 |
11-13-2002, 12:08 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Storage, Storage, and Storage
Posted by Rick, Moderator, Vancouver, BC Canada:
Storage, Storage, and Storage
As many of you know - I am now the proud owner of a 21.5 foot baby, er... I mean Bigfoot. Don't get me wrong - I have camped all my life and my Sue thinks I was actually a genuine bushman in a previous life. (maybe it's my table manners!  )
Here's the dilema that I am presently facing:
What stuff do you bring and not bring camping? Where and how do you pack all the "stuff" What stuff do you need and how do you keep it compact and out of the way.
Post your space saving storage ideas - got pics? Please post them.
I need some ideas
-----------------------------
Rick
*Leadfoot in a Bigfoot*
95 Bigfoot 25B21 (21.5FT)
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 03:13 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Rick
You'll find my most recent solution, the "Watt Box," here:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/read.php...=43&page=1#1656
Put one of these in back of your DodgeMobile and you have lots of organized storage. This was invented by one Charles Watts of rural Illinois (Land of Lincoln). :banana
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 10:18 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Morgan
Thanks for the link (I have seen it before).
I was refering to storage solutions for our trailers themselves.
( I need the back of my Durango empty to haul all the beer that Sue drinks when we are camping! :laugh :laugh )
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 10:24 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Spares and Duplicates
Rick, it's something you learn ... what works for you might not work for me, etc, etc.
But, one big key to making camping easier is duplicating the stuff you usually move from house to trailer before you leave ... and then from trailer to house after you come home.
But that of course, isn't what you asked. I'm telling you to take more stuff, not less ... just the opposite of what you're asking.
But, no, in a round about way, it will help you pack ...
We think small .... a small coffee maker rather than a large one. a baby crockpot instead of a big one. Smaller wine glasses, rather than larger. Pam has long hair ... and keeps a small hairdryer in the trailer (one about 1/4 the size of the one she uses at home.)
You get the idea ... think small.
Don't know why, but it seems anything Europeans use is good for our little trailers. For some reason, they think small over there ... whereas we all think large.
Sweden's IKEA store is a dangerous place for me to let Pam visit ... because she's always finding some appliance or plate that while saving us space, costs me money.
I used to carry something like 8 flip-top stackable crates of stuff in the back of our mini-van ... and would fight it the whole trip ... because either I would forget what is in which crate ... or if I remember which crate, only to discover the stuff I was seeking was buried in the bottom crate .... so everything was either coming in or out everytime I was looking for something.
Then I started building enveloped drawers for the back of my mini-van ... and built several sizes and depths, before I built one that fit just right for the stuff I wanted to carry with me at all times.
Stuff that is "trip specific" i.e. we take different stuff to the Maritimes than we do to Florida or Colorado ... is packed in flip-top crates on top of the drawer envelope ....
Over the years, we've actually purchased enough flip-top crates ... that I have packed trip-specific crates in the garage.
So if we're headed to Canada, I throw in the crates containing my lobster picks and claw crackers.
If we're headed to Florida, I throw in those crates containing suntan oil, beach towels and beach mats.
Stuff that goes on everytrip is stored neatly in the drawers I built ... and is easily accesible ... with everything in its spot and a spot for everything.
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 10:30 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Great Ideas!
We all know that I'm not Rick, but I think your ideas of trip specific crates are phenominal. No, I'm not kidding. The creates are very resonably priced and the stuff has to be stored anyway. Now all you have to do is grab the crate.
Thanks...I LOVE that idea. It is always the simple ones that make such a difference and those are usually the ones that most people forget to share.
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 11:07 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
How 2 Solve Storage Problems!
The 1st step in solving storage problems is *travel light*.
Here's Lani Teshima's award winning Travelite website
http://www.travelite.org/
While this site is oriented towards overseas travel, you'll
get a lot of packing light travel tips plus useful resources
available on the Internet.
For example, why buy jackets for the different seasons
when a Windstopper Tech jacket from Mountain Hardware
will due in most climates, down to 20 degrees. Also, why
buy wool blankets when Polartec blankets are much lighter
and warmer.
Travel Lite and Smart
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 11:54 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Storage alternative
I have been trying out a new campaign ( with limited success).
The policy is :
1. If we haven't used it once in the last year it stays home.
2. Try to have only mutlipurpose items (this is a goal not yet a reality)
My plan is to pare everything down to the minimum and have it all packed and ready to go at any time. But someone I live with( who will remain un-named) wants to bring the whole house- just in case..........
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 02:20 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Multipurpose items...
A small portable world band radio is an excellent example of
a multipurpose item, since you can access AM, FM, and
shortwave bands, plus most radios can serve double duty
as an alarm clock.
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 04:22 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Storage = Denial
Leadfoot:
We know whatcha tow with........ so your storage problems should get no sympathy. heh-heh :r
........like mabe a roof top carrier and training wheels for the jeep.
