When it comes to fifth wheel floorplans, you have three options: a rear kitchen, a middle kitchen, or a front kitchen. How do you know which floorplan is best for you? You might not know until you tour a few models, but if you enjoy hosting family and friends in your RV, a rear kitchen fifth wheel may be best.
Let’s take a closer look at this specific floorplan and check out some great options!
What Is a Rear Kitchen Fifth Wheel?
A rear kitchen fifth wheel is exactly that. The kitchen is in the rear of the RV, while the main bedroom is in the front over the hitch and the living space is in the middle. Having the living room in the center usually means a larger area for entertaining.
Not familiar with fifth wheels? Start here.
Other common fifth wheel layouts include “rear living” where the kitchen is in the middle, and “front kitchen” where the kitchen is in the front of the trailer. Each layout has its pros and cons, and there isn’t one that’s better than the others.
Additionally, every manufacturer organizes things just a little bit differently. This is one of the reasons why RVers love fifth wheels in general: the variety of floorplans! Even all the rear kitchen fifth wheel models shared below have their differences.
Can You Live Comfortably in a Fifth Wheel?
Yes, you can live comfortably in a fifth wheel. These rigs offer all the amenities of a home and are often larger and more spacious than other RV types. Many fifth wheels have full kitchens and bathrooms, comfortable seating and sleeping areas, entertainment systems, office space, and more. They also typically have large holding tanks for fresh, gray, and black water, allowing you to stay off the grid for extended periods.
Can You Use the Kitchen in an RV While Driving?
No, using the kitchen in an RV while driving is unsafe. RV kitchen appliances are designed to be used when the camper is stationary and level. Attempting to use these appliances while the RV is in motion can pose a significant safety risk to the driver and passengers. Additionally, the movement from driving can cause the contents of the kitchen, such as pots and pans, to move around and potentially cause a fire or injury.
If you’re traveling in a fifth wheel trailer, remember you should always ride in the cab of the tow vehicle while on the move. While it’s tempting to use the features of your home on wheels throughout your journey, you should wait until the RV is safely parked.
Pro Tip: Curious to learn more? We revealed What You Can Legally Do in a Camper While It’s Moving.
8 Best Rear Kitchen Fifth Wheels You’ll Love
Below are eight rear kitchen fifth wheel models we think you’ll love. Whether you’re looking for an RV just to get away a few times each year or for your next full-time home, you’ll appreciate the space these floorplans provide. Let’s take a look!
1. Grand Design Reflection 150 Series 226RK
If traveling alone or with a partner, check out the Grand Design Reflection 150 Series 226RK. This smaller living space is ideal for one or two people. The outside door to the rear of the RV provides easy access to the kitchen.
Kitchen Features
The 226RK features a deep-seated stainless steel sink, perfect for washing dishes and preparing meals. You can upgrade the standard 10 cubic foot refrigerator to a 16 cubic foot refrigerator to provide additional food storage. The Ultimate Power Package includes a 30-inch stainless steel microwave, and the Peace of Mind Package includes residential cabinetry and a high-rise faucet with a pullout sprayer.
In this model, the kitchen sits along the rear wall of the RV with one window over the sink. This floorplan makes it convenient to take food in and out without tracking dirt through the fifth wheel. The outside door leads straight into the kitchen area.
Living, Dining, and Sleeping
The living and dining area is in the center of the 226RK. The booth dinette comes standard, but you can upgrade to a free-standing dinette table and chairs in some models. You can choose between theater seating or a tri-fold sofa. The dining and living areas face each other with the TV over the dinette.
In the front of the 226RK, you’ll find the bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom features storage above, beside, and under the queen bed, and a small wardrobe. The bathroom features a 30 by 36 inch residential walk-in shower with skylight, stainless steel sink, and large medicine cabinet.
2. Grand Design Solitude 390RK
A larger, heavier, and more expensive option in the Grand Design line-up is the Solitude 390RK. If you’re looking for luxury, look no further than this rear kitchen fifth wheel. With quality craftsmanship and almost 42 feet of living space, this fifth wheel will feel like a home.
Kitchen Features
If you want a loaded, residential kitchen, the 390RK might be for you. Featuring a residential refrigerator, a residential oven, a pantry and overhead cabinets for storage, and an island, there’s nothing more you’ll need to prepare delicious meals while traveling. It’s even prepped for a dishwasher.
Living, Dining, and Sleeping
Drop down two steps from the rear kitchen into the living and dining space. This drop-down floor adds a homey feel and extends the ceilings a few feet. Theater seating and two tri-fold sofas provide ample seating around the entertainment center while also providing additional sleeping space if family or friends come to visit.
Walk up two steps from the living and dining area into the bathroom and front bedroom. A coat closet is in the entryway hallway, while a linen closet is in the bathroom to provide lots of storage.
