Oven or Not, that is the question...

[silver 67]

Since the PO had removed the original refrigerator, and in the process multilated the cabinet, we have pulled the entire cabinet out that also housed the oven. Before rebuilding, we want to know.....

Just how many times do you all actually use your ovens?

Do you exclusively microwave? Microwave/convection? Toaster oven?

After seeing Pahaska's article in Airstream Life showing a microwave housed in the old vintage oven, that got me to thinking too. We have the original oven, with an aqua door no less. The old pop up never had an oven, so I'm not sure I would miss it, except maybe on cool days when fresh warm bread would taste good.

I need to design the replacement cabinet so our son can work up the drawings (he's a custom cabinet builder). Just thought I'd ask for opinions before I started.

[Holzarbeiter]

In 3 years of ownership, the only thing I have used the oven for was storage. On my 78 Excella the cooktop and oven are one unit, if it was me I would loose the oven. Go with a micro or convection.

[myboyburt]

Love the fact we have a oven we can use when we dry camp/boon dock. Leon bakes pies in it while I cook casseroles, chicken, roast, what have you. We rarely use our microwave, except to store BBQ Potato Chips in it.

[TIMEMACHINE]

The new micro/convection ovens do it all, we even use it to toast bread, it will actually brown the bread just like a toaster. Of course, you will loose the original look, which may be more important to some. I've seen retro style counter micros, buy not flush mount type for cabinets. If you go with a micro, do go with the micro/convection type. There is an advantage to the oven if you are boondocking since it will operate on propane.

Good luck,
John

[Jim & Susan]

We don't intend to put ours back in. It's in a really strange spot in the '73's--it hangs over one of the beds. We've already bought a microwave to use. Most any baking we will do can be done in something else, like a Dutch oven or a the Weber grill.

Ever have ice cream made on your Weber grill?

Jim

[tin sista]

Hey Beth,
Glad to share experiences. I think it really depends on you, do you like to boondock? Do you cook in or eat out a lot when camping? Do you prefer to cook/bake outside the trailer (keeps it cooler fewer odors)? Be sure to tailor your trailer to your needs/preferences Keep the cook happy!
If you boondock (without generators/electricity, etc.) you can't use your convection microwave. So if you like biscuits or anything cooked/heated in an oven you may have to figure something else out.
We started out with a vintage Airstream with an oven, loved it! Now we have a 96 excella with a convection microwave, its ok. I really prefer the oven but that's because I bake when we camp/boondock. So we ended up buying a little portable propane oven to use. I had great luck making a pizza in it and biscuits.
Next Airstream we buy will have an oven for sure! And a dinette but that's another story...
Best wishes!

[CaddyGrn]

Hello,

I think most of the posts so far have hit the major ideas! It will really depend on what you like to do when camping, and where you camp. If re-sale is an issue then you might take a little different look...

Personally our Bambi doesn't have an oven and I don't mind. In the past when we have had SOB trailers/motorhomes the oven was almost always just used for storage. We looked for a really small microwave that would fit in our current Bambi, but didn't find one quite small enough to fit in the existing cupboard space. Didn't want to alter the original look.

I love cooking in a dutch oven so that does it for us when camping. It is all just personal preference. I think it also depends on the number of people that travel together!

Good luck!

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (traveling in S Tardis)

[Alumaholic]

Originally Posted by silver 67

Just how many times do you all actually use your ovens?

Do you exclusively microwave? Microwave/convection? Toaster oven?

In 20 years of trailer camping, followed by 10 years of Airstreaming, we have never used our oven for anything but a breadbox. We cook most of our meals from scratch, rarely using processed foods, preferring instead lots of fresh vegetables, stir fries, omlets, etc.

When boondocking, the propane stove is more than adequate. With hookups, we also use (1) microwave oven, (2) toaster, and recently (3) a George Foreman Grill, which can be used outside on the picnic table.

So, my wife and I suggest that you lose the oven and use the space for a microwave or a larger fridge.

Hope this helps.

[azflycaster]

We boondock and use the oven every trip. We are heading to the White Mountains of Arizona next weekend for four days and have several oven meals planned. We like to broil a steak once and a while and the oven works great for that. It is also a good test of the smoke alarm.

[63air]

Never have used ours but its great for storage. No microwave for us either. I am truly trapped in the "60's. Hardly use the stove unless its raining. I like to be outside with the grill or Coleman stove.

[Jim Clark]

When I redid my 68 GT went with a 2 burner stove and a mw. Worked great, in the new Safari the wife dose use the oven to some extent. Depends on room and design.

[Wabbiteer]

Only missing part on my '73 is the oven - a PO inserted a extended plywood shelf in the cubby hole (that overhangs twin bed on sink side) and that makes a great spot for a tool box ATM.

Don't forget winter is coming and many use the oven as a radiant heater to knock the chill back w/o formally firing up the furnace... I'd like to find vintage replacement just for that reason.
~

[Mark Wiltrakis]

I use my oven, an outdoor propane grill, and stovetop almost exclusively. My convection microwave is used for storage, but someday I'll learn to use it. I rarely camp with plug-in 110 volt service, but always have my Honda eu2000 for the stereo and other essentials. This would also power the micowave, but so far I've not found a need for it.
This seems to be a "six of one, half-dozen of the other" situation, determined by one's cooking preferences.
Mark

[GlenCoombe]

If my original Majic Chef microwave ever gives up I'll replace it with a combination microwave/convection oven. If you have to put a microwave in why go half way?
I use my microwave all the time but only extended stays would have me in need of a conventional oven.....

[Pick]

We use our oven every trip. Biscuits in the morning, sometimes pizza at night. Really came in handy on the 4th of July weekend, as we were boondocking on the river. Almost never use the microwave, just for re-heating cups of coffee.

[silver 67]

All your responses were great!!!

The suggestion by Wabbiteer about using the oven to warm up the trailer without firing up the furnace brought up something hubby and I talked about. Our furnace is missing too. This winter, while working in Moby, we plugged in a little ceramic heater that worked just fine. Of course, if we were boondocking..... Wabbiteer would know about cold mornings, being from the Northwoods. I've come out of a cabin in Perham a many a morning and could see my breath - and it was JUNE!!!

Somewhere I have seen a propane table top oven that is used outside. It can either use canisters or a direct line from the tanks. Just can't remember where I saw it. It would be one more thing to haul around, but it would be an option. Anyone know what I am describing?

Thanks again for all your help.

[scottanlily]

hello silver67 ,

We used the oven in the airstream to bake some Nestlie toll house cookies
and french bread to go with the spagetti or pasta we like to make when camping .so It is an asset ,and toll house cookies are not the same ,don't really turn out right in a microwave.Is it a princess oven?

Scott

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by scottanlily

We used the oven in the airstream to bake some Nestlie toll house cookies
Scott

I want to camp next to you guys!

[AZstreamin]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

We boondock and use the oven every trip. We are heading to the White Mountains of Arizona next weekend for four days.

Where you fishing?

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by AZstreamin

Where you fishing?

Big Lake, it's a Flyfishing Club outing.