Rear Kitchen question

[MainelyUS]

DW and I are seriously looking at a Columbus 340RK 5er. Interested in some firsthand feedback with the rear kitchen layout. A lot of antidotal opinions about the RK but that was true when we bought our front kitchen Windjammer…”everything will fall out the cupboards”…”it’s forward of the axles and you will only have problems”. Fact is, we have never had any problems with items moving during a trip…spice bottles did not fall out of the rack, eggs were not broken and the beer did not explode when opened….it’s the art of packing.
Just looking for thoughts on the Rear Kitchen layout.

Thanks for your feedback.

Happy Trails

[merlinhomeauto]

I had a real kitchen 5er in the 90s, I left a class of water on counter and 300 miles later was still there. Loved the unit.

[bikendan]

We have a new rear kitchen TT.
we're on our first trip with it, for 6 weeks.
with the spring bars for the fridge and cabinets, nothing broken and no mess.
the DW only likes rear kitchen models.

[Crabman]

I asked the same question in a thread some time ago. Here is the link and responses. Enjoy the rear kitchen.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ts-125754.html

[MaineCampingFan]

Originally Posted by MainelyUS

DW and I are seriously looking at a Columbus 340RK 5er. Interested in some firsthand feedback with the rear kitchen layout. A lot of antidotal opinions about the RK but that was true when we bought our front kitchen Windjammer…”everything will fall out the cupboards”…”it’s forward of the axles and you will only have problems”. Fact is, we have never had any problems with items moving during a trip…spice bottles did not fall out of the rack, eggs were not broken and the beer did not explode when opened….it’s the art of packing.
Just looking for thoughts on the Rear Kitchen layout.

Thanks for your feedback.

Happy Trails

After purchasing an RK, I was mindful of everything I had read and heard about RK's and the bouncing, etc when towing. Well.....could be. However my experience has been positive keeping in mind that I pack accordingly, nothing heavy in the overhead cabinets and the 'fridge packed snugly and with spring bars. Nary a broken egg, always a cold one when finished set up. Quite happy with a rear kitchen. How all this translates to a 5'er compared to my TT, I can't answer. My thought is go with the unit you like, for the reasons
you like it. Everything else will bounce into place , pun intended.

[VinDeeLoo]

I don't have a 5er, but do have a rear kitchen TT. We love it. I like the extra counter space. We love having the living area separate from the kitchen/eating area. We jumped on it when we found the rear kitchen floor plan we wanted. We have no need and desire for a bunk house. All the used ones we could afford had bunk houses. This one kind of fell in our lap and we jumped. We took it out over my spring break (I am a teacher). I am so ready to take it out again.

[Jim34RL]

We have had both styles of kitchens in our 5er's and would have purchase another rear kitchen if this was available in the Cedar Creek Line. The rear kitchen provides more storage and counter space than most other style of kitchens in 5er's with other styles do. But sometimes do to the rough conditions of the road way items can break in the cupboards. We learned to pack the cupboards with throw pillows to limit movement of glass, china and food items stored in the upper cabinets. We still use this practice in our side kitchen in the 34RL CC that we have now.

[5picker]

We've had a couple 5ers that had rear kitchens.
We never noticed anything different about things staying in place compared to other units we had.

[Santini]

We have no need for china in our TT and we are careful not to buy anything in glass containers if possible. No heavy items in upper shelves. We have a rule that the TT is not to be cluttered in any space at all. We will not add over 200lbs. to the weight of our rig excluding the tanks. We don't require our TT to function as a brick & mortar. We think of it as a Hotel/motel room.

[Kimber45]

If you have a rear kitchen and two separate gray tank dump valves, I sure hope I'm not in line behind you at the dump station when you have to pull forward and the process takes twice as long. (small price to pay if you like the floor plan I just don't want to be behind you)

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Kimber45

If you have a rear kitchen and two separate gray tank dump valves, I sure hope I'm not in line behind you at the dump station when you have to pull forward and the process takes twice as long. (small price to pay if you like the floor plan I just don't want to be behind you)

Many non-rear kitchen floorplans have two gray tanks so you'll have others that you'll have to avoid being behind.

[Crabman]

It does not take long to pull forward and dump the second tank. What takes time is when folks fill and rinse their tanks, some more then once.

[Santini]

I don't care how long it takes. If i was in a rush i would have been 1st. to the station.

[VinDeeLoo]

I don't care how long it takes either. I want to make sure mine is done right, the person in front of me can too.

[Santini]

Originally Posted by VinDeeLoo

I don't care how long it takes either. I want to make sure mine is done right, the person in front of me can too.

I feel the same way.

[Kimber45]

I'm glad I have a non standard work week and usually leave for home. Monday or Tuesday. No Sunday morning long line for me when I leave.

[MainelyUS]

How long does it REALLY take to switch the hose from the rear to front valves....at dump station it takes me less than 60 sec. to switch the hose from the rear to front valves....yes, there are times waiting in line happens but isn't it part of the experience...beats sitting on the Borne Bridge on a Friday afternoon for two hours on your way to Cape Cod.
Happy Trails

[Jim34RL]

That's why I always use full hook-up sites, I can take as long as I like to clean my tanks and no one is waiting on me.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Kimber45

If you have a rear kitchen and two separate gray tank dump valves, I sure hope I'm not in line behind you at the dump station when you have to pull forward and the process takes twice as long. (small price to pay if you like the floor plan I just don't want to be behind you)

Waiting in line at the dump station... waiting in line to check out at Wally World... waiting in line at McDonalds... waiting in line at the Dr.s office... waiting in line at the DMV... better get used to it.

[oxcamper]

Ours is a Hemisphere 282RK TT.
Love the layout, no problems. Rear galley gray tank is a separate connection (although some manufacturers have linked them). I use a "Y" connector and makes it easy.
The main hassle is they thoughtfullu put the galley tank dump valve handle to the rear of the trailer wheels, convenient when the slide is closed, PITA when the slide is out. Have to crawl on my hands and knees to get access.