4 Travel Trailers that — Wisely — Went with No Oven
OK, I want to ask you a real question: Do you actually use your RV oven? Personally, my wife and I have spoken to a lot of RVers who simply forego their oven as a cooking appliance and, instead, use it as … a storage space. (You know, that oh-so-valuable commodity in every RV.) As it turns out, those folks may be onto something because the RV oven is often one of the most expensive components inside an RV. So, for those shopping travel trailers — and who don’t cook a lot in their RV cabin — many RV manufacturers are going with no oven at all. It’s a growing trend that gaining steam particularly for smaller towables.
Of course, manufacturers are looking at alternatives ways to cook. And that’s good since more and more of us use air fryers and convection ovens to master our baking skills. Several RV makers are now making appliances that fit into the space allocated for a microwave but which offers convection baking and air frying functionality.
The real question though is which travel trailers that go with no oven are doing it best. So, here are four travel trailers that have eliminated the RV oven and are all the better for it.
Some Standout Travel Trailers with No Oven
Now, before we get to our list, there is something to be aware of: There are essentially two sizes of RV oven that are common in towables. The first is a 17-inch oven and a 21-inch oven. These are measured vertically. You might not think that that four inches of height makes a difference, but it actually makes a significant difference in how the oven performs and what it can cook. While many with the smaller oven report significant hot spots and uneven cooking, the 21-inch oven is one I personally use quite regularly in my own RV. It actually works pretty well.
Naturally, you often see the 17-inch (vertical) oven in smaller RVs. And because of the qualitative difference, it makes the oven not even worth the space (in my eyes anyway). So, let’s look at some models that choose to forego the trouble a faulty oven brings — and the benefits they add along the way.
Ember RV E-Series
We recently had a chance to visit Ember RV and check out several of their latest offerings. And something unique to the company is that they were really the first to use the two-burner, in-line propane stovetop and convection air fryer microwave. While parts shortages delayed their using the air fryer microwaves initially, they’re now consistently doing so in all their offerings.
The two-burner propane stovetop offers two high-performance burners which is sufficient for the vast majority of RV cooking.
One example we saw was the 2026 Ember RV E-Series 21FBE. In this particular trailer, there is a tremendous amount of counter space — so much so that you can use the end nearest the front with the included bar-height stools to enjoy a meal for two.
The E-Series is also the most affordable in the Ember line, but it still has the same kitchen configuration as all of Ember RV’s offerings. So, no matter what your priorities from off-grid mastery to an affordable camper to one with a reconfigurable cargo bay, the kitchen components are the same.
Ember RV has broken a lot of ground in a number of areas, and this is another example of how they’ve started a trend that others are following.
Winnebago Micro Minnie 1800BH
This is one of the smaller travel trailers we’ve looked at, and it offers a bunk space. So, it might be great for people with littles to help them get into camping. Despite being a smaller trailer, the 2026 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1800BH one has a remarkable amount of storage, where it benefits from the lack of an oven. We were also surprised at the build quality of these. We saw a prototype that had just been completed, and it was very tightly built — a good sign.
Winnebago has also done a number of things with the Micro Minnie that we like including the individual controls for the power stabilizers. Most RVs have a control that operates both sides at once but this can be a challenge in uneven camp sites.
One thing to note: This rig does not have a slide, which can be a plus for some, but it does have an East-West bed, which can be a challenge for some.
Length: 21 feet 11 inches • Weight 3,821 pounds • MSRP: $36,451
Palomino OVE 15.2
I should probably start by saying this: The Palomino O.V.E. is absolutely polarizing. On one hand, it offers a pop-top roof that makes it able to fit into some garages. (A plus.) But some won’t like that feature … or the East-West bed. But, by using a two-burner, in-line propane stovetop and convection air fryer microwave, you get the most counter space possible out of a trailer of this size. We got a good look at the 2025 Palomino O.V.E. 15.2 up close recently.
Surprisingly, this is a bunk model able to sleep up to five people and is a complete RV. That means that there is a toilet and shower and full kitchen. This is also a trailer that is ready for adventure with Curt’s independent suspension.
Length: 19 feet 2 inches • Weight 3,338 pounds • MSRP: $30,500
Forest River IBEX
There was a lot that surprised me in the Forest River IBEX line. The example we reviewed, the 2026 Forest River IBEX 16MKS Beast Mode, had a lot of space inside considering the diminutive size of the trailer. The IBEX line offers a variety of models, most of which are larger than this one, and the use of a two-burner in-line propane stovetop and convection air fryer microwave is common.
The packaging of this model, in particular, shows how much you can get in a smaller package. Counter space is decent and there’s a sofa and even a slide room plus the refrigerator is a full-sized unit.
Length: 20 feet 6 inches • Weight 4,278 pounds • MSRP: $39,025 (with Beast Mode package)
What About Off-Grid Camping?
For those who might like boondocking but also enjoy baking, as my wife and I do, know that some of the larger modern battery systems and even portable power stations (solar generators) can provide sufficient juice to make a convection microwave something you can use off the grid.
Tony Barthel
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