Outside kitchen- Like it or Hate it?

[prof_fate]

I voted hate (a too strong word I suppose).

Perhaps we're an anomaly among campers that we don't do the fire ring thing and at home might use the grill 2 or 3 times a year at most. In other words we cook in the kitchen at home, never cook over a fire, so don't expect to ever use an outside kitchen on a camper.

I solved the bacon issue by only eating sausage when camping. Must less smoke and splatters.

As for a cooler full of beer - My kids rarely let me sit still very long at home or camping and they've been trained to fetch me beer at home - so as long as they stay around the camper I'll have them to fetch me beer there too, assuming they let me sit long enough to finish even one.

[fordmantpw]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

I voted hate (a too strong word I suppose).
My kids rarely let me sit still very long at home or camping and they've been trained to fetch me beer at home - so as long as they stay around the camper I'll have them to fetch me beer there too, assuming they let me sit long enough to finish even one.

I don't drink beer, but you've got the part about the kids not letting you sit still right! Ours are 2, 5, and 7, and there isn't a moment to sit still until they are in bed!

But, there will be time for resting when they grow up and want nothing to do with me.

[leencharlotte]

Keep the inside a little cooler on hot days without opening the doors so much! Keep the floors cleaner without kids going in and out too

[ohcnda]

Originally Posted by DogandTrailer

I dont have one, but I would love to have on. To be able to fry up bacon and sausage, and not fill the camper with smoke... that would be great!

This is the main reason we bought a trailer with a outdoor kitchen. i love that it has a beer fridge and that when i stock the area propery i never have to go into the camper to make a meal.

[trudinator]

Prof- fate- just wondering what you DO do when you're camping? No fire ring? No grilling? No bacon? Sorry, but that just sounds un-American to me. LOL.

Sent from my iPad using Forest River

[teamgl]

I voted yes, though don't have one on our camper.

If there was a Dutch Oven "outside kitchen" model, that would've been high on our list!



Darren

[Labzy]

Originally Posted by tentcamper1

i think someone with an outdoor kitchen should come to the "tadpole rally" and demonstrate the grill and beer fridge.:d

lol

[prof_fate]

Originally Posted by trudinator

Prof- fate- just wondering what you DO do when you're camping? No fire ring? No grilling? No bacon? Sorry, but that just sounds un-American to me. LOL.

Sent from my iPad using Forest River

I'm very Type A. I can't just sit around and watch the grass grow. So 95% of our camping time has been spent where the camper is more like a hotel room I guess - we're just not there. We spent a week in Gettysburg last year and went to see Gettysburg not our camper/campsite. The year before we went to Erie PA and rode bikes, hit up museums, went boating - we may have eaten one meal a day at the campground. The year before we went to N Carolina/Biltmore and were there to tour the area. Camping was an alternative to a hotel.

We spend a weekend with my FIL every august and he's a traditional, hardcore type camper. Everything but the coffee is done over the fire, he never ties into the water/sewage/elect (2007? big coleman popup)

I suspect this will change as we bought into a resorts of distinction campground last year. Only spent 2 weekends there.

Also consider we went from tenting to a 1966 Raven - a tent on wheels. No elec, no water, no fridge, no room. So everything was kept on ice (which I despise - too many years in food service work in my younger days I suppose) and it's a constant struggle to keep it cool, dig through the cooler for food, etc. And overall our family likes to eat out...

I'm curious to see how our new fully self contained and equipped camper is going to do. My wife can't stand hot weather and now the camper will have AC (ducted no less!) so I suspect we'll camp more but spend more time in the camper.

[Triguy]

As an aside, I agree with prof fate. We are rarely at the campsite either but for cooking and sleeping. We love to cook outside, though, and like to make kind of elaborate meals when camping so having an outdoor kitchen would be great. We would definitely get one if we buy another TT at some point in the future.

The only downsides that I see to an outside kitchen built into the trailer are:

The fridge cannot run on gas so need to be hooked up. Its a problem for us because we don't always get electric sites and the SP's here don't allow generators.

The stoves on these outdoor kitchens seem too small and I wonder if they have enough BTUs. Seems good for light duty work but not good for a decent fish boil.

As for now, I've making my own "outdoor kitchen". I need to choose a nice propane stove with a 60,000btu burner that will hold larger cast iron pots and pans, a camp table and an old marine cooler. I might upgrade the cooler, too.

[prof_fate]

Originally Posted by Triguy

The stoves on these outdoor kitchens seem too small and I wonder if they have enough BTUs. Seems good for light duty work but not good for a decent fish boil.

As for now, I've making my own "outdoor kitchen". I need to choose a nice propane stove with a 60,000btu burner that will hold larger cast iron pots and pans, a camp table and an old marine cooler. I might upgrade the cooler, too.

Interesting thought there...
My father in laws pop up has a hangar outside for the stove and a 'table' (counter?). If you've got an outside shower the sink bit's not too hard. And a cooler works (or get a dorm fridge mebbe).

[FarmerMT]

One of the main reasons why we bought the Rockwood 8312ss! I love to cook, and always cook outside. I don't think we ever did anything but boil water inside our old trailer. I like the idea of being able to have everything at my finger tips, my brother in law likes the idea of a shorter walk to the beer!

