Organizing your RV?

[pezheadval]

We just got a new 5th wheel and it has some huge cabinets in the kitchen. I need some ideas for organizing them. Anyone have any tips or pictures? I was thinking baskets or a shelving system? I'm not sure what would work the best. I'd love to see some pictures of your organized cabinets/pantries.

 

[LarryJ]

We just got a new 5th wheel and it has some huge cabinets in the kitchen. I need some ideas for organizing them. Anyone have any tips or pictures? I was thinking baskets or a shelving system? I'm not sure what would work the best. I'd love to see some pictures of your organized cabinets/pantries.

We don't have that problem since our cabinets aren't hugh, but I would think some sort of shelves with like a 1/4" lip in the front to keep things from falling out when they've shifted towards the door when traveling would be the best. You could even make them removable and not have to mount them permanently if you used some sort or legs for the shelf that were either on hinges or fit into the bottom of the shelf into something. I've put shelves in a couple of our clothes closets so things like shoes can go on the bottom and something else on the shelf under the clothes such as hats/gloves even folded T-shirts since those are fairly high.

Best thing to do is to get out and camp some and find out the areas you need to improve on so it makes it more livable to your particular needs/desires.

Larry

 

[bradisgoofy]

Buy a roll or two of the anti skid material that goes in drawers. Line all the shelves with it ( I was doing this long before they showed it on DIY RVroadtrips ) and cut smaller sections to go between each stacked plate to keep them from moving. If you stack your pots and pans, do the same with them because as you are traveling down the road they will rattle and rub the coating off ( voice of experience ). Adding the wire shelving is good, too, but the ones at Lowe's or Home Depot don't have a lip on them to keep stuff from coming out. Check the shelving at Camping World for those types.

If you have the DIY channel on your dish or cable, watch RVroadtrips for some great ideas.

 

[kimmikayb]

We use wire racks. I also use the narrow three drawer plastic storage boxes for my narrow closets in my bathroom. I have two of those closets and I'm able to store wash clothes, hand towels, plastic bags, laundry supplies, small amount of harware I need and some bathroom supplies. It still leaves enough space on the side to hang some jackets and put my broom and vacuum.

We use plastic tubs under the sink. Shoe holder along side the bed. Baskets under the bench seating.

I don't have any pictures, sorry.

 

[mamaloya]

We just got a new 5th wheel and it has some huge cabinets in the kitchen.

Yeah, go ahead, rub it in.

My orginization challenge is getting it all to fit in the little storage we have. I buy the wire racks seperate plates and bowls. My cabinets are tall with no shelves. It doubles the space.

I like the idea of the plastic drawers in the closet. We have a wide short closet.

I am working on organizing my drawers, I have only 2.

I also need to find a use for the cabinets over my bed. My bed slides out the back and there are three short wide cabinets over the window. To get into them, you have to climb on the bed. I am thinking about slipping baskets in it for undies and socks. Those are things you only need once a day.

Shoes are our big prob. We have TONS of shoes. I put a plastic basket outside the door either on top of the big dog kennel or on top of the cooler. (I don't use the cooler except for on the way and I like to have it just in case the fridge goes out. Yes, I am paranoid, but prepared.) It lifts the basket to the perfect height for putting the shoes in as you enter the camper. And they are easy to reach as you step out.

I have a hook for hanging a towel on. I also bought a sink organizer that holds a sponge and the silverware that I wash. I keep a couple of wicker baskets on the counter as well. One holds fruit and the other holds little things like dh's wallet, cell phones, etc. Our camper also had hooks by the door inside where we hang dog leashes, the broom and keys. When we start camping this winter I may add a couple more for jackets.

The nonslip rolls can be used for many things. Definitely use them in between pots and pans, I have a pot missing some nonstick due to rubbing.

Oh, they also sell tension rods to put in the cabinets to keep stuff from falling out when you open the cabinet. I have been hit many times in the head with a salt shaker.

One last tip, bring a notepad and pen with you and keep it handy the first few trips. Jot down any ideas you come up with and things that you wish you had. Also keep track of the things that you have and don't use. Also, walk into the kitchen and grab a cup. The first cabinet you reach for is where they should go. You may be rearranging for a while as you realize where things need to be. The notepad is a great place to jot down these thoughts.

Happy Camping!!

