We have a 27 foot Class A, Lazy Daze, so storage space is pretty tight when camping with 5 people and 4 dogs! So I decided to start getting more creative on how we can have better storage to make our trips a bit easier so here is what I have come up with so far.
This is my favorite hack! A shoe organizer outside your rig so there are no muddy, sandy shoes being tracked around inside. I bought this two pack of shoe organizers and these suction cups, which are a little to small for the shoe organizer so I’ll use them in the future just to hand up our wet beach towels. I just ordered these larger suction cups in hopes they work better and will keep you posted!
I use the other shoe organizer from the two pack I got in the closet for dog items and our slippers! I just had to cut it to fit. I’m planning to get another set for more storage on the other door that right now doesn’t have anything.
We don’t have a ton of drawers for clothes storage so this hanging closet organizer has been a huge help. I keep adult clothes in it with extra jackets. It is a mess but so much better then everyone’s clothes stuffed into the few drawers we have or digging thru suite cases.
For our trash we have this, it’s hanging on our front bunk but you can just hook it on your kitchen cabinets.
For the kids clothes I use this dual sided closet organizer, I use the small pockets to put the kids outfits, then the large pockets I keep our socks and underwear as well as little toys for the trip.
I then bought this mesh shower caddy that hangs with our shower curtain so we have much needed storage without taking up any of the very limited floor space.
We also have different sized storage containers everywhere through out the the RV, they hold everything from tools to dish towels to art supplies for the kids.
I always have no idea where to throw our massive piles of dirty clothes and it finally dawned on me to get a cheap pop up laundry basket and keep it in the shower when we aren’t using it. So much better then plastic bags of dirty clothes laying everywhere.
Then this Arm & Hammer odor and moisture eliminator is great. Its helped so much with odor that comes up from the under storage and moisture that accumulates when we aren’t using our RV.
We pretty much have storage baskets everywhere, not only do they keep things organized they keep things from shifting as much.
I just ordered these stack able storage tubs to hopefully clean up the bottom storage of our RV. Right now it is a wreck of sand toys and other small stuff sliding around every where.
OK I know this isn’t storage but you NEED this bar to protect your screen door! It has been a life saver for our screen door with everyone going in and out every 2 minutes.
Thanks for visiting us! We would love to hear what creative storage solutions you have been able to come up with.
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Congratulations you just bought an RV! So now what the heck are you supposed to buy for it? As seasoned weekend warriors and a former full time RVer lets us breakdown the absolute must haves for your RV to make your next trip a breeze! Our goal is always for our RV to have our needs met to the point we only have to throw in our clothing and food then we are off.
Bedding
I can’t recommend getting a Beddy enough for your RV! They are essentially all your bedding in one that goes on like a fitted sheet and zips up like a sleeping bag. They make getting our bunk bed ready a breeze while keeping everything looking polished. Bonus: your kids can easily make their bed every morning.
First off a coffee maker, any will do. We have both a French Press and a Keurig.
You’ll want the same basics you use in your house. We have a Corelle dish set which is great because it looks polished without the risking of chipping and this cool silverware set that comes with a storage case and lid. And of course non breakable wine glasses, any will do but I especially love these ones. Not only do they have a lid that will help keep bugs out but they are so cute and come in tons of colors.
For cooking you’ll probably keep meals simple so we have this cast iron pan which is great because you can use it on the stove, on a fire, in the oven, or even on the grill. Then a simple sauce pan and lid. Grab a knife set and cutting board and you’re ready to get cooking!
But don’t forget your wine opener, there’s nothing like getting to a camp site after listening to “are we there yet??” on repeat for four hours, bickering with your spouse on backing the RV in right, then finally getting to crack open a bottle of wine then realizing you didn’t bring the wine opener. We grabbed a ton of small spices from the grocery store to keep in our RV but look at this cute multi spice container I found on Amazon. Total space saver.
And this is the hero you didn’t know you needed. Move over McDonald’s because now you will be pumping out your own breakfast sandwiches with little effort. We love taking this sandwich maker along on all our trips! It takes up very little space and allows us to quickly make everyone a sandwich with very little dishes. It cooks your egg while heating up your meat, cheese, and English muffin.
Bathroom
We keep all the basic toiletries we use in the RV and then some just for camping. We keep on hand sunscreen, bug spray, a first aid kit, basic medications like kids Tylenol, and a high SPF face lotion for everyone.
