I have the inside cooktop and love it as it's one less thing to bring on a camping trip and is handy for all meals along with the microwave. Yes you do have clean-up, but you will with a grill as well. 

Many people prefer a grill and you can always bring one for grilling meats, etc.  I think it really comes down to personal preference.

I would get the inside cook top, works good for an alternitive heat source. Throw a charcoal grill in the back of the truck, or a couple concrete blocks and a refridgerator rack for grilling outside!

If you're afraid of grease spatter and making a mess, you may want to go this route for breakfast.... Add a little "All Bran" and save the grease for someone elses arteries.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=124

The inside cook top is very convenient and always ready to be used regardless of weather, without having to arrange anything first.

Some issues are: it takes up counter space. A wooden cutting board placed over the burners recovers that space. Some are recessed, and have built in covers; The splash issue is easily fixed by installing an easy to clean, attractive wall covering around the areas of the burners. There are various tiles, metallic, and natural that can be affixed. Various sheet materials can be added, sourced from big box stores, lumber yards etc. Because the area is small, the cost and time is minimal to install these coverings.

If you intend on a lot of grilling, meats for multiple dinners etc, an inexpensive portable gas grill works well outside. They are small enough to store easily, and large enough to serve quite a good number of hungry people.

Gard

I rarely used the two burner cooktop in my LQ.  Most things I just heat up int he Microwave. Oatmeal, sweet rolls for breakfast, soups for lunch and veggies, chilli or stew for dinner.

I do like to grill outside.  The smoke sets off the LQ's smoke alarm if I try to cook that kind of stuff inside.  I also use a George Foreman grill to cook a lot of the meat that I eat. It's fast and easy.  Chicken breast, Salmon, pork chop are all very quick to cook.

I tried one of those RVQ's that hang on the side of the trailer. Was not impressed. It didn't put out enough heat to cook. That may have been a factor of every time I used it I was at elevation in the mountains. The George Foreman is much faster. A whole lot easier to clean up and much smaller to store away.

I've never used our cooktop in the trailer.I either microwave things,pre-cook them and refrigerate them to heat up,or grill outside on a portable grill.I'd rather not deal with the smell and the cleanup,not to mention,I'm just funny about an open flame deal inside the trailer,myself.

BTW,Rentento,I think there are a lot of warnings about using the cooktop on either your grill inside,or a gas cookstove in the house for a heating source.Better off with a portable plug in heater.

"I would get the inside cook top, works good for an alternitive heat source"

(Quote CRG)... BTW,Rentento,I think there are a lot of warnings about using the cooktop on either your grill inside,or a gas cookstove in the house for a heating source.Better off with a portable plug in heater.

  OK, here you go. You're out in the bush, no electricity, no generator.. You been outside all day, damp, cold, fingers numb, tingling!!... There you sit staring at that cook top... Whatcha gonna do with them fingers!!! You know exactly what you'll do, you'll be grilling them fingers in short order!! LOL!! Anyway, what's the difference from dying from CO poisoning from the cook stove -vs- dying from CO poisoning from one of those little portable LPG heaters? One of those Mr. Heater type devises.... Anyone with one eye and half sense would know that you need a CO detector and some, ventilation when cooking or heating with an open flame...... You would hope!!

  Anyway, what do I know, I don't have a gas cooktop, gas grill or a sink/sinks, or a L.Q.'s!! I do have that pot to pee in that everyone talks about...... But even that may be gone after next TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4th 2008!!     BYE!

 I have seen the cooktops with the lid. When the lid is raised, it gives a nice metal "backdrop" for splatters in that direction.

I would only use a cooktop for non-splattery kind of cooking, myself.  (Soup, coffee, noodles, etc.)

I take a grill grate that attaches to a post that I drive into the ground by any firepit. The grill rotates around the post and raises and lowers. Any splattery cooking, I do outside.

But then, I go where there's no place to plug in and I don't have battery-back up   or a generator.

Ha ha ha ... I guess I must have an Amish LQ.  

That Holland Companion is a jewel,isn't it!??!!

I think it all comes down to what kind of cooking you do when you go camping.  We have a cooktop and an oven in out trailer.  My wife does lots of cooking at home and on the road.  Some people do very little cooking even at home so may not use a stove much while camping.  There's nothing like fresh baked rolls for breakfast in the morning to start the day off right.  We do alot of cooking on the fire but also use the stove when its needed.  As far as the trailer smelling lide food inside, I guess ours usually smells enough like horsed to override that.  And yes, I have used the cooktop for a quick warm up without gassing myself.  I used to stay in a small trailer while hunting and the temps were down around 0.  The first thing I would do in the morning without getting out of the sleeping bag was reach over and light all 3 burners on the stove.  The furnace would only put out enough heat to keep it above freezing and the stove would warm it up nicely in a few min.  Although I remember one night one guy had his boots freeze to the floor. 

Terri,

I looked at those, but ended up just buying the table without all the other gadgets (which was hard not to.. I am the gadget queen extrordinaire!)  I haven't used it yet.. We went to Bandera this week, and rented the campsite with the fire pit and picnic table, etc.. i just used the picnic table as my kitchen and eating table.. The weather was cool, but beautiful and we had a good time...... Let me know how you like your kitchen..

We have the Holland Companion grill stashed away in out LQ trailer. LOVE IT! It does cook slower than our big Holland grill at home.  The LQ we sold last year had the outdoor grill mount on the side of the trailer. We never used it as we were scared we would soot up the side of the trailer. As for the interior , we have the  dropped  gas stove top that stays hidden until we need it. Rarely use it unless I have to make coffee real early and don't want to wake anyone starting the generator. We had one trailer that had like a hotplate you sat on the counter. But an IRS agent friend told me that it did not count as a fully self contained unit unless it was hardwired.

quote "Wow that Holland Companion gas grill is nice, I would if you could bake a cake in it? IT is pricey but it looks like it would last a long time"