=========
Ever seen Charles standing by his Suburban with the back doors open? :jester
It's a wonder nobody calls him Jonah.
=========
Travel light??? I've gotta drive my V-6 with spurs and a whip. :steer
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 04:31 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
what to take
hummm?? crates, good idea.
I was thinking of a list of what goes where in the trailer so I can check and replace quickly. but that's not storage.
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 05:36 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Dishpans
Rick, The main area for kitchen storage in my Casita is under the sink and stove. I have a couple of shelf units (stackables, nothing fancy, not built-in), and on these I keep the pots and pans, a few canned goods and etc., all in dishpans or small storage crates. The dishpans are easily pulled out from the shelves, and this way stuff doesn't bounce out and around or get lost in the back of the compartment. There's just enough room beneath the bottom shelf that I can stow a nested set of pseudo-tupperware, a folding dish drainer, and my ever-trusty stash of plastic grocery bags. I have another dishpan for the sink, and a spare that usually does duty as the dogs' water dish. (Dishpans are incredibly handy, and four take up only a fraction more space than one!)
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 08:57 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Quote:
Orginally posted by Rick
Thanks for the link (I have seen it before).
I was refering to storage solutions for our trailers themselves.
( I need the back of my Durango empty to haul all the beer that Sue drinks when we are camping! :laugh :laugh )
|
I've calculated that a Watt Box in your Dodge would hold 14 metric cases of Molson Canadian on top. :wink You just have to get Sue to drink less when you camp. Alternatively, she could drink something that's more concentrated; 12% or even 20% alcohol. :winky
I'm sorry, Rick. Having a Casita, we just don't have the storage problems you Bigfoot owners face; we don't have any storage.
Contrary to the minimalists you've heard from, we take everything on every trip that we think we may ever need or that someone else may need. It's a real trip when a neighbor says, "man, I left my interocitor home and I need it," and I can pull out my interocitor and hand it to him. :banana
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 09:37 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
World Band Radio
Tom,
I agree about the radio. I usually have a Sangean 803A with me.
|
|
|
11-13-2002, 11:40 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Sangean 803A...
is the classic world band radio, was sold at Radio
Shack as the DX-440.
Right now I'm using a Sangean 606P (DX-399
at Rat Shack), but plan to upgrade to a Sony
7600GR.
Over the last 20 years, I've owned almost every
major portable shortwave radio on the market.
|
|
|
11-14-2002, 08:48 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
upgrade
Now exactly why would you up grade? they all get the same stations, so why?
|
|
|
11-16-2002, 08:01 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Sangean
Tom,
I applied the common mods to it also.I'm happy with it, can even copy morse ( yech) if needed.
Janifer,
Being also a Ham radio hobbist ( the other sickness besides fiberglass trailers) we are always looking for better performance.
That's why..
Although I havn't been active for a couple of years now ( Hmmmm maybe I could fire up the rig today) I still am drawn to the toys.
As for stations, I'm sure Tom ,as well as I ,like to listen to exotic, hard to get foreign stations, that's where the performance part comes in, its kind of like the thrill of the hunt more that anything else.
|
|
|
11-18-2002, 07:51 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
shortwave
Being a great fan of shortwave radio, I have a Sony ICF-2010. Amazingly enough, the design is over 20 years old, and it is still sold. Now THAT was good engineering :-)
I also have a Phillips shortwave radio/cassette player that went in my last car, but when I bought a newone it doesn't fit. I haven't managed to get it installed in the new truck yet. Listening to Radio Australia's evening service on the way to work in the morning (before the sun was too high in the sky) was wonderful...not to mention BBC and Radio Canada.
Between radio and internet, this is the age for geeks!
Nathan
|
|
|
11-18-2002, 10:38 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
>>New truck?
Did you ditch the Ranger, Nathan?
(Sorry Rick. Not about storage anymore, is it?)
|
|
|
11-20-2002, 10:43 AM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Optimize Sony 2010 Performance
Upgrade to Kiwa AM/FM filters and you'll think you got a
new radio.
|
|
|
 |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
Similar Threads
|
Thread |
Thread Starter |
Forum |
Replies |
Last Post |
storage hatch
|
Erik J |
Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners |
5 |
01-27-2009 10:59 AM |
More storage
|
Per Walthinsen |
Modifications, Alterations and Updates |
12 |
07-27-2008 04:49 PM |
RV Storage
|
Lisa F |
General Chat |
9 |
03-12-2006 05:57 PM |
Storage
|
Dita Strutt |
Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers |
11 |
01-03-2006 10:02 AM |
Storage, Storage, and Storage
|
|
Modifications, Alterations and Updates |
0 |
01-01-1970 12:00 AM |
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Upcoming Events |
No events scheduled in the next 465 days.
|
|