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.

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[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).