 

[JAM'S MOM]

On the outside of the bathroom door, I hung a shoe holder with pockets. which is used for the many hair products and cosmetics that my daughters use. It keeps the bathroom free of clutter. On the inside of the door, I hung an inexpensive over the door hanger that has 5 hooks -- one for each of us to hang our towels until they are dry.

Our kids have bunk beds and each bed has a two drawer plastic cabinet which holds several days worth of clothes and which allows us to keep the suitcases in the storage area. I keep an inexpensive plastic dish that has several separated sections on the counter by the front door (can also be used for a spread of toppings for hamburgers, or for holding various salad fixings). This is used to hold the items that clutter up the limited counter space. My husband drops his keys and pocket change there, my daughters keep their cellphones and ipods there. Whatever fits and is needed when we leave the trailer, is kept right in the dishl. When we serve meals, all I have to do is pick up the dish and put it on one of the beds until after we've cleaned up.

Oh, and the flashlight, sunscreen, and bugspray are kept in the cabinet at the door so we don't have to come all the way inside to get it.

I also got a collapsible square box for paperwork that accumulates each and every trip. In there are the pamphlets and maps for the current trip as well as the inoculation certificates needed to keep the dog at the campgrounds.

Hope these help!

 

[kimmikayb]

You all reminded me of a few more things we do...

Camping World has this cool wall hanging key holder with a very small shelf and bulletin board...seriously this is only like 6"x8" and we hang our vehicle keys on it, put our cell phones on the shelf and small notes can be tacked up. We also keep our remote for our outside lights so it won't get lost.

We use over the door hanger for the bathroom to hang wet towls, PJs and our shower house bag.

We put sticky hooks up in the tub/shower to hang our sponges and wet bathing suits.

We installed a regular vanity instead of the cheap plastic vanity/mirror in our bathroom and use a shower curtain rod to hold the doors shut while traveling. When parked, the rod does double duty in the shower/tub for hanging up clothes on hangers that need to drip dry.

Each bunk (we have a triple bunk and table that folds to a bed in the kid's room) has a basket for all the endless odds and ends the kids collect.

We too, have a basket for all the paperwork/brochures we collect on a trip.

I have baskets on each of our nightstands in our bedroom and plastic pull out drawers for the cupboard above our bed. It holds socks and undies.

Most of my doors have a sticky hook for various things....potholders, walking sticks, bras, hotdog sticks, etc.

I love this thread. I'm always looking for ways to organize my space in the trailer!

 

[Donna]

On the outside of the bathroom door, I hung a shoe holder with pockets. which is used for the many hair products and cosmetics that my daughters use. It keeps the bathroom free of clutter. On the inside of the door, I hung an inexpensive over the door hanger that has 5 hooks -- one for each of us to hang our towels until they are dry.

Our kids have bunk beds and each bed has a two drawer plastic cabinet which holds several days worth of clothes and which allows us to keep the suitcases in the storage area. I keep an inexpensive plastic dish that has several separated sections on the counter by the front door (can also be used for a spread of toppings for hamburgers, or for holding various salad fixings). This is used to hold the items that clutter up the limited counter space. My husband drops his keys and pocket change there, my daughters keep their cellphones and ipods there. Whatever fits and is needed when we leave the trailer, is kept right in the dishl. When we serve meals, all I have to do is pick up the dish and put it on one of the beds until after we've cleaned up.

Oh, and the flashlight, sunscreen, and bugspray are kept in the cabinet at the door so we don't have to come all the way inside to get it.

I also got a collapsible square box for paperwork that accumulates each and every trip. In there are the pamphlets and maps for the current trip as well as the inoculation certificates needed to keep the dog at the campgrounds.

Hope these help!

Just wondering why you need the suitcases! one of the things i loved about having our RV was no more suitcases to pack and unpack. We just load the RV in front of our house and unload when we get back.

One thing i can suggest is make all the RV stuff JUST FOR THE RV. We got separate pots/pans, dishes, hamper, hangers, sweeper, broom, etc. that we just keep in the RV. When we store it for the winter, only things that freeze or are edible come in to the house. Makes it alot easier when loading for a trip.

 

[kimmikayb]

Just wondering why you need the suitcases! one of the things i loved about having our RV was no more suitcases to pack and unpack. We just load the RV in front of our house and unload when we get back.

One thing i can suggest is make all the RV stuff JUST FOR THE RV. We got separate pots/pans, dishes, hamper, hangers, sweeper, broom, etc. that we just keep in the RV. When we store it for the winter, only things that freeze or are edible come in to the house. Makes it alot easier when loading for a trip.

