Switch out oven in favor of Microwave

I briefly searched and could not find the answer to my question so hear goes... I walked through a new TM a couple weeks ago and the dealer had a microwave installed instead of the oven. I don't see myself using the oven much (tell me if you use yours a ton so I know I am wrong here...) but I can see using the microwave). So, given I can't afford the new TM and we are looking used and many of the used ones have ovens with countertop microwaves, I am wondering as a weight saving technique how hard it would be to remove the oven and put in a microwave instead and would I have to get a special microwave?

We have the microwave instead of the gas oven - it was installed by the factory. If I had it to do over again, I'd have the gas oven and buy a small microwave to place on the counter. The cabinet supports on the factory-installed microwaves leave a lot to be desired - we've had numerous problems with the microwave shelf supports failing.

Just my opinion.

Bob

[countrygirl]

Originally Posted by Bob&Karen

We have the microwave instead of the gas oven - it was installed by the factory. If I had it to do over again, I'd have the gas oven and buy a small microwave to place on the counter. The cabinet supports on the factory-installed microwaves leave a lot to be desired - we've had numerous problems with the microwave shelf supports failing.

Just my opinion.

Bob

I also wish I had the oven instead of the microwave/toaster oven.

Well, ours ended up coming with the oven and due to the overwhelming response I am not going to switch it out. I do want a microwave though. Anyone know the lightest weight microwave out there? We are having trouble finding weights since most people put them in their kitchen and don't care about the weight...

Originally Posted by HappyWDWCampers

Well, ours ended up coming with the oven and due to the overwhelming response I am not going to switch it out. I do want a microwave though. Anyone know the lightest weight microwave out there? We are having trouble finding weights since most people put them in their kitchen and don't care about the weight...

You can get small microwaves BUT.... be aware that they are significantly lower power than you may be used to at home. We bought a small unit for the TM that was 700 watts and found that everything took MUCH longer to heat up and some things just didn't cook well at all. We just gave it away and bought a slightly larger unit that is 1200 watts.

Our microwave is small enough that I store it on the floor in the bathroom when towing and it fits on top of the microwave drawer, sideways.

I think it is 700 watts.

We use it to heat left overs and make microwave popcorn.

We use it 2 or 3 times a year.

We got the smallest cheapest one we could find at WallMart.

[MudDog]

Originally Posted by HappyWDWCampers

Well, ours ended up coming with the oven and due to the overwhelming response I am not going to switch it out. I do want a microwave though. Anyone know the lightest weight microwave out there? We are having trouble finding weights since most people put them in their kitchen and don't care about the weight...

It looks like Walmart lists weights. I think this is the one we have and it is listed at 32 lbs.

Though in the product description it says 1,100 watts and then right below that it says 700 Pretty sure it is 700. We have been happy with it for general use.

I removed the top of the box and put in the under dinette cushion storage compartment. When we hit the road the microwave goes in the box with the styrofoam top and bottom.

For towing, we store our small microwave on the (floor/shelf/lip?) of the slideout unit in our 2720SL, always being careful to wrap the glass turntable in a towel for protection.

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by HappyWDWCampers

Well, ours ended up coming with the oven and due to the overwhelming response I am not going to switch it out. I do want a microwave though. Anyone know the lightest weight microwave out there? We are having trouble finding weights since most people put them in their kitchen and don't care about the weight...

Darn.................I was hoping that you would switch it out so that I could buy your gas valve from you

Ours went out a few months ago and I can't find a new one to fit. My wife really misses the oven, although we cook in dutch ovens most of the time.

We also have one of those small microwave ovens. I believe that it's 900w (I'll have to check that). We use it a couple times on every outing. It works well on our inverter (during quiet time) or generator.

Originally Posted by harveyrv

Darn.................I was hoping that you would switch it out so that I could buy your gas valve from you

Ours went out a few months ago and I can't find a new one to fit.

Wayne, the gas safety valve went out on ours also, but the local non-TM dealer was able to order a replacement for it. Might want to try someone that works on RVs.