Adding a Comfee countertop dishwasher to a 2016 Itasca (Winnebago) Solei 38R

A lot of motor home owners say they wouldn’t install a dishwasher, but for us it was a great addition. My wife said losing two drawers was OK as there is a lot of storage above the sofa and dinette. We don’t use paper plates or plasticware unless we are boondocking. This installation is completely reversible. I didn’t have to cut the cabinet and we will save all the pieces we removed.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ST4M8VF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

• Remove the stove. There are two sets of screws one for the insert and one for the outer part. Mark which screw holes are because it’s hard to tell when you put it back.
• Remove the under-stove drawers from their slides by pushing on the tabs on each one. One tab goes up, one goes down.
• Remove the rails for all the drawers under the sink. You will be putting back the top set when you are done.
• Remove the remaining drawers to give you more room to work. Leave the rails in place.
• Remove the divider between the first and second drawer and the second and third drawer. Mark where they go and you will be putting back the upper one. The top of the dishwasher will be just below this divider.
• I had to remove the cover from the dishwasher in order for it to fit between cabinet stiles.
• When I was all installed I added felt insulation around it to muffle the noise. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5LBZM7K?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
• Remove the panel below the door on the dishwasher. This will allow it to slide forward and fit in the opening. I’m still working on how to close this gap. I may cut black plexiglass and add it. If I can get the woodgrain vinyl I may cut a piece to fit and cover it to match.
• Test fit the dishwasher. It will be too low so you will have to measure carefully and add a floor for it to sit on. I ripped down three 1×4’s and use 1/2 plywood on top. I left room for some heavy rubber pads that came in a tool cabinet. The top of the dishwasher is about 1/8th of an inch below it. Just enough for the door to open.
• I made my floor tight enough that it fit down on the floor in the opening. I didn’t screw it in but could have. I glued and screwed the ripped 1/4’s to the plywood.
• Use an on surface electrical outlet to replace the junction box. Turn the breakers off before working on it. 🙂 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Wiremold-700-Series-1-Piece-White-Raceway-Electrical-Box/3277047
• I used a PEX T valve to insert into the hot water line under the kitchen sink. I bought a PEX clamping tool. You can user Shark Bite connectors. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C5WH6QFX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
• I bought a universal dishwasher supply hose at Lowes. The tied into the T-valve and onto the back of the dishwasher. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Apollo-1-2-in-Chrome-Plated-Brass-PEX-B-Barb-x-3-8-in-Compression-Quarter-Turn-Dishwasher-Tee-Valve-APXVT121238/305455439
• The input hose uses a standard garden hose junction. Use this hose to connect to the PEX tee valve. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-8-in-COMP-x-3-8-in-COMP-x-60-in-Universal-Stainless-Steel-Dishwasher-Connector-7223-60-38-6E-EB/205854141
• Replace the tailpiece under the sink with one that has a dishwasher drain outlet. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Keeney-1-1-2-in-Plastic-Direct-Connect-Branch-Tailpiece-7-8-in-OD-Outlet/1088263
• Hooking up the drain line was the biggest PITA in the job. Nothing fits the connector on the back of the dishwasher. I cut the factory hose about 1 foot from the sink connector. Use a PEX to polybutylen connector to add a foot of PEX to the factory drain line you cut. Make four 1/8″ cuts on the end of the factory hose and heat with a hair dryer to get it to slide on to the factory hose. Clamp with a PEX clamp on both sides. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Apollo-1-2-in-Brass-PEX-B-Barb-Polybutylene-Coupling-APXBC1212/301541080
• Attach the larger end of this hose: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-6-ft-Corrugated-Dishwasher-Hose-HRBDIS06EB/206578686 to the drain tailpiece.
• Use the slide the smaller end over the PEX tubing you added to the drain and clamp.
• Mount the dishwasher in place and test run it checking for leaks.
• Reinstall the drawer divider

Materials List (still editing)

• PEX Clamping Tool https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C5WH6QFX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
• Dishwasher https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ST4M8VF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
• 2′ 1/2 PEX tubing
• PEX Tee Valve https://www.homedepot.com/p/Apollo-1-2-in-Chrome-Plated-Brass-PEX-B-Barb-x-3-8-in-Compression-Quarter-Turn-Dishwasher-Tee-Valve-APXVT121238/305455439
• Universal Dishwasher Drain Hose https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-6-ft-Corrugated-Dishwasher-Hose-HRBDIS06EB/206578686
• Universal Dishwasher Supply hose (6′) https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-8-in-COMP-x-3-8-in-COMP-x-60-in-Universal-Stainless-Steel-Dishwasher-Connector-7223-60-38-6E-EB/205854141
• polybutylen to PEX inline connector https://www.homedepot.com/p/Apollo-1-2-in-Brass-PEX-B-Barb-Polybutylene-Coupling-APXBC1212/301541080
• Flat mounting plates
• Plywood for platform
• 1×4 or 2×4 for under dishwasher platform.
• Undersink tailpiece with 5/8 stub. Keeney 1-1/2-in Plastic Direct Connect Branch Tailpiece 7/8-in OD Outlet in the Under Sink Plumbing department at Lowes.com

Overview

We have a 2016 Winnebago/Itasca Solei 38R. Upholstered pieces include two Captains chairs, a dinette, a sofa, and a smaller two-seat dinette in what is called a multi purpose room with flex bed system. This converts from a two seat dinette to two bunk beds. Motorhomes built between 2012 and 2020 from many manufacturers came with “bonded leather” upholstery. This material has problems with the finish peeling or flaking off. Our coach has this problem. This is most pronounced on the driver and passenger chairs. I would expect the sun coming through the large front window has a lot to do with that. We plan to replace all the material  so all will have the same fabric/vinyl on all furniture.
When we purchased the coach in the summer of 2023 we knew about the issue and expected to have the furniture recovered. We want to continue with all the same fabric/vinyl everywhere as it is now.
This post is designed to hopefully give an upholsterer enough information to determine if they want to pursue the job.
Above is the floor plan of the coach showing the four areas that need to be reupholstered.
Below that is a module with text and pictures for each of the four areas.
(There are a lot of pictures on the page. It may take a minute or two to load)

Driver and Passenger seats.

Please note the right armrest of passenger seat has a swing out tray table simular to a first class airline seat.

Benchmark Dinette. Dimensions 40″ x 70″.

The bottom seat cushions are hinged and built with springs not just removable foam cushions like some RV booths. The table slides down to make a bed. The center section of the back cushions are removed and placed over the table to complete the bed.

Flexsteel Fold and Tumble (sofa/hide-a-bed)  
Dimensions 60 x 73

Flexsteel sofa. Folds out into a bed. This is the only Flexsteel product in the coach.

Multi-purpose Room with Flex-Bed System only lower bunk needs recovering. Dimensions 31″ x 65″.
(upper bunk 30″ x 72″ but uses a different fabric)

The top bunk moves electrically up out of the way. The lower bunk is a traditional but smaller booth dinette that makes into a bed. The cushions are traditional foam filled unlike than the ones in the main dinette The do have curved corners.