RE: Storing Items in a PU - Your Tricks

[TheWallRocks]

 
I would be curious to see or hear about how you pack things in your PU.  We seem to struggle with what should go where for easy access, packing and unpacking.  The things that I struggle with are the outdoor chairs, hammock, awning rug (soon to be replaced with the PUT special 9x12 mat), tiki torches, and miscelanous junk.  The Bayside has a front storage compartment (with a water heater), but it seems like we have a lot of wasted space up there.
 
 We leave the blankets on the beds and lay out the AAR panels on top of it, as well as the nifty little $20 porta-potti room.  That seems to get the big AAR bag out of the way as well as the blankets.
 
 Any little tricks you ve learned along the way would be helpful.  We did purchase a " camper pantry"  off of eBay, which I think is a great storage solution in a PU while camping.
 
 Thanks!

[brainpause]

 TheWallRocks
I may be stating the obvious, but.............
 
 Pack things so that first things that are needed for setup go in the camper LAST (i.e., they will be on top of the pile, or near the door). For example, our doorstep goes near the door, and the front stabilizers are at the door also. We usually make our bed before we pop down too.
 
 I have also added six inch PVC pipe to the front and rear, which stores LOTS of things, surprisingly. See them at http://www.larryandhollycrockett.com
 
 Larry

[wssfetch]

 TheWallRocks
One thing you can do is look at what you find you use all the time and what you only need at certain times of the year or at certain sites. Since I have ac/heat stip, the portable fans, electric cube heaters, and Mr. Heater Buddy only come along when the weather is going to warrant using them.  And they usually ride in their own cardboard boxes in the van and are stored in the boxes on shelves in my storage building behind the house.  Things that always go with stay in the camper.
 
 Having dedicated camper supplies and equipment helps.  Look for stuff that fold, stack or stuff well.  I keep egg-crate foam on the bed ends when folding up.  My camper has a flip over galley that folds over onto dinette seat.  The cushions come off the seat and I put blankets on the seat, slip the galley over.  Then fill in th underside of the galley with stuff like flip flops, flashlights, plastic dishpan (also full of stuff).  My galley flip overtop does not have drawers--just countertop and sink.  So it is perfect to laying small items into.
 
 The dinnette table folded down for travel sits on top of three Sterilie drawers.  These hold bed linens, towels, toiletries, clothing, medications, etc.  I have the stacking drawers so that they come apart and fit perfectly under the dinette.  There is still room under the dinnette to slide my portable gas grill.  Dinette cushions go on top of the table.  My porta potty tent and pop-up screen room ride on top of the dinette cushions in their own bags.  And there is room there for the Coleman camp stove (the camper s own stove is stored inside dinette seat) and camp chairs in their bags.
 
 I have rubber backed area rugs on the floor.  On top of them set the tv/vcr in its box, the microwave, the blue Aquatote for grey water, rolled up poly mat, and small three-drawer steriline drawers that I keep miscellaneous stuff in--scissors, matches, scotch tape, paper clips, clothes pins, batteries, etc.
 
 Microwave cookware rides inside the microwave. I pack blankets or sleeping bags between the stuff on the floor an the front end of the camper box in case I have a sudden stop and stuff shifts.
 
 Great discovery--the 5 gallon plastic bucket with lid.  Holds 3 coiled drinking water hoses, extra coiled extension cords, mallet, tent stakes, water tee, level, flash light.  Put the lid on top.  Last thing into the camper and first thing out.  At the campsite it makes a handy stepping stool when you stand on the lid.  Or can also put a plastic bag in it and use it for covered outside trash can.  
 
 After everything is closed up the awning poles, broom and dustpan easily side in through the door and on top of the beds.  Quick to get out when setting up.
 
 I keep dry goods inside stackable plastic contains that ride on stackable shelves I mounted in the galley cabinets.  Cleaning goods stay in a plastic sink basket that rides inside the door of the cabinet and when set up sits behind the sink in a space between the counter and the vinyl window.  Plastic sink baskets also make great shelves for inside cabinet doors.  Remove the suction cups an attach to the inside of the door with screws.  These are great for small items.
 
 There are lots of great ideas for storing stuff.  I have a small camper with8 ft. box so organization is key.  Most of my storage ideas came from other people  on the list and experimentation.  Let us know what you hit upon yourself!

[whippetwrun]

 TheWallRocks
One of the things that helped us decide on the Mesa was all the space for storage.
 
