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Blackstone Griddle RV Outdoor Kitchen
A Blackstone griddle can easily become the beating heart of an RV outdoor kitchen. A lot of RV manufacturers sell motorhomes and travel trailers with exterior swing arms or mounting rails to hold some of Blackstone’s most popular gas griddle models.
Though you do need to make sure that you are connecting the Blackstone griddle to a low-pressure propane source. A High-pressure direct connection can be a serious fire hazard and damage the griddle. If you don’t have a low-pressure exterior propane connection on your RV, you will have to install a low-pressure regulator or find a way to use the original regulator that came with the Blackstone griddle.
Even if your RV doesn’t come with an outdoor kitchen, it is possible to create one with a little ingenuity. This starts with finding the right location to hold an outdoor gas grill and other components. You also need to be smart about the type of appliances, tables, and other features that you choose.
How Do You Mount a Blackstone Griddle to an RV?
The most important part of connecting a Blackstone griddle to an RV is attaching it to your RV’s exterior low-pressure propane port. A lot of popular RV manufacturers like Keystone have exterior side tables on a swing arm that are meant to hold popular tabletop Blackstone griddles like the Blackstone 17.
If your RV already has a low-pressure port, you can directly connect the Blackstone griddle. This calls for removing the manufacturer’s regulator and connecting the griddle directly to the gas line with an adaptor. Then connect it to the low-pressure propane port on the RV.
Can You Install an Outdoor Kitchen in Camper?
A lot of modern campers come with exterior propane ports and swingarm tables or mounting rails that let you feature a gas grill or griddle as the centerpiece of an RV outdoor kitchen.
Though you do need to make sure that you have a low-pressure port coming out of your RV’s onboard propane system. Otherwise, you will need to connect the gas griddle in your outdoor kitchen to a gas line with a regulator to prevent high-pressure damage to the grill.
Can Blackstone Griddle Be Stored Outside?
You can store a Blackstone griddle outside through the spring, summer, and fall, so long as it is under a weather-proof cover or under a large roof.
During the wintertime, it should be stored indoors where the griddle top and other sensitive components are kept safe and dry.
If you are using your Blackstone griddle as a temporary RV outdoor kitchen and you are using quick connected gas lines, it is best to store the griddle away in one of your exterior storage compartments when not in use.
Just make sure to let it thoroughly cool down before moving it.
If you want to leave it installed on the side of your RV’s exterior throughout your vacation, you should put a weatherproof cover over it to keep the seasoned griddle top safe from the rain and humidity.
The Blackstone griddle should always be stored in a weatherproof storage compartment when your RV is moving.
RV Outdoor Kitchen Mods
Even if your RV doesn’t come with an outdoor kitchen built into it, it is still possible to modify one of your exterior storage bays to turn it into the RV outdoor kitchen of your dreams.
This starts with choosing an exterior storage bay that is relatively close to your RV’s primary door to let you have quick access to the interior kitchen. It also needs to be large enough to accommodate your gas griddle’s dimensions.
Getting The Propane Right
If your RV already has an exterior low-pressure connection, you can directly hook your griddle or grill to it. Otherwise, you will have to plumb a line from either the interior of your RV to your outdoor kitchen location or keep a portable liquid propane tank with a low-pressure regulator stored with your outdoor gas grill.
A Countertop Workstation
Even if your RV comes with a stand or a mounting rail for a gas grill, chances are the counter space will be sparse.
If possible, try to find a portable table that can be modified to attach to the mountain rail or one of the exterior cargo hatch doors.
This will give you the square inches you need to do things like cut meat, hold prep trays at the ready, and accommodate serving trays for cooked food. All without having to worry about the cross-contamination of letting raw foods touch cooked ones.
An RV Exterior Sink
A sink is a thing of beauty in an outdoor RV kitchen. It lets you quickly wash your hands, and rinse foods without having to constantly run back into the RV’s interior kitchen.
It also gives you a place to do things like clean fish, while leaving the scales and guts out of the way.
In a perfect world, you’d be able to run freshwater and gray water lines from the RV to the sink. Though you can just as easily get away with a water jug with a spigot on the side, pouring down into a counter-top flush-mounted basin with a five-gallon bucket positioned under the drain hole.
An RV Refrigerator
Keeping a refrigerator in your RV kitchen is handy for keeping cold items on hand, without having to lug a cooler. Though you will need enough space to firmly support and attach the RV refrigerator in a cargo compartment.
It’s tempting to just repurpose a classic college dorm room mini-fridge, though the compressor that they use, and the way they draw power isn’t suited for RV life.
For an outdoor kitchen, you should choose what is called an “Absorption Refrigerator.” It has no moving parts and is designed for the bumpy roads of RV life. It can also run off a propane line or electricity, for times when you want to boondock off the grid.
Should You Install a Blackstone Griddle on an RV?
There are a lot of benefits to installing a Blackstone griddle on your RV. Not the least of which is the opportunity to cook outside in the great outdoors.
It also frees up more space in the RV’s interior kitchen for family side dishes, while the main course cooks outside. On hot days, cooking outside keeps the heat of meal prep from competing with your RV’s rooftop air conditioner, which can also save your power reserves.
A lot of popular RV manufacturers like Keystone, Forest River, and Jayco offer models that are specifically designed to work with a Blackstone 17 or 22-inch griddle.
Even if your RV doesn’t have a specific Blackstone compatible mount or swing arm, a lot of Blackstone griddles are easily compatible with mounting rails.
Final Thoughts
Blackstone griddles and RV outdoor kitchens go together like peanut butter and jelly. A lot of RV manufacturers sell travel trailers and motorhomes with outdoor mounts or swing arms that are designed to hold a Blackstone 17 or 22-inch griddle.
Though even if your RV only has an exterior mounting rail, it is still worth the investment to add an outdoor kitchen. Just make sure that you have a low-pressure propane line to safely feed gas to the griddle. You also need to make sure to store it in a weatherproof compartment or under a weatherproof cover when you aren’t using it.