I also recommend a good shower bag like this one so you can take a shower at your campground when desired. And speaking of that good flip flops or shower shoes for everyone.
Towels, lots of towels. Beach towels, shower towels, hand towels. Have you seen the beach towels in the “Dollar Spot” in Target yet? They always come in cute colors, they’re the perfect size for kids and only $5!
And of course toilet paper. Did you know you need special TP so you don’t clog up your RV? Definitely not a glamorous purchase but a necessity.
Now the fun stuff
Obviously all the S’mores stuff. Is it even camping without s’mores?! You’ll want marshmallow skewers and all the fixings. We have super basic ones but these looks so fun and extend really long for kids.
All the camping chairs. I recommend checking out Costco or Sam’s club if they’re in season. They usually have great deals and it’s nice to try them out before you buy them.
These lanterns are great! We have some in the RV and house. They’re bright enough to light your path or help you make a fire.
Toys!! We actually don’t have a TV in our RV since it’s our chance to disconnect so I try to make sure the kids have plenty to keep themselves entertained. Since we go to the beach every summer we keep lots of sand castle building toys in our RV like this one. We also have kites the kids loving getting out and flying but we try to buy them in the small towns we stop in since they all seem to have a kite shop or two and a way cooler section then what you can find online. Board games, puzzles, and art kits are also a huge hit! We also have fun outside toys for adults and kids like this ladder toss game and a giant Jenga set or Yardzee.
Most campgrounds provide basic items like a picnic table and fire pit but here are some fun accessories to make your trip more comfortable. We love having a fold able outdoor rug to lay out for the dogs and kids to lay on. These outdoor lights are great because not only are they solar powered but you can either hook them on your awning, a pole, or just set them on the table. And of course some citronella candles to keep the mosquito’s away. Mitchell is their favorite snack so we usually need all the trick to keep him from getting covered in head to toe bites!
Lastly the basics
Gloves! You need any good quality disposable gloves to safely hook up your black tank to empty it. I also recommend safety glasses to protect your eyes from any spray.
Speaking of emptying your black tank, you really want to get a good quality hose that can make the job a little less miserable like this one.
Black tank maintenance is very important to the overall upkeep of your rig. Pumping your tank after each trip and flushing it well keeps it going for the season. I also do a deep clean after the summer to make sure it is good to go for next summer. I will write about that in another post. After each time I empty the tank I make sure to use a good non-formaldehyde formula black tank treatment that helps with odors and breaks down tissue and waste. I am not one who only uses the bathroom for #1, why have a potty on board that you can only use half the time, I camp in an RV for reason. I have had good luck with the Camco TST formula, it comes in a liquid or packet. I just run some water into the tank after emptying and throw in a packet and we are good to go. I have not had any smelly issues to deal with.
A another good idea when setting up camp and before plugging the RV into the campground electric pole is to make sure the amps are good and it is grounded. I use a simple volt meter and ground fault checker. This way you are sure that you won’t fry your RV’s electrical system.
I was a bit paranoid about my tires being safe and inflated. I was talking to an old time RV’er and they recommended a simple solution to buy a tire knocker. I just give the tires a good thump and if the sound is solid I am good to go. Of course if there is a really worry or a visible issue I would use a tire pressure gauge to check the tire pressure.
When camping with children I can tell you from experience that your screen door will be slammed opened, slammed shut about a million times per day. I experienced some screen door failure from this phenomenon and since yelling “shut the door nicely or just leave it alone” I decided to find a better solution and that this simple bar for the door, easy to install easy peasy a solution to ease the yelling and the slamming.
A water pressure regulator is next! You’ll use this to make sure the water pressure at the park you’re staying at isn’t so high that it can damage your system.
Lastly I recommend keeping some basic tools on hand, they’re one of those things you hope you don’t need but you’ll be glad you have them. We decided to keep some tools in the RV permanently so it was one less thing to take back and forth. Sets like this one are a good start.
Thank you for stopping by our blog! We hope this helped you get ready to start your RV travels. Drop a line bellow if there’s something else you think we need to add or just to let us know where you’re traveling to. If you found any of the items we picked out helpful we appreciate you using our links, they don’t cost you any extra but help us continue to create content like this.
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