What Is An RV Stove?
The term RV stove can mean several things, but it usually refers to the RV range which is a cooktop oven combo that traditionally has come standard in most RVs.
RV ovens aren’t know for their great cooking capabilities, and you don’t meet many RVers who actually use them. Because of this many campers now come with just a 2-4 burner cooktop and a convection microwave oven instead of a propane RV oven.
Related Product: Did you know RV propane detectors need to be replaced every 5 to 10 years depending on the model? Check yours before your next camping trip to see if you need an RV LP Gas Detector Replacement (click to view on Amazon)
If you’re looking to upgrade your RV kitchen or you are building your own camper, you can decide what’s going to be best for the amount of space you have and what kind of cooking you normally do while camping.
Even though they’re not known for being very easy to cook with a propane RV oven can still be a good way to cook food and you may want one. If you don’t see yourself using an oven very often, saving some space by installing a simple RV cooktop is a great way to go.
See Also: Best Portable Propane Camping Stoves – From Small To Large
In this review, I have options for both kinds of campers. There are some classic RV stoves with both a cook top and an oven. There are also some simple propane stove tops with just a few propane burners.
You can look over them all and decide what’s going to fit your camper the best. Some of the RV ranges may be exact replacements to what’s already inside your camper while others may be a nice upgrade.
Summary (Links to Amazon)
- Best RV Range – RecPro Propane RV Range
- Best RV Cooktop – Flame King Built-In RV Stove
- Sleekest Design – Eascookchef Propane Cooktop
Best RV Range
Best RV Cooktop
Sleekest Design
Last update on 2024-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Propane RV Stove Reviews
1. Dometic Colt RV Range
Dometic is a big name in the RV world. Chances are there are some Dometic appliances already in your camper.
They make a lot of different RV cook tops and ranges. The Dometic Colt would be an excellent upgrade for any camper or van.
Let’s start with the gas burners. There are 3 in total. The front is the most powerful being able to output up to 9,000 BTU. The back two are slightly smaller with a BTU output of up to 6,500.
The heat is controlled by knobs on the front that have LED backlights. That’s also where the electric Piezo ignition is located. You turn the knob quickly to release duel sparks on all three burners.
The electric ignition uses 12V power. You will need to connect it to a 12V power source or battery when installing it.
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The RV cooktop is made of metal wire that is coated in flame resistant enamel paint. The enamel may wear off over time but it doesn’t stick to the bottom of pans.
The spacing on the burner grate is wide enough to allow maximum heat but small enough to balance even small pans.
The RV oven burner tube is lit with a Peizo ignition switch, it has a 7,200 BTU output. There’s an oven light and a single wire rack.
The oven temperature is controlled via a knob on the front.
The Dometic Colt RV Range is simple but effective. It’s possibly a direct replacement if you have a camper that’s a few years old.
PROS
- Uses 12V Power Ignition
- 3 Burners
- High BTU Output Front Burner
- Large Cooktop Area
- Built In Oven
CONS
- Takes Up Lots Of Space
- Heavy
- Very Small Oven
2. Furrion Gas RV Range
The Furrion 2-in-1 gas RV range is the new kid on the block. It’s starting to become the standard in many new RVs.
It has a sleek design with a glass oven door, LED backlit burner knobs, a thick metal grate, and a glass cooktop cover.
The entire thing measures 21.5 inches deep, 21.6 inches wide, and 16 inches tall. It weighs almost 54 lbs.
There are 3 burners. The front can output up to 8,000 BTU and the smaller back burners can output up to 6,500 BTU.
The steel grate is coated in black flame resistant enamel. The pattern matches what you commonly see on normal gas powered stoves in homes. It feels more like what you would find in a regular kitchen even though it’s still an RV stove.
There’s also a glass stove cover that’s built into the RV range. It uses 2 panels that fold over each other and then up to become an easy to clean backsplash.
Note the glass is not made to be cooked on, make sure you have it in the folded up position before lighting any of the burners.
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There’s a 12V powered Piezo ignition that is controlled using a knob on the front.
There are 5 knobs in total used to control the ignition, burners, and stove. All of them are backlit using power saving LED lights. It’s a fancy touch many RV campers really enjoy.
The oven part is also pretty fancy. First, there’s a light inside which isn’t super common on standard RV ranges. And because of the glass door, you can now see your food as it’s cooking inside.
