Ten ways to save space and weight in your RV

By Adrienne Kristine

For most RVers, storage space is very limited in their RV. In addition, all RVers are limited to carrying only so much weight. To overload is to ask for trouble. Here are some tips about how to both conserve space in your RV and limited the weight of your load.

1. Think square and rectangular. Your cabinets and drawers are square and rectangular so you want to take advantage of all the nooks and crannies.

2. Think plastic instead of aluminum, steel or glass. You can save weight by using square or rectangular plastic containers.

3. Think bags instead of boxes. A box of cereal has the notice “This package is processed by weight, not volume. Contents may have settled during shipment.” Open the box, pour the cereal into a quart- or gallon-size zipping plastic bag, remove the air and stack the bag on top of other items in your cabinet or drawer.

4. Think folding instead of hanging. Most items hanging in your closet can be folded and placed in stacking plastic tubs.

5. Think soft instead of rigid. Dirty laundry can be placed in a pillowcase with a shoelace threaded through the top as a drawstring.

6. Think individual instead of bulk packaging. Take the individual rolls of toilet paper or paper towels out of the package and stack them in available space.

7. Think multiple instead of single use. White vinegar can be used to clean windows, mirrors, chrome, counter tops, toilets, etc.

8. Think usage instead of volume. You don’t need more dishes, glasses, cups, flatware or placemats than you have space at your table.

9. Think filler instead of folded. Place extra washcloths and towels between and around glasses, cups or breakable items.

10. And finally, think dehydrated and freeze dried instead of liquid or canned. Many of the canned food items can be found dehydrated or freeze dried and just need water.

How to keep items secured to dressers and counters when your RV is moving

Sandy Burns of RVtravel.com has a tip about a very handy way to keep items secured on your RV's dressers and counters while your RV is moving.

Don't forget the little storage spaces

By Chris Dougherty

Certified RV Technician

When we load our RVs sometimes we pile things into the cabinets any old way just to get it done. When you are going to RV for an extended period, or have a small unit like a truck camper, storage space is at much more of a premium. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when setting up RV storage:

• Be organized. Spending a little time now to stow your gear in a neat an organized fashion will save headaches down the road.
• RV cabinets rarely come with shelves, and in fifth wheels the cabinets can be hugely tall. Quick fix: Add Closet Maid type wire shelving. Hint: make sure you put a lip on it, or mount it slightly tilted toward the wall with shelf liner to keep things from sliding.
• One thing I saw years ago - turn your kitchen sink drain into a shelf for rolls of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, etc. Thin cardboard, tape and scissors are all you need. Span the cardboard across the cross pipe of the drain and extend back to the wall or some other attachment point.
• Don't forget plastic bins! Not only are they stackable, they're usually water tight, and can be put anywhere...under the bed, basement compartments, vanity, and so on.
• Velcro is an RVers best friend!
• Don't forget to mount things in your outside compartments. Home centers carry an abundance of little brackets, straps, and shelves to make your outside storage much more user friendly.

With a little time spent early on, your RV adventures can be easier and more carefree!

Problematic RV hose or cord storage? Answer's in the bag!

Of all the gear RVers have to wrestle with, some of the most unruly--in terms of storage--are coils of hose and electrical cords. Hoses and cords have a marvelous ability to unravel and miscegenate in your basement storage compartment, making it a real mess when it comes time to set up camp.

Sure, there are cord reels and hose reels; they work to a limited degree. We once tried a "flat hose" and reel combination that proved most unsatisfactory when the packaging didn't warn users that the hose had to be completely unreeled before water pressure was applied. We had an interesting "experience," with an exploding hose reel on that occasion. Cord reels are rarely designed for the large cables needed for carrying lots of current to an RV. They're best kept around for "normal" yard tool extension cords.

We've finally found the ticket for keeping cords and hoses put together while they bump around in your storage area: Reusable grocery bags. The kind of bags that the stores are touting as an answer to paper v plastic. Lightweight and durable, you can fit just about any size water hose or electrical cable common to RV use inside these critters. We coil our cords and hoses up first, then simply pop 'em in their respective bags. If there's enough room, you may be able to tie the handles together in a loose knot for further security.

If a storage bag gets a bit dirty, pop it in a wash load; they'll clean up and dry easily. If it gets completely out of hand, pick up a new storage bag for a song.

Is your RV overloaded?

When you are new to RVing, you soon discover that you tend to accumulate more things to bring onboard than things to offload. If you are not careful or diligent, you soon become overloaded, which can be a safety concern as well as simple over-crowding.

The issue is resolved by being tough, and living by the rule, “If something comes in, something goes out.” And make the rule apply to both volume and weight. Youwill soon discover what is important and what you can do without. No deal bringing a new book aboard and taking a paperclip out.