Rear kitchen?

[kiltedpig]

The DW is really interested in the rear kitchen, are there problems with these floor plans?

[TLightning]

The roughest ride in any RV is in the back.

[BB_TX]

We have friends with a 2008 Montana 3295RK and love it. Bought it new and no problems at all (other than tires and decals). But apparently rear kitchens are not very popular. Montana and High Country have dropped rear kitchens from their new floor plans.

[mlh]

I had one. My last one. If you go over a bump whiplash can unload everything in your cabinets. Happened to me twice. The last time I broke every dish and cup I had and unloaded all of my caned goods. Some people love a RK I'm just not one of them. I much prefer an RL.
Lynwood

[1retired06]

Our 2005 was a rear kitchen. Never a problem. Wife loved it.

[lawrenceb42106]

Have had 2 rear kitchens. Never again. 1 also had refrigerator, not good.

[lundwc16]

Agree with the above regarding rough ride in the rear, & cabinets becoming empty. We also would add that once set up, most RK floor plans don't have very many windows in the rear, it's a very warm place to cook.
John

[jimcol]

Have had ours since 2006. Wife loves it. We did have to learn how to pack dishes and canned goods but once that was figured out no problem.

[bigskyjimmy]

The last Monty they built that was anything close to a rear kitchen was the 2014-2015 3735MK (mid kitchen) which me and my wife own and love and I never thought I would buy anything but a Rear Living but even that was not a good seller for Montana and they dropped it,if it Don't sell Montana Moves on quick and comes up with a floor plan that does sell and that is how that stay on top in sales

[WeBeFulltime]

Wife and I had a 2008 3400RL and it was OK but was at dealer one day for a small part purchase and saw a 2011 3585SA (is RK) on the lot and really liked it so in a few days after finding out Auto Leveling had just become an option without buying the Big Sky option we ordered a 3585SA the way we wanted it.

We have been full timing in this unit from day one and have NEVER had a problem with open cabinets or broken ANYTHING. True, there are only 2 windows in the kitchen but they function well and there are PLENTY of windows in the large living room. I am sitting at the kitchen table as I type this and can see out in ALL directions.

Too bad Keystone discontinued this floorpan because when we get ready for another fiver we will have to go with a SOB to get what we want.

[scattershot]

Don't do it.

[kiltedpig]

Wow, really interesting discussion. For those who love their RK what tips can you give for keeping everything in place. The MK is on the short list.

[bigskyjimmy]

They no longer make the 3735 MK But the tips we would give if you buy a used or one still left on the lot is that they have the pantry,cupboards etc.. in the rear so do not overload the upper shelves in the Pantry without reinforcing them or they will fall down like ours did when my wife put 20 lbs of cookbooks,canned food, and a espresso maker up there AND in the cupboards if there is anything fragile in there make sure you wrap them before travel,other than that we have had no problems just pack smart as it does bounce more back there,If you folks like to cook it is hard to beat the 3735MK and the rear door is really nice to have as well as the Big living room

[Slink]

Still have my 2005 3650rk love it wouldn't trade for a new one if they traded even up

[offroad71]

I have 2009 3000RK, love it. Had no problems with it. Open refrigerator slowly.

[Lenny K]

Owned a SOB rear kitchen for 15 years and we really liked but we also had a learning curve on how to pack the dishes well and anything else that was loose in the rear. Still remember the year we went down to the Baja and found out what topes (huge speed bumps) were. Sometimes they are unmarked as we found out, and regardless on how well we had everything packed, it quickly emptied our dishes, glasses, spices and other cooking items on the floor. It only happened once....lol

[adams7806]

Our first fifth wheel had a rear kitchen and I loved the space it provided but that was the only good thing about it! We had to put baby locks on all cabinets and wrap every glass because of all the bouncing when traveling. One time we opened the frig only to have everything fall out on the floor! No more rear kitchens for us!

[Mark7]

We have had 2 mid kitchens (OLD Starcraft and Excel) and on our 2nd Excel we went with a rear kitchen. The 2004 Montana we just bought, a 3295RK we actually bought because we really grew to like the rear kitchen in the last Excel. I guess the main reason is that the way the older mid-kitchens were laid out, one had to look around anyone using the kitchen to see the entertainment center. I understand there are a lot of other layouts where that would not be an issue. The 3295RK we just bought has windows surrounding the kitchen and the dining area, and a Fantastic fan dead center right near the kitchen island. I cannot imagine we cannot get enough ventilation back there. Below is the 3295RK floorpan.

I have not even pulled our latest purchase yet... I will this weekend. We never had a problem with breaking anything in the Excel. It rode very smoothly. I really hope I am not disappointed with the Montana.

[bigskyjimmy]

Your Monty is a 2004 pretty dang old so who knows it's past life and you will be comparing it to an Excel???? WOW pretty high standard you are setting there Mark for the old Monty, Excels were built like a brick Poop house but good luck with the "new Monty"

[mtheo]

We are in our second rear kitchen and wife loves it. We have over 75,000 miles in it and yes we have had a few mishaps but not worth getting rid of the rig.