Packing up a motorhome or campervan? Unsure what you want or the place to place all of it so issues are protected? Don’t fear, we’re obtained you covered- right here’s all the pieces you could know, in addition to a FREE motorhome packing record so that you can use.
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Packing a motorhome- the issue
Some of the widespread questions I get requested (other than ‘what does motorhome payload imply and the way do I examine?), is about packing a motorhome, campervan, or RV. As I’m certain you’ve realised, attempting to place ALL THE THINGS right into a small area just isn’t all the time simple! Not solely do you need to work out what to pack in your camper, however you additionally must be taught HOW to pack it.
It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re going touring round Europe for six weeks, or heading to the native campsite for a weekend, a poorly packed motorhome is at finest noisy/ annoying and at worse harmful to drive.
(For those who’re nonetheless caught on the WHAT you want, right here’s a listing of important motorhome equipment we extremely suggest you carry)
Nonetheless, after getting all the pieces you assume you would possibly want/ need piled in your spare bed room or storage, it’s time to begin placing all of it away.
The issue with not doing this correctly is what number of issues there are which may rattle and shake round if not saved appropriately. Not solely is it annoying and distracting to take heed to that noise while driving, however issues may break, shake free and even trigger imbalances to the car. Subsequently, it’s actually necessary to pack your motorhome correctly.
Motorhome Packing Errors
After dwelling and touring in a motorhome for a number of years, I’ve learnt some nice ideas and tips to pack a motorhome, and I’m sharing all of them under. Once I purchased my first camper, I knew nothing. Completely nothing. I packed omy first van utterly unsuitable! Boy did I do know it once I set off on my first trip- there have been creaks, bangs and noises EVERYWHERE!
I needed to be taught cease rattles within the motorhome, pack heavy issues low and prepare lockers so I didn’t need to empty them simply to get one thing within the again!
How do you load a motorhome? Assess your storage
You will discover that you’ve got ‘good lockers’ and ‘unhealthy lockers’ inside your camper. Good lockers are simple to entry, simple to see inside and straightforward to maintain organised. Unhealthy lockers are onerous to entry/ onerous to see inside and enormous sufficient for issues to get thrown in with none thought in any respect, which makes them unattainable to maintain tidy!
Unhealthy lockers also can have heating duct pipes/ wires/ switches and so on inside them, which implies you could take into consideration the varieties of objects you place into them.
Begin by figuring out your good/ unhealthy lockers, then gather your gear and RV package collectively.
Take into consideration if you would possibly want the ‘stuff’ you’re placing away. For instance, you’re unlikely to want a whisk or video games in an emergency, however you would possibly want some instruments, so preserve these in a extra accessible locker.
What is going to you want when? If the youngsters are asleep, is there something underneath their bunks which you would possibly want within the night/ morning? What if certainly one of you will get up early and the opposite likes a lie-in.
Easy methods to pack a motorhome or campervan – the place to begin
One of many hardest issues is understanding the place to begin.
TOP TIP: Do NOT begin together with your fairly throw cushions or blankets or bedding… you’ll be shifting them out of the best way consistently while you do all the pieces else.
I like to recommend you begin on the backside and work your approach up. By that I imply begin with under-seat lockers and begin with the most important objects, which may’t be put anyplace else, like a motorhome generator if in case you have one or instruments/ spares.
- Begin together with your heavy/ awkward package (Mills, out of doors furnishings, tables, snow chains and so on) When you have a storage or out of doors storage field, this is perhaps pretty simple, however for a lot of motorhomes, it requires excited about your lockers fastidiously
- Attempt to preserve related objects in the identical place, so you could find issues simply.
- Subsequent, collect all of your kitchenware/ crockery/ utensils/ plates and so on collectively. Attempt to put them in locations which make sense, however retains issues safe.
- Defend your heating ducts. You don’t wish to retailer any sizzling/ perishable meals subsequent to those pipes, as they may get highly regarded. You additionally don’t need heavy objects to fall inside a cabinet or locker and squish the duct- that may be an costly restore.
