Our sheep or range camps are made a little differently (actually a lot) than a regular RV. Our camps are built by hand from the ground up, where an RV is more of a mass-produced unit. We use thicker materials in our walls, floor, ceiling and cabinets. Our camps have great insulation and have a taller stance than a regular RV. Our camps are great on the highway, deep in the mountains, in an RV park or off the beaten path in the desert. They can be used occasionally or year-round. There are many other differences, but the two we want to talk about today are our countertops and cabinet doors.
There are many options we can do for countertops in our camps. In fact, the possibilities are probably endless. If you have seen it in a house, we can do it in our camp. That does not mean to say that we will suggest all countertop options in our camps. We are building a unit that is meant to be pulled down the road and is often used on bumpy roads. A house is not built for travel, whereas our camps are. So, when choosing a countertop material, it is good to consider how it will flex and handle bumps. The camp can also experience wide fluctuations in temperature. Water is another big issue in the camp itself and for the countertop as well. All of these reasons are why we choose to use the materials that we do for our countertops. There are some beautiful options out there for countertops. Some are waterproof but not as durable, some are durable but not as waterproof, and some are not able to handle bumps and movement. The standard countertop material in sheep and range camps has normally been a laminate on a sheet of some type of plywood. It was trimmed out with aluminum trim that would finish off the edges and help waterproof it. Over the years the materials available for this have improved greatly and there are more color options that you might want to choose from. There are also many options for the plywood core. An OSB option allows you to have a rounded or bull nose edge that is made of the same laminate material as the top. From our experience, though, OSB is never a good option. It doesn't handle water at all and bumping and moving tends to weaken it. The core we use is a lot stronger and has more waterproof value to it, but it will not work with the rounded edges that match the laminate top. Instead, we prefer the stronger core with the aluminum trim for durability or the option of a wood trim that also should hold up well over time. Both are also easy to replace if needed. With the aluminum trim, we now have the option of the standard silver or a new black color. This standard countertop works great. We also recently came across a countertop that is a little more expensive but only has about 8 color options in the black, white and grey arena. It is 100% waterproof and very strong. With it, there is no need for any trim on the edges and we can use the same material to make a nice backsplash. In a camp that is designed to last your lifetime, spending a little extra on an almost indestructible countertop is well worth the consideration.
There are also some options in cabinet doors. Most sheep or range camps in the past and present use the cutout piece from the cabinet opening or drawer opening as the door or drawer face. Some inset them but we wrap them with a piece of wood trim. This way, they can give the cabinets dimension and make them stand out more. They have the look like you see in your home. The entire look of the camp can be changed just by the color or stain used on the door and drawer trim. That trim color will also be applied to the 2x6 stud at the top of the side walls, any baseboard trim, the trim on the ceiling and the possible trim around the countertop (if you choose that option). We can also do a custom cabinet door and drawer face. This does add a little to the cost since we will be using extra material, but it can give you the custom look you may desire in your camp. Another option is adding your brand or name to a cabinet or drawer door, or we can even add a decorative design to make your camp standout.
