What are you doing/using for storage in your front storage and under the bed (our jay flight has it set up as 1 big open area)? We keep things like dog food to hitch parts and tools to axes and wiener sticks under there. Anybody have any drawer systems? Bins you really like? I can't wait to see some pictures!

We use totes...flat ones for hoses, etc., taller ones for dog food and various other items in the storage area. Even the hitch will fit in a tote with the bars removed. I slip an old pair of crew socks over the ends of the bars to keep the grease off of places it shouldn't be.

There are some kits out there you can buy and install to make a drawyer that will slide out from the front cargo access door. Problem with those however is that they are bulky and the typical travel trailer has a small cargo access door which limits the amount of space you can use.

IMO drawers are a terrible waste of valuable space. Our current Freedom Express is a small 19' model yet features a HUGE front pass through storage compartment along with further storage under the queen bed.On the curb side I store all our campsite related gear where it's readily accessible ...On the street side is all my trailer set up gear as I'm the only one dealing with this stuff ...There so much space I even store my spare tire in there. :) I learned a long time ago to avoid large bins or anything I have to pull and lift out of the compartment. Instead I have one large shallow plastic pan that never moves and simply corrals a few setup items like chocks, preventing them from rolling around, and one open box that holds all my spare Lynx. The air pump and waste macerator pump each live in their own small storage box or bag, tucked away where space is available as they're not often needed. Spare water hose and extra main service cable live in the well of the spare tire, again because it's otherwise wasted space and aren't often needed. That's it - K.I.S.S.

X2 what soundguy said.Door side has all those things I use while camping. Chairs, weiner sticks, pie makers, maul, etc....Backside is where I keep "set up" material. Hose, blocks, chocks, etc... After setting up, I toss my hitch/WDH bars in there, so they are out of the weather.The middle has a bunch of odds and ends that I might need, but probably not, yet for some reason I feel the need to take them.I added a piece of carpet to mine. Helps to keep things from sliding around. Hopefully is protecting the tile from damage.

I too put carpet in my storage area to keep things from sliding. For small stuff like electrical adapters etc, I got a plastic replica milk crate at Lowe's. I also put a variety of hooks up to hang things like coils of cable tv coax, whisk broom, etc. And I put a paper towel holder in at each end so whichever side I'm at I have a quick grab of those.I have a small canvas tool bag I've had for years, and it's in there with a variety of hand tools, multimeter and repair stuff.

Front storage organization | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

apr67
Explorer
Apr 14, 2016
Gambit80 wrote:
apr67 wrote:

WD bars go on a mount on my Trailer Tray that I made with Square Bolts.

I would be interested to see any pictures of this setup, if you happen to have any.

You can see them just above the propane tanks.

2016-04-14_04-45-57 by Alan Russell, on Flickr
SoundGuy
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
apr67 wrote:
I tow with a Van and nothing for the RV goes in the Van.

I'd agree with this with a few specific exceptions as I want to know without having to give it any thought that the trailer already has what it needs to be self sustaining. Those exceptions are my fresh water transfer Aquatainers because I want them always available in the truck anytime I go to collect fresh water, my under awning ground mat because it does get dirty, my 3-step ladder that allows me to access the top of my slide out for cleaning, my Weber Q because I don't want any greasy cooking smells in the camper, my spare 5 lb propane tank, spare propane canisters, and torch oil canisters because IMO it's safer to keep them in the truck, and any firewood we may happen to take along because that keeps any mess out of the trailer. That's pretty well it, everything else belongs in the trailer.
Gambit80
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
apr67 wrote:

WD bars go on a mount on my Trailer Tray that I made with Square Bolts.

I would be interested to see any pictures of this setup, if you happen to have any.
apr67
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
I tow with a Van and nothing for the RV goes in the Van.

WD bars go on a mount on my Trailer Tray that I made with Square Bolts.

Drivers side has two bins, one for water hose, the other for chocks and 20 lynx levelers. I pull both bins out usually when setting up and leave them under the trailer. Also on the drivers side is a milk crate with the CATV cable, end for the sewer hose, sewer donut, dogbone power adapters, gloves and big wrench, all stuff used for setup. On top of that stuff sits the big mohumbo 50amp power cord.

Passenger side has twoards the front of the rv-fishing rod storage holder to hold scissor jack handle, bug lantern pole, tounge jack handle, and garbage bag holder (fits on picnic bench). To the rear of the rv two small bins with general maintenance items (for the generator, grease, small straps and bungies), and a tool bag. Between the front and rear and back about 12" is the patio mat, and some camp games (washers, croquet), and in front of that is the grill.

Camp chairs found a new home in the outside kitchen.
IDoMyOwnStunts
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
I use 2 large, low profile containers (one for electrical stuff and one for water stuff), a Home Depot bucket with a lid to contain the sewer stuff, and a tool bag for the tools. Those go against the front wall. The grill (fold flat Roadmate), chairs, and WD/trailer jack parts I just put in there against the back wall. All has to be loaded from the passenger side because I have a built-in generator on the driver's side. I like the containers because they are easy to grab and slide. I use a rubber mallet to reach for the back stuff (don't judge!), but I sure do like the idea of eye bolts on the containers for easy grabbing.

Stuff like wheel chocks and levelling blocks go in the truck bed.
RooDude09
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
Out last trailer I put peg board on the rent ire back part of the storage space. It allowed me to hang a lot of the things I used on it like awning rod, Jack crank, X chalks. There was a raised frame that gave me the clearance behind the peg board for the pegs. Just had to cut to size and screw in
SoundGuy
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
GrandpaKip wrote:
Much better than tossing wet and probably dirty cords and hoses in there or in the back of the truck.

Back of the truck is where "dirty stuff" belongs ... and is the reason my under awning ground mat never goes in the front pass through storage compartment. Anything grubby gets washed off when we get home, so I don't need no stinkin' bins. :W
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2016
There is nothing in 3 of my containers (electrical, water hookup, and sewer) that can't get wet and, if it's raining, will get wet, because they are all used outside. The containers are nice because if it's raining during takedown, everything goes into waterproof containers, keeping the passthrough relatively dry. Much better than tossing wet and probably dirty cords and hoses in there or in the back of the truck.
TxTwoSome
Explorer
Apr 11, 2016
Well I am another one who uses the short containers they are clearly marked and I know exactly what is in each of them.

If it is raining just pull them out and under the awning.

For the ones I do not need often I added a couple of eyebolts on the sides and made a hook with a handle so they are easy to remove because they are kept in the center of compartment.

I have spring clips on the sides of compartment for crank handle, WDH Handle, broom and my hook handle.

Also mounted a 1" u-shaped channel to floor with the open end towards front of trailer. The small end of the Andersen Levelers fit into it and the curve of the leveler matches the curve on front of trailer so the levelers are never in the way. I added a few screws with wing nuts to lightly tighten the levelers in place.
wanderingbob
Explorer II
Apr 11, 2016
I believe that you are just supposed to stuff stuff in those areas , makes it more fun when you are trying to untangle the cords from hoses and it all gets tied up in with the BBQ forks and grill !