In yesterday’s poll, we asked if you carry a portable grill with you when you travel with your RV. Today we’d like to know if your current RV has a built-in outdoor kitchen. If it does, you probably don’t need a portable grill.
Some of the newer outdoor kitchens in RVs these days can really be described with only one word: fancy. A stove, fridge, microwave, and a TV? What more do you need? Oh, LED lights and a sound system? Right, of course, that too.
Please tell us below and tell us how often you use it. We’re curious. Oh, and then invite us for dinner, will ya?
Nope, just a charcoal grill for me. In my opinion, that detracts from the camping environment and it’s just something else that needs maintenance.
We use a propane grill. Otherwise we cook inside. May eat inside or out.
I used to think it was a gimmicky waste of space just like the “fireplace”.
Well, I was wrong! About both!
In 2017, we bought our 2017, Jayco 5th wheel that has a good outdoor kitchen, two-burner stove, sink with hot and cold water, and came with a rear bumper mount propane grill too. It does have an outdoor TV and so far that’s the one thing we’ve only used a couple of times.
We use the outdoor fridge for easy access while traveling for drinks, sandwiches, and such. My wife really likes using the outdoor kitchen to keep the mess in the inside kitchen down. It has worked so well since that although I haven’t seen the same sized outdoor kitchen in many newer models if we were ever going to change RVs again I wouldn’t be so negative anymore!
I love my outdoor kitchen! Living in the Desert Southwest, I enjoy going to the mountains of AZ, start cooking thick-sliced bacon and percolator coffee, and hearing the doors open on nearby RVs looking for the smell of the cooking breakfast! It’s not that difficult to clean up, but sure makes “camping” comfortable.
Previous 3 campers had them, never used them. Glad our new trailer doesn’t have an outdoor kitchen. Prefer the extra room inside for usable storage. Haven’t been to a campground that forbids a campfire, although just last year we could have started traveling…except for government control. Looking to start this year being recently retired.
We carry a Traeger Tailgater smoker in our fifth wheel, meats, veggies out side, salads inside. We are good to go. Just us but the built in out kitchens use up to much space.
I think it’s a novelty, unless you have a large RV the space that outdoor kitchen is going to occupy “inside” would take room you could use for other things inside. As was noted if all your cooking supplies are inside why would you want to drag it all outside and then back inside to finish. My wife says👎
I’m in the minority here. I don’t have one but I did the next best thing. I have a big enough baggage compartment next to the entry door to put a small freezer/fridge, microwave and my Smoke Hollow grill. Then I bought a folding table that I set up next to that area. The fridge stays in the compartment along with the microwave. The grill sits on the table along with some condiments, paper plates and utensils. I even have a couple of disposable tin baking pans that I use to wash and rinse things if needed. I like cooking outside for family and guests and because I’m physically challenged, I don’t need to go up and down stairs to do it. I see other campers use their built in outside kitchens and it looks like they enjoy it a lot.
Nope and not interest in cleaning another area or opening that door for critters to invite themselves. Why an outside fridge. If you cannot get up to go inside to fetch another Pop then maybe you’ve had one too many already. Ha
I prefer just a good propane bbq. I can cook everything on it and it just not that difficult to walk 10 feet into the travel trailer and pull from the fridge!, however if I had purchased a travel trailer with an outdoor kitchen I’d use it. It’s all about space
All my cooking vessels & tools are inside. Having to drag it all out to cook, then back in to clean? Nope. Outside grilling, yes. The cooking stays inside
When we went looking for a Travel Trailer, an outside kitchen was not high on my. Requirements list. We bought a Forrest River 27’ ultra light and it had the outside kitchen. I found that I actually use it frequently and use the outside refrigerator for beer and drinks. The 3 burner stove and a cast iron griddle allows me to cook am/pm and the side Weber grill stand let’s me do burgers, etc in addition to/or alongside other items. On that rare Florida cold morning, I can still use the inside stove top.
We don’t have one, never had one, and never wanted one. We now carry a portable induction cook top but before that I had an electric griddle we cooked outside on. We did have a pop-up for years but I don’t think we moved the stove outside more than a dozen times.
Had one on my Keystone Outback 240 URS I traded in last year. It had a two burn stove and useless sink. Loved having the stove to cook breakfast while the wife was sleeping. Bad part was the setup was not secured properly to the fold down door/shelf and came apart from driving. Poor design.
No thanks. Another cook top, sink, and fridge to clean and maintain? Not worth the lost storage area. It’s not that difficult to walk those extra 6 or 8 steps to the indoor kitchen. Some may love it, but I’m happy with our Coleman grill and a cooler for outdoor elegant dining
I’m w/Dan on this one, so are 74% of who answered this poll.
The outdoor kitchen comes in handy. Our grandson especially likes the mini fridge for access to his sports drinks. We use it each trip.
I have an outdoor kitchen and I use it every trip we take. I took out the small refrigerator because we usually don’t have electricity and store all my cast iron cookware there along with all my cooking supplies. I hook up my Weber grill at the end of it and I am set.
Personally, I think an outdoor kitchen is a waste of effort. Too high, one more thing to have to keep clean, fridge too small, storage space that can never really be used…
I have a cooler, I cook on a small grill or in the fire pit, and can use a plastic tub for an outdoor sink. If you have one and like it, GREAT! But I hope the RV makers realize not everyone needs or wants one.
No, but I wish it did…kind of. I wouldn’t want to give up our stage space for one. I also wonder about the height thing like Ed K mentioned.
Haven’t seen any unit where the kitchen is mounted at a useable height. They all are to high for normal people.
Hi, Ed. I guess my sons and I are “abnormal” people, then. 😆 They’re both 6’8″ tall. I used to be 6’2″, but gravity has taken its toll in my 74 years, so I’ve shrunk to a measly 5’11”. I’m trying to figure out how to stretch myself back out to at least 6′ tall, though. This is too short for me. 😆 Take care, and stay healthy. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Cowboy Boots
😆 Got ’em, Gordy, but haven’t worn them for about 30 years. I doubt I could get into them anymore. I think some of my “lost” height settled down in my now-larger feet (which were big to begin with). OY! Which reminds me of something my older sister told me when I was very young, when I was complaining about my big feet. Trying to console me, she said, “If your feet were any shorter, with how tall you are, you’d be wobbling back and forth.” Thanks, Gordy. Take care. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com