Packing

[Miss_Ellie1]

How do you keep all of the things in the cabinets from shifting, banging and getting broken. Hubby says we should pack things in boxes and then unpack when we get there but I have seen plastic rails for cabinets and dish holder things that might work. Seems like a huge amount of trouble to be packing and unpacking all the time. Also we have 2 cats and plan to allow them to stay in the 5th while we drive and allow the Golden Retriever to ride with us in the truck. Suggestions welcome.

[ScottG]

We dont bring junk that will break easily.

[ReneeG]

rhagfo wrote:

pennysmom09 wrote:
You mentioned letting your cats ride in the 5th wheel. It's a pretty bumpy, noisy ride in a trailer, I hope other cat owners will offer up some experience. Plenty of stories of dogs being quite traumatized by it, and cats are even more sensitive to noise and motion.

X2!!
Put cats in a Kennel, and have in the cab with the dog.

X3!! Keep them all in the cab with you.

[jnharley]

We have a center kitchen and never have we had anything except the microwave turntable come out. I now put that on the bed. We use baskets for bottles in the pantry since they tip easily and occasionally, I will find a pasta I of plastic drink ware tip over. Just open cabinets and the fridge slowly. We do not leave anything out on the counters or furniture. Things like that have a safe place for storage and since we are long time fulltimers, it takes us less than 5 minutes to get everything inside put out after stiopping.

[Fxfymn]

I guess it depends on the coach and the roads you travel. A friend with a new fiver did not pack/separate any dishes, despite warnings for my DW, and she found pieces of most of them on the floor after going across I-10.

We have a rear kitchen and we use small plastic bins to keep items separate from each other. I have broken the handle off of a favorite coffee mug when I forgot to wrap it before I put it in the cabinet. Other than that we have not had items break.

And of course you need to be careful when you open cabinets for the first time after a move. Inevitably items shift and fall out when the door opens if you aren't careful.

[IHnutz]

samsontdog wrote:
. . . . . because my DW fills just about every inch in every cabinet etc

:B :B I didn't know your wife and mine were related!! I had to buy a bigger truck just to haul all the "stuff" she packs. :S

[Dave_H_M]

Our three cats seem to have adjusted well to riding in the camper, temperatures allowing of course.

Could get a little crowded in the truck with the two labs. :h

[rhagfo]

pennysmom09 wrote:
You mentioned letting your cats ride in the 5th wheel. It's a pretty bumpy, noisy ride in a trailer, I hope other cat owners will offer up some experience. Plenty of stories of dogs being quite traumatized by it, and cats are even more sensitive to noise and motion.

X2!!
Put cats in a Kennel, and have in the cab with the dog.

[pennysmom09]

You mentioned letting your cats ride in the 5th wheel. It's a pretty bumpy, noisy ride in a trailer, I hope other cat owners will offer up some experience. Plenty of stories of dogs being quite traumatized by it, and cats are even more sensitive to noise and motion.

[Gearitis]

Don't over think it! Over the past 25 years we have never "packed" our cabinets. Just like the fridge, alternate glass with plastic, never have glass touching glass, and if you are just "iffy" on something, just wrap it with a dish towel. If I could get my DW not to carry half of the cabinet contents that she has, I could lose a ton in weight, just kidding there, but I would lose a lot of weight.

[md_procouple]

The wife likes the "Look" of the Enamel covered dishware IE. Blue/White, Red/White, but before that we also used Coral. We also like the spring loaded bars, for the cabinets, you can also get them at Walmart or on E-bay. ... Happy Camping and Good Luck

[Old-Biscuit]

We traveled for 7 yrs all over the USA....back roads mostly

We just out the things in the cabinets and drawers.
Even traveled with a full place setting of Noritake China (Moms China) in the glassed door cabinets.

In 7 yrs only had one item break......I dropped it into sink :S

Just slowly open cabinets/fridge after setting up.
Jar of jalapenos fell out once.

Things stay put pretty well W/O extra precautions/efforts.....relax.

(And if hubby still isn't convinced have him pack/unpack that stuff in boxes for a few trips :B )

[sdianel_-acct_c]

I use rubber shelf liner for all the shelves and under the sinks and to put between pots and pans to prevent rattles. I bought plastic drinking "glasses" and wine "glasses" - Coffee mugs are OK turned upside down. 4 Corel plates and paper plates. Things on the counters can be secured with clear museum putty. Camping World has shelf and refrigerator tension bars and other organization baskets and bins. You can get lots of storage things at the Dollar Store or Family Dollar. I bought a plastic beach tote for under the bathroom sink. I bought plastic canisters that seal for coffee, rice, flour, pasta, etc. Bought a lazy susan for under the sink for canned goods (we don't have a pantry). The lazy susan has an edge that keeps the cans from shifting or rolling.

[coolmom42]

Get some shelf liner that is kind of non-skid. There is a Rubbermaid version that has little bumps on it, that helps a lot.

No need to pack/unpack. Just don't put heavy thinks--like a gallon of water--next to your crackers or bread. Kind of keep like items together. Get some plastic or Corelle plates, and mostly plastic drinking glasses, etc.

Anything that's glass and relatively fragile, like the glass portion of a coffeepot, should be in a cabinet with some towels or something wrapped around the glass portion so it doesn't slide around much.

Electronics travel nicely in the middle of the bed, for anything you don't want/need in your tow vehicle.

Make sure your liquids in the fridge are closed tightly. You may find that a few small things in the fridge slide around but it's not generally a big deal.

[rhagfo]

azdryheat wrote:
We don't do anything special, just put things in the cabinets and they are fine. Haven't had any issues.

X2 and we have the dreaded rear kitchen.