Outside Kitchen alternative

[tim1970]

Having an outside kitchen has been one thing I have been looking for in an RV. However, today the wife and I found a floorplan that we really liked in our price range. However, it does not have an outside kitchen. Can I get opinions on who have this option on how much it gets used, and also from people who do not have this and maybe wish they did? I don't really care about having the sink,storage or TV hookups that come with the outside kitchen, but I am afraid I would really miss the outside dual burner cooktop, and especially miss the outside mini-fridge for my adult beverages.

[scbwr]

We have a outdoor kitchen with bar fridge, 2 burner propane stove and sink. We use it as long as weather allows. Typically, I set up the Weber grill next to the outdoor kitchen area.

But, due to the limited amount of units available with an outdoor kitchen and if you prefer a model without one, I'd be lookinng for one that has a storage area on the awning side of the camper that would provide an area for a bar fridge and storing items you want for an improvised outdoor kitchen. I would want a folding table, two burner stove and a grill. I'd either rig it for using a gas line from the RV, or use a 20 lb. propane tank with a splitter to allow use of the stove and grill at the same time.

[wowens79]

Here is a pic of my Storage/outdoor kitchen, and them table I found at SAMs club.

[Bumpyroad]

FLY 4 FUN wrote:
I know many folks love the outside kitchen, so I respect that its important to many. We dry camp enough that a 2cu/ft 110v fridge would be useless to us. Cooking can be done on a bbq or cooktop as mentioned. I also don't like losing that much space inside the rv to add a 2nd microwave/fridge/sink etc.

For sure this is something that you either love or hate so I expect you will get compelling arguments from both sides. I sure wouldn't turn down a great floor-plan just because its missing this option.

x2. waste of space in a small RV.
bumpy

[SoundGuy]

tim1970 wrote:
I don't really care about having the sink,storage or TV hookups that come with the outside kitchen, but I am afraid I would really miss the outside dual burner cooktop, and especially miss the outside mini-fridge for my adult beverages.

Our current Coachmen Freedom Express, as does many models in this series, came with a built in Coleman grill that pulls out from the curb side of the trailer ...



Great idea BUT really dumb execution as a grill will introduce greasy cooking smells into the camper so before even using it once I replaced the grill with a 2-burner Coleman stove ...



We use the the stove all the time along with a Weber Q grill, only use the inside stove when the weather is really inclement.

As far as a fridge is concerned ours is located right beside the entry door so I can grab anything from it anyway without having to go inside the trailer.



Frankly, if having more fridge storage for drinks was an issue we'd just use a cooler but in 4 seasons of camping I've only done this once as there just hasn't been a need for it.

Our 192RBS is about as small a trailer as we'd ever want and had it been available at the time we might instead have selected the somewhat longer Coachmen Freedom Express 231RBDS.



However, it's one of those models that does have an outside kitchen so I'd again replace the grill with a 2-burner stove, probably ditch the sink and fridge, and instead use that space for cargo storage. JMO, but it seems to me that unless a second kitchen is as fully equipped as the inside kitchen you're going to be running in and out of the camper anyway, in which case there's little advantage to a second kitchen. Personally I'd rather see that space used by the manufacturer to create a larger bathroom. YMMV.

[FLY_4_FUN]

I know many folks love the outside kitchen, so I respect that its important to many. We dry camp enough that a 2cu/ft 110v fridge would be useless to us. Cooking can be done on a bbq or cooktop as mentioned. I also don't like losing that much space inside the rv to add a 2nd microwave/fridge/sink etc.

For sure this is something that you either love or hate so I expect you will get compelling arguments from both sides. I sure wouldn't turn down a great floor-plan just because its missing this option.

[toedtoes]

There are lots of alternatives to an outside kitchen for what you will most miss (the mini fridge).

1. Regular cooler
2. 12v cooler
3. Propane cooler
4. 120v mini fridge

Any of those could store in the outside storage and then get set up outside when you get to your site. As wowens79 is doing, a mini fridge with power in the outside storage compartment could give you what you want.

You could easily get a double burner cooktop and a table that could get set up outside also. And you'd have the versatility to set it up where you want - instead of always having to be "right there".

You really don't care about the rest of the outside kitchen, so go simple. Get the RV you like and create your own outdoor "kitchen area".

[2gypsies1]

A cooktop and small refrigerator are easy had without paying for an outside kitchen. It's a waste of space.

[wowens79]

We don't have one, but kinda wanted one. We kind of improvised and created one.

We have a large storage compartment under a bunk in the rear, and it has a light in it. We use it as a Buffett type area. We found a folding table at SAMs Club called a tailgater table that was only $40, and has a metal foldout to hold the Weber baby Q, and we put a 2 burner camp stove on the table. It also has hooks to hang the grill tools, and a roll of paper towels.

I've looked at some mini fridges that will fit in the storage compartment, I just have to run power and buy the fridge.

After getting this set up, I think it really suits me better than the built in ones.

[lc0338]

Don't have outside kitchen but if waste water goes to waste tank that would be a deal breaker for me. I have a fish filet table with the faucet hooked up to outside water hydrant. The fridge access from outside would be nice feature but not having an outside kitchen would not be a deal breaker. I suspect there is extra weight with it and pretty sure you are loosing storage space elsewhere.

[DutchmenSport]

We do almost all of our food preparation outside, except in the worst of weather. We use an electric griddle and an electric skillet for almost everything we fix. Our Outback has a flip down 2 burner stove and outside hot and cold faucet with a no drain sink. We use the flip down for water, especially washing dishes, but rarely use the 2 burner propane stove top. Almost everything we do is on a picnic table. About outside refrigerators? We have an electric cooler, on its back its a cooler, on its end, it's a refrigerator. When we need extra refrigerator space, we use this. But there again, most of our camping, we never need it.

The flip down stove top is OK for boiling water (which the electric griddles can't do), but that's about all we've used them for.

We've done a lot of camping, and we people watch. (when you get older, you just do this). And one thing we've noticed about outside kitchens, folks open them up and use the refrigerator for drinks, and that's about all. It's amazing how many folks will have the outside kitchens and then still do food preparation over a camp fire.

[dewey02]

Just get yourself one of these along with a 2 burner camp stove.
Hook up the water to your outside shower and you'll have hot water for dishes as well.

[doxiemom11]

We don't have one - we see them on units in parks, but have never seen anyone use one other than to get a beer out of the frig.

[gaflick]

I faced the same problem. I solved it by purchasing a Camp Chef stove and the hardware to attach and use it with my propane quick connect.
It works much better than my previous outside kitchen.