Community Forums

mikez · 07-30-2013, 09:54 AM

Hello all,

I'm new here and I have a question. We've owned a travel trailer and a class A RV in the past. We decided last year that a fifth wheel would be best for us in the future. After much research, we decided on a GMC 2500HD Diesel pick-up. Check. Now we're looking at all the different floorplans of fifth wheels. We've noticed that rear kitchen models seem to be a few feet shorter without giving up inside space. Our worry is that our travel trailer had the bedroom in the back and the closet across the entire back of the unit. You couldn't keep clothing hanging in that closet. It all ended up on the floor.

So if we had that problem with clothes, what happens to the kitchen if it's in the back? Is there a similar problem with a fifth wheel or is it a smoother ride with the pivot point being different than a travel trailer? Before we sink a bunch of money into this new unit, we'd like to make sure we're getting what we want. Any experiences you could share would be helpful.

Thanks,

Mike

BCook57 · 07-30-2013, 09:59 AM

We have a Chevy 2500 HS diesel pulling a 2004 Sunnybrook 28RKBS. It has a rear kitchen. We haven't done extensive travel, but we haven't had any particular problem with stuff falling out. We are careful when we open the cabinet doors after being on the road. We also don't overload the cabs or stack dishes very high on any one shelf.

We're leaving Aug 2 for a five week trip from Michigan to the Pacific northwest, so I'll know more after that. Not anticipating any major problems.

This Sunnybrook is about all I would want to pull with the truck we have. It is 30' from pin box to bumper and around 9000 lbs with the one slide. Anything bigger and I'd want more truck to pull with.

**NLOVNIT** · 07-30-2013, 12:59 PM

Many members report items move more in a rear kitchen RV. We had a rear-kitchen Cougar 5-r. Only broke 1 item & that was because I didn't secure it careful enough & when I opened the cabinet door, it fell on the floor & shattered. Most everything, properly packed, stayed put no matter what terrain we rolled over.

Lori-

Oh & we had a TT before that. The 5-r towed much smoother than the TT, although it took a bit of practice learning to back it up with the more forward pivot point.

JDT · 07-30-2013, 09:17 PM

Ours is a rear kitchen and we have put about 6K miles on it with no problems. We will get a glass turned over on occasion, especially on the rougher roads. If that happens then stuff is moved in the medicine cabinet also, which is mid coach. Nothing major. We like the rear kitchen for the open feeling it gives.

Skip426 · 07-30-2013, 09:26 PM

Careful packing is important with a rear kitchen TT or 5er.
DW used foam pillows to keep stuff stationary and we only had breakage on one trip in 5 years 60k miles, with that unit; but that was on one of the worst roads I'd ever driven an RV on.

hjsdds · 07-31-2013, 10:42 AM

Many variables affect it, so it's hard to answer it without "guessing". One guy's experience might be totally opposite of another guy. The weight of the trailer, the length, the manufacturer, the position of the axles, the type of the axles (rating, springs or torsion bar), the rating of the axles vs. the trailer, hard hitch or air hitch in your puller, etc., etc. They all affect it.
So as a general rule, things bounce up and down at the end of the trailer harder and higher than over the axles (with a center kitchen). Those of you guys that claim that "we have no problem with a rear kitchen", you guys are lucky with the layout and loading. Most people with rear kitchen (including this poster) have, or had flying pots and pans and mish-mash in the storage area of the rear kitchen.
So you learn how to pack "strategically", have foam padding, have lots of lidded containers there, etc. to keep things from "traveling" and falling on your head when you open doors and cabinets (when you stop). It can be annoying but you can learn how to deal with it.
Rear kitchens (as you noticed) do provide a great advantage, it's a lot better utilization of the interior space, therefore a shorter trailer with a rear kitchen will feel bigger.

hjs

oldbeek · 08-06-2013, 10:23 PM

My 27sl has 78,000 miles on it 2 trips to AK and NW territory about 2,000 miles of dirt road. Yea things giggle in the rear pantry but do not pose a problem. Once a big unexpected dip in the road caused the door to get pushed open. Next slide opening took the door off. We check the doors before we slide now.

troutslayer · 08-08-2013, 08:43 PM

Our current fiver is a rear kitchen and we love it. Our previous fiver was a mid-kitchen and items didn't move around any less than they do now. We just put that rubber shelf material between glass items and all is good

jackandh2o · 08-12-2013, 05:06 PM

We have had a 33 ft 5er for about 5 years and traveled over 15,000 miles. We pack glasses and cups tight and have that non-slip material on the shelf and have lost one cup in all that time. Yes we do get more movement than a side kitchen but the extra counter space more than makes up for some minor movement with dinner ware and pots and pans.

Ray

99-Am.Star · 08-12-2013, 06:05 PM

Make sure it has shock absorbers on it and you shouldn't have to worry.

jeffinsalida · 08-14-2013, 08:07 PM

Trust your experiences. We had a rear kitchen and got tired of the frig contents being pancaked all the time.

Rhagfo · 08-26-2013, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99-Am.Star

Make sure it has shock absorbers on it and you shouldn't have to worry.

The only issue we have with our rear kitchen happened last January. We were headed to Ft. Stevens SP near Astoria, OR, just south of Seaside there is a section of HY101 that floods every year, and has a small "Rough Road" sign just before it. Well this time it it was real rough, doing the posted 45 mph, and I swear the 5er left the ground! We wiped out all the shelf's in the refer. The 5er now has shocks.
No other issues. DW loves the kitchen!