RVs do have stoves, either a complete stove and oven unit installed outside or just a stovetop that can be pulled out on the side of the RV. Not all RVs have stoves, as this increases the RV’s price and can take up a significant amount of space inside the RV. Smaller models like camper vans may not, while larger class A and C always do.
Here are some pictures of RV stoves:
What Is The Most Common Type Of Stove?
The most common stove tops you will find in any RV are a normal burner gas stove with a glass cover over it. A one-burner stove that can be covered uses the least amount of space on the counter and allows it to be covered, therefore not wasting space if you are not cooking.
Larger RVs have full stovetops with four burners on them; however, these take up a significant amount of space, and many owners replace them as time passes. Instead, most custom installed stoves have two burners, with custom-made wooden covers for when not in use.
As the size of the RV increases, so too does the size of the appliances that can be kept in it, with a lot of the largest RVs have more than one stovetop in them. When purchasing your RV and planning on the amount of stove space you will need, remember what you will use it for.
Why Would An RV Not Have A Stove?
Most smaller RVs do not have stovetops because it saves space and saves on the RV’s total cost, helping those with smaller budgets enjoy the hobby. Further, RVs built for bands, or traveling groups, will not have stoves to make more space for beds.
Not everyone will use RVs in the same way, with most people want a comfortable place to sleep rather than a whole house on wheels. Usually, these RV owners will only spend the night in locations at or near fast food establishments or restaurants.
The addition of a stovetop, even just one plate, can drastically increase the overall price, making it one of the first things to go when cutting costs. A surprising amount of RVs, even luxury ones, will not come standard with stoves to help keep the total cost down.
Can A Gas Stove Be Installed In An RV?
A gas stove can be installed in an RV that does not currently have a stove in it; the piping required for the stove can efficiently be run through the paneling. Further, the space required to house the stove inside the RV can be cut out of an existing tabletop.
Many RV owners who buy RVs without stoves eventually do this to make their lives slightly easier, as not having a stove can be extremely limiting. However, the inside of the RV is not the only location that a stove can be installed.
Most RVs have sliding kitchen counters outside, where basic utensils are stored, like cups, glasses, and even washbasins. Many RV owners retrofit these to hold a small two-plate gas stove to save their space inside while repurposing a unit that may not have been used often.
What Are The Different Stove Tops In An RV?
When it comes to the type of stoves you will find in an RV, there are several things to consider, not least of which is the physical size of the stove. Understanding the three most common stoves that you will find will help you choose the one that will work the best with your needs.
We are taking a look at three of the most common ones that you may find in RVs or that you may consider adding to your custom-built RV. Many people make the mistake of thinking there is truly only one option when choosing a stovetop, suffering from some of the flexibility available.
Induction Plate
The new kid in the world of RV stovetops, inductions plates are loved by many because of their low energy costs and because you only need electricity to run them. While these plates will use power from your batteries, their overall efficiency means that they will use less power overall.
Induction plates are becoming a standard to be included with some newer RVs simply because they use a fraction of the power generated by solar panels each day. Further, as long as you have some power source, they cannot run out of what is needed to cook your food.
Gas Burners
Propane or natural gas are the standard stoves and ovens fitted to all RVs and campervans around the world. Because of the accessibility of the gas and the low cost, it has become the most easily recognizable stove that you can find in RVs.
The only downside is that you will need to constantly monitor and refill your gas tanks to ensure that you have enough for whichever trip you are going on. Every RV owner has a story of them camping under a blanket of stars and sipping on cold coffee because their gas tanks have run empty.
Electric Grills
Much less popular in RVs are electric grills of any type, but some RVs have them fitted alongside a gas stove for added flexibility. An electric grill can be a flat cast iron plate heated through electricity or similar to a George Foreman grill.
These grills will quickly drain all the power from a battery system; however, when an RV is plugged into supplied power, they can be amazing. As you will not use the gas in your tanks, many veteran RV owners prefer to have an electric grill as an extra to their setups.
Which Is The Best Stove Top For An RV?
Depending on your needs, the best stove top for an RV may be a single, loose inductions plate stored when not used. The Atwood Stainless Steel Burner Cooktop being the best for permanent installations for your RV.
Both of these offer flexibility for your cooking needs and allow you to comfortably have the stove top stored in the RV without taking up too much place. Many RV owners have only one person cooking at a time, which is as much as most RV stove tops can allow either way.
With gas stovetops, the simpler options are always the ones that work better, as these are seemingly impossible to break. At the same time, a loose induction plate allows you or your cook to set up the station wherever there may be a plug available.
There is one thing that people that love traveling always dreams of having for themselves, and that is the luxury of an RV.
RVs usually have a stove hidden away somewhere, even if they are bought with no stove in them at all. However, a few select RVs have no stoves in them, as they are used for simply sleeping in while the owners eat at restaurants or RV stops that have everything needed.