The oven dimensions are 14 1/8 inches deep, 17 inches wide, and 8 7/8 inches tall.
The Furrion Gas RV Range is an excellent choice if you are looking for a sleek RV range that can easily double as counter space. It has a flush design that looks amazing when built into a counter and it’s not super bulky.
It might not be an exact replacement if you have an older RV but it’s going to be an upgrade if you are looking to update or renovate your camper.
PROS
- Upgrade From Most RV Ranges
- Uses 12V Power Ignition
- 3 Burners
- Large Stovetop Area
- Included Glass Stove Cover
- Backlit Knobs
- Oven Light
- Built In Oven
CONS
- Takes Up Lots Of Space
- Heavy
- Only 8,000 BTU Main Burner
- Small Oven Space
3. RecPro Propane RV Range
The RecPro propane RV range is another updated take on the classic camper stove oven combos.
This version is made to sit flush on a counter allowing the cooktop to be used as counter space. There’s a built in glass cover that folds in two places and sits up to be used as a backsplash when cooking.
The entire thing measures 17.25 inches deep, 21.5 inches wide, and 20 inches tall.
There are 3 burners. The front can output up to 8,000 BTU and the back burners can output up to 6,500 BTU.
The enamel coated metal grate uses a similar design to the Furrion RV stove with thick bars that form around the burners.
It also matches what you see on normal gas burner stoves in a home and it’s designed to hold pots securely while you’re cooking.
Much like the other propane RV stoves in this review, there’s a 12V powered Piezo ignition that’s controlled by a knob on the front.
There are 5 knobs in total used to control the burners, oven, and ignition. All of them are backlit with LED lights.
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The oven has a stainless steel frame with a glass center so you can see what’s cooking. There’s also a light inside the oven.
The oven measures 14 inches deep, 16.5 inches wide, and 10 inches tall.
One unique thing about this RV oven is the metal shelf and burner sit lower than usual. This gives you more space for larger pans and the wire shelf can be placed in 3 different positions instead of the standard 2.
The RecPro Propane RV Range is maybe one of the best camp stove oven combos on the market today.
It will be a definite upgrade if you’re looking to replace your old RV range and the oven actually has space for pans.
If you use the oven a lot while camping this is an excellent option and one of the best in this review.
PROS
- Upgrade From Most RV Ranges
- Uses 12V Power Ignition
- 3 Burners
- Large Stovetop Area
- Included Glass Stove Cover
- Backlit Knobs
- Oven Light
- Built In Oven
- Huge Oven Space
CONS
- Takes Up Lots Of Space
- Heavy
- Only 8,000 BTU Main Burner
4. Dometic Propane RV Cooktop
One thing about RV ranges is they take up a lot of space in your camper’s kitchen. One way designers are combating this is to install a propane RV cooktop and leave out the traditional propane oven.
This allows you to use the space that would normally be taken up by the RV oven for storage instead.
Check out the FAQ below to see a good, space saving replacement for an RV oven.
The Dometic propane RV cooktop takes up a little bit more counter space than most 2 burner RV stoves but it has a large grate that allows more space for larger pans.
It measures 14 5/8 inches deep, 14 5/8 inches wide, and 4 1/16 inches tall.
It’s made to be built into a counter which means it won’t move around during travel like a portable burner will and you can permanently connect it to the LP gas system.
The largest burner can output up to 7,200 BTU and the smallest 5,200 BTU.
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The burners are a little weaker than what you will find on a large RV range but they’re still powerful enough to boil water and get fry oil hot.
The gas flow is controlled via 2 knobs in the corner and there’s a button used to control the electric Piezo ignition that runs on 12 volt power.
The Dometic Propane RV Cooktop is a great size to save space in your camper kitchen but to also give you a large enough cooktop for comfortable cooking.
If you cook with large pans in your camper this will be a better option than the super small space saving RV stoves reviewed below.
If you want to be able to easily use this RV stove as counter space there’s a version you can get here (click to view on Amazon) that comes with a glass or steel cover that also doubles as a backsplash.
PROS
- Built-In Design
- Flush To Counter
- Large Cooktop Grate
- Space For Big Pans
- 12V Electric Ignition
CONS
- Low BTU Main Burner
5. Flame King Built-In RV Stove
If you want the smallest, simplest, and easiest to install built-in RV stove in your camper the Flame King is going to be the best option.