 Outside stuff (chairs, hoses, rug, dog gear, etc.) are kept in the storage box along with the tool box, chocks and levelers.  Basically anything we need for setting up is in there and stuff that is small enough to access throught the panels but isn t needed often is also stored there.
 
 Under the dinette, the kitchen/camp table.  Under the dinette seats, sleeping bags, radio, battery lamp, and blankets & pillows both packed in space bags (the kind that rolls up to squeeze out the extra air), extra clothes for the kiddos.  
 In the cabinet behind the dinette by the door, dry food items and misc. stuff.  
 
 Under the U sofa - porta potty, other side has towels in a space bag and life vests for the kiddos when swimming.  In the drawer under the U sofa are kids toys and games.
 
 Our duffles and coolers are in the bed of the truck along with a small charcoal grill and the 2 dogs in their crates.
 
 I just went through the whole thing to set up for our first trip out.  I am surprisd that I remembered where most things were when I first typed this.
 
 Did you ever feel like no matter how well it is packed or how organized you might be, there is always that one item you forgot or have with you but can t find without tearing the place apart?[&:]

[LoveOurBayside]

 TheWallRocks
This is what works for us.  In the front storage trunk we have 4 collapsible water containers behind the water heater, a few boards in front of it.  Two jack stands are next to that.  A Rubermaid box with junk (ropes, matches, fire starters, ponchos, batteries, flashlights, etc) goes in front of the pass through doors to the inside.  The lantern (in a case) is next to that, as well as a 7 gallon water jug and two funnels and 2 contronella candles. Hoses are also in that area.  By the door to the trunk we have the Paque Tent on the bottom because we don t always use it every trip and the roasting forks.  Then on top of those things are our folding chairs 4 adult and two kids, the awning mat, and the awning poles.  The wheel chocks, tackle box w/ connectors, tools and level, and sway bar are on the very top.  That s what I can remember right now.  When we arrive we pretty much unload everything we will be using on the trip but move things we want to keep in there and will be using by the door.  Then we pop up.  
 
 Inside:  In the benches we store our king sized sleeping bag and sheets, electric fan, 12 V fans, inflatable swimming pool. outdoor toys, vacuum cleaner, bins for shelf, laundry bag, table cloth, tacky lights.  Gosh, I m blanking now as to what else is under there but they are pretty packed.  I put anything I think I might need to get out of the camper betwen trips, like the Shark vac, in the bench closest to the door.   I have the Pop Up GIzmos reflective bunk end covers in a canvas bag next to the the bench cushions under the table so I can grab them when it s time to pop up.  In the space between the front bed and the galley I keep the Pack and Play, small gas grill, and cooler and now the 12V 12"  fan.  In the drawer under the couch I have all our towels.  In the porta potty cabinet,  I have the porta potty, chemicals, and our small electric heater.   In the top hinged storage compartment (our hamper) I have our five pillows and the kids sleeping bags (all rolled into one roll.)   On top of the couch I have the back cushion and the broom.  Under the galley I have all the pots and pans, paper goods, eating utensils, etc.  In the top drawer next to the galley we keep all our cooking utensils in a plastic bin that can be easily carried outside.  The other drawer has simple games for the kids.  
 
 I have a four drawer chest that travels in front of the fridge (along with the 2 dinette backs).  It lives in the house so anything we need replenished or needs to go in the camper can be thrown in there. It holds toiletries, junk, toys, flashlights, portable radio, walkie talkies, etc.  We don t keep any food in the camper when we are not camping, so all we bring just sits on the shelf above the heater/electric cable and on the shelf above the galley while we are camping.  It goes on the floor or in the TV on the way to the campsite.  All our clothes go in duffle bags which go at the foot of each person s sleeping spot.  For now DH is storing the BAL leveler near the door.  We also take a step stool which either goes inside the camper or on top of the trunk stuff (I can t remember if it still fit once we got the awning mat).  
 
 I ll probably think of more as other people respond and edit as such []

[wynot]

 TheWallRocks
I taped a diagram of what goes where in the storage trunk both from the top and front view, so that I could pack it better.
 
 We ve identified what goes where and coded our cabinets so that we can find it and put it back.
 
 Round is evil, so buckets are hard to deal with.   Put Sterilite drawers where you can, and rubbermaid totes in the trunk.

[sandykayak]

 TheWallRocks
Sue, I now sit the stove in the space of the flip-over galley...leaves more room under the dinette and saves having to dig it out as that is one thing I always use...inside 99% of the time.  I usually bring the Coleman 2 burner if I m camping with a group.