Lack of Storage

[jendak760]

I have a Rockwood 1640LTD which is an 8' box. When we camp it seems like there is no room to move. I'm looking for ideas on storage for the things we use on a regular basis. I'd also like to get some ideas on what people do with your clothes during the trip to keep them out of the way. It seems like my trailer is a disaster when we are camping because it's so small.

['tiredTeacher]

I have a Rockwood 1640LTD which is an 8' box. When we camp it seems like there is no room to move. I'm looking for ideas on storage for the things we use on a regular basis. I'd also like to get some ideas on what people do with your clothes during the trip to keep them out of the way. It seems like my trailer is a disaster when we are camping because it's so small.

My Starcraft has an 8' box, too, but it is just the wife and I. We put our clothes on a seat, still in soft-sided suitcases, at night. During the day, they go on the bed. I go for simple and can't see the need for unpacking the suitcase and building (or buying) something I have to set up to hold clothes. We have a drop-down clothes hanger in one corner for stuff that needs to be hung.
As for storage go here http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562607875XxfXUu to see my storage mods.

Hope this helps.

[sacrawf]

I believe that the 1640 has an access door under the sink which is held on by two screws, top and bottom.  That access door can be removed, and then use 1" wood to strengthen around the inside of where you removed the access door.  Buy a set of cabinet hardware that closely matches your Rockwood brass-toned hardware, and make the access door into a hinged door.  This space has a lot of room to store infrequently used items.  I made this modification on my 1610 and use it to store paper towels, bathroom tissue, kleenex, aluminum foil, and ziplock/garabage bags, and it looks like a factory-installed storage space.

I have a Rockwood 1640LTD which is an 8' box. When we camp it seems like there is no room to move. I'm looking for ideas on storage for the things we use on a regular basis. I'd also like to get some ideas on what people do with your clothes during the trip to keep them out of the way. It seems like my trailer is a disaster when we are camping because it's so small.

[jendak760]

Thanks for the idea but my trailer came like that. The hinge is at the bottom of the door so it flips down.

[austinado16]

Time to sell it and put the money toward an 11' or 12' box, especially with 3 kids and big ol' dog!

Ours is 11' and has 3 dresser drawers for cloths, and an "L" shaped bar in one corner of the ceiling for hanging jackets.

Depending on the condition of your PUP, you could probably step up for only a few hundred more bucks.

[jendak760]

I actually have 2 kids. But the problem about going bigger is I would have to buy a bigger vehicle to pull it which isn't really worth it at this point.

[austinado16]

Yeah, there is that whole, "how much can your TV haul."  You might look at the weights of some though and compare to what your TV can manage.  The older campers are pretty light for their size.  My 11' box Stracraft is maybe 1,350lbs. empty.

Here's a year new model than mine, same layout inside with the 3 dresser drawers on the door side, along with a boatload more space along that entire side, not to mention what fits under the 2 dinette seats, under the 2 sink cabinets, and top and bottom rearward of the fridge.  Hard to pass up at $1,500 with a furnace, King size bed up front and Full size bed out the back.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/rvs/894539189.html

[sacrawf]

Although the 1610 has the front storage slide, the interior box is still an 8' box. We often have four adults camping.  The best space management we have found is to keep the clothes (1 large duffle per person and a shared hanging bag plus some shoe/boot bags) in the tow vehicle.  We have a locking hard tonneau cover on the Sport Trac which keeps the bags clean and dry.  Prior to that we used a first generation Hyundai Santa Fe, and used the storage area behind the second seat (no third-row seat).  The large plastic food box is also moved out there when additional room is needed. A garment bag for hanging clothes is laid flat over the other bags in the bed of the Sport Trac, and was used hanging in the Santa Fe.  Soiled clothes are kept in a cotton drawstring laundry bag also in the bed of the vehicle.

Do you have the overhead hanging pantry with the 1640?  We store a lot of the lighter food items and cooking utensils in it (and on top of it) and it saves a lot of space. It is an option with the Freedom series.  I don't know if the pantry or hanging wardrobe would work with your floorplan.  Photos at:
http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?page=rktc&include=galleryview&nav=rec&id=4

My only other suggestion would be adding a Yakima cargo box to the roof of your tow vehicle.  http://yakima.com/racks/cargo/boxes/default.aspx

[Dray]

We leave our clothes in the TV.  There are 4 of us: DW, me and 2 kids.  We brought in the luggage once and it was a huge mess.

[flyfisherman]

Usually there's adequate storage space in my 8' box Starcraft for two people on the usual mountain fishing runs ... 4 or 5 days, maybe a week. However, on those long runs and where I'm bringing everything but the kitchen sink, the answer for me is to use my 9'X9' dome tent as a storage shed. Everything from extra clothing to fishing tackle stores nicely and is out of sight for the passer by.

[jendak760]

Thanks for all of the ideas. This past trip I did have alot of stuff in the back of the vehicle. I think if I use the vehicle as "storage" while camping that may solve a bit of the problem.

[doreen]

My clothes ,portaloo and all the extra bits go in the inner tent in the awning I use on my little camper .

[Gracy]

For our clothes we use storage totes that have lids and are stackable.  We also use storage totes for our food.  In the past we used laundry baskets for our clothes but those are harder to stack and seem to get in disarray.

Depending on sizing if you have a flat surface like above the fridge you could get a portable shelf that fits...... like a utility shelf that comes apart with the legs.... then you can put that up and put a tote under it that slides in and out and then can also put totes on top of the shelf.  But finding the perfect fit is tricky........ we got lucky that the totes I bought and one of the extra utility shelves I had fit perfectly without me doing any measuring.  The totes I bought have rollers on the bottom so they slide in and out really easy and I have enough room to put two side by side under the utility shelf.  (I wish I had taken a pic to show you, I was really proud of myself hahaha!)

I've seen some MODS pics where people use the totes with the drawers and those seemed like a great use.  Also the hanging baskets would be cool.

Have you considered maybe investing in an "Add-A-Room" that attaches to your awning?  That may help with your space issues..... thats something I want to do later when we are able to go on longer trips.......... I think having that would really help.  

Pitching a tent to throw stuff in is another option  Jennifer... I wish we had camped closer together...... we could have critiqued together! hahahahah!!!

[auntlulu]

we have the exact same camper as you.  There are 3 of us, and we purchased the clothes wardrobe and the hanging pantry.  see at my webshot site http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566703479xWOSmE
we do not take luggage, we just pack the wardrobe, each person has their own shelf and the bottom holds towels and washcloths. this combined w/ having the hanging pantry save us a TON of space.  We also put up a screen room w/ roll down sides.  We have a table to play games there, chairs, lights, a small camping table that holds coffee pot, and coffee supplies (that was DH doesnt wake me when he arises at 5 am!)  it works for us.  and anything we unpack and dont use is stored in the trailblazer out of the way.  Once you get is organized, and everything has its place, your camper will seem bigger.  good luck!!

[AZsix]

We have six of us in our pup so storage is at a premium. We are lucky enough to have a lot of counter space so I use stackable shelves to store food items and such while we camp. I also hook up a hanging shelf. http://picasaweb.google.com/sixinaz/PupMods# For our clothes we use a plastic tub with a lid. We have a shower in our pup that has a hard wooden lid and we put the tub on that so it's out of the way. We also have a wardrobe closet that's small but fits a few things.

The best advice I can give is look at what others have done and keep trying different things until you find something that works for you. Good luck!