Watch me packing a motorhome…
Some time in the past I filmed me packing our motorhome utterly from scratch. (For those who’ve obtained/ are getting a brand new van, or fancy some spring cleansing, you would possibly discover it helpful to observe.)
Within the video, you’ll see me beginning with the issues I’ll want most steadily and placing them someplace simple to get to.
We hope you discovered the video helpful. For those who did, why not comply with us on Youtube. We share new movies with ideas for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe weekly, plus highway journey concepts and epic locations.
Packing Motorhome Ideas- don’t panic!
Okay, if you start placing issues away, there’s a excessive likelihood your camper might be utter chaos. Don’t panic- I’ll get by way of this within the subsequent hour or two and it’ll begin to really feel much more underneath management.
That is NOT the time to begin shoving stuff into lockers and hiding all of it away- that can solely trigger confusion and frustration in a while and also you’ll discover vanlife a lot tougher. That is if you ship the youngsters, canines (and probably husband!) out for ice cream or a looooooooooooong stroll.
Then put some music or a podcast on, take your time and picture dwelling within the campervan for every week/ month/ full time. (These are our favorite highway journey songs to sing alongside to!)
Take into consideration weight distribution
Totally different to payload, it’s necessary to think about stability while packing.
When you have a generator or one thing actually heavy, don’t retailer it in the identical locker and even on the identical facet as all of your tins.
Speaking of tins, don’t retailer a lot of free issues like that in a locker with one thing you could take out steadily, like out of doors chairs or a BBQ. You’ll discover having to take away 50 tins to get issues out a ache within the bottom!
What do you have to pack in a motorhome kitchen?
Fortunately, a lot of the issues I take advantage of within the kitchen within the motorhome are precisely the identical belongings you’d use at residence. As a really temporary information, you want:
Plates, bowls, mugs, glasses, cutlery, condiments, utensils, TIN OPENER, BOTTLE OPENER, tea towels, washing up stuff, bin luggage (doesn’t need to be the massive black ones- I discover the smaller pedal bin measurement are sometimes higher), kitchen roll, frying pan, saucepan, kettle, teaspoons. Different Street journey necessities
These are what I’d think about fundamentals (although clearly, your record might nicely differ.) I additionally discover the next helpful onboard:
- Poachpods (have I discussed I’m hooked on poached eggs? This stuff are a superb invention and I take advantage of them just about every day)
- Plastic bins within the fridge to carry issues in place
- Bottle bag (one of many wine carrying ones from a supermarket- these maintain bottles and cease them clinking)
- Tongs
- Oven mitt
- Dishdrying matt (we don’t use a rack- takes up an excessive amount of area)
- Tea, espresso, sugar, sizzling chocolate and so on
- Nutritional vitamins or any tablets you require
- Spray oil for frying- private choice however it’s simpler to eliminate a little bit extra oil than a complete lot!
- Chopping boards
- Sharp knives, together with steak knives in case you’re a fan of pink meat
- Soup spoons (in case you eat (drink?) soup!)
RV Packing Ideas for beginners- the kitchen/ meals
As soon as the annoying and heavy stuff is stowed away safely, and the kitchen pans and utensils have principally obtained properties, I begin meals. I don’t do a whole lot of detailed cooking within the motorhome, however I prefer to preserve the fundamentals like flour/ sugar and so on in hermetic sealed bins like these. I discover it makes them last more and stops any little bugs getting in.
Try to preserve 1-2 rolls of paper towels simply accessible, however retailer the remaining in lockers underneath the seats. You don’t wish to take up all the nice lockers with issues like paper towels or rest room rolls, which you solely want entry to each few days.
Make certain sharp knives and different kitchen instruments are safely stowed. I used to retailer ours in a drawer, wrapped in comfortable cloths to allow them to’t by chance lower anybody, however now I’ve a magnetic strip on the wall which works MUCH higher than I believed it might!
Not likely meals associated (though it form of is- sorry!), however don’t overlook rest room chemical compounds. We use a product referred to as Solbio natural rest room fluid, which is pure and doesn’t include dangerous chemical compounds. It’s additionally protected to be disposed of in septic tanks or fosse, which means we now have extra choices to eliminate our rest room responsibly.
