E-350 - How to pack the back?

[Redterpos3]

2013 was our first year towing with our van. I gathered all the necessary gear and basically just kept putting stuff in to the back,with the things I need first closest to the rear, and so on. I am wondering if anyone has a better way of packing, a system, series of boxes, etc. For the trailer I have found a great way of packing things into the pass through, so that I've figured out well. Now I'm trying to think of better using the back of my van.

[Jarlaxle]

If you remove a seat, the mounts for it make GREAT tie-down points for your gear.

[Redterpos3]

Lessmore wrote:
Whatever packing system you use in a van....make sure that the weight is evenly distributed and if carrying heavy items, just don't put it all on the tail end....remember if you have to hammer the brakes on hard....ensure that when you packed you van....you packed it in such a way that large 'packed' objects do not come flying through the inside of the van and hit passengers.

I'm not going to say how I learned this...I just learned it !

OK ! ;):B

Thanks for the reminder!! I am learning that packing lesson!! That's part of the reason for my original post, trying to figure out the best way of keeping everything put, and in place when I need it!

[Lessmore]

Whatever packing system you use in a van....make sure that the weight is evenly distributed and if carrying heavy items, just don't put it all on the tail end.

Weight distribution is a concept I developed when I drove commercial vans and trucks...way back when, while paying for U.

Another factor to consider is to remember if you have to hammer the brakes on hard....ensure that when you packed you van....you packed it in such a way that large 'packed' objects do not come flying through the inside of the van and hit passengers.

I'm not going to say how I learned this...I just learned it !

OK ! ;):B

[Redterpos3]

JBinOR wrote:
In our Chevy 3500, many take out the back seat for storage, I presume you did the same, but we took out the front bench seat, making it much easier to get to the things we need right away.

I've tried it both ways. I take out the 4th seat, and then either the 3rd seat, giving large space in rear, or I've taken our 2nd seat giving me room up front. I do this if the dog is traveling also. Not sure which way I like best, still trying to figure out what is the best way to pack.

I did find the Black/Yellow bins at Home Depot, picked up 4. They seem very sturdy! Will begin to practice packing after I stop using up all my energy blowing/shoveling snow!! Though it is kinda nice having snow on the ground while watching the Winter Olympics. It can all disappear when the olympics are over, however!! :W

[JBinOR]

In our Chevy 3500, many take out the back seat for storage, I presume you did the same, but we took out the front bench seat, making it much easier to get to the things we need right away.

[Redterpos3]

carringb wrote:
Plastic totes. Specifically, the black ones with yellow lids from home depot.

That does look like something that would work!!! I'll look into something like these! Thanks for the idea!

[APT]

Something that looks like the picture carringb posted is available at Costco for about $8ea. They rock!

[carringb]

Plastic totes. Specifically, the black ones with yellow lids from home depot. Rubbermaid, including the high-$ Action Packer series, get soft when warm which means you can't sit on them without crushing, and sometimes the lids won't even stay closed. Sterilite is much stronger but if you drop one while its cold, it'll shatter. These guys are tough all the way around, and the lids are slotted in case you need to cam-strap them to the roof. The deep lid also means they stay stacked in the back of the van.