Oven useful or not? '70 Overlander

[blackboat]

Ours has the layout where the stove is in the bulkhead, prtruding into the stateroom. I'm not bothered by the protrusion, but thinking it might be a place better fitted with a microwave, and use a stowable toaster oven when necessary.

Any thoughts on this? One of the main things I use an oven for on vacations is baking oysters. I can't really see baking 5 at a time in the little oven. Could be useful for some fish dishes, but having no idea how well it cooks yet, I keep thinking it doesn't seem very useful.

Obviously, I'm off on other topics instead of fixing the floor and getting it home, but have to daydream some.

So, anyone get much use out of one of these ovens?

Thanks,

Rob

[Janet]

Don't know - but some thoughts..... An oven will run on propane and makes toast. It also broils, bakers, warms and can be used to dry boots - ok - scratch that last bit...

A microwave requires loads of electricity. You can not use a microwave unless you have shore power or you have a generator running.

Toast is good with oysters.

[Chaplain Kent]

The last time we had an oven I found it a great place to store pots and pans. To this day I do not know if that oven worked or not. Right now we have no oven just a microwave. The microwave works great for quick warm ups.
Now I do not wear or even own boots, just sandals. thus never need to dry a pair. Secondly, the oyster crop in Wisconsin has been a little slim lately so we don't do any oyster roasting in Chummy. So your needs may be different but I would say boot the thing out and put in a sensible appliance like a microwave, unless you need room to store pots and pans.

[eikel1we]

I think it depends on the kind of cooking you like to do or dishes you enjoy eating. Silvertwinkie's wife Brandi always bakes THE best, almost world famous, mac & cheese casserole for the Midwest Forums Rally potlucks. I hope they don't yank their stove out !!!
I personally have not used our oven because we don't use Cupcake all that often and had hot weather when we did.

suz

[Happycampers]

Hello.. We had thought about taking the oven out of ours BUT guess what .. when we starting travelling with her .. we used the oven a great deal.. especially with no hookups when on route.. ie Flying Jays or rest stops.. and even Walmart... would not be without one now.. microwave, we will leave it at home.. Annie

[Pick]

We use ours on every trip. Pizza, fishsticks, fish, muffins or pastries in the morning. Microwave is used to reheat cups of coffee, that's about it.

[AYRSTRM2]

I'll make chili in the Dutch oven, but corn bread, fries and cinnamon rolls work best in the gas oven. I wouldn't want to be without it. We usually cook outside, but we have yet to encounter a large amount of rain while camping, and if we did I would use it even more than we do now.

[azflycaster]

My wife uses the oven to broil steaks and to test the smoke alarm.

[AirstreamGypsy]

The last time we had an oven I found it a great place to store pots and pans.

While I agree that pot and pan storgae is nice, especially in my 16' I am more than thrilled with having replaced my "stovetop" with a full oven. After all where would one be without a nice glass of red wine and Bruschetta before dinner.

Ours has the layout where the stove is in the bulkhead, prtruding into the stateroom. I'm not bothered by the protrusion

If you don't mind the protrusion then you are already ahead of the game. Keep it!!!

[wheel interested]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

My wife uses the oven to broil steaks and to test the smoke alarm.

ROFL Ahhh, so that doesn't only happen to me.

We also have used the oven to raise the temperature as well as boiling water on the stove when we killed the batteries boondocking in our SOB.

I love bruschetta, got a great recipe?

I use the oven to warm ironstone plates in cold weather, keep foods warm, reheat leftovers on a piece of foil, pizza, occassional coffee cake, turkey breast, toast, etc. I used the microwave to reheat leftovers, heat micro prepared meals and make hot water for beverages. I can use a tea kettle--gee the work of boiling water the old fashioned way.

[Frank S]

Hi All--We have a 1973 27' Overlander, and in the 18 years we have owned it, we have never used the protusion oven. In reading this thread, a use came to mind, which I hadn't thought of before. Use the oven to take the chill off, when boondocking, instead of turning on the furnace which quickly draws down our one battery.--Frank S

[blackboat]

Thanks for all the different comments; there's been some things I haven't thought of.

Our trailer will lead two lives: The first is as a hotel room replacement for when I am at shooting matches. At some ranges, this approximates boondocking, others have hookups. Either way, this will be it's role as a place to sleep and shower; food is always provided for lunch, sometimes dinner, and in any case I usually eat at a restaurant for the companionship of out of state friends I haven't seen in awhile.

Second role is vacation home for the family. Here we will be staying in known places with full hookups. Not interested in "camping"; I have a backpack and a nice set of Merrill boots if I want to do that. Power won't be a problem. Thus my thoughts on the microwave vs. an oven that seems silly small. Most dishes I can do on a range.

Hmm, I think the safe course for now is keep the oven and see if it gets used (not as a boot drier, I pay too much for Red Wings to forget I left them in the oven). Maybe it has wonderful uses I haven't imagined, but I won't know until I try, so we'll let it live for now, can always give it the old heave-ho later.

Thanks all,

Rob

[Ultradog]

My 75 OL didn't come an oven.
I don't miss it.
I do have shore power. And a microwave.
When you are traveling you have a certain number of cubic feet of room and lbs, of weight in your camper and TV that you must utilize wisely. I'd lose the oven - 30 lbs+ 3 cubic feet - and pick up a propane grill - 10 lbs + 2 cubic feet - and keep it in the TV. I'd even add a fitting so I could hook it to the trailer's propane tanks. Then you could burn your toast or thaw your mittens on the Outside of your rig. You could also do the oysters, kebabs, corn on the cob, and maybe with a little practice, the struedal out there.

[Uberlanders]

LOVE the oven in our 68 Overlander. Have baked great desserts for rallies as well as some tasty cinnamon rolls. Ok guys don't reveal my secret recipe. We have found the temp to be true and have not missed the ease of a microwave.