A double vanity and shower with skylight round out the features in the bathroom. You can upgrade the queen bed in the front bedroom to a king. The wardrobe runs the entire width of the front of the RV with a washer and dryer prep station in the closet.
3. Keystone Alpine 3910RK
The Keystone Alpine 3910RK features a separate half bath, fireplace, and huge master bathroom. This new floorplan is one of the longer Keystone Alpine fifth wheel options at 42-feet-11-inches.
Kitchen Features
The 3910RK has one door leading straight into the kitchen space. This area includes a huge pantry, solid wood cabinet doors, solid-surface countertops, a stainless steel extra deep sink with dual bowls, and Insignia appliances.
The standard refrigerator is the 18 cubic foot gas/electric option, but you can upgrade to a residential refrigerator. The U-shaped design makes prepping meals easy and efficient.
Living, Dining, and Sleeping
Like most fifth wheels with center or front living spaces, the 3910RK features theater seating and two tri-fold sofas that provide additional sleeping space. The legless free-standing dinette is a great feature that gives ample legroom for eating, doing school work, or working online.
The second entry door leads into a hallway to the half bath that includes a washer and dryer hook-up. The master bedroom features storage above the standard king bed, a dresser, and a bench.
One of the best parts of this floorplan is the master bathroom. It features a glass shower with massaging shower head and skylight, a linen closet, and a solid-surface countertop with double vanity.
Pro Tip: Unsure what type of RV is best for you? Join the debate on Which Is Best? 5th Wheel vs. Travel Trailer.
4. Keystone Cougar Half-Ton 29RKS
The Keystone Cougar Half-Ton series includes lighter, smaller fifth wheels designed for one or two travelers. The 29RKS is about 32-feet and weighs just under 9,000 pounds.
Kitchen Features
This rear kitchen fifth wheel includes residential hardware, a stainless steel kitchen sink, and a high-rise chef’s faucet and sprayer. An 8 cubic-foot refrigerator comes standard with an option to upgrade to a 10.4 cubic foot refrigerator.
Since the 29RKS is a smaller model, this floorplan includes the kitchen, dining, and living space together in one area.
Living, Dining, and Sleeping
The living space features an entertainment center with a fireplace, theater seating, and one tri-fold sofa. A booth dinette comes standard with the option to upgrade to a free-standing table and chairs.
The bathroom features a large sink and shower, a porcelain toilet, and a linen closet. In the bedroom, you’ll find overhead storage above the queen bed with a side wardrobe for additional storage.
5. Dutchmen Yukon 399ML
The Dutchmen Yukon 399ML is a longer, heavier, and more expensive option. It’s 42-feet-5-inches and weighs right under 14,000 pounds.
Kitchen Features
The rear kitchen features a U-shaped layout with the residential refrigerator against the back wall and solid-surface countertops. A double sink faces the living space. The kitchen also features a large pantry and the largest oven in the industry.
Living, Dining, and Sleeping
The free-standing dinette leads out to the living space, where you’ll find theater seating and one tri-fold sofa facing the entertainment center and fireplace. There’s additional storage as well as a separate countertop. A large closet finishes the living area.
Up the stairs, you’ll walk through a beautiful bathroom equipped with a large linen closet, double vanity, and large shower before entering the bedroom. Here the king bed sits in front of an entertainment center with a fireplace.
6. Forest River Riverstone 39RKFB
Forest River’s Riverstone 39RKFB is a luxury rear kitchen fifth wheel option coming in at 42-feet-7-inches. This model is perfect for a couple who needs a full-time rig with a designated work space.
Kitchen Features
Starting with the stainless steel appliances, you’ll find an Insignia 3.7 cubic foot oven with a 4-burner range, an 18 cubic foot French door refrigerator, and a 30-inch microwave. But that’s not all! This kitchen also has a residential stainless steel dual bowl sink and a Fischer Paykel dishwasher for cleaning up after dinner.
A Calcutta solid-surface countertop, tile backsplash, ample hardwood cabinetry, and a pantry give this rear RV kitchen a residential feel.
Living, Dining, and Sleeping
In the living room, you’ll find theater seats, a sofa bed, an entertainment center and fireplace. Next to the pull-out dinette is a spacious desk with built-in drawers for the perfect home office. This fifth wheel also features a half bath and a washer and dryer in the unit’s center.
As you move into the upstairs bedroom, you’ll find a king-size bed facing a dresser with a TV above it. The front bathroom has a porcelain toilet, double vanity, a walk-in shower with a skylight, and a huge walk-in closet with built-in shelving and a bench seat.
7. Jayco North Point 380RKGS
The Jayco North Point 380RKGS is another great option if you’re looking for a larger fifth wheel. The 42-foot-3-inch length, 14,000 pound weight, and five slide-outs make this ideal for full-time living or long-term travel.
