Hi! My hubby and I just went back to a travel trailer from a 5th wheel. Storage is going to be tight. I'm looking for some clever ideas, especially for the kitchen, going from 8 drWers to 3 1/2! We have door racks for zip type bags, foil and wrap. We also have slide shelves for the pantry, but they may be too narrow. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Downsize your kitchen utensils. If it is just the 2 of you, you only need 2 spoons, 2 forks, 2 knives. Bring along a set of plastic cutlery of 5 or 7 in a small box that can be tucked away for unexpected guests. Plates? You only need 2 plates. Get some paper plates for extra unexpected guests and just keep them tucked away elsewhere. Same for cups and coffee cups. Pots and pans? Most pots can be used as skillets. Most skillets can be used as a pot! Prep tools? a couple flat griddle flippers, a dipping spoon, a dipping spoon with holes for draining, a potato peeler, and a good set of knives. (we don't skimp on the knives. My wife got a butcher block set that cost about $300. One of those knives is better than ALL the knives put together in our house. This set stays in the camper, never leaves). Really, more than that you REALLY don't need. We do have a wine bottle cork screw and a hand can opener.By the way, our primary cooking pot has a lid. The lid has a bunch of holes in it. Perfect for draining water (like spaghetti) or anything for that matter.If you REALLY go through your kitchen stuff, you will probably find you don't use some of those items. They can be eliminated right away. Look at each item and see if you can use it for multiple purposes. If you can, eliminate something else that duplicates the purpose. For example, a pair of meat scissors can also be used for cutting paper, string, rope, even small wire, fishing line and cloth. Why carry a dozen different kinds of scissors in your camper for each item, when one will do it all? Those individualized gadgets and utensils take up a lot of space, for no more than they get used for.Downsize. If you've not used it in the last year, toss it out! Of course, if you have only 2 spoons, you do have to wash it immediately when done. You may want use it again to dig worms out of the ground for fishing next! :)

Back of cabinet door cutlery holder.Back of cabinet door, rack storage. These come in various sizes. Available at Home Depot and other places.Most of my cabinets were just big open cavities. I added extra shelves and dividers within the cabinets to create much more useable storage space.

I have found that there are numerous cubby holes that are covered over for access panels.• Under our sink shelves for accessing the plumbing.• Beneath the bottom shelf of our pantry for accessing the tub.• Beneath or bathroom sink, the linen closet, and under our refrigerator.Obviously they were not intended to be accessed for storage but there is no reason why they cannot be, probably most handy for those seldom used items or storage.You have to be a bit handy to do this.Remember you are downsizing from a 5ver, so you can only cram in so much weight.

I ordered a spice rack thingy. It will fit on the back of the pantry door. *DutchmanSport - my mother travels with us frequently, so there are 3 of us, and we only have service for four. I purchased a set of what could be called "dorm room in a box", when we bought our first camper. It had all the necessities, but no extra's. We have of course added to it, so down sizing is a given. Thanks for the excellent suggestions!

rbpru - We have already decided some of the thongs we left in our 5th wheel might have to go back and forth. I told Hubby as long as there is room for the coffee maker, I'll be happy! The funny thing is, while the storage is much less, the fridge is bigger!

Clever storage ideas needed | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Dec 31, 2015
Old Duck....

Actually, your suggestion is right on! We've removed the cork screw from the camper several times. Then when traveling, we'll stop somewhere and end up with a finer bottle of wine, and guess what? No cork screw. So we end up buying another one. I think we have 7 or 8 of them in the house now! We do wine for our first campout of the year, the first night out. It's become a tradition. First night, wine and cheese for supper. First morning camping of the year is always T-bone steak and eggs and the rest of the wine from the night before. So we make sure we have the cork screw for the first camp out. By the second camp out, we've removed all the junk from the previous year we don't use any more, and usually the cork screw goes into the house ... until we happen to hit upon a really great restaurant, novelty shop, or a winery or something, and then it's "oops!" all over again!
rwmmdj
Explorer
Dec 30, 2015
WannavolunteerFT - we opted for the TT because we already had the truck. MH tomorrow if we win the lotto tonight!
rwmmdj
Explorer
Dec 30, 2015
Goducks10 - I have some mobility issues and the wide open space is just what I need for my "paraphenalia. I use a walker and sometimes a wheelchair. Although, if it's on wheels and can move, it might be an option.
goducks10
Explorer
Dec 30, 2015
That floor plan really needs a kitchen island. Why not buy one that matches the décor? You can strap it down somewhere during travel.
RollandB
Explorer
Dec 30, 2015
DutchmanSport always has good ideas shared, but I have to mention to toss out the wine bottle screw opener. The fine wines now come with a screwtop until when I was in HS.....;-)

Sorry, I just had to say it and be a smarty.

Happy New Year no matter what wine you drink and how you have to get it open!
wannavolunteerF
Explorer
Dec 30, 2015
Utilize wall space too... I hung the knife rack above on cabinet wall at side of fridge. Some large command hooks to hang jackets, etc on in bedroom. I have some smaller command hooks to hang stuff in shower. also hung a mesh shoe bag in bath room (in previous trailer) on wall above toilet. stored hair and bath stuff.

BTW, your new TT is the one I seriously considered for FTing later. Still debating it or MH.
WNYBob
Explorer
Dec 30, 2015
Check Pinterest for lots of suggestions, photos & instructions (or is it instructionables)
rwmmdj
Explorer
Dec 30, 2015
rbpru - We have already decided some of the thongs we left in our 5th wheel might have to go back and forth. I told Hubby as long as there is room for the coffee maker, I'll be happy! The funny thing is, while the storage is much less, the fridge is bigger!
rwmmdj
Explorer
Dec 30, 2015
I ordered a spice rack thingy. It will fit on the back of the pantry door.
*DutchmanSport - my mother travels with us frequently, so there are 3 of us, and we only have service for four. I purchased a set of what could be called "dorm room in a box", when we bought our first camper. It had all the necessities, but no extra's. We have of course added to it, so down sizing is a given. Thanks for the excellent suggestions!
rbpru
Explorer II
Dec 30, 2015
I have found that there are numerous cubby holes that are covered over for access panels.
• Under our sink shelves for accessing the plumbing.
• Beneath the bottom shelf of our pantry for accessing the tub.
• Beneath or bathroom sink, the linen closet, and under our refrigerator.

Obviously they were not intended to be accessed for storage but there is no reason why they cannot be, probably most handy for those seldom used items or storage.

You have to be a bit handy to do this.

Remember you are downsizing from a 5ver, so you can only cram in so much weight.