We do this too Donna. Makes picking up and leaving for a weekend very easy. I actually even pack clothes for the kids for the summer....I get some cheap wal mart or salvation army clothes and those are our camping clothes. Same with bathroom items.

 

[JAM'S MOM]

Just wondering why you need the suitcases! one of the things i loved about having our RV was no more suitcases to pack and unpack. We just load the RV in front of our house and unload when we get back.

One thing i can suggest is make all the RV stuff JUST FOR THE RV. We got separate pots/pans, dishes, hamper, hangers, sweeper, broom, etc. that we just keep in the RV. When we store it for the winter, only things that freeze or are edible come in to the house. Makes it alot easier when loading for a trip.

Great question about the suitcases. We use the suitcases for seasonal and special occasion storage. When we travel from the north to the south and vice versa, we sometimes need weather related clothes. Our suitcases will hold the sweatshirts, gloves, and hats that we needed in NE but not in Florida. Likewise, we don't use the swimsuits and accessories up north as much. We like to go out for special occasions and that's when we pull out the suitcase that holds the dressy dresses and the shoes and handbags. My husband has a suitcase with boots, overalls, hiking backpack, water bottles, etc. And he has another one with dress shirts/ties/slacks/sports coat. We're ready for anything!

We don't usually have to load for a trip. There are always staples on hand in the trailer and we stop at the grocery store as needed. And, like you, we outfitted the trailer without borrowing anything from the house. Learned this lesson from years of tent camping and having to buy a new can opener with every trip because I forgot the one from the kitchen!

What a time saver to just hook up the hitch and off we go!!

 

[LarryJ]

One thing i can suggest is make all the RV stuff JUST FOR THE RV. We got separate pots/pans, dishes, hamper, hangers, sweeper, broom, etc. that we just keep in the RV. When we store it for the winter, only things that freeze or are edible come in to the house. Makes it alot easier when loading for a trip.

We do that also and over the years I have made up a "master" trailer pack list including not only clothes, but toiletries, bath stuff, and kitchen staples such as oil/spices, etc. As things change items are added or removed from "THE LIST"

We have pots/pans/towels etc. which are dedicated to the trailer. When we put the trailer up for the winter if we're not using it the toiletries go into a box and some are used in the house such as shaving cream, shampoo, etc. and we even have dedicated spice containers labeled and whatever is left over goes back in the home spices. The same goes for things like shampoo, bandaids, etc. ... we have dedicated containers that are brought in during the off season and refilled when outfitting the trailer for the next camping season. Then when we get the trailer ready for a new camping season, out comes "THE LIST" and items are checked off as they are packed up in wine boxes that I can get and staged inside the house to go into the trailer. We even have our various medicines, etc. on the list and some go into the trailer and some into our traveling bag so all our eggs are never in one basket for stuff that is absolutely needed and we can't do w/o.

"THE LIST" has almost never failed us and the DW would be so lost if "THE LIST" didn't exist.


Larry

 

[clkelley]

Check out my blog for pictures on how I organized our very limited space in our T@B.

We too have camper only "stuff" The only thing that comes back in the house is clothes and food.

 

[Donna]

Great question about the suitcases. We use the suitcases for seasonal and special occasion storage. When we travel from the north to the south and vice versa, we sometimes need weather related clothes. Our suitcases will hold the sweatshirts, gloves, and hats that we needed in NE but not in Florida. Likewise, we don't use the swimsuits and accessories up north as much. We like to go out for special occasions and that's when we pull out the suitcase that holds the dressy dresses and the shoes and handbags. My husband has a suitcase with boots, overalls, hiking backpack, water bottles, etc. And he has another one with dress shirts/ties/slacks/sports coat. We're ready for anything!

We don't usually have to load for a trip. There are always staples on hand in the trailer and we stop at the grocery store as needed. And, like you, we outfitted the trailer without borrowing anything from the house. Learned this lesson from years of tent camping and having to buy a new can opener with every trip because I forgot the one from the kitchen!

What a time saver to just hook up the hitch and off we go!!

thats so funny you mention the can opener, lol. that is the ONE thing i forgot so i grabbed the "house" can opener and the other day,i went to open a can and thought what the heck did i do with the opener? then it dawned on me THE RV HAS IT! So i just went and bought a new house one, since i use it more often, it should be newer,lol.

 

[pezheadval]

I am loving all these great tips!