Hold issues protected whereas travelling
There are some issues in a van that are designed to be rugged and durable.
And others which aren’t.
When you have a motorhome television, they’re designed to resist extra vibration than a ‘regular’ TV, however they’re nonetheless prone to break if banged and knocked round. Be sure that issues that are ‘fragile’ are saved securely and may’t break while travelling. Both wrap them correctly or pack them in between different issues – anti slip matting is flexible and may also be used for wrapping up issues in order that they don’t break or rattle!
Easy methods to pack a motorhome- garments
By now, a lot of the lockers might be filling up, particularly those underneath the motorhome seats. It’s time to consider garments. Attempt to cut up your garments into belongings you’ll need every day (underwear, socks, t-shirts and so on) and belongings you won’t use each week (snow gear, mountaineering boots, bikini and so on) Clearly, it will rely solely on the place you might be highway tripping and what you get pleasure from doing there!
I are inclined to retailer footwear and boots for out of doors and water actions in a separate locker or within the wardrobe, and garments within the wardrobe,
It’s REALLY simple to overpack your garments, particularly for ladies, however that is one place the place you could be fairly ruthless. If you’re solely travelling in your camper for every week, then pack in accordance with the climate (though ALWAYS deliver a jacket/ heat jumper, even when the forecast is ideal. You’d be amazed what number of instances we’ve been caught out!
This fundamental record goes to fluctuate wildly from individual to individual and in addition due to the realm you might be visiting. However to get you began, here’s a guidelines for garments to hold in your camper.
What do you have to pack in a motorhome- the ‘bits’
When you’ve organised all the pieces else, it’s time for the ‘bits’. All of us have these- the issues that go in that particular drawer in your kitchen in a home. It’s uncommon you’ll be capable of discover a drawer for this objective (fortunate you in case you do!) I’ve a ‘bits field’, which sits inside one of many cabinets and holds batteries, tape, string, playing cards, pens, notepad and 1,000,000 extra issues.
Once more, attempt to preserve belongings you assume you’ll want steadily simply accessible, and put different issues in the direction of the underside/ again. Some ‘bits’ to recollect are:
- Video games/ playing cards or no matter you select to do to chill out
- Issues to do for the youngsters on highway journeys (try these highway journey kids’s video games)
- Chargers for telephones/ laptops/ ipads/ wifi/ bike headsets/ transportable radios… you get the thought! We use a combination of 12v chargers (to be used whereas we’re driving) and different chargers which we use on an inverter if essential, however we attempt to keep away from this. Annoyingly, I’ve simply upgraded to a Macbook Professional, which is superb however my 12v charger for my previous laptop computer doesn’t match! I’ll have to attend for them to launch one for mine.
- Placemats/ desk fabric if you want. We don’t use these indoors, however we do use a desk fabric if we’re organising a desk exterior.
- Motorhome Cleansing gear- we preserve cloths, duster, moist wipes and vanish spray all simply accessible. We additionally carry an iron and an ironing board as Mr WB is terrified that he is perhaps referred to as into an pressing assembly and must get on a airplane right away… it’s not occurred but however I simply know if I take it off the van we’ll want it! So it’s staying (for now).
While I give it some thought, don’t overlook van bedding! Pillows, quilt, bedsheets and so on. We’ve correct bedsheets- we’re not a fan of sleeping luggage. We’re fortunate sufficient to have a drop-down mattress to retailer the bedding on, however you would possibly must sacrifice a locker to retailer yours in.
Different issues I strive to not overlook when packing the camper:
- Large digicam and lenses
- SD playing cards
- Drone
- Tripod
- Mini tripod & microphone for vlogging (watch our journey movies right here)
- Laptop computer/ iPads/ telephones
- Wifi dongle
- Medical box- fundamental requirements like plasters, nurofen, diarrhoea tablets, water purification tablets and so on. (Don’t drink faucet water in Europe- purchase bottled.)
- Laundry stuff. For those who wash your laundry whereas travