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JimBollman's avatar
JimBollman
Explorer
Aug 10, 2013

Wheel Well Storage Ideas Needed

We have a different slide in camper and I have been doing some mods to make it livable for our travel style. We ended up with a more open floor plan but lost some inside storage. We gained access to all 4 wheel wells, only had access to two on the old camper, plus a small dry outside compartment. I have filled 3 of the wheel wells with the following: gray water container (no holding tank), blocking, fire cap, bucket of small wood chunks for fire cap, outside gas stove, extra propane, couple of small yellow dog lanterns with oil, water proof bucket with extra supplies of paper goods and such, collapsable rake and a jumper battery for back up power if we dry camp to long.

So we still have the large wheel well space on front passenger side. Problem is the access hole is fairly small (I may eventually try to find a door and make it larger) maybe 8"X14". Would be a long reach to the front of the compartment, somewhat bigger (longer) items could be worked into the space from the back access doors to the rear wheel wells. Things on my maybe list currently are extra food and drink (would need sealed containers that would fit through hole) and dirty laundry (not sure how to handle keeping them dry and have easy access to put in dirty clothes. Don't think I need an extra battery.

So what should I put in this space to save inside space?
  • You are lucky. It kills me that I have that space I can't easily access. Only way I can access is through the narrow gap between the camper and the top of the truck bed side rails, maybe 3 or 4 inches. Limits what I can put in there.
  • I carry tool boxes, folding chairs, small air compressor, GI shovel, rain gear, extra battery, and dog food in those spaces.
  • Hi
    I carry ----leveling blocks/second, hyd. jack/petrol(gas) for genny/charcoal for B-B-Q/spare engine oil/bucket with camper washing gear/plastic box with different water tap fittings and a submersible pump kit to fill the tank)/second camper battery/gold pan !!!!/space for beer&cider/spare drinking water in 3 5 litre bottles---how would I manage without that space ??????
    Nigel & Pamala-----UK
  • I have extracted a few new ideas, thanks, keep them coming.

    I think I will try to find the largest water proof containers that will fit through the hole to start with since most of the additional things I will want to stash needs to be dry. I think one or more of the containers will be used for rain gear. That is something we hope we never need and is in the way when we don't.
  • We use that space to store leveling shims, electrical cables, water-tank-filling hose and filter, snow-and-ice brush-scraper, and a collapsible snow shovel. Tire chains, if we had them, would be another possibility.
  • We use it for dirty clothes. There's four of us. We need it!

    Also folding chairs, table, extra tent, and sometimes PFDs.
  • bikerdib wrote:
    You are lucky. It kills me that I have that space I can't easily access. Only way I can access is through the narrow gap between the camper and the top of the truck bed side rails, maybe 3 or 4 inches. Limits what I can put in there.


    Same here. No way for us to access the space with the camper on. Always thought all campers had those little access doors on the inside, but with the basement models, you cant have them.
  • hummmm...instead of waterproof 'containers ' why not use a dry bag . like the ones used for boating / kayaking / rafting ? stick the bag in empty then fill it and seal it :)