Hi all,
We have recently downsized from a 4 berth Caravan to a VW Campervan and drive away awning. We are going away for a fortnight soon and am struggling as to where to keep everything. Although my main dilemma is clothes lol.
We have a small wardrobe for hanging stuff but I'm finding the clothes that lie at the bottom get muddled up and can't find anything.
How do you seasoned campers pack?
I don't know what type of van you have, e.g high/low top, if you have underseat storage and if so how much but when we had a smaller van we kept ours in bags in the overcab locker and/or in bags under the seat. We had a bag each for undies and another bag each for tops and bottoms. I made some bags to the size we needed but sturdy long life shopping bags would also be suitable. To make things easy to fins nylon packing bags like these (also available from ebay and local shops) make storing and finding things a lot easier.
Unless you're packing the likes of a dinner jacket and a Ball gown, I think I'd be looking at rolling(not folding)as much stuff as I could (that, and just take less ).
I've read that some use these for storing small(or rolled)items.
If you do have room for a small,flat(ish) case, it may be worth using one and getting/making internal dividers for it?
We're now using a low-roof swb Toyota "camping-van"(not campervan),and after our fixed bed, 7mtr MH, "stuff" in general was certainly something we had to cut down on!
Hi - in lockers I use the 'Scub' boxes from Ikea. One each for underwear, socks etc. I also use the Marie Kondo method of folding t- shirts and putting them in the boxes standing up, so you can see what's there. I use these boxes in drawers at home anyway so just need to transfer them into MH.
Cheryl
When I worked abroad, I had a colleague who simply bought shirts, socks etc.. cheaply at market and dumped them when they were dirty as it wasn't worth the cost of having them laundered.
This might be a way to avoid carrying a lot of undies, socks etc... especially as you don't also have to store the dirty washing. Alternatively, stop at sites which have laundry facilities and keep things wash and up to date.
Having said that, we invariably take too many clothes - even after 35 years of
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We certainly take way to much of everything, but mostly it would be clothes. Even with just the 2 of us. Clothing has to be 'overdone' as we both fish. Falling in the water would see one or the other of us in trouble if we did not have enough with us. We roll towels, and our outerwear is hung on a rail in the shower. Along with the fishing tackle. The wardrobe will hold underwear, P.js, folded shorts, tops, shirts and similar in one of those under bed boxes, (see through). The hanging space above will accommodate long sleeve items, and trousers folded over a hanger. Shoes, they get stowed in the easy access under bed locker, along with the beer and wine. At the moment, if you have a Homebase near to you, they have stiff sided and bottom (and very colourful that you could use with a code for what is in them)13" square X 13" deep non woven fabric 'boxes' that fold flat and have handles. These would be ideal, for storage without muddle. Good Luck, and I am sure your move from the 'Dark Side' to a campervan will be a good move.
What about using the vacuum pack bags for most of the 'everyday' T shirts, underwear, socks etc. The more 'formal' shirts, jerseys, jackets etc could go into the hanging space, or jackets over the back of the drivers/pass seats.
Thank you all for your help. Will have ago at rolling t-shirts and shorts.
Have bought a plastic tower of clear drawers to store underwear, t-shirts and towels (to be put onto the back seat whilst travelling). So that the small wardrobe area can be used for hanging coats and clothes. This we will put in the awning.
I struggled with the space beneath the hanging rail at the bottom of the wardrobe at first. Eventually I found a rigid boxy bag, a jute one, and roll all my t shirts and other smalls into that, whilst everything that can hang, does. Hanging in front of the clothes I have a homemade fabric pouch, a bit like a peg bag, that takes oddments. Beneath the jute bag are my books and spare towel. OH has the cupboards at the back and uses soft bags to keep things in.
We both have plastic tubs under the bed at the back, with shoes and other rigid bits in.
When we are away for a few weeks, and particularly if we are travelling through changing weather conditions, it's a bit of a pain having to empty the wardrobe to get at the jute bag, but we manage.
The bedding travels on the back seat as we have folding bikes in the back section.
We have just moved onto ebags. various sizes for different items. undies roled in one, tshirts either roled or flat in another, larger items flat in the largest. The odd thing that needs hanging can hang in the tiny gap behind the drivers seat between it and the bathroom.
Just keep them in bags or take less clothes. If you have downsized to a campervan then you have to be prepared to rough it a bit more than you are used to. It's not really the end of the world if you don't change clothes & underwear that often.
It did make me smile 'tother day. I've got a flush toilet in my £1k eBay bargain caravan & there was the camper next to me in his new £55k T6 Calif emptying his pee bucket. you just have to do what you can with what you have got.
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Topic: Where keep clothes in campervan
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