Stored groceries while traveling

JMelton wrote:
Thanks for all of the input. This will be our first trailer so I'm sure there are going to be some lessons learned the hard way. When I think about the RV fridge and kitchen I just keep having visions of that cross-country move with the u-haul. It was slow and easy, and packed beautifully, but as soon as the back end opened up it looked like a tornado hit.

Over time you will learn how to load stuff so that doesn't happen. We use cheap curtain tension rods (don't buy the expensive rods sold in camping stores!) in some cabinets and the refrigerator to hold things in place and never have a problem. In our previous unit I had to use the tension rods in the medicine cabinet but it's not necessary in our current rig. Your mileage will vary so figure out what works for you.

Use something like Rubbermaid shelf liner and things like dishes, glasses, etc. will stay put. Some people use cords to tie their cabinets shut. We fortunately don't have to do that but again, your mileage may vary.

You'll figure it out! Quit losing sleep over it! It's not rocket science! ;)

Peg

One of the reasons we bought our rig was storage and that includes the pantry. We are out usually about 9 months during the year so all this works for us.









There are 3 of these floor to ceiling cabinets and the 1 not pictured is for my wife's crafting things.

My place for storage is outside. :B

Most of the answers have been about "camping". We don't camp! We travel by RV. Getting to a selected location (frequently near a National Park) and staying for four or five days while doing the tourist things; then moving to the next location of interest. We try not to travel more than two consecutive days even when going cross country but that is an age related decision and sometimes ends up with us spending a "down day" in a place that is not of any particular interest. A day for laundry, trailer cleaning, minor maintenance, dog washing, etc. OR...going to the grocery store. OR...just doing nothing.

A short trip is about a month and a long trip is usually six or seven weeks. (Alaska was ten weeks).

My wife pre-loads the trailer with staples such as flour, sugar, dry cereal, spices and paper goods, and loads whatever she has on hand in the house for canned goods, bottled water, and soft drinks; which is usually about two or three weeks worth.

We then go to Wal Mart or a local grocery store for fresh baked goods, fruit and vegetables, and meat as we go along. The managers at RV parks are always happy to recommend a local store.

We have found that prices are about the same everywhere (except Canada, but the exchange rate was in our favor) so it really doesn't seem reasonable to haul a lot of the same items around the country when we can buy them as needed.

Obviously if you are boondocking 20 miles out in the woods your thinking will be different, but it is another of many things about RVing where one answer doesn't fit all users.

We go to Dollar Tree and get the Ulta pasteurized Milk. It does not have to be refrigerated until you are ready to use it.

Thanks for all of the input. This will be our first trailer so I'm sure there are going to be some lessons learned the hard way. When I think about the RV fridge and kitchen I just keep having visions of that cross-country move with the u-haul. It was slow and easy, and packed beautifully, but as soon as the back end opened up it looked like a tornado hit.

As far as turning the fridge on before your trip....totally agree, but I do it with the unit plugged in so I don't use up my propane. And yes....it should be level.

OT, but make sure your batteries are topped up before you go too.

Been RVing since I was 10 with parents and a slide in Truck Camper with an Icebox (block ice) for fridge. Turn on Fridge day before, wait a bit, we wait 4 hours, then put already frozen stuff in freezer. Cooled or Frozen water bottles will also help cool the fridge part down more quickly if you are in a hurry. We usually freeze a case of water bottles, so when we go walking or attend races and other venues, we carry a frozen bottle or 2 of water in our backpacks.
Next day, normally morning, we load up fridge with condiments, already cooled liquids as well as fruits, and veggies, milk, and etc. We seldom worry about tight packing the fridge as it has always traveled well and the fridge is in the very back as we have a Rear Kitchen. In the pantry we use the friction or pressure bars against the walls of the cabinet to keep our canned goods tight. Glass items we tend to separate with non glass items, in the fridge and pantry or just wrap in a paper towel or dish cloth. Chips, breads and etc, we try and put in a cabinet where nothing might slide or fall. I swear chips turn to crumbs before the bag is opened but that's just a perception.
Bottom line, don't worry to much about it. Get your camper, Load up and get outside, all the other things will fall in line.
Oh as far as I can tell, there is NEVER a stupid question here and newbies are always welcome. These folks seem to like to educate and have ideas and experiences with twists that will help all. In fact sometimes its right down comical.

JMelton wrote:
Hi all. I don't figure I need to announce being a newbie because everyone will key in on this stupid question.
We are a horse before the cart couple, hoping to get a fiver soon. My question is this. Do you stock your fridge and groceries based on your actual parked time? I'm picturing things shifting and sloshing as your scooting down the open road.

A lot of this will depend on how and where you camp. We tend to boondock a lot, and for only a few days, so will do mostly sandwiches for lunch. DW isn't much of a breakfast eater, so a toasted (or not) bagel will do her just fine. Me, I'm a cereal guy. Dinners we try and do as much cooking ahead of time, though we'll usually do a "special" dinner and cook steaks one night. Since we're usually with a group, this can be a bit of a pot luck, with people picking a bit here and there, though they do NOT mess with my steak! :-)

When we've done full hook-up CG's, we usually only take what we need for the road and for quick meals, then eat out as we do touristy stuff and "nice" dinners. Maybe buy some things nearby as needed.

We've had very little shift in the fridge over the years, with only a couple things moving around, usually on the door.

Lyle

Some stuff we plan on lasting an entire trip, some things, like fresh vegetables, we like to buy at local roadside stands. One of the places that we go on an annual basis is Dover , DE for the Fall NA$CAR race. We travel down with a nearly EMPTY freezer, because there is an Amish Market in Dover that we stock-up on specialty meats that lasts us through much of the next year.

Otherwise, grocery store stops are a regular (every second or third day) occurrence for us....

We stock the entire trailer with groceries as well as all other needs. We try to buy cheap as we usually go into rather expensive areas. Keeps from having to go shopping all the time.