It’s very small measuring only 13 inches deep, 18.5 inches wide, and 4.5 inches tall. It requires just a small hole in a counter to install and the propane gas inlet is located conveniently in the back.
There is no electric starter which means you don’t have to mess with any electrical wiring or batteries.
There are two burners. The largest can output up to 7,200 BTU and the smallest 5,200 BTU.
There isn’t a large metal grate covering the entire thing like with most RV stoves. Instead, each burner just has a round metal stand that sits perfectly over each one.
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Just as a side note the space of this RV stove is very small which means it could be difficult to use two pans at once.
The flame of each burner can be adjusted via two knobs that sit on the cooktop.
Also included with the RV stove is a cover with wind guards that can be folded out and used for outdoor cooking or as a splash guard.
The cover is included but you don’t have to install it with the burners if you think it will get in the way.
The Flame King Built-In RV Stove is very simple but effective for cooking while camping. It’s perfect for small campers and vans since it takes up very little space.
The included cover is a nice touch as well to protect the burners during travel or to use as extra counter space.
PROS
- Built-In Design
- Uses Very Little Space
- Cover Included
- Easy To Install
- Awesome For Vans
CONS
- Low BTU Main Burner
- No Electric Ignition
- Hard To Use With Large or Multiple Pans
6. Eascookchef Propane Cooktop
This propane cooktop is not made specifically for RV use, but it can be installed in one. The simple design makes it good for travel and its low profile looks really good in a camper kitchen.
There are only two burners but one is made with a super high BTU output of 10,500. The small burner has a max output of 5,000 BTU.
It measures only 20 inches deep, 12 inches wide, and 4 inches tall.
The main part is made with easy to clean black tempered glass and two metal grates sit over the burners.
This is another RV stove that may be difficult to use large or multiple pans with. But the space that is saved makes it worth it for small camper kitchens.
There are two knobs on the stovetop that are used to control the burners and the electric ignition.
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Since this propane cooking stove isn’t made specifically for RV use the electric ignition uses 120 volt power instead of 12 volt.
It’s easy to connect to power though since it just uses a 20 amp plug that can be connected to a standard wall outlet.
If you don’t want to mess with the electricity you can always just leave it unplugged or even remove the power cable completely and light the burners manually with a match or lighter.
The Eascookchef Propane Cooktop has a very sleek and modern design. It looks fantastic in any kind of kitchen and fits well in small campers or vans.
The electric starter option is nice but for RV use the easiest thing will be to leave the power part off and just light it manually.
PROS
- Built-In Design
- Uses Very Little Space
- Easy To Install
- Awesome For Vans
- Electric Ignition
- High BTU Main Burner
CONS
- Electric Ignition Uses 120V Power
- Hard To Use With Large or Multiple Pans
My Choice For Best Propane RV Stoves & Ranges
There are two main kinds of RV stoves reviewed in this article. RV ranges that have both a stove and oven and RV cooktops that only have the burners.
Which one is best for you mainly depends on how much space you have in your camper. Travel trailers, 5th-wheels, and large motorhomes normally have the kitchen and counter space needed for an RV range.
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Small trailers, vans, and Class B motorhomes normally have very little kitchen space so an RV stove that’s just a few burners is going to help leave room for storage.
Below is my choice for the best RV range as well as the best simple RV stove.
RecPro Propane RV Range
The RecPro has the best of everything. It uses the sleek flush design with the glass cover that allows you to use the cooktop for food prep and the oven is the biggest in this review.
The LED backlit knobs are a nice touch and I really like the design the metal grate has for holding all sizes of pans.
The main burner could be slightly more powerful but it’s still enough for regular camp cooking.
It’s the biggest kind of RV stove you can get and for daily cooking for multiple people, it doesn’t get much better than the Recpro.
Flame King Built-In RV Stove
Some may be surprised that I’ve chosen the small and simple Flame King as my choice for the best RV stove but I think that if you’re in a position where you’re getting a smaller stove to save space you might as well go all the way and get the smallest one possible.
I really like how easy the install is as well. If you’re doing everything on your own an uncomplicated propane stove like this is going to be the easiest to figure out.
I like the included cover as well. Things sometimes move around during travel and it’s the best way to make sure the burners are always protected.
Things To Consider
Whether you’re upgrading your RV kitchen, or building your own camper, there are a few things to consider when looking for the perfect RV stove or cooktop.
Size and Fit
Measure the space available in your RV kitchen to ensure the range or cooktop will fit properly.
Consider the dimensions of the unit and whether it will align with your countertop or cabinet layout.
Burner Configuration
Think about the number and type of burners you need. Options typically range from two to four burners in different configurations.
The burner grate is also important. Some RV cooktops have a grates for individual burners, and others have one large grate that covers them all.
The large grates are great when cooking with big or multiple pans, but it also takes up more counter space.
Fuel Type
Decide whether you prefer a propane or electric-powered RV range or cooktop.
Propane is what’s normally in RVs, since electricity isn’t always available. If you always have access to power, electric might be the way to go.
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Ease of Installation and Use
Consider how easy the range or cooktop is to install and operate.
RV ranges require space in the countertop and cabinet area. Some RV cooktops require special sized holes to be cut into a countertop, while others can be placed between pieces.
Many RVers don’t use RV ovens simply because they can be difficult to light an use. When cooking with mine, I have to turn the pan a few times so everything cooks evenly.
If you don’t want to deal with a difficult to use RV oven, I recommend just getting a propane cooktop to save cabinet space.
Frequently Asked Questions About RV Stoves & Ranges
What can I replace my RV oven with?
If you think you will miss having an RV oven you can install an RV convection microwave (click to view on Amazon) that doubles as both a microwave and a convection oven.
The highest input is only 1,500 watts which means it can be used with most 2000 watt generators when boondocking.
See Also: Top 6 Quietest Generators For RV Camping & Emergency Use
If you are replacing a standard RV microwave with this and you want to use the same spot make sure you measure first to make sure the RV convection microwave will fit since they are normally larger than camper microwaves.
Are RV ovens any good?
When compared to electric ovens propane RV ovens are usually much more complicated to bake or cook with and they require much more attention to detail.
Are they any good? They are in the sense that they do get hot and they will cook food but there are some tips and tricks that will help a lot when cooking and especially when baking.
The main problem with RV ovens is the heat is focused in the center. Some people put a pizza stone between the metal shelf that sits above the burner and the wire cooking rack to help even out the heat.
Make sure you measure first but a pizza stone like this (click to view on Amazon) should fit most standard RV range ovens.
I’ve never used a pizza stone in my RV oven. My trick is to simply move the pan from one side to the other every 5 minutes to help stop the center from burning.
It’s a little more work than what most people are used to when baking in an oven but I’ve been able to bake casseroles, cookies, and even breads in my RV oven without using any extra accessories.
Are RV ovens gas or electric?
A traditional RV oven is always going to be gas.
With that being said, a trend in RV manufacturing lately has been to only have an RV stove with burners in the kitchen and to have a convection microwave installed either above or below.
The convection microwave can be used as both an oven and a microwave and they are often more reliable, easier to cook with, and have more space than gas RV ovens.
The only downside is they are powered by electricity and require a generator or large portable power station to run while boondocking.
Can you put a residential oven in an RV?
The short answer is yes but there are a few catches.
First, you are going to have to do a little bit of rearranging in your RV kitchen in order to fit a residential oven inside. It might take an entire counter and cabinet remodel to do it.
Also, if you have a 30 amp RV the power supply may not be enough for a standard oven. At the most, a 30 amp RV can supply 3,600 watts of power and most residential ovens use at least that if not more.
If you have a 50 amp RV it might be a little more doable since they can supply up to 12,500 watts of power. But on two legs which means around 6,000 watts of power at most being used in a circuit.
If you live in your RV and have it permanently parked somewhere installing a residential oven might make sense but it will require some work and electrical know-how.
How do you broil in an RV gas oven?
Most RV ranges with an RV oven have a broil option which is the temperature dial turned all the way up.
This will get the RV oven extremely hot which will have a broil effect but be aware that while the top part of the oven is getting hot the bottom right above the burner is also getting extremely hot.
RV ovens don’t use any kind of fan so the heat is often located in the center right above the burner no matter what setting you have it on.
Do they make electric stoves for RV?
So far the closest thing they make to an electric stove for an RV is a convection microwave.
A convection microwave isn’t exactly like an electric stove but it uses a lot less power and takes up a lot less space. They’re a good compromise and becoming a standard in new RV manufacturing.
Have any more questions about RV stoves and ranges? Leave a comment below.