[riwdfw]

I would love to have an outside kitchen. We do most, to all of our cooking outside. It is left over from tent camping. I really enjoy cooking when camping. The running in and out is killing me and I have had to only do it twice so far. We have everything to set up outside. We usually carry everything out when we get there in warm weather so I don't have to keep running in and out except to get food. If and when we get a different camper it will have an outside kitchen. By that time I probably don't need bunks for grandkids. They all will be to old and not want to hang with grand parents. This group is 10 to 14 and getting to point of not wanting to be with us as much. They have friends. This first are 19 to 22 and they stopped around 13

[rockwooddave]

One main reason I bought the Rockwood 8286WS is because of the outdoor kitchen. I love it and will rarely use the kitchen indoors. As posted by others it will keep the heat out of the rv. Also it has the pulldown tv. The only thing missing is a swingout Lazy boy recliner!

[phoneman06]

Originally Posted by rockwooddave

One main reason I bought the Rockwood 8286WS is because of the outdoor kitchen. I love it and will rarely use the kitchen indoors. As posted by others it will keep the heat out of the rv. Also it has the pulldown tv. The only thing missing is a swingout Lazy boy recliner!

We bought the 8286WS for the outside kitchen also. We love it. Ours didn't come with the pull down TV though. When did they start putting those in? Our is a 2011. Post some pictures if you have any.

[rockwooddave]

I also have a 2011 model. I don't have any pictures yet but here is the dealership website and the pics of the actual rv we bought. Forest River Rockwood 8286WS The second pic you will see a handle above the microwave. Scroll through the pics and you will find one with the tv pulled down.

[cheese53073]

Originally Posted by phoneman06

We bought the 8286WS for the outside kitchen also. We love it. Ours didn't come with the pull down TV though. When did they start putting those in? Our is a 2011. Post some pictures if you have any.

We ordered a 8293rkss with the outside kitchen aswell. While doing research I found a bunch of dealers advertising what I thought was older models as 2011 models.
Now to be fair Forest river does advertise that they can and will make changes as the model year continues. Thus I'm thinking what I saw and what you may have is early 2011 models whereas Dave may have a newer model.

[trudinator]

Triguy- we tent camped for almost 20 years. We had quite the elaborate outdoor kitchen setup; refrigerator, 70,000 BTU cast iron stove, 3 different cast iron Dutch ovens, 3 tables, 2 wooden kitchen boxes filled with our utensils, a large array of cast iron fry pans, a table top ice machine, cast iron pie irons, swing-arm grill, cast iron tripod for the dutch ovens, an indoor-outdoor rug, and a camp Oven, all under an easy up canopy. We also have a canopy for the picnic table. There was NOTHING I couldn't make in my outdoor kitchen. We also had a huge 10 x 12 tent for two of us with camp cots (25lbs.+ Each), a huge area rug to keep the floor clean, hanging racks on one end of each cot, and a porta potty. I'm looking forward to NOThaving to take 3 hours to set up (and take down!) all this stuff!!! But we were the envy of every park we ever went to. We make some amazing meals; no hot dogs and hamburgers allowed - LOL. Good luck with your setup. I'm hesitant to leave my stove at home once we get the camper......we'll see.

[skgeorgy]

I have the 2010 Lacrosse 318bhs with the outside kitchen. It works great. It allows you to be more social if you are camping with a big group.

[Triguy]

Originally Posted by trudinator

Triguy- we tent camped for almost 20 years. We had quite the elaborate outdoor kitchen setup; refrigerator, 70,000 BTU cast iron stove, 3 different cast iron Dutch ovens, 3 tables, 2 wooden kitchen boxes filled with our utensils, a large array of cast iron fry pans, a table top ice machine, cast iron pie irons, swing-arm grill, cast iron tripod for the dutch ovens, an indoor-outdoor rug, and a camp Oven, all under an easy up canopy. We also have a canopy for the picnic table. There was NOTHING I couldn't make in my outdoor kitchen. We also had a huge 10 x 12 tent for two of us with camp cots (25lbs.+ Each), a huge area rug to keep the floor clean, hanging racks on one end of each cot, and a porta potty. I'm looking forward to NOThaving to take 3 hours to set up (and take down!) all this stuff!!! But we were the envy of every park we ever went to. We make some amazing meals; no hot dogs and hamburgers allowed - LOL. Good luck with your setup. I'm hesitant to leave my stove at home once we get the camper......we'll see.

Now that's what I'm talking about.

Now I'm thinking a 60 or 70,000 btu burner, my old marine cooler, canopy, camp table and the Big Easy oiless deep fryer that Bear brought up in his "smoking" thread. The big question is where to put it all when towing.

[83480coachmen]

My husband I were divided in this one. We have a 2011 Freedom Express 292BH with outdoor kitchen. I wanted the fourth bunk, but he really wanted the outdoor kitchen. I think it will definitely decrease the traffic in the trailer though. I think outdoor sink will be nice.

We haven't had the opportunity to take it out yet (it's been raining for WEEKS here in Ohio), so I'll let you know the final verdict soon.