outdoor kitchens

It's about convenience and saving the interiors from cooking smells. There are a lot of folks that haven't carried a camp stove or any other cooking appliances for camping. With an outdoor kitchen built in, they won't have to carry that separate appliance. Pair that with the Mom's interest in keeping the inside clean and smell-free, and you have the formula for the outside kitchen. Also, the beer fridge is usually stocked in these kitchens.:B

We have the outdoor kitchen on our lacrosse travel trailer. The mini frig is stocked with drinks and water on every trip. allowing the main fridge for food storage. The stove is rarely used. the sink and cabinets is a big plus.

Between our Webber Q, a butane single burner stove, and an electric griddle we don't cook anything inside the MH. So no we wouldn't need such a thing.

Also why are you against campfires in the CG? It's part of camping!

I don't see the practicality of having a television. If I wanted to watch tv I'd stay home; It would be more practical and a lot cheaper. But in essence, I don't spend a lot of time obsessing over how other people camp, whether or not they have an outside kitchen, or when they put out their awning. I got places to go, things to see, people to talk to.

I'd rather use the space to double up on a bathroom versus a second outdoor kitchen. Besides, my outdoor kitchen consists of a Weber Q and a drink cooler, which would come along even if my trailer had an outdoor kitchen. I also wouldn't want an outdoor television either ever since the rude guy next to us in West Yellowstone who had the volume on that thing turned up very loud and didn't shut it off until 11pm at night.

There certainly is no one answer as everyone knows what's best for them.

Our Outback has a flip down kitchen that has a sink, faucet,and 2 burner stove. No refrigerator or counter space. We use it all the time. We do almost 100% of our food preparation and cooking outside. We usually use an electric flat griddle or an electric skillet, but we use the stove top quite a lot too. And we always wash our dishes outside. We very seldom use the stove inside, unless it really raining or really cold (like snow).

The outside kitchen was one of those selling features that helped us settle on this camper.

About the younger folks. I remember in our younger days, when we had our pop-up and later our first travel trailer, and about 4 years with our second travel trailer, it took that long to finally figure out we didn't need to "show off" all our camping paraphernalia to the world. We realized it took a lot of work to set out all the yard ornaments, lights, lawn chairs, tables, all the gadgets and then having to pack everything back up.

In it's day, yes we had fun. We were happy, proud, and really wanted to "show off", as if to say ... "We've finally arrived to the good life and this is it!"

Nothing wrong with that. Young folks are experiencing everything new. Each person feel they are re-creating the wheel. Each person camping has a sense of pride, and a bit of "Hey! Look at me." syndrome. And you know? That's really OK. They are having fun, the same way we did, and probably you too when stop and think about it.

It isn't until you get a bit older that you realize gadgets are just that... gadgets... You strip down your life style, do what is just essential and you strive for comfort instead of how trying to prove to the world how rugged you can get.

It takes a bit of time (sometimes years) to realize that all those gadgets, all those yard ornaments, all that lighting, all the "Stuff" really doesn't matter to anyone, and really, it doesn't matter to YOU either. And you begin to strip down your RV lifestyle for simplicity and comfort and what the next guy thinks doesn't matter any more.

About the younger folks. I remember in our younger days, when we had our pop-up and later our first travel trailer, and about 4 years with our second travel trailer, it took that long to finally figure out we didn't need to "show off" all our camping paraphernalia to the world. We realized it took a lot of work to set out all the yard ornaments, lights, lawn chairs, tables, all the gadgets and then having to pack everything back up.

In it's day, yes we had fun. We were happy, proud, and really wanted to "show off", as if to say ... "We've finally arrived to the good life and this is it!"

Nothing wrong with that. Young folks are experiencing everything new. Each person feel they are re-creating the wheel. Each person camping has a sense of pride, and a bit of "Hey! Look at me." syndrome. And you know? That's really OK. They are having fun, the same way we did, and probably you too when stop and think about it.

It isn't until you get a bit older that you realize gadgets are just that... gadgets... You strip down your life style, do what is just essential and you strive for comfort instead of how trying to prove to the world how rugged you can get.

It takes a bit of time (sometimes years) to realize that all those gadgets, all those yard ornaments, all that lighting, all the "Stuff" really doesn't matter to anyone, and really, it doesn't matter to YOU either. And you begin to strip down your RV lifestyle for simplicity and comfort and what the next guy thinks doesn't matter any more.

Dutchmen sport, very well said. :)

westend wrote:
It's about convenience and saving the interiors from cooking smells. There are a lot of folks that haven't carried a camp stove or any other cooking appliances for camping. With an outdoor kitchen built in, they won't have to carry that separate appliance. Pair that with the Mom's interest in keeping the inside clean and smell-free, and you have the formula for the outside kitchen. Also, the beer fridge is usually stocked in these kitchens.:B

X2.
I don't like smelling yesterday's meal in my stick + brick either.
What I don't get is a full kitchen inside and out.

This cold be the start of a list entitled You know your getting old when..
You grumble about stuff like this.:B

We use a hang on stove top. Nice to be outside and a great learning place when the kids cook. I really shake my head at the outdoor stereo and televisions. But if they arre quiet I guess it's their deal.