Community Forums

NorCalCamper · 01-08-2011, 12:36 PM

I'm looking down the road to get a 5th wheel. Can you all let me know your views on a rear kitchen area vs a mid kitchen area. From looking at the trailers at the rv show, I'm thinking a rear kitchen is better because of activity going on in the trailer.

What do you think?

DriVer · 01-08-2011, 01:06 PM

Sunnybrook now Winnebago of Indiana has a rear kitchen fifth wheel. Elvie Frye the President of Sunnybrook and I visited the Sunset Creek models and it featured a rear kitchen.

When I owned our fifth wheel, a Terry 32F it had a rear kitchen.

A fifth wheel with a rear kitchen has merit if you like that type of floorplan and it does make more living space available in the middle of the RV when so equipped.
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**NLOVNIT** · 01-08-2011, 02:39 PM

When we owned our Cougar 5-r, it had a rear kitchen. I sure miss it. It had more counter & cabinet space than I knew what to do with. With our current Bounder, I have just barely more real estate than what's seen next to the stove in our Cougar picture below.

Lori-

metalbender · 01-08-2011, 05:21 PM

We have a rear kit and it sure is nice, keeps the center of the unit open for people to do what ever they need to do with out being in the way of the chef. just make sure if the reffer is not blocked with the slide unit in or you will have to open it up to load or unload the trailer. our's is not blocked when the slides are in, make loading or unloading very easy, we can not open the slide at home too many tree's in the way

Wayne M · 01-09-2011, 08:45 AM

We owned a 5'er prior to the MH. It had a Mid Kitchen. We liked the wrap around counter space that it afforded, but mostly like the rear living area picture window on the back of the 5'er. It made for some very nice parking view arrangements at some CG.

Check both types out. go in, sit down, imagine camping and try to sort out the pro's and con's of each type. Then make up your mind based on your likes.

Happy hunting, happy trails.

TXiceman · 01-09-2011, 09:51 AM

we had a rear kitchen 5er and no problems. we loved all of the counter and cabinet space. Some folks say a rear kitchen trailer has problems with the stuff in the cabinets moving around too much. If you have a good suspension system and shock absorbers, the kitchen should never be a problem.

Ken

450Donn · 01-09-2011, 10:45 AM

Rear kitchen= bigger kitchen space, lack of view, additional weight at the extreme rear of the trailer.
Center kitchen= better views out the rear of the trailer, better balanced trailer, more living space. You need to choose what is more important to you not what we might say.

jayco46 · 01-10-2011, 07:49 AM

We have a 2009 Sunnybrook 3505 RI rear kitchen that we like a lot. The wife loves all the counter and cabinet storage space. I like the living area being separated from the kitchen. We always heard rear kitchen floor plans were hard on all kitchen components and cabinet contents, but has not been any problem with ours and we have many thousand miles on the rig. Only negative for me is do miss the big bay window in the back, but do have a bay window in one of our slides.

KTM Guy · 01-10-2011, 12:49 PM

Rear kitchens are fine, but I wouldn't put one in an ultralight. They stress the frame a little more than a midship location.

ralper · 01-10-2011, 01:19 PM

When I was looking at 5ers I saw that most side kitchens did not have enough counter space to set a coffee mug down much less space to cook. I have a rear L shaped kitchen with some counter space.

When looking at RVs see that you can get to the bathroom and the kitchen sink and refrigerator with the slides in.

If the frame is stressed by a rear kitchen then you do not want that rig because down the road the frame will fail due to being too light weight.

I have a nice large window over the rear counter that gives me a great view out back.

Larry · 01-10-2011, 07:18 PM

Had a rear kitchen before, now mid kitchen. We would never go back, more room, nice windows in back, entertainment center, and the same amount of kitchen counter. We do hower have better pantry space and access with slides closed. The old one with rear kitchen did have a problem with some things moving around. I think it would probably have a lot to do with the type of suspension aand the amount of overhang behind the axles. We towed that trailer over 150000 miles, and no it isn't an issue everytime we went out, but there sure are a lot of rough roads across the country.
Larry

frankdamp · 01-10-2011, 08:09 PM

The biggest issue with a rear kitchen is the g-loads imposed by it being so far behind the wheels. Whatever is in the fridge will get a real workout - your milk might have turned to butter after a couple of hundred miles.

bbbarker · 01-14-2011, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCalCamper

I'm looking down the road to get a 5th wheel. Can you all let me know your views on a rear kitchen area vs a mid kitchen area. From looking at the trailers at the rv show, I'm thinking a rear kitchen is better because of activity going on in the trailer.

What do you think?

O

I like the rear kitchen.

mikron · 01-14-2011, 09:03 AM

Can't see the lake/river with rear kitchen. Mid kitchen would work just fine if I owned a 5-er. We pull our MH in if were on a site with lake/river view. Water view is very important to us, we both grew up in Boston on or near th Atlantic.