Kitchens rant

opnyn8d wrote:
I am curious as to exactly what the OP expects in a kitchen? . . .

As I stated in the first post in this thread, I cannot understand why the vast majority of motor homes no more than 38 feet have kitchen counters/storage not appreciably bigger than our 19' travel trailer, yet every fifth wheel that I've ever seen has had a perfectly adequate kitchen.

I applaud you for being able to cook in 12 or 15 inches of counter space with no problem. It is a skill I have not mastered in 10 years.

Of all the features we have been searching for in a MH, finding a used unit under 38 feet for sale with an adequate kitchen is the biggest challenge. It is frustrating.

Wayne

I am curious as to exactly what the OP expects in a kitchen? We have a smaller MH, and are able to prepare anything we desire. Perhaps if the OP could give specific requirements we could understand the issue better. Does he expect to have counter space for the breadmaker, food processor, espresso machine, toaster oven, ...? Is he a gourmet cook who requires 5 pans, 8 mixing bowls, 2 chopping boards, and sundry other things in order to make even a snack? Are he and his family all the size of offensive linemen, and need a large space in order to move past each other? What is it that he feels he needs in order to be able to use the kitchen? No insult intended, I seriously just wonder.

Perhaps it is time for a few lessons in RV cooking, in order to be able to function in a typical MH kitchen. Maybe he needs to purchase smaller (and fewer) kitchen devices. He could contact a manufacturer such as Winnebago or Rexhall; they are good about modifications and could build him a MH with a 4 foot counter in place of the couch. Today's convection microwaves can do just about anything an oven can, so he could eliminate the oven below the cooktop, to provide storage in its place.

Haha, ya my DW has prepared food in our boats galley while bracing both feet against cabinets and bulkheads. Much smoother up on the flybridge where I am. :) And As much as I liked the 5ver, the MH suits our purpose better now. Oh and this is my "stinkpot". Its a twin DP.

BillMFl wrote:

bluwtr49 wrote:

deandec wrote:
Compromise is the foundation principle of RV layout.

Stay a long time in one place. Use a 5th wheel.

Move around a lot. Use a Motorhome.

Want a big refer, a long sofa and big bathroom, loose the counter space.

We like our galley. But, it is a no slide coach.



There is a seat for every saddle. Keep looking.

Nice pic. Looks a lot like our except ours is in a slide. It's certainly "ample" for our needs and we eat in 99% of the time during out 4 month summer trips. Lots of drawers and cabinets including one for knives that also serves as a cutting board. Overall more space than we can fill.

I just it's all in the definition of the word "ample. On the other hand, how often can you use the 5er kitchen in air conditioned comfort at 65 mph.

How often does anybody do more than the bare minimum going down the road at 65? Quick trip to the fridge to grab a drink or an already prepared sandwhich or a quick trip to the bathroom is about it. Doubt if many try to cook. My Montana had a very big kitchen including an island but with all four slides in you couldn't walk thru it. Our MH has a medium sized kitchen much like this pic and it is nice to be able to get to it. The extra length in ours is due to a large base cabinet for pots and pans which adds almost 3'. Otherwise the sink and stove use up most of the space.

Perhaps the kitchen isn't used for full on cooking while underway but it's certainly used for small meal prep like a sandwich, making coffee, heating stuff in the microwave and etc, Still all the kitchen function are available while traveling which is tough in any towable and one of the big reasons we moved up.

Besides, I figure if DW can cook in a sailboat underway, she can cook anywhere and the MH is a piece of cake.

Jackha1949 wrote:
. . . Many 5ers have really nice kitchens, but they loose space in the bathroom and bedrooms. . .

I agree.

I have especially noticed that 5ers often have much less bedroom storage (mainly fewer drawers/dresser) compared to Class A's.

OTOH,it seems that king beds are a little more common in 5ers.

Wayne

Our 06 Itasca Horizon 40KD has a nice spacious kitchen with lots of cabinet space and plenty of drawers for storage. It did come with a dishwasher, however, we didn't want it so we had it removed and two more drawers took its place. We are full-timers and cook 99% of the time. Many 5ers have really nice kitchens, but they loose space in the bathroom and bedrooms. There are pluses and minuses to both MHs and 5ers all a matter of personnel choice. Enjoy the Lifestyle!

I just enjoy seeing all the kitchen pics so thanks for the discussion.

Our 21' 5th wheel has a very "roomy" layout for the size and sold us. We camp to boat and have a family and budget so I enjoy cooking while we camp. We do a lot of it on a table outside but our oven gets used. You can cook without endless linear feet of counter space.

That said I also have great memories of the meals on the road or in camp in my grandparents motor home back in the 70's. Their Executive with the olive green shag was the height if sophistication.

None of my cousins or I could tell you how long the countertops were but the meals - and memories - were all much appreciated :)

bluwtr49 wrote:

deandec wrote:
Compromise is the foundation principle of RV layout.

Stay a long time in one place. Use a 5th wheel.

Move around a lot. Use a Motorhome.

Want a big refer, a long sofa and big bathroom, loose the counter space.

We like our galley. But, it is a no slide coach.



There is a seat for every saddle. Keep looking.

Nice pic. Looks a lot like our except ours is in a slide. It's certainly "ample" for our needs and we eat in 99% of the time during out 4 month summer trips. Lots of drawers and cabinets including one for knives that also serves as a cutting board. Overall more space than we can fill.

I just it's all in the definition of the word "ample. On the other hand, how often can you use the 5er kitchen in air conditioned comfort at 65 mph.

How often does anybody do more than the bare minimum going down the road at 65? Quick trip to the fridge to grab a drink or an already prepared sandwhich or a quick trip to the bathroom is about it. Doubt if many try to cook. My Montana had a very big kitchen including an island but with all four slides in you couldn't walk thru it. Our MH has a medium sized kitchen much like this pic and it is nice to be able to get to it. The extra length in ours is due to a large base cabinet for pots and pans which adds almost 3'. Otherwise the sink and stove use up most of the space.

deandec wrote:
Compromise is the foundation principle of RV layout.

Stay a long time in one place. Use a 5th wheel.

Move around a lot. Use a Motorhome.

Want a big refer, a long sofa and big bathroom, loose the counter space.

We like our galley. But, it is a no slide coach.



There is a seat for every saddle. Keep looking.

Nice pic. Looks a lot like our except ours is in a slide. It's certainly "ample" for our needs and we eat in 99% of the time during out 4 month summer trips. Lots of drawers and cabinets including one for knives that also serves as a cutting board. Overall more space than we can fill.

I just it's all in the definition of the word "ample. On the other hand, how often can you use the 5er kitchen in air conditioned comfort at 65 mph.

When designing a 5er the designers have an advantage. They do not have to worry about making thing function while the slides are in and going down the road.Thats why you see alot of islands in 5ers.MH designers have to make things workable both ways. MH designers in the last few years have gotten really clever and are catching up with 5ers in kitchen layouts,in some cases passing them out.