Caravan storage solutions: Genius hacks for packing the off-site van
Take the pain out of collecting and packing the off-site van with these trip planning hacks perfected by one crafty vanner.
Words and photos Alison Huth, editor at large, What’s Up Downunder eMagazine
Storing your van at home is the preferable way, but not everyone can do that. I hear some of my friends talking about the pain it is to go back and forth from home to van to get ready for a trip. Others tell me about the angst they have when they bring the van home and park it on their skinny street which cuts it down to one way.
But, and it’s a very big but, I met with Dee and Steve at the Lotus Owners Group rally who have the problem solved. Here’s how to streamline packing the off-site van.
First step: Assess the Van’s storage spaces
Dee took a serious look under the bed and worked out how many storage boxes would fit under there.
Second step: Compare that to your car
Would that number of storage boxes fit in the back of the car so they could get them all in one trip into the van. As you can imagine, the answer was positive.
Third step: Organise your Gear
Start packing those storage boxes at home with everything you need in the van. But, that doesn’t mean just throwing things into the boxes and hoping you can sort them all out when you get to the van. Dee carefully sorted out various packing ideas for clothes so that all she had to do was take a packed small container and put it away in the van. The side benefit is how easy it is to see the clothes and you don’t mess up your entire wardrobe to find one thing!
Common systems: Camp how you live, live how you camp
Dee’s make-up tray is a real winner. She simply packed the one from the bathroom at home and put it in the ensuite in the van. If it’s sorted at home and fits in the van, take it straight from home. Why change something that doesn’t need to be changed, and she has everything she knows she wants. I really like her systems and I am eyeing off the T Shirt storage, that would work for me at home and in the van.
Time to go
Dee’s clever planning means that they load the car, lock up the house, drive to the van, unpack the car, hitch up and are on their way. Packing the off-site van couldn’t be simpler. How good is that!
Lotus Caravan Owners Facebook Group.
Knowing where and how you’re going to store your van is vital before buying at a show
