We have been camping for years in a folding camper. Last October we bought a caravan so we could camp all year round. We have had a few trips out already but we don`t seem to be as organized as we would like to be.
One of the things that we are struggling with is the stuff we keep in the caravan. I understand that its better to keep heavy items in cupboards low down then they don`t drop out and cause damage.
The wardrobe stuff seem to be the main problem. I put them in the shelves and they just fall into the bottom, I don` t hang anything on hangers. Whats the best way I can be organized, without spending ages sorting through everything. I thought about baskets piled up when traveling, then I can lift them into the selves when we arrive at our destination. What does everyone else do.
Never had clothing fall off the shelves in the wardrobe.
Are the shelves slippery? Add some of the sticky placemat type rubber matting. The stuff that looks like its full of holes.
The idea of keeping heavy items low down is to keep the caravans centre of gravity low, Same reason why the heavy items should be directly over the axle and not at the very front or rear of the caravan.
Same here - nothing has ever fallen off the shelves, but normally when the wardrobe door is shut nothing can fall as there isn't a gap between the door and the shelves.
We also put clothes on hangers in the wardrobe and these have always stayed out.
I think its the design of the shelves, its got large open shelves along the back then a hanging rail in front nothing stays on the shelves. It`s a Sterling Europa 520 1998.
I will try the matting and try hanging some clothes on hangers next time we go away.
That demo is very graphic but he makes no mention of VL on the towball cos it looks as though he seriously reduces that as well as putting a thumping great weight way behind the centre of the axle.
Quote: Originally posted by Travel Bug on 13/4/2015
I think its the design of the shelves, its got large open shelves along the back then a hanging rail in front nothing stays on the shelves. It`s a Sterling Europa 520 1998.
I will try the matting and try hanging some clothes on hangers next time we go away.
We also hang clothes in the wardrobe, mostly lightweight stuff like shirts or tops. We also use the old style wooden clothes peg with the metal spring built in, one each end of the items on coat hangers on the rail..they never move enroute. Our wardrobe is directly over the axle so that also helps.
------------- It is a wise man who has something to say.
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Quote: Originally posted by Kenny2105 on 13/4/2015
I was under the impression that weighty items should be placed at the front of the van where possible, am I wrong then?
Heavy items should be over the axle as much as possible, but you need to check your noseweight. Then you can move items around to get the correct noseweight.
Once you get it correct then you always load the van in the same way.
because our caravan is in storage, everything gets packed into bags from the house and then into the car, it stays like that til we arrive on site,
the caravan is packed the same way everytime we move, heavy stuff over the axles gas bottles in the front box along with pegs, mallets, blocks, and all his other junk! but keep an eye on the nose weight.
empty water containers go in the bathroom, along with the pump just in case they leak a bit of water,
Heavier things over the axle. I would rather be a bit low on nose weight than have something heavy towards the end of the caravan. Heavy weights at either end will cause a pendulum effect and may induce or prolong instability
It is my understanding to have the nose weight at 5-7% of the MTPLM of the caravan and that this must not exceed the cars max limit on the towbar. This is part of matching up your outfit. In my case, the max laden weight of van is 1300kg, the towball limit is 150kg and my nose weight has been 85-90kg (6.5-6.9%) when I have measured it.
Hi Travel bug had same problem with one of my vans all clothing on shelves and hangers had ended upon floor of wardrobe which was in bathroom at rear of van.
very back near side corner, took me some time to work it out as van had no shocks the bounce of van was tossing the clothes off.
I used a narrow bungee cord stretched tight on top of rail for hangers and some nylon netting held with plastic covered note board pins pushed into vertical supports of shelves and just loop netting over pins tight as possible.
Next van Geist with wardrobe in identical place gave no trouble as van was fitted with shocks from new.
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Topic: Packing the caravan
