Organizing your popup?

[uchwear]

How does everyone fit all their stuff into the popup?  We just bought one this weekend.  We have 2 kids and the two of us.  Do they make an organizer you can hang in the end of your bunk?  I need tips and ideas,  we bought a small one 1999 starcraft 2107.

[tlhdoc]

Congratulations on the new PU.  I have found that to keep stuff organized, you need to use some type of containers.  Plastic boxes, duffel bags, etc.  Take a walk through the closet organizing section of your local store.  Hanging shelves, hanging shoe organizers, etc. all can be used.  Good luck with the new PU.

[wavery]

This is a topic for SurfCal.......they have the most organized camper that you've ever seen. They bring a TON of stuff :yikes: . I just can't figure out how they get it all in . They've gotta write a book about it :book: .

[OC Campers]

We have 2 areas of flat countertop.  One on each side of the sink.  I put a set (2) of sterilite drawers on each counter area.  I put all of our misc. stuff like matches/lighter sticks, travel alarm, playing cards etc in 1 and then the other drawer has my plates, cups and bowls.  On the other side of the sink when our youngest was a baby, 1 drawer held diapers, wipes, sunscreen and whatever he needed.  The lower drawer held my dish towels, tablecloth and table clips.  The drawers fit perfectly on the floor so nothing had to leave the camper.  
 
In the bathroom I bought a canvas show rack that had a metal hanger loop on the end and had 6 large pockets.  This holds the bathroom stuff like nail clippers, tylenol, toothbrushes and hair brush.  This also remains in the camper.  So everytime we go camping I know everyone will have a toothbrush and deodrant.  
 
As far as clothing goes.  Everyone brings 1 duffel bag and it is kept at the foot of their bed.  My 2 youngest share a bag so that is one less thing in the camper.  
 
Dirty clothes are kept in a canvas laundry bag that gets placed under a bunk end outside.  When we get home and laundry is completed all my camper items like dish towels and bath towels get placed back in the laundry bag and set on the top of the camper in the garage.  This ensures it goes along on the next camping trip.
 
Outside trash--We purchased a collapsable leaf bag holder at Target and use some metal clips to attach a trash bag inside of it.  I even keep the extra roll of bags in the bottom of it while it is stored in the storage trunk of the camper.
 
Have fun looking and buying.  Setting up your camper is a lot of fun.  
 
Jacqui

[SherryandFamily]

We have been popup camping for 15 years, and it took me quite a while to get organized.  

It takes a lot of trial and error.  At first I put everything where ever it would fit, and then moved things around as we discovered which things we use all the time and which things we rarely use, but want in the camper "just in case".

It took me a while to get it to work, so don't expect everything to make sense the first time out!

Sherry

[wernstriumph]

Take a weekend and set up in your backyard or driveway.Set it up like you were really camping. Then pack it up and make a mental note of where everything went. then set it up again and break it down again. We found that after the 3rd or 4th trip we took, we actually had more room with the same amount of stuff ( it was packed away better). We now have it down to about 20min. to set up( I do the outside stuff, my wife does the inside stuff).It's about the same to pack up. You'll find that soon everything has it's proper place( If I try to help with the inside stuff, my wife says,"That doesn't go there!")
I got a small kitchen cabinet from Home Depot that we keep all the dishes and utensils and stuff in. It fits perfectly on the countertop and when we pack up we lay it on the floor. We also use alot of plastic totes.
Good luck and enjoy your Popup!

[skamper75]

Totes, totes,totes. All tarps in one, one for toys, one for outside misc.(citrinela candles, bugs stuff, bungie cords, tape ect). Longer trips require dry food in a tote and not just in a drawer. They get stacked under the outside table. Except the food goes under truck topper.


Batteries, matchs, hose gaskets, and small items in one drawer. Food prep items, plastic silverware, plates ect in a drawer.  Coffee maker and other like size stuff stored under seat and on counter tops when set up. We removed our stove and installed a full length counter top. That makes for a lot of room for tv, fans, paper towel holder ect.


Everyone has duffel or suitcase for clothes. They stay under the truck topper during the night and behind a curtianed bunk during the day. If we didnt have a full size truck with a shell on it, we would leave ALOT of stuff behind.


Like others have said, the more you go the more you find "your system" that works. If everyone has a job during set up and down, you get used to what everyone is doing. And everyone knows how thing go should go and what to expect next. Over time you will leave alot of unused items behind, to make room for other  "must have stuff", which youll probally only use once anyways.

[Camping Coxes]

We had an 8' Rockwood before our current camper.  It had exactly one cabinet for storing stuff.  I had to be creative.
 
What I found worked best was a three-drawer sterilite unit.  I was able to put all our cooking and eating utensils in one drawer, our plates, bowls and cups in another, and our cooking stuff in the last one.  On top of the one storage cabinet we had a flat countertop, and I put the Sterilite on top of that.   It laid on the floor of the trailer during transport and after each trip I took it out (you could leave it in) and stored it in the garage.  That way I could check for restocking easily before a trip.
 
I've also seen people use the big sterilites that are wheeled and keep them outside the trailer, to access as needed.  
 
Our clothes have always been in individual duffel bags.  Get the kind that have pockets on each end -- good for toiletries and stuff like that that need to come in and out often.  We keep ours in the back of our Suburban, but I'd like to convince my family to keep them at the end of our bunks.  They think they'll kick them during the night, but they're just stubborn!
 
Make a checklist of things you'll need and add and subtract as the trips go by, i.e. dish detergent, paper towels, etc.  That way it will make getting ready to go easier.  Also, a notepad to make note of anything you run out of so you can stock it before the next trip is helpful.

[skamper75]

Also, a notepad to make note of anything you run out of so you can stock it before the next trip is helpful.

I agree on the note pad. We keep one with a magnetic strip hanging from the fridge. If we run out of or low of something, we write it down. Before we set it down we go thru our stuff and write down anything needed. At home we keep the list right inside the door. While preping for the next trip, we get the list and add items to regular shopping list.  Most of the time (except first of the year) we pack the camper without poping it up, just crawl thru the door and load up.  Our old camper is manual lift w/out the aid of a crank so we limit poping up or down.

[A2SuperCrew]

We do many of the things listed already, especially the use of plastic totes for storage.

One different storage idea we've come up with is the use of a metal wire shower caddy in the bunk ends.  We attach it to the center roof pole at the window end using a velcro wire tie.  

The shower caddy provides a nice place to put misc items that we like to reach while in bed.  Books, eye glasses, a bottle of water, my watch.  It works out well.  This would only be really helpful, though if you sleep with your head at the window end like we do.  

[AustinBoston]

One different storage idea we've come up with is the use of a metal wire shower caddy in the bunk ends.  We attach it to the center roof pole at the window end using a velcro wire tie.  



This would only be really helpful, though if you sleep with your head at the window end like we do.  

My first reaction was "That would be a pain (in the head) during the midnight run!" :confused: But your use might not be a problem.  We're tall enough so we have to sleep the other way, even with the "queen sized" bunks.

Austin

[A2SuperCrew]

My first reaction was "That would be a pain (in the head) during the midnight run!" :confused: But your use might not be a problem.  We're tall enough so we have to sleep the other way, even with the "queen sized" bunks.

Austin

So far it's worked very well.  It's a smaller size caddy, so it hangs out of the way.  I'm 6' 5", and we've got a "King Size" bunk.  We sleep that way so my feet can hang off the end onto the couch.     I'll see if I have a pic somewhere........Of the caddy, not my feet hanging off!    If not, we're heading up to get the PUP out of the barn next weekend.  I'll be able to take a pic then.    

Counting down the days to camping again!