Outside kitchen- Like it or Hate it?

[MrT]

I said "hate", although that's a strong word. Rather--I would not buy an RV with that feature given our current style of RV-ing. For now, I consider it as something that takes up space I could use for something else.

[dretired]

I like the idea.. When it gets to be 80+ degrees outside and and the a/c is being turned on. Why not cook outside ?? I do at home with a natural gas bbq ,in fact i use it all year round. I would think i would use one a lot. Maybe on our next rv ??

[cjones]

We were not sure if we would use it all that much. Now that we have one its the best feature of our Sierra 365SAQ. We use it everyday added a coffee maker, Margarittaville maker and its the hit of the campground. Cant see us using the inside kitchen for much more than heating up things or the oven. All the miss and smells outside Not sure how anyone would hate it maybe they think they would rather spend the money on something different but not hate it! On our model there is a ton of useable storage in the kitchen.

[brianb]

This thread is back from the dead... Might as well add my $0.02 for free... I don't have a outdoor kitchen on my TT, we looked long and hard at models that did. What turned us off was the price on some models, additional weight, but the biggest was the fact you lost a bed or two. They were cool though, just not for us...

[Luvtocamp]

Love our outside kitchen. It saves a ton of clean up time and everything is there when you need it. No running in and out for the "little things" and has all but eliminated the need for an extra cooler and extra outside table (and makes packing up to leave easier). We do not use the BBQ that came with the camper, we prefer our Roadtrip grill, bigger and easier to clean up. We do use the burners, works great for the "can cooker". I do most of the cooking outside usually open fire it is nice to just turn around and grab or wash something when you need it instead of having to run in the camper. As far as room, we still have 2 bunks and a full size fold down in the bunkhouse so its enough for us.


Outdoor Kitchen!

[wvcampincpl]

I voted like the idea. On our first trip with the new trailer we still cooked more outside then we did inside. Having an oven was great but most of the stove top cooking we still did on camp stoves so I could see where an outside kitchen would be nice.

[buckeyefan]

Love the idea and have one!
I'd say the only thing left inside the camper is the items stored inside the fridge/freezer. The outside fridge is mainly to keep all sorta drinks cold.
The table cloths, plates, silverware paper towels, etc all fit in the cabinets.
The convenience is awesome!

You do have more weight on these campers, but that is also because most tend to be on bunk houses where the bunk house slides out the other side.
I had a TBUD (3 bunks), but now have 4 beds in the bunk house when using the trundle or air mattress.

We leave the outdoor fridge plugged in over the week and it keeps drinks ready and cold when we arrive.
As with an outside shower, it is another thing to winterize, but that's the fact of RV life.

[trudinator]

Our Rockwood 8293RKSS isn't a bunk house model; our bathroom goes across the back and is HUGE! We don't need any extra beds so this was a PERFECT choice for us. We had quite the elaborate setup through 20 years of tent camping (easy up with refrigerator, cast iron stove, wood camping "cabinets," oven, 3 tables, etc.) and I naively thought we'd keep cooking with our cast iron camp stove as well. Well.....I've since realized that we don't NEED to! With the inside stove, the outside stove, the grill, and the campfire, we have all the bases covered. I hate to part with the stove, because it's a fantastic camp stove with something like 70,000 btu's and can boil a HUGE pot of water in like 2 minutes (seriously!). But it weighs a ton and DH would most likely refuse to take it along anyway!! So now it sits in the garage collecting dust.

The outside kitchen was the #1 thing on our "must have" list. Believe me, if you have one, you'll never buy another TT without it. Our friends bought a Laredo last year and their model has one without the micro or TV. After seeing theirs, we KNEW we had to I love being able to store all of our bar stuff out there along with paper towels, paper plates, plastic utensils, condiments, etc. Sure beats having to keep running inside all the time. And using the stove outside for breakfast keeps the inside nice and clean!

[BC Camper]

I DO like the idea of having one...wanted to get one but also needed 4 bunks so it was a trade off. We also got a smokin deal on our Rockwood which has everything we want EXCEPT the outside kitchen and u-shaped dinette....which would have cost us $10,000 if we went that route!

We have a really good Webber portable BBQ, gas skillet, and a cooler that has drinks for me the Mrs and all the kids....so we keep the inside cooking to a minimum. I BBQ virtually everything anyhow!

Still...... would really like to be able to just walk over to that fridge sitting outside and grab a beer tho!!

[RichieD]

I love it!!!! I like cocktails and it works great for an outside wet bar! Shasta Revere 30CKBH has a very large outdoor kitchen with lots of cabinet and drawer space. 2 burner cook top stove and LP grill...

[chromeOkie]

We got the PT Tracer 230FBS last month and the outdoor kitchen was a big reason the wife agreed to buying a TT. She cooks all the time and even gives cooking lessons once in a while, she rarely wants to go out for meals. Most of what she cooks is very spicy and has robust aromas so the outdoor kitchen is ideal for us.

[Terier]

Depending on your RV style outside kitchens can be valuable. In my case I wouldn't use it but then I camp solo and one kitchen is enough for me. Besides I really don't like to cook to start with either.

[Fourn3833]

wish our motorhome had one

[Rbonnell]

Just picked up our 365saq two weeks ago, and we are( as I'm typing this) on our maiden voyage with it. So far, my wife loves the outside kitchen. We've received a lot of nice compliments on it too. The only complaint is the height of the opening from the ground level - but then my wife is vertically challenged I built her a 6" high platform out of treated lumber (6 x 4 area made up of four 2 x 3 sections for easy transporting in the back of the pickup)' and she'p says it's just right for her now. Having the back bathroom works out great for the grandkids - keeping the traffic out of the main area of trailer, and keeping the A/C loss to a minimum with them going in and out.

[ng2951]

I voted I don't want, but that is the type of camping I do. Besides the cost of the addition the other thing I don't like is the loss of space or storage.

On the other hand if you are tailgater or the like then maybe its ok for you.

Just don't let the government tell you to have one!!!

[Ovair]

Food is such an important part of everyone's life. Cooking is always an adventure and coupled with RVing, it just doesn't get any better. Most campers/RVs don't have enough "kitchen space" in them for my preference. Therefore, I have kluged together my own outdoor kitchen (campchef 3 burner stove w/bbq box, kitchen table/workstation w/utensil rack and paper tower holder, tackle box full of spices). I put the whole thing under a EZ-up canopy and that's my kitchen. I'll cook indoors if need be, but there's nothing like the smell of bacon and fried potatoes in the morning wafting through the campground. When the weather doesn't fight me, I'll cook over the campfire.
Short answer: Yes, I love an outdoor kitchen.

[trudinator]

I'm also vertically challenged. I use a small step step stool to reach the top shelf of the cabinet. Other than that, I can reach everything. We have TONS of storage in our unit even with our outside kitchen.

[phuss]

I have a lacrosse 318 with an outside kitchen and the outside kitchen is what sold me on the camper..... my wife died unexpectedly in jan and I have four kids that love to go camping. The outside kitchen keeps so much dirt outside! Everytime a kid wants a drink they just get it from the outside kitchen. For my situation ....its perfect!

[RubenZ]

I like BBQ so outdoor kitchen is useless to me. I do everything on the grill. Meat, Corn, Potatoes, beans, etc. Kitchens are no place for a man

[sfrye5853]

Love the extra storage in cabinets
Love the extra room in the fridge
Wished I would have realized I had two LP connections so I could use the grill and stove instead of bringing out an electric skillet and blowing the service breaker
Wish there was a folding step somewhere because with my wife being 5'1" the counter, cabinets, stove, and fridge are all too high for her