Rear kitchen with curbside dining floor plans?

I have noticed that you keep posting asking for advice, and opinions on verious trailers. To be honest, it would be a lot easier to give you the right advice, if you narrow down your wants, to more of a list of must have's, in a model, and year, of a brand your intending on buying. With all the questions and advice your getting I am sure your now more confused than before you started.
MY advice to you is simple. Find a unit in your price range, manufacturer you trust (forest river,heartland,Jayco ect) modeles, (front livingrooms, rear kitchen, side bathroom ) then start looking at those units. Your asking a lot of questions that have so many different ways to answer, and different opinions, that your just going to make yourself sick trying to find that perfect unit.

Start with price because, if your not willing to spend more than your budget allows don't make yourself crazy looking at units you can't afford.
Remember, heavier units tend to be full time units, BUT they also need a bigger tow vehicle and that is also expensive.
Have you thought about a bus? Used is a good choice for a first time buyer. You can tow a small car behind it for shopping or sightseeing.

Sorry to be so forward but you really need to narrow down your list and go from there.

Here is what we went through,and wanted in our new unit. Either New OR Used

1. Had to be front livingroom
2. Had to be full-time unit.
3. Had to be in a certain price point.
4. Had to have ample counter space.
5. Had to have a lot of cupboard space for storage.
6. Had to have walking space on both sides of the bed.
7. Had to have a large shower.
8. Had to have a Big cargo area for storage.

Here is what we found.
1. Rear kitchen (front livingrooms not as comfortable as we thought after spending a couple hours in one and looking at 5 different manufacturers, headroom, configuration and darker livingroom).

2. Rear kitchens have more counter space and storage space, and your not looking through the kitchen to watch tv in the living area.

3. Center livingrooms tend to have more usable room, and your able to remove say the couch and put in recliners if you wanted to.

4. Heavy unit that has full-time features like more insulation in walls as well as floors.

5. We looked at gently used 2011 to 2015 units, as well as brand new units. Found a Leftover 2014 NEW unit that still comes with a full warranty from manufacturer. AND compared to the same unit in a 2016 year model we saved over $20,000.

So you see, unless you're willing to do the work of going and physically looking at these units, you might never know exactly what you want and can live with in your price range. Our new unit is over 2 hours away and we went twice to spend time in it to make sure it is what we want and in the end we are happy that we did OUR due diligence in figuring what We truly wanted and needed.

We're looking hard at a rear kitchen for our next trailer and have the same concern. One thing you need to know is that unless it's a booth dinette most all furniture can be moved around.
In a rear kitchen with a pair of recliners by the curb side window and a dinette and sofa in the big slide, it would be really easy to just move any of the furniture.
Simple put it where you want for the camping spot you're in.

Hi Jane....
I am going to 2nd what Tundra stated. It appears you are all over the board, and probably more confused now than when you started looking. It's time to sit down and make a list of your priorities.

First... You want to spend 25k max on a 5th wheel.... If that is the entire amount you would like to spend, might I suggest you look at something in the low 20k range?
Reason... Whatever you buy, since it will be a used rig, you need to have money set aside for any repairs and changes you will want to do. Being a used unit, count on extras as a definite.

Second.... You indicated you are remodeling a home, and plan on using the " new" rig to travel the Country for about a year..... If you have a home, which obviously you do, is that not technically a very large " storage "? Iam a little perplexed as to why you are so concerned about carrying capacity, if you are only planning on full timing for a year. Most who travel " full time " have everything they own in their rig, which in your case does not apply. I have " stuff " in our rig that I haven't even really looked at, and we have been on the road for 15 months..

Third.... You said this is your first rv purchase. Do you have any idea of what your life style will be like on the road? In all the rv's you have gone and looked at, have you actually been alone in the unit with your significant other? I know sales people can be overwhelming, and don't give you any time to actually sit, and look. Suggestion.... Go to an rv dealer, and have the sales person leave you two in a unit. Live out what you believe your lifestyle will be... Are you comfortable in the kitchen? Is there enough counter space? Where will your partner be, and can you see him, and carry on a conversation if need be? Do you like to watch tv while cooking? Is there a cramped area where you are going to have to walk around each other? Do you want a washer/ dryer?
The things you do while on the road ( as far as daily living ), should be pretty much the same as at home. That's why full timers pick the individual rig they do... Because it works for them. Some people cannot " live " in anything less than a 40 foot fifth wheel, and some are perfectly happy in a 24' Class C.......Instead of worrying about accessing all areas with the slides closed, first see if the unit will work for your lifestyle with the slides open.

Next.... You indicated you want to stay at State and National Parks a lot. Length really is a large factor with having easy accessibility to State Parks, and even more so on the West Coast. Something to think about, especially since you only plan on " full timing " for about a year.

Since you do not have a truck either yet, have you considered an all in one unit... Say a 27-28 foot Class C motorhome? That size unit is great for State and National Parks. You can get one with an on board generator, so you can boondock if you wish. You can tow a little car too, since most Class C's that size have a 5k hitch.
In a fifth wheel, you either have to have a battery bank, inverter, and generator( s ), and possibly, depending how long you want to be off the grid, solar panels. A fifth wheel does not have standard features listed above, especially a used unit for around $20k, unless you get very fortunate to find such an animal.

My suggestion ( from a seasoned 25 year rv owner ), is to take a step back, make a list of your priorities, and start your search all over again. Possibly check out a Class C, and a smaller Class A gasser. See if one of those will work for you. You can get all the floor plans from everyone on the forum, but none of them will be living your life on the road.

Good luck, and I really hope this all works out for you.

goducks10 wrote:
We're looking hard at a rear kitchen for our next trailer and have the same concern. One thing you need to know is that unless it's a booth dinette most all furniture can be moved around.
In a rear kitchen with a pair of recliners by the curb side window and a dinette and sofa in the big slide, it would be really easy to just move any of the furniture.
Simple put it where you want for the camping spot you're in.

So true, and open counter space in a rear kitchen unit is unbelievable, our 32' RK has 15 sq. ft. of open counter surface, NOT counting the covered stove area, or Sink area, we use the sink cover for a cutting board in other counter locations.

Had a rear kitchen Montana one time and you could not get to the refrigerator while traveling without putting the slideout out.

Our 2007 Tango FW, 2660 RKS, by Pacific Coach Works has the curbside booth dinette and the rear entrance.
That is what sold us on the trailer.
Small slide out for the jack knife sofa across from the dinette and the reefer is in the rear wall near the entry so easy access to it.

Ford Man wrote:
Had a rear kitchen Montana one time and you could not get to the refrigerator while traveling without putting the slideout out.

Only an issue, if you make it one!
As stated before, we can't even access the kitchen area with the slide in. Still why would we want to give up a large Kitchen with lots of counter space for 99% of the time we are using the trailer, for that access for the 1% of the time. :S

Maybe this?

http://www.dutchmen.com/denali/floorplans-and-pictures/floorplans-detail/?modelId=4455

Thank you to the ones who have suggested the various floor plans! Appreciate your help! More to keep an eye out for!

Jane, as a newbie myself, I have been following your threads and have learned so much from all your questions! Your questions are very good! Don't let others discourage you from asking, because there will be others who will benefit (as I have) from all the questions that you had thought to ask, but we may not have thought of!

It looks like you want to cover all the bases in a very short time and do it as quickly and as correctly as you possibly can, so you have a lot of questions! It is like "cramming for finals," as you said in one of your threads! I feel for ya!

Please don't stop asking the questions!