Time to pack for your first RV trip? You might find yourself struggling to find extra space, especially if you’re worried about running out of supplies while camping. But there are plenty of ways to squeeze more storage out of your RV if you don’t want to miss a single detail. Here are some great RV packing tips for beginners to help you maximize your space!
Group & Organize Supplies
at the Same Time
If you can pack and organize at the same time, you’ll find
it much easier to unpack as well. Here are a few suggestions for packing your
supplies:
- Consolidate.
For example, rather than putting your toothbrushes in a plastic bag and
keeping your toothpaste separate, consider putting all of your toiletries in a
common toiletry bag. Consolidating items can help you save space and save you
time in digging out disparate supplies from other bags. - Use
supplies themselves to create storage, when possible. For example, if
you’re packing beach towels, then you might consider wrapping them around your
swimming equipment and rolling them up inside the beach towel. Don’t add
unnecessary organizational items when you don’t need them—they only take up
more space. - Put
everything in bags when you can! It might seem like extra work, but you can
squeeze a lot of storage value from bags. Not only can you use the protection
of a bag to utilize extra (and often dusty) space, but you won’t have to wonder
where everything is. Just find the appropriate bag and you’re off to the races.
Add Storage To
Vertical Spaces
It’s tempting to look around for extra space in your RV and
only focus on two dimensions. But you have a third dimension—vertical space—and
you should use it. Here are some tips for doing that:
- Add
braces or cupboard bars. Many people use these to keep dishes in place
during travel. You can also add hangers to add some vertical storage to your
RV. - Don’t
just look up. Look for spaces like under a bed, under cabinets, and under
chairs when you need a little extra storage space without interfering with the
comfort of your RV!
Try a Practice Run
Let’s say you want to go on a week-long camping trip. That’s
a great plan. But if you’ve never taken your RV on an overnight camping trip,
do you really think you’ll be prepared?
The goal here is to pack so efficiently that you don’t need
to constantly buy new items like toothbrushes, food, or deodorant at a
convenience store. That’s why we recommend a practice run. Pack and take your
RV out for an overnight trip! One night is enough to give you a sample of what
you can expect on a longer trip—and since it’s overnight, you’ll notice when you
don’t have a convenience item that you’ve forgotten is a major part of your
nighttime or morning routine.
The good news is that even if you’re a beginner, you can
figure all of this out while also enjoying an overnight trip in your RV. Practice
runs are important, because they can help you identify those lesser-known items
you wouldn’t normally think to pack, such as:
- Alarm clocks
- Sewing kits
- Extra pillowcases
- Nail clippers
- Hair ties
- Books, magazines, board games, and playing cards
- External cell phone battery chargers
Don’t forget to pack some emergency RV care equipment, such
as RV cleaners and RV sealants. Keep browsing RV by LIFE for more great
products to help you keep your RV in great shape!
With our RV packing tips and RV care equipment you’re RV trip should be nothing but a breeze.
