I bought a 37' class A this past Sept, I picked it up in Dec, after a harrowing trip from PA to VA, which is a whole nother story, I started to pack; I have 2 40ish pound dogs, I wanted to put some fencing/x-pens around the outside of the door so I could let them in and out. I currently have them stored in the basement, but since I don't have a whole lot of thing stored in there I am worried that they will slide around and cause something to get damaged or break. We will be hopefully taking our first official trip (about 10 miles away) the end of the month to see how things work before we take a longer trip. I called the rv store in the area and they did not have any suggestions, I can't see how to bungie or strap down the x-pens. HELP !
Pymmint,
Organizing, loading and securing items in a Motor home is kind of a chore to most folks. Most simply put what they have in boxes and stuff it where ever it will fit and that's good enough. Well, that's fine for some but, not me. I've posted this before in other threads but, I'll show you what I did in my compartments.
Now, some of it will apply to you and some won't. When I'm camping/traveling, and have an issue that I can resolve by doing something like fix or repair an item, or, I need a tool, a liquid, etc, one thing I have an issue with is, taking twice-three times as long in accomplishing a repair because I can't find something I know I have.
So, I've organized my compartments to the best of my ability so that when I need something, or, someone else needs something, I can go right to where it's at and continue on with task. Now, like stated, some of this might not apply to you. Securing items in a compartment was my alternate job as fireman for 24 years. I headed up a team of outfitters for new fire trucks when they came in. We set up the compartments, secured equipment and tools etc. and sent them out for service.
So, take a look, see if any of the ideas might apply to your task. If there's anything I can answer, let me know either directly here or a PM.
Scott
Scott and Karla SDFD RETIRED
2004 Itasca Horizon, 36GD Slate Blue 330 CAT
2011 White Honda CRV EX-L,4WD w/NAV Toad 2008 Caliente Red LVL II GL 1800 Goldwing KI60ND
That is way too organized for me. I just throw the stuff in there and then dig through the pile looking for it whenever I need something.
2004 National Tropi-Cal T-350, Class A, Triple slide, 330 HP Cat DP. 2006 Dodge Dakota 4x4 or
2002 Harley FLSTF Fat Boy on a Trailer or
2004 Polaris Quad on the Trailer
Just stack them next to the compartment wall towards the front of the RV. Add some bungee cords wrapped around them to hold them still. Then on the side towards the back of the RV, stuff something in there to hold them. Like a blanket.
Very nice work Scott when I saw you were previously with a Fire Department it all made sense! Kudos to a very neat and organized storage setup. (Jealous)
Dog show people have been stuffing their ex-pens in the bays for years. They won't fall out! They lay flat.
Others buy the aluminum over the rail bike rack that attaches to the ladder from CW and strap the ex-pens to that. that way you don't have to unload the stuff you put on top of the expens in the bay each time you need them.
Yet another way, if you are not towing a car, is buying a car hitch hauler carrier that of course fits into the MH hitch to carry the expens.
Me.....I put a hitch carrier on the back end of my toad and that's where the ex-pens ride!
This is the bike rack to buy. It hooks on the ladder no strapping it down required and the two forks on the bottom support the ex-pens. Do not use bungees use two ratchet straps around the bike rack 'and' the ladder, one up and down and one left and right. I've carried as many as six ex-pens on this with no problem. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/ladder-mount-bike-rack/42248
* This post was
edited 04/12/12 05:56pm by rockhillmanor *
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".
Y-Guy,
Thanks for the nice comments. That alternate job of "outfitting" on the F/D was by far, the most interesting of special assignments I've ever took on. Unless you've done "ride-a-longs" with engine companies or, Truck companies, the general populous has no idea how rough a fire truck gets treated. So, the job of mounting, securing, installing, tools, equipment, survival components, radios, and much, much more, caused us to go far and above the standard "Home depot" brackets, clips, and mounting hardware in order for that stuff to survive a 15-20 year life span of the average fire engine.
Anyway, thanks again. I learned a lot. And, what you all see in those compartments took all of about 1.5-2, 8 hour days to complete. Now, it's like that for the rest of the time we own it. And these rigs certainly get driven way less aggressive than any fire truck.
Scott
Scott, LOVE your organized storage compartments!!! I am a "everything in it's place" type of person and will be sharing your pics with my hubby. He is that way too, but can pick up alot of great ideas from your pics!! THANK YOU for taking the time to share them!!
09 Fleetwood Jamboree 31M - 'Summerhouse'
Ford 6.8 L Triton V10 5spd
“Light hearted I take to the open road… Healthy, free, the world before me… The long brown path before me leading me wherever I choose.” - Walt Whitman
FIRE UP: You, sir, are either OCD or have entirely too much time on your hands, or BOTH!!! Seriously though, if the OP follows your lead, he will have no problem with things shifting around in the storage bays. I just came back from two months on the road doing 2,500 miles, and whatever organization I had when I started now looks like a disaster area where I couldn't find anything if I needed it, including the awning rod!
2002 Keystone Cougar 286, 8,400lbs loaded, pulled with a 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 gears. Retired and enjoying life
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