Ideas on fixing shelf

[pappcam]

I have one of those shelves that attaches to a bracket on the outside of my trailer. It's basically falling apart from sometimes being in the elements as I leave it out when I'm camping.

I'm looking for ideas on how to fix/replace it with something that stands up to the elements better.

[RVcircus]

nomad297 wrote:
Call a countertop company and buy a scrap piece of Corian from them. They will have lots from sink cutouts.

Bruce

+1...if it's left open in the elements I'd go with solid surface material.

[gaymeadowsman]

A friend had the same kind of surface that held the out side stove on their pop-up. I made a new(larger) one out of 3/4 exterior grade plywood. Reused the hardware, and attached chair leg cap to the bottom and they used an extending paint roller handle to support the extra weight/area.

[fairfaxjim]

I have an outside hanging table that I built originally for our PUP and then transferred to the TT. I went to TAP plastics hand had it made out of 1/2" thick High Density Polyethylene cutting board material. They can cut it to size, radius the corners and smooth the edges. It is lightly textured, so stuff doesn't slip as easily, is easy to clean and is totally water impervious. We normally use it for an outside dish washing station as I mounted in next to the outside shower.

I had a small folding table in the PUP that was made exactly as your de-laminated table. I replaced it with the same HDPE cutting board material, adding a marine grade plywood sub structure to mount the folding legs on. Worked great.

[dadmomh]

Yes, it is a laminate on particle board just like the countertops, with a trim piece. Both our ROO and Rocky had the same type and they don't hold up in wet weather. DH forgot our brand new one on Rocky the first trip and it didn't look so good the next morning. His plan was to get some good hardwood, use the old one as a pattern and take the hardware to put on the new one. Cypress, if you can find it, is impervious to water. He never found any and was planning to use oak or walnut and then seal it really well. Meanwhile, we made some life changes and sold Rocky. Maybe his new dad will fix the shelf.

[handye9]

There are several on ebay. Here's a link to one.

You could buy one of these and use the hardware from your existing shelf.

[Grodyman]

I would use marine starboard, which is basically plastic. Might have to use heat pads to prevent hot items from melting. Basically what boat swim steps are made of.

Gman

[pappcam]

cbshoestring wrote:
Couple good suggestions already given. I am a composite fan, even though it is a bit pricey. Seems to hold up well with weathering, can be cut/routed with standard wood working tools.

The sink holes from a solid counter top would also be nice. I bet for the right amount, they would even route the edges over for you.

Speaking of counter tops....is that an old counter top doing duty as a work bench? Me thinks me see the sink hole.

🙂 Yes that is an old kitchen countertop/cabinet doubling as a workbench.

I think the Corian or similar stuff would be the best thing so it looks like I'll have some phoning around to do.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[cbshoestring]

Couple good suggestions already given. I am a composite fan, even though it is a bit pricey. Seems to hold up well with weathering, can be cut/routed with standard wood working tools.

The sink holes from a solid counter top would also be nice. I bet for the right amount, they would even route the edges over for you.

Speaking of counter tops....is that an old counter top doing duty as a work bench? Me thinks me see the sink hole.

[nomad297]

Call a countertop company and buy a scrap piece of Corian from them. They will have lots from sink cutouts.

Bruce

[downtheroad]

Use the old one as a template and make the new one with Marine grade exterior ply.

[BulldawgFan]

I woul trace it onto a nice sanded oak 3/4 ply. And I would double it for thickness. Use wood glue in between and finish nails from the bottom so you have a smooth top. Go to the molding area of Lowes or HD and buy a simple flat molding, they have one in 1.5 inch wide. Use that to dress your edges. Then sand to smooth/round your edges. Paint with a nice outdoor latex gloss, two good coats. That will give you a water resistant easy to clean surface. Use hardware off of current shelf.

You will be good to go.

[johntank]

westend wrote:
What material is used for the original? It looks like it may be laminated particle board but I can't tell from the picture.

The new composite decking materials (Trex, etc.) are basically impervious to the elements.

I agree that it looks like laminated particle board.

One could use treated plywood and have it laminated for a replacement.

[Dakota98]

Repair or replace it as best you can.

Then take it to a place that sprays on bed liners for trucks & have them shoot it.

[westend]

What material is used for the original? It looks like it may be laminated particle board but I can't tell from the picture.

The new composite decking materials (Trex, etc.) are basically impervious to the elements.