TC organization

[shiltsy1]

In the process of moving from a class A to smaller truck camper. Weight and efficient use of space will be paramount. What are some of the best organizational tips out there?

[wintersun]

I would not do it. You will be losing 90% of the storage space you have had with the Class A MH. I would be looking at a B+ MH like the Roadtrek MH, or the Phoenix B+ on the Ford E-450 platform. With a MH you have all the basement storage space that is largely absent with a camper. By the time you get a DRW F-550 and a 11 foot camper with slideouts the cost will be more than one of these motorhomes.

The only advantage of a truck camper is being able to remove the camper and have the use of the pickup as a truck for hauling and being able to upgrade only the camper later.

[shiltsy1]

Thanks for all the great replies. Ideas related to efficient packing of booze were especially relevant! As one poster mentioned, its a whole different type of camping than our 28' class A and frankly I'm very much looking forward to simpler camping that keeps us outside more! That is the whole idea after all.

I picked the new rig up last week and hauled it home. Should have our maiden voyage locally for a night or two this weekend!

[Reddog1]

btggraphix wrote:

Reddog1 wrote:


We have an assortment of paper plates, bowels and the like ......Wayne

Hey Wayne, one way to reduce your weight, is to at least empty your bowels before you leave. 😉

Actually, I am more concerned with my holding tank. :B Thanks for pointing it out.

Wayne

[btggraphix]

Reddog1 wrote:


We have an assortment of paper plates, bowels and the like ......Wayne

Hey Wayne, one way to reduce your weight, is to at least empty your bowels before you leave. 😉

[Reddog1]

I have a 11.5 foot TC (without slide), and typically only two of us. We have more than enough storage space for most of our trips (3 to 5 days). I too load the beer first, followed by the wife's Cardboardeaux, and a bottle (plastic) of Whisky (medical purposes). I leave the beer and whisky in the TC. You never know when you may have an emergency, and have to leave in a hurry. I do leave the fridge on 27/7.

With the exception of perishable food and some clothes (wife's usually), we leave everything in the TC. I usually leave 3 to 4 changes of clothes and two jackets in the TC. Typically, we have about 3 to 5 days of canned goods that stay in the TC.

We have an assortment of paper plates, bowls and the like (saves water & less drama), some the simple cheap type, and some the more expensive type. Which we use, depends on what we will be eating. We do have two real bowels. We have 4 real cups and plastic disposable glasses/cups. We use metal knives, spoons, and forks. We can easily serve four people. Pots and pans are limited, two pots, three skillets. I always make sure we have at least 5 rolls of TP, 3 to 4 paper towels. I also leave 5 bath towels in the TC.

I always restock the TC when we return from a trip. Easier to remember what I have to replace. That includes clothes.

Wayne

[Just_Jeff]

jefe 4x4 wrote:
Cardboardeaux? I love it.

I've read that the cardboard box is actually better for keeping wine fresh after you open it b/c no air gets back into the bag when you pour a glass, unlike in a bottle, and it seals better than a cork that's been removed and replaced.

Of course, that assumes there is wine left in the bottle after you first open it...

SugarHillCTD wrote:
Later, the kids were on their own so we went back to a TC.

We're planning the same thing...have a C now, and will move to a TC when the youngest graduates. It'll basically be the same size minus the bedroom in back, which we won't need any more. Just got our current one and love it, but already planning our next one!

[MTRhino]

We have gotten into the habit of emptying out the camper (and the boat)at the end of every season and only putting back those things we need and getting rid of those we never used. Over the course of the next year you will refill with those gotta haves for each trip and forget to remove them until the next fall clean out.

[SugarHillCTD]

Years ago we went from a TC to a TT as the kids grew.

Later, the kids were on their own so we went back to a TC.


Before trading in the TT, I emptied out all the compartments. WOW- what a pile was on the garage floor. I thinned it out quite a bit to fit into the newer TC.

Haven't missed any of the stuff that I eliminated.

[jefe_4x4]

Cardboardeaux? I love it. I remember backpacking with a good bottle of wine (lo those many moons ago) and we would scrape the label off; pull the cork and cut it in half an reinsert....just to say we were saving weight. Priorities is priorities.
All the important stuff has been said. There is almost no correlation between what you can take in a MoHo and what you try to squeeze into a TC. You learn over time what works and what doesn't, and that takes making your own mistakes.
Before traveling to OX2013 last month, I went completely through the TC, every nook and cranny and removed all the non-essential items. In 12 years, we've accumulated a lot of excess 'stuff' that is now gone and can't hurt us any more. Kind of like spring cleaning. It makes you feel good to get out from under 2 or 3 versions of the same gadget, or maps of Manitoba or Alaska while you're in AZ.
Probably the best 'organizational' gimmick was to start a list of things to take. If you go back in the archives, there are plenty of lists on here to peruse. The thing about a list is, it doesn't show the value or utility of any item, only a spot on a line. Also, we have three lists. One is summer TC-ing, which we do so very little of; and another is a Fall-Spring list. The one we use most is the winter list. Quite a few differences between the three lists. I don't want to know how much my H.D., V-bar truck chains for a 33x15.50 super single tire on a 12" wide wheel weigh, but it is consequential.
Before you do anything, once you get the rig, camp in your driveway or on the back 40 for a weekend with just the minimum. If you have something there that is not used, ditch it.
The must-take-next-time list will take care of itself.
regards, as always, jefe

[Jeepers92]

Do away with all the "I might need this sometime" Items. There are items you will need, but you don't need a lot and you don't need a variety.....not exactly what my wife says though 🙂
The important stuff is propane, genny fuel, water, toilet paper. Everything else is avail within a days drive.

[bjohns]

Yup on the whiskey and beer comments. Keep in mind that box wine is really easy to pack, too, and no bottles to worry about. When the box is empty, use it to start camp fire while the spouse opens another box.

We refer our box wines as Cardboardeaux. There are some pretty good box wines out there, but it takes a lot of experimentation to find just the right ones for your taste.

[MKish]

A 5th definitely packs better than beer.

[_DJ_1]

Think like a back packer!!! I still have ample room in my cabinets for more stuff and I have a pop up!!

I always pack more food/water than I need. You never know what may come up. Last month I lost my dog for 3 hours out in the middle of nowhere. As I was searching I was calculating in my head how many weeks I could stay rationing my food. I wasn't going home without her!!!

BTW, a 5TH of whiskey weighs much less and takes less room than a rack of beer!!! :B

[Bedlam]

If you don't mind trailing, a small enclosed trailer will secure bikes, barbeque, lawn furniture and anything else you do not want inside. We even have a clothes line set up to hang laundry out of sight, but our trailer is a little bigger for larger and more toys...