Two new members on the verge of buying...

[Hagar]

Hi everybody. We're new members who have been 5th Wheel shopping for about a year and are just about ready to make a purchase. We like many things about the Montana but there's just one thing about them I don't like and am hoping someone has found a workaround. The problem is the way the range hood comes down so close to the stove. I'm afraid that would drive me crazy. (My husband says it would be a short drive ). I do a lot of cooking in our Lance truck camper and as small as it is, there's much more space between the cooking pots and the range hood than in the Monty. If anyone has been able to redesign this workspace please let me know.
Thanks for any advice and for the great deal of information I've already gleaned from your site.
Delta

[Fordzilla]

We don't do a lot of camping inside the camper. But what we have noticed is when we do cook inside it's just for the two of us or maybe 3-4 if the kids are with us for the weekend. We don't really use that big of pans to bother us being closer to the exhaust fan. I'm sure if we were boiling a big ole pot of chilly or something like that it may be a pain. But, if you cook large meals I can see where it may be a problem. Good luck with your serching. Maybe some models would be different, but I know our 3685 is like you described.

Ron & Melinda Rosewall
Marcus, Iowa
'06 F350 DRW King Ranch 4x4, diesel pulling machine.
'04 3685FL, Fireplace, Cent Vac, Fantastic Fan, Safety Glass, 2nd A/C, Slide out awnings.

http://www.picturetrail.com/fordzilla

[CountryGuy]

Delta

My hubby LOVES corn, and for years I have not been able to get him to cook it other than the ole dump er in a HUGE pot and boil. Our pot is about 12 inches high, rough guess, without going out to Tana to measure. It is big!! I have had no trouble fitting TALL pots on the stove, I have had trouble with wide skillets, only one per stove top, thank you very much.

I am no gourmet type cook, but we do use the stove top quite a bit, and the hood has not been a problem for us.

Good luck on your choice and Happy Trails!

Carol







Al & Carol Stevens Tipton, Mi.
Retired - Traveling with 4 Yorkies
Our Camping Rig History
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Our take on RV ownership, "Ya better be handy with your hands and handy with your cash."
2004 3295RK
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Every day spent on earth is a blessing, every day spent in our Montana is a day blessed twice.

[toolmanroy]

We have had no problem with cooking on the stove top, other than as mentioned you cannot get 2 large skillets side by side. We bought a cast iron griddle that covers the 2 back burners and that solved that problem for us. I have used large pots on the stove without a problem and never even thought about the hood being too close.

Roy and Nancy

2001 F250 CC 4x4 Lariat diesel
2005 Montana 2955RL

[Parrothead]

An electric skillet helps the crowd on the stove top. Also the microwave. We cook spaghetti a lot and have no problem. I think you just learn to deal with it. Nothing is perfect. We rarely cook for more than the 2 of us so this may be different for those with children along.
Happy trails.......................

Sue and Ed Rowe
Hemet California

2005 3400RL

2006 GMC 3500 Dually, D/A, Crew Cab, Long Bed

[richfaa]

Take a look at some other RV brands and compare the stoves and the spacing. You may find that they are all pretty much alike.

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

[Just148]

We do a lot of our cooking at home, and use the MIC. and an electric skillet. I also carry a rack from the oven to set over a campfire and cook on it...

"This Is The Life"
Wendell & Margaret
2004 Montana 2980RL
2006 Chevy.2500HD-Duramax,Allison Tran.

[sreigle]

If you can deal with the hood being relatively close, a nice thing about it is that it exhausts the steam, keeping moisture out of the coach. The closer the hood, the better the exhausting.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

[Hemlockusa]

Hi Deborah - My wife is also a Kitchen - Cooking lady. That is exactly why we have a 3650RK instead of my choice 3400RL. Now that we have had it for a year, I guess I grew into it.. and an happy now. The kitchens as everyone has already mentioned are just about the same in every brand. I think if that is the only problem you have with the unit. YOUR ARE GOING TO BE ONE EASY TO PLEASE AND HAPPY CAMPER... In two weeks you won't even worry about it. Beside where in the world could you possible meet such great MONTANA folk's...
Safe Travels and Happy Cooking
JOhn H

2005 Dodge 3500 4x2 Dually Cummins Diesel, Line X /2005 Montana/""MOC TRAVEL ASSISTANCE VOLUNTEER"" ""TOPEKA, KANSAS AREA"" 3650RK

[Hagar]

Wow, thanks for all the responses. Maybe I'll be able to live with the stove the way it is since it doesn't bother you all. I can't wait to meet some of you at the Fall Rally.

[sreigle]

Deborah, if you have the opportunity, take the largest pan and utensils you use with any regularity and go visit a Montana on a dealer's lot and set it on the stove. Move around like you normally would, stirring, or whatever. That might either ease your mind or increase the doubts. The dealer might look at you a bit strangely but you are the one who will have to live with it.

We look forward to meeting you folks at the rally, too.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)