldn't afford another $975+

I'm sure EVERY person that orders a FWC wishes they had added a few more options.
We have all built a dream build and then went "Wow... it sure adds up".

That $1000 you saved, should pay for a nice trip .
Perhaps you can work out a way to give yourself the king sized bed. I'm sure it can't be that difficult of a mod.


I will however listen to the advice of many on this forum and get a few options now vs. having a number of regrets down the road.

 

[jha6av8r]

I will however listen to the advice of many on this forum and get a few options now vs. having a number of regrets down the road.

After reading the posts on WTW and thinking thru how we'd use the camper, there's only one option I wouldn't have gotten and that's the rear flood lights. There have been some upgrades to things since we got our camper I'd like to have but that's another issue.

 

[ski3pin]

If you are retro fitting or building your own interior, be sure and get the model with the push button igniter.

 

[Outnabout]

longhorn1-Did you opt for the King Slide? We just visited the factory yesterday and are busy putting together our list of options. Looking at the front dinette as well. How is the front dinette working out for you?

Thanks!

 

[longhorn1]

longhorn1-Did you opt for the King Slide? We just visited the factory yesterday and are busy putting together our list of options. Looking at the front dinette as well. How is the front dinette working out for you?

Thanks!

We didn't get the king slide. I had seen it in an article by Jim Hanson. There were pictures of the inside of his camper. I never gave it any thought because it wasn't listed as an option. I'm 5'-9" and my wife maybe 5'-3". We still sleep North/South and my toes hang over at times. I sleep on my side so my knees are usually bent and not hanging over the edge. I think if I had ordered it I would have found 4 extra cushions to be a bit much. I'm happy with just the regular slide. We are very happy with the front dinette. Originally we were going to get the self contained, but after our meeting with Sean Dempsey, we settled with the front dinette only. We really like the front dinette. Sean was very practical, not trying to sell the moon to us. I think we got everything that we wanted. I don't have a contractor background so the shell was out. Sean also talked us out of the extra solar panel. He said we might want to consider the wind generator and we should get a camping season under our belt and decide. Well after a season, we decided we don't stay in one place long enough and the wind generator would be a PIA to take down and put up each time. We got the solar plug and are leaning to get the 80w portable panel from Zamp. Here are our options for our 2014 Grandby:

• Front Dinette
• 2 AGM batteries
• 100w solar on the roof
• Glass covered stove top
• Marine grade faucet (with pullout), not a listed option
• Exterior LED package which includes an LED bar under each corner of the camper
• Furnace
• Water heater / Outside Shower
• Rear Steps
• Rear Spot Lights
• Rear wall solar plug
• Fantastic Fan over the bed and regular vent over the kitchen area (rear)

We had FWC leave off the large cabinet door on the rear passenger side. They installed the cabinet face plate. I removed the 3 screws on the bottom and slipped a thin sheet of aluminum under the bottom of the face plate and cut the center part of the bottom face plate off, staying just inside the outer screws. I reinstalled the 2 outside screws and filled the center screw hole with sealant. We purchased a Porta Potti Curve which fits in this space. We hung a curtain rod and curtain to cover the porta potti. We pull it out at night. You can PM me and we can talk.

Picking your options is fun, the hard part is waiting the 8 weeks+/- for delivery. Longhorn (jd)

 

[BFH4N]

I'm a little late to the original discussion here, but I just want to point out that the standard FWC gas stove comes with a hinged cover. It's a black steel "box" that flips down over the stove and makes a flat surface about two inches above the countertop. When it's up, it takes up very little room and is not really in the way of anything, and when it's down, it provides a flat surface that is useable. We lay out the just-washed dishes there to dry and generally put stuff there whenever the stove isn't in use.

- Bernard

 

[Bill D]

I appreciate the comment on the 2" surface being relatively usable whe closed.
I guess it comes down to what you might place on top. I see it as a recipe for disaster for things that are spillable. But not such a big deal for clean dishes etc. One member mentioned laying out blueprints and architectural drawings, and he really appreciates the flat surface.

 

[Bill D]

I guess you did say that you weren't building a counter, so increased counter space wouldn't really apply.
In that case, save your money. I love my increased counter space but in your case use the $$ for something else imho. I should have read the OP better, sorry.
Sent from my SM-G900P using Wander The West mobile app

Because I don't plan on building a counter, I feel I will really will appreciate the increased usuable counter space.... big time.. I don't want the only usuable counter space to have a lump.
My main concern was if the glass top stove was weak or crappy, seeing I'd be putting stuff on top of it ALL the time.
I feel you guys have addressed my concerns, which I very much appreciate given I have not had an opportunity to get to a dealership yet.
Likely if the glass top every broke, I could fabricate a nice piece of aluminum and retain the flat surface. I'd even anodize it for slickness points.

 

[bsharp007]

I regret buying the flush glass stove and sink. A complete waste of money, the counter space savings is minimal and the stove is actually worse than the Atwood stove I had in my Eagle. The stove is also harder to clean and the grommets that keep the stove from rattling wore out the first trip.

 

[Bill D]

I regret buying the flush glass stove and sink. A complete waste of money, the counter space savings is minimal and the stove is actually worse than the Atwood stove I had in my Eagle. The stove is also harder to clean and the grommets that keep the stove from rattling wore out the first trip.

Very interesting review. I wonder how many others share your experience.