storage inside poptop caravan

Hi Julie, We are on our second "Pop Top" & I think I know where you are coming from ! I now have my better hall educated enough to only take the essentials. ( I think, lol) We have not long ago returned from about a seven week trip, & it was surprising to look at some of the stuff put in the van & not used, so we try & learn from that.

A full Caravan is the answer!! But truly, we try & put the everyday & frequently used items in the most easily accessible drawers etc. When we are on a trip I now & then make a note of how we could improve things & then make the changes when we get home.

I have looked hard & long at how better to improve the access to drawers & cupboards etc. & have nor been able to find a ready answer. We seem to have plenty of storage capacity, but a lot of it is down low & for us old geezers that means bending. So......... maybe we will change to a full van next year? maybe?
I will watch your thread with interest, as it might help us as well. Good luck & cheers.

Hi Julie

I have bought several plastic baskets from Bunnings for use under the bed they are 350H x 400L x 270W (with a handle that folds in flat to the top). I store extra canned and dried food in one, another keeps dirty washing, and yet another is usually empty.

I have over the past few trips (up to 6 weeks away) learned the "stick a stamp and remove if used" trick. The stuff with the stamp still on it doesnt need to be in the van! Works a treat.

Our over head cupboards store several rolled towels and a spare set of sheets. Another has some DVDs and the remotes for the aircon and stereo. The cupboards over the dinning area have a couple of map books a first aid kit and a few other usables. (stationary, pens etc) Mostly those two overheads are pretty much empty these days as I have cut back so much and not missed what used to be packed there. Over the bed is three cupboards the centre is free and the other two are one for each of us to use. I have undies I think hubby has socks. The wardrobe has a shelf in the top for t-shirts etc. I have a couple of hanging clothes but basically thats a waste of space and might hopefully end up as a couple of shelves.

Under seat is stuff we dont need often - spare toilet rolls fit near the wheel arch. A couple of power leads, washing powder, pegs etc. Oh and the dust buster!

Other side is a draw under seat that has nothing but can hold cans of coke! The hatch that is underseat and accessable as you come in the door holds shoes and the dog leads, spirit level, the poles for the pop top, dust pan and brush.

Over the sink the cupboard holds dishwashing liquid and paper towels a single cup for my coffee and the little wizzy thing that froths the milk, and of course my single esspresso pot. See I dont miss out on anything.

The other small long cupboard o/h just inside the door contains rolls of glad wrap, baking paper and tea towels.

I think I have it covered. Our van is a Coromal Pioneer 541 if you want to reference the layout - it might help to say what van you are trying to deck out.

Cooking gear is in the lower cupboard under the sink - I use minimal ie one plate each of dinner and breakie bowl and a deeper Thai type bowl. I have two pots and a fry pan plus a couple of trays that will fit into the oven. If guests arrive its BYO dinning gear and cup - I am sure most caravanners are OK with that if I supply food and coffee!!

Well I think I have it covered and have rambled enough

happy packing and happy travels

Sue

Julie,
We have an 80's Viscount Grand Tourer 16ft poptop. It has small cupboards around the top of the main body, only suitable for plates, cups etc near the kitchen end and we store all non hanging clothing, sox, jocks, T shirts and 'jama's in the ones over the single beds at the rear.

We also have a small hanging space for "good" clothing, a small "pantry" cupboard for tins and packets etc and the usual under sink and stove spaces for potsand electric appliances when travelling.

The underbed areas have been converted from 'Lift up the mattress and bedding to get access' to drawers custom built to fit.

The remaining underbed space is used to store infrequently used stuff (toolbox, spare annexe pegs, 12V drill, Poprivet gun and rivets etc).

The drawers need solid catches to prevent them sliding open at inopportune times but work well even whenfully loaded.

The increase in weight is only about 25kg compared to the original setup.

Without knowing the layout of your van, ideas such as mine may have to be adapted to suit your setup.

Hope this gives you an idea or two.

Disco.

Hi Julie... just to add to to the other replies, I bought a number of plastic boxes that fit perfectly on top of the cupboards once the top is popped. I did this as I was tired of that area looking very untidy. We use one for medicines, tablets, calamine, betadine, bandaids, scripts etc. I use those above my bed for toiletries, hairdryer, brushes, combs. CDs, DVDs. Travel diary, books. So much neater now.
When we travel I just put the lids on and they all fit neatly on the lounge seat and some on the beds. As soon as we pop the top it is so easy to move them.

We also bought three sets of plastic drawers and placed in cupboards under the sink area, I have lost a bit of space but the convenience of just pulling a drawer out and not getting on my hands and knees to see in the cupboards is great. One drawer holds all the oversized cooking utensils, and one holds the alfoil, clingwrap etc. The other drawers get used for various items ie, tinned food, packets, vegies.

The toaster, kettle, coffee pot, and microwave plate travel in a plastic container that fits into the sink, no movement, safe and ready to use almost immediately.

Hope this helps a little.
Cheers
Ad.

There are slide out plastic draws that l have fitted under the sink l got them from Howards storage you screw the base to the floor and the draw slides on it l have not used them yet but l think they will work o.k

i have a pop-top van too and I find storage maddenning...

or Rubicking (as in Rubick Cube) as ii like to call it...

The best option Ive found is

cull gear
only half fill the storage area...

there is nothing worse than having to pull eveything out to get to the bottom layer. Half full storage allows some rumaging room and the ability to swap stuff into differant cabinets for the time you need to get to stuff quickly... and to keep stuff packed...

Hi Julie,
we own both a pop top and camper trailer. Ive went and bought some plastic baskets from the cheap shop and put the condiments in one of those so when we have a meal we just get that out it makes it so much easier. Ive bought plast containers that have clip tops as I was sick of bought containers such as yoghurt etc breaking and spilling as we travel over rough roads and tracks both van and camper are off road. Hope this helps
Barb