Outdoor Kitchen

[Goaltender1]

We are searching for our first Fifth wheel and are considering an outdoor kitchen. How many people have one and use it? Is it worth getting? Thank you in advance.

[austinjenna]

Well when it came with the fiver I thought this thing is a total waste...

But I like it for just the counter space, drawers and cabinets, and the sink does come in handy for washing hands. Everything for the 'outside' is in there-bug spray, games, fire starters, frisbees, flashlights, lighters etc.... have a few phone chargers on the counter.

I have never used the grill on it and on occasion have used the fridge if we are staying for a week but if its just the weekend we really dont need it since there are just the 2 of us. I would turn the fridge off the night before we leave so it will be dry out-mostly from the freezer tray - so that left a day for us to use it and just not worth is (at least for us). But as others have mentioned I do like the counter space

[Kittykath]

lazydays wrote:
It's my most favorite part of the camper. The Fridge outside is worth it alone.

This exactly! Ours doesn't waste interior space as it's tucked below a bathroom cabinet. It didn't come with a cook top either, so we use our cooking method of choice on the pull-out bare counter it did come with. I keep all picnic, grilling and cocktail equipment in ours, and it sure saves my knees from having to go in and out of the camper all the time. Refrigerator space is lacking in a standard camper fridge. The additional refrigerator allows us to skip a cooler altogether. The grill is mounted to the bumper and swings toward the kitchen, which makes a handy little kitchenette area. There's space to hang a TV if we want. I can close the door on it all at the end of the day. No outdoor kitchen would be a deal breaker. Just consider how you would or wouldn't use one before sacrificing potential valuable space.

[lazydays]

It's my most favorite part of the camper. The Fridge outside is worth it alone.

[Lantley]

ramyankee wrote:
We have a 284 RDB (bunk) so it really doesn't take up any needed space. It all tucks under the bunk area...
I really love our outdoor kitchen. Fridge, sink and two burner stove. One con is the stove does take a while to heat water but will sautee and try ok. We added the Coleman Roadtrip and have added a couple of attachments so it does cover most anything we prepare.

Even though you have a bunkhouse. There is only so much space available. I understand the kitchen tucks beneath the bunk but it still occupies space that could be used for something else.
You are also finding that you still need to carry and set up additional cooking appliances to get the job done due to the shortcomings of the outdoor kitchen, which is a whole other matter.
You could still benefit from eliminating the kitchen and using the space for needed items that you decided on vs. having duplicate items that sort of work but don't really meet your needs.
RV space is too precious to haul around stuff we don't need:W...
Nevertheless we all still carry a bunch of stuff we don't need except we can decide what we want vs. the manufacture deciding and giving us 2 of some things.
I think a better idea would be to give consumers and empty space with a hose connection and an outlet and let the owner decide how to use the space vs. the various degrees dedicated duplication that is currently offered as outdoor kitchens.

[ramyankee]

We have a 284 RDB (bunk) so it really doesn't take up any needed space. It all tucks under the bunk area...
I really love our outdoor kitchen. Fridge, sink and two burner stove. One con is the stove does take a while to heat water but will sautee and try ok. We added the Coleman Roadtrip and have added a couple of attachments so it does cover most anything we prepare.

[sgfrye]

mhardin wrote:
I love mine. I never cook inside unless the weather dictates it. The fridge is great for all my drinks, freeing up space in the inside fridge. The sink, with hot/cold water is extremely useful.

This is why I love ours

[jdb7566]

Goaltender1 wrote:
We are searching for our first Fifth wheel and are considering an outdoor kitchen. How many people have one and use it? Is it worth getting? Thank you in advance.

Like most have said, it's personal preference. IMO, they are a waste of space. That said, if we stumbled upon a floor plan we really liked, and it happen to have an outdoor kitchen, we would probably use it.

[SailingOn]

We mostly cook outside; with a portable (propane or electric) cooktop, we can put our kitchen wherever convenient.
We bring dishes/utensils/condiments out in two plastic basins, use the same two basins for wash and rinse (using the 'outside shower' hot and cold taps), and to pack stuff back inside.
A small fridge outside sounds nice though...

[Hammerboy]

Like a lot of people said its preference and not a must have for everyone. We have a storage compartment behind our fireplace that is big enough for a small refrigerator and a little bit of storage. Doesn't really rob any interior space and has everything we want. Don't need two of everything.

Dan

[jkwilson]

Personal preference, but I don’t see it being something I want. Coleman stove and/or a Blackstone griddle and you can cook most things outside.

[2001400ex]

I've owned 3 toy haulers over the last 12 years and never once thought I'd like to have one. The picture below is a little far away, but we set up a cook area like that when we camp. That weekend we had 4 families, 3 of the big 3 burner stove from Costco and 3 Coleman grills under the tents on the right. Everyone camps different, but we never cook in the trailer and never had an issue with weather. We set up tables and chairs under the 2 tents on the left and have a full area to cook and eat.

[Lantley]

alexleblanc wrote:
I loved having it on my last unit, mostly for the fridge and sink. Never used the microwave or burner.

It was also nice to have a covered work space/counter outdoors.

.

This is my gripe. The outdoor kitchen creates too much duplication. 2 sinks, 2 microwave, 2 fridges 2 sets of utensils.
Outdoors kitchens are definitely subject to individual preference.
prefer to use the space for other things vs. always having 2 dedicated kitchen areas.

[mtofell1]

Everyone camps/RVs differently. For me it's an absolute must have. When I get older and my kids are grown I may find myself doing less camping and more RVing and it may not be so important.

By far the best feature is the outdoor sink to be able to wash hands while cooking. The electric only fridge is pretty useless and I just replaced it with a cooler.

I also like to have the space outside for storage (cabinets, counter top, etc.).

There's really no right or wrong answer. It just depends on how you use your RV.

[steelydan]

I put a small fridge in the basement of our fiver to get a drinks
and like others have said the type of equipment that comes in the outside kitchen is sub par. And usually odd placed if you have any slides. My weber grill and $25 ozark cooktop are leaps and bounds better for us. Plus we give up no room inside the camper ! to each his own but we talked our selves out of it.