We are very excited to be picking up our new Starcraft trailer tent next week. We had a good look in all the storage cupboards and wondered what was the best way to transport belongings in the trailer tent. We were thinking we could stock the cupboards with our basics, (cutlery, sauces, tins etc) but didn't know the best way of doing this.
We have used plastic boxes with lids before when camping in a tent but it becomes a nuisance having to open plastic boxes to hunt for the thing you are looking for.
We were thinking of maybe adding some fitted shelves inside the trailer's cupboards because most of them are tall but narrow so we are thinking this would double the cupboards capacity.
Rather uninteresting topic I know, but would like some advice as we don't want to transport our belongings in the trailer and then when we arrive at the campsite find everything broken or leaking in the cupboards.
I have always just loaded the cupboard under the galley and the drawers with the essentials and went, We use plastic bowls and such and also put drawer liners in and our coffee mugs we set a hand towel in the bottom of the drawer and then the mugs and another towel on top. When ever we leave the campsite we take everything that is dirty and needs washed(laundry), can expire or rot and put it into a rubbermaid container (as well as a list of things needed for the next trip) in the back of the truck. When we get home we take care of the things in the container, put it all in the back of the container and leave it in the garage. When we leave on our next trip we put the container in the truck and load it into the camper and we are set. This keeps from haveing to open and close the camper at the house before and after trips. Most of our food and other items goes on the galley shelves I built. But I have never had anything broken to date yet.
we used the metal shelving systems and made more cabinet storage. we fliped the metal racks to form an edge to keep stuff from shifting. We use the mid size plastic storage buckets for clothes and hung shirts and pants on the bunk roof supports. then the empty buckets became dirty clothes hampers for the return trip.We used a cooler for food going and comming and just stored under trailer while standing. The freezer pack went into the refer to help cool it down and provide cool mass on the return. don't worry desperation is the mother of all invention and persperation is the father. Good luck have fun!
My pots/pans/cookware, toaster and various small appliances are under my sink which has a wire shelf almost the same height as the top of the wheel well. My correlle dishes, etc., are currently in a drawer by the range. My canned foods are in the little closet by the entry door, towels and other linens are kept under the dinette seats, as is a little step stool, propane lantern, the bunk end fans and an oscellating heater and a small table top oscellating fan. Personal care items are in an over the door organizer (ha-ha) which gets rolled up and stuffed in the 13-gal. trash can along with the coffee maker and the utinsel carosel (sp). My knives and serving pieces are in a drawer in a 3-drawer plastic cabinet, another drawer holds the silverware. My television sits on the sofa facing the back when traveling, and pillows are on the remaining sofa area. I have an orange tote that I use for 'dirties' and it travels between the camper and the house. Other than food and clothes, everything else stays in the camper.
Tall shelves over sink area Mod was done by purchasing 3 wire baskets, 2 curtain tension rods and wire clamps to hold all in place.'S' hooks attached to side of baskets for pot-holders/cooking spoons. All found at Wal-Mart.
Inside all the cabinets and storage bins, we use the rubbermaid baskets. They stack easily on top of each other and keep everything orgainized. They are easily taken out of each cabinet also.
A few more things I wanted to add....go to local thrift stores or garage sales and buy used pots/pans/cooking utensils/dishes OR just buy an extra set of everything that will STAY in your PUP. Keep all this stored in your PUP. That way you will never have to unload completely all your cooking/eating pots/dishes after you return from each camping trip to use at home.
During your 1st outing of the year when you pop-up your PUP...you can always hook up your PUP's elec./water/grey water tank while at home. While checking out your PUP (after winter) to make sure no leaks/elec./heater/refrig./hot water heater all work fine, you can wash up everything for freshness right there in your PUP sink after being stored if you choose. This will give you an opportunity to REALLY check to make sure that the water hoses do not leak and hot water heater works as well as drainage.
Also, don't forget to check your refrig. to make sure it cools properly. Plus if you keep your PUP elec. hooked up to your house....till right before you leave, your refig. will stay cold with food you have stored in it and will remain cold all day as you travel. We never unhook our elec. till we are hooking the PUP up to the car when we are ready to head out on the road. We pop the PUP down the night before if we are leaving the next morning early..but keep the elec. hooked up to our house till we are ready to take off down the road. If you do this....ALWAYS do a walk around your PUP before you take off. That is always a good idea anyhow, just in case you dropped something while loading. This habit will help you to always make sure that your PUP's elec. is unplugged.
Hope you enjoy your new PUP and have loads of great trips!
You may want to go to the top of the page and do a search for shelves in the "Folding Trailer" catagory and look at some other ideas also...there are a LOT of them posted here...
Happy Camping.!
I keep the pots, pans, plates, cups, paper plates, plastic cups and utensils in the galley shelves under the sink and stove. The blankets and cabinet top oven go in the small dinette seat that houses the water pump. The center dinette seat has odds and ends including folding shelves and bunk hide away and tarps. The end dinette seat has an outside door. This is for setup and towing gear, ropes, blocks, you name it, anything dirty. The TV cabinet houses laterns, dish drainer, wash tub, 5 gallon collapseable jug, lights, folding garbage can, and a host of other things. The furnace cabinet houses toiletries and first aid kit. Microwave cabinet house hot water heater and battery laterns, fan/lights, and odds and ends. I still have a lot of unused storage on top of this. The food goes into the hanging pantry. The folding shelves are mainly for personal items to keep the camper tidey and organized.
I was looking at your webshots album of your pop-up ( I accessed it through RV.net)
Your camper is so organized--something that we are still struggling with. One thing I wonder about is where you put your clothes and shoes. Any suggestions are appreciated!
Cara
2 Parrotheads and 2 Parakeets
Happily back in Massachusetts
Go where your body and soul want to go. When you have the feeling, then stay with it, and don’t let anyone throw you off --Joseph Campbell
We found the Stelite clear stacking drawers very handy. No lifting lids, shifting boxes to find what you want. Not to mention they carry nicely in and out of the camper for taking stuff (we use them for clothes and food) that needs renewing/cleaning.
they come in a variety of sizes and multiple drawer one piece units.
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but would like some advice as we don't want to transport our belongings in the trailer and then when we arrive at the campsite find everything broken or leaking in the cupboards.
MonaK 