Kitchen Features
Two slide-outs in this rear kitchen fifth wheel create ample prepping, cooking, and entertaining space.
One of the best features is the double pull-out extension, which provides additional prepping or eating space. You also have bar-top seating, a residential refrigerator, a large pantry, and solid-surface countertops.
Living, Dining, and Sleeping
This rig has a step down into the living and dining space and then a step up in the sleeping area. The lower living space means lots of headroom and a homey feel. This floorplan has two tri-fold sofas, theater seating, and an entertainment center with a fireplace.
As you move toward the front of the RV, you’ll enjoy the double vanity, linen closet, and large shower in the bathroom. The bedroom features a flip-top dresser, queen bed, and large wardrobe with washer and dryer prep.
8. DRV Mobile Suites 41RKSB4
These luxury models by DRV Mobile Suites are some of the heaviest on the market. The high-quality, luxurious design will make you feel like you’re at home.
Kitchen Features
The highlights of this floorplan include a residential refrigerator, a stainless steel sink with a “high rise” pull-down faucet, and a U-shaped design. You won’t have any trouble finding places to store all of your dishes, kitchen gadgets, and pots and pans. Beautiful cabinetry surrounds this kitchen.
Living, Dining, and Sleeping
The dining area is rather small. But the living space features two slides, one with two recliners and one with a large sofa. A loveseat sits across from the entertainment center with a television.
Behind the entertainment center is a huge storage area leading into the bathroom, where you’ll find a farmhouse-style vanity and large shower. There’s no shortage of storage in the bedroom, as you’ll find upper cabinets, lower drawers, and a wardrobe.
Benefits of a Rear Kitchen Fifth Wheel Floorplan
Rear kitchen floorplans usually provide travelers with lots of space to entertain and prepare meals. The ample counter space and residential features in many of these fifth wheels let groups and families travel together.
No other RV type or floorplan offers as much in the way of kitchen space. With full wrap-around counters connecting the sink, range, and food prep room, you will truly feel like you’re cooking in a home kitchen.
Nearly every other RV type offers broken-up counters and small, dual-purpose counter insets to turn your range and sink into a work surface. That’s unnecessary in these models, giving you the luxury of residential-style sinks and ranges with plenty of room all around.
The roomy central living area is also ideal for welcoming guests. Because the kitchen lies in the rear, the main living space is open for get-togethers. This makes it the natural central space of the RV.
Pro Tip: If a rear kitchen fifth wheel isn’t for you, this is How to Find the Perfect Front Kitchen Fifth Wheel.
These Rear Kitchen Fifth Wheels Feel Just Like Home
Whether you’re living in your fifth wheel full-time, traveling several months out of the year, or just taking your RV out for the weekend, you’ll enjoy rear kitchen fifth wheel floorplans.
Even families with children can make these floorplans work. Sofas can become sleeping areas, and many of these models offer plenty of storage for kids’ toys. They’re also great for solo travelers or retired couples who just love to entertain.
So what do you think about the rear kitchen fifth wheel floor plan? Does it meet your travel needs? Let us know in the comments below!
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John
Friday 24th of March 2023
I don’t own an RV but lean toward the Grand Design Solitude 310 GK because it has a large rear window that makes it feel more open. Your DRV had a similar floor plan so my question is; what are the pros and cons of a large rear window on a fifth wheel? Thanks
Haley Soltau
Sunday 6th of March 2022
What RV is the first photo from? It has the caption... "Rear kitchens in fifth wheels usually mean high ceilings all the way back and large, spacious living rooms." It's exactly what I've been looking for but you don't provide the RV details.
Mortons on the Move
Sunday 10th of April 2022
That is a custom New Horizons rear kitchen Fifth wheel
Herb
Tuesday 4th of January 2022
One should consider used for a greater variety in arrangements of rear kitchens. For example the Keystone Cougar ½ ton 279RKSWE. It is a fifth wheel 30.5" long. The major (for us anyway) advantage is that when on the road, lunches and overnight sleeping is possible without extending any slides at all. It can be towed by almost any truck capable of towing 10,300 lbs (fully loaded), has a large rear window over the full width back counter, has a couch and easy chair in the living area, a full dry bath, with a wardrobe/linen slide and has larger tanks. The few deficiencies we found were readily correctable by us.
Diane
Monday 20th of December 2021
Missing the most compact rear kitchen that is hard for them to keep in stock, the Arctic Fox 275L, nice rear kitchen, under 30 feet ,with 2665 ccc, 88 gal fresh over 100 grey, true off road frame built by them not the Lippert ones which have so many failures. Great 4 season insulation too.
Marty
Monday 20th of December 2021
Check out the New Horizons Magestic xxRKxxxx series at https://horizonsrv.com/custom-rvs/majestic/ New Horizons is one of the two best 5th wheel manufacturers there is.