rear kitchens

We all have our own preferences, but having now owned a camper that had the rear living room ... with opposing slides on both sides, and all the windows for an almost - 365 degree view, why block up the view out the back.

I know some folks think kitchens are most important. But the fact for (us) is, we do almost 100% cooking outside. It has to be really cold or wet before we do any food preparation inside the camper. They kitchen space (in the middle of the camper) is more than adequate. We use the sink a lot, and use the microwave for pop-corn, but very, very, very seldom do food preparation inside the camper. To have a kitchen taking up the entire back of the camper is really a waste of space in my opinion. Having windows with that almost 365 degree view is so much more enjoyable.

Still, folks like different things. We don't like living in a cave. We want windows all around.

The rear of a trailer has the most bounce. The only damage I had was when my wonderful dealer abused the trailer and bounced it so hard that the pantry shelves broke down.

The rear kitchen is fine for us because we travel and don't sit in it and look out. The kitchen takes up less that two feet of space, except for the refrigerator is in the slide. I would rather have it just inside the door and vented thru the roof. Venting out the side of a slide requires a fan which wastes battery power when dry camping.

Our unit is rear kitchen and it works very well for us. The weight does not seem to be an issue as long as you don't hang a lot of additional weight on the bumper. Keeping an eye on your tongue weight is prudent in any set up. In your line of thinking wouldn't the kitchen on the right or left side put undue strain on that set of wheels and suspension?

I can understand Dutchmen's thinking about a rear living unit and the view that comes with such a set up so that leaves a front kitchen an option for you. As long as you have a tow vehicle that can handle a heavy tongue weight I would look at a front kitchen/rear living unit.

The most important thing in my opinion is a units livability and how it fits your needs. Find something that you will enjoy spending some time in and not just settle for "that'll do".

BTW, we have never had anything fall out of cupboards or any other such disasters with our rear kitchen. The only inconvenience I find is having the separate waste water take off at the rear and having to drag the hose to each take off. Its not that bad really but.....

Front Kitchen, Front Window, Happy Wife. she can do cooking/dishes and see the world. OK the road and people and other trailers.

my 8,000 pound trailer has a 1,000 tongue weight.. no more or less then others in this weight class.. and its 30 feet.

and bedroom is in the rear.

Wife so disliked the first trailer... could not see anything doing work.

Find what Will work with your life/wife.

Problems may be worked out now, but in 1998 I bought a Holiday Rambler 5th wheel that could have launched items into orbit from that rear kitchen. We finally had to remove everything from the rear kitchen and store it in boxes over the wheels. Traded that sucker off at a big loss!

Search this Forum for `rear kitchens' and read on.

Reason we like our rear kitchen is the huge increase in counter space and cabinets. I can understand those who prefer the rear living but, unless you're boondocking, the views to the back and sides of one's campsite are often limited by trees, bushes, other campers, or otherwise less than desirable.

DutchmenSport wrote:
We all have our own preferences, but having now owned a camper that had the rear living room ... with opposing slides on both sides, and all the windows for an almost - 365 degree view, why block up the view out the back.

... Having windows with that almost 365 degree view is so much more enjoyable.

magic! where you get that extra 5 degrees from? :B

danimal53 wrote:
where you get that extra 5 degrees from? :B

;)

We've had a rear kitchen for 13 years and like it alot. We dont find things move around any more than they did with our previous mid-kitchen. It also has the fridge right next to the entry door which we've found to be very convenient.
Our trailer does have shocks though and I think that makes a huge difference to the amount of bounce.