These RV Outdoor Kitchens Got a Major Facelift
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Whether you’re a full-time RVer, weekend adventurer, or go-when-you-feel-like-it camper, we all like to have a good setup for our outdoor cooking. RV outdoor kitchens are a little bland straight from the manufacturers, which inspires some renovators to get creative and upgrade their built-in outdoor kitchens.
Add to that variety our own unique cooking personalities, and that can make for several different outdoor cooking setups. It doesn’t really matter what it looks like, as long as it has what you need for your outdoor adventures.
My DIY Outdoor Kitchen Setup
When we travel in our RV, I prefer cooking outdoors. I like the view of where we are parked and avoiding smelling or heating the small space inside.
We renovated an old 1996 Newmar Dutch Star and it doesn’t have an outdoor kitchen, so I have to set up my own. I use a camping kitchen table like this. It is aluminum and light weight with shelves. I am able to place my electric griddle on top and have space for a cutting board. It also comes with a collapsible sink that has a plug for emptying water.
- Great Space Management: Our camping kitchen table is designed to take your kitchen outside! You can organize your stoves, grills, and cookware in an orderly manner on the long aluminum tabletop, 3 folding side tables, and storage shelves. Plus, the cupholders will keep your cups and bottles in place and prevent them from falling. The fold-out sink makes washing dishes outside much easier.
I fill the collapsible sink with water and put any used or dirty utensils directly in the sink as I cook. It is quite handy and it folds up into one piece to store in its own bag and place in one of our storage compartments while traveling.
- NO PUMPING: Press a button for continuous, consistent water flow at ideal pressure, making it easy & effective to wash hands, food, tools, pots & pans, and more!
The shelves are nice for storing items such as paper plates, napkins, forks, knives, and spoons, etc. I just cover the table overnight so little critters don’t mess with what I have stored on the shelves. Our small portable grill sets up nicely right beside the camping table.
Newer RVs come with outdoor kitchens attached to the exterior that are super nice, but a camping table like I use would work great alongside any attached RV outdoor kitchen.
Read Next: 9 DIY RV Outdoor Kitchen Remodel Ideas
Upgrading an Existing RV Outdoor Kitchen
Even with these “ready to use” outdoor kitchens, campers love to add their own unique touches, like different appliances, countertops, backsplash, or storage solutions.
If you are looking to renovate your outdoor kitchen space as a DIY project, you first want to think of how you will use the space.
What kind of food will you be cooking? Do you need a grill or griddle? Will you add a microwave or air fryer in the space? Do you want to include a new faucet for your sink? What about storage space?
Or will your kitchen be for grab-and-go items like drinks and prepackaged snacks? I’ve seen some even use the space for outdoor movie nights.
These are all questions you need to answer before you begin your renovation adventure. Yes! DIY RV Outdoor Kitchen renovation is an adventure. If you don’t see it as that, it will just be another chore or something you have to do.
Let it be a fun adventure in which you create a space you and your family will enjoy on beautiful nights under the stars as you travel, making memories.
A Custom RV Outdoor Kitchen Renovation
RVer Scott Pelletier and his friends are avid campers who love the outdoors. Since he loves to barbecue, Scott was recently gifted a Blackstone Grill for his birthday.
- Blackstone Seasoning and Conditioner and Wholesalehome Additions - This kit contains accessories to help you with easy grilling, handling, and cleaning. Kit combo includes Blackstone 22 inch griddle with foldable legs and wheels, cast iron seasoning, and a pair of Blackstone griddle gloves.
However, this grill is a bit large to keep popping in and out of his RV, just to then put up the stand and lug a 5-gallon propane tank, so he adapted one of his basement storage bays into an outdoor kitchen.
The cubby shown here was totally gutted and cleaned. He rebuilt the frame structure and added 150 pound slide hardware.
- 【Installation note】Suitable for 12-14 inch drawers.The space between drawer and cabinet wall need to be 0.5in each at left and right side,total 1in ( inside cabinet width - outside drawer width= 1in )一 Note:For installation,make sure the two slide rails parallel to each other,and make sure the drawer portion slides parallel to the cabinet portion slides and in the same level. without mounting screws included,you can purchase different M4 screws according to your specific installation scene.
This was an all day job! Don’t expect to redo your outdoor kitchen in a couple hours, thinking you will be able to get on the road by afternoon!
He built a frame for the Blackstone to rest on and attached the sliders. The Blackstone slides out easily and locks into place.
The “Oops” Moment
No matter how many DIY projects you tackle, there’s always an “oops” moment where you realize things aren’t going to plan.
After doing all this, Scott discovered the Blackstone was too low to be comfortable while cooking. He found a small coffee table at a thrift store where the top pulled up, giving him an idea. Purchasing new hardware online would’ve cost around $150 or more. Instead, he took the coffee table apart, keeping the hinges to rebuild the base under his grill.
It’s spring-loaded, so it brings the Blackstone up and is much easier than lifting, making it a perfect height for him.
With the extra space in the compartment, he stores everything else he needs to grill out, like utensils, a stool, and a folding table.
The compartment to the right of the Blackstone includes the important things he needs while grilling, like sauces, so he doesn’t have to trek inside. Above the fridge, you will find his outdoor music center. As he says, “You can’t have a BBQ without music!” I totally agree with that statement.
The Propane Problem
One of the biggest headaches for any camper who wants to grill outdoors is propane. Propane connections may be on the opposite side of the RV, or your grill may require its own tank.
Rather than constantly lugging around a 5-gallon propane tank, Scott purchased a quick connect to attach to the onboard propane tank.
- 3-foot Propane Adapter Hose with Regulator allows you to switch from a 1 pound propane bottle to a bulk (20 pounds) propane tank. The propane hose connector is designed to work with the Blackstone 17" and 22" Tabletop Griddles and the Griddle Charcoal Grill Combo.
The whole setup takes about 10 – 15 minutes to set up and tear down, making it great for RV traveling. Scott says his next project will be plumbing for an outdoor sink, which he plans to start soon.
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Updating Your RV Outdoor Kitchen Inspiration
RV outdoor kitchens can be modified in endless ways to fit your needs as you camp. In the video below, this couple shows off options for adding a sink to the existing grilling area on their Grand Design.
This RVer also opted for a Blackstone griddle and shows how he removed the small two-burner stove for the RVer favorite grill:
Read Next: The 8 Best Camping Grills for Your RV
Great RV Outdoor Kitchens
We all have unique needs for our RV travel, whether we are full time, weekenders or go whenever we feel like it RVers. We would love to hear about your unique setups. What has worked for you? What hasn’t? Share your outdoor kitchen ideas in the comments!
Thanks Scott for your helpful info on what you’ve done to make your RV outdoor kitchen unique to you and your needs.
Cheryl and her husband Stan love to camp with their special needs son. They renovated and old Newmar Dutch Star about 7 years ago and hit the road whenever they can. Life is meant to enjoy and that is exactly what they do. They have recently added pickleball to their enjoyment and love playing Minor League Pickleball tournaments. Cheryl’s currently trying to see how pickleball and camping can come together in a great overall experience in addition to finding handicapped accessible trails and campgrounds. You will also find Cheryl traveling from California to babysit her 3 granddaughters and Virginia to babysit her two grandsons. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
