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Mountianeer's avatar
Mountianeer
Explorer
Oct 10, 2014

How much will my stuff shift when pulling a TT?

Maiden voyage with our new TT this weekend. We don't have it stuffed to the gills, but we've put some food, a few dishes, some clothes, and general camp stuff in the cabinets. Heavy stuff low, lighter stuff high.

So how much is it going to shift as we head down the road?
Is it better to stuff cabinets full or pack them lightly?
Tips for packing, filling cabinets? Fridge? etc?

I have a feeling we are going to learn a lot this weekend. And yes, I've already started the refrigerator and put in some ice packs to jump start the cooling process.
  • I use various storage containers, tubs, bags, etc to put most stuff in. I leave very few items just loose. When possible I pack things tightly. I did learn that even items left down inside the sink can go flying if I brake sharply. Coffee maker goes in the bottom of the kitchen cabinet laying on its side with a few other items around it.

    Always, always, always open doors slowly or you will learn to always, always, always open doors slowly.
  • Open cabinets and fridge doors will the idea that something is going to fall out
  • You will find that things (generally) do not move very much, if at all. However, open cabinets when you reach your destination as if something IS going to fall out. Nest inside items as much as you can (something inside something else) to save space, and use shallow tubs or containers for small loose items and place the container on the shelf. This keeps small stuff from rolling around. We have, on a couple occasions, had cabinet door pop open, so we always bungie cord the cabinet doors as much as possible now.

    But I always find it amazing, a single cup or plate or medicine bottle on the kitchen counter will still be sitting there when we reach our destination! It's amazing sometimes!
  • Especially for your dish/glasses cabinet - if you have excess room, tighten it up with your extra paper towels or toilet paper rolls.
  • With over 50 years towing all types of RVs and well over 100,000 miles you could count on one hand how many things shifted while traveling. The bath room
    cabinet door came open and things fell out. We did not check it before leaving to see if it was shut all the way. Same for ref door and freezer door. Other wise all good. My dw has so much stuff in the cabinets that stuff cannot shift. LOL
  • Once while on the road I crawled in the trailer to use the potty and left my 22 oz cup of coffee on the sink next to the toilet. Hours later we pulled in to set up and it was still sitting where I left it.
  • putting stuff into containers/tubs/bins helps keep it from shifting so much. that being said, filling cabinets helps. If I have loose space it will shift. My cabinets and drawers have never yet come open, but I did leave a glass of water sitting in fridge (I intended to get it as I got in truck to have while driving) and glass tipped over and that 12 oz of water turned into gallons as it ran the full length of the trailer floor.
  • If there is room for items to shift they will do so. We put some things in bins to keep them from moving around in a cabinet. Bungee cords can also be used and we use some small diameter ones in the fridge. We use towels and the like to put around items we put inside the microwave while traveling like our metal percolator.

    Good idea to drive for an hour or less and then see what has moved and whether you have a problem. Also a good time to check that the fridge is still on and working properly.
  • I've never had anything fall out of the cupboard or hanging storage, but I learned to never leave spaghetti sauce in the fridge on travel days. :S

    A lot of times I put non-perishables in grocery bags and store them under the dinette table. The benches tend to keep things corralled in there.
  • Tips- Use shelf liners. In a full cabinet, items shift less. Put bread in the microwave. Protects is and keeps the glass circle plate that spins from bouncing. Use Paper towels, napkins, toilet paper rolls or dish towels as space fillers. Buy a couple of those frig keeper braces and use them in the fridge.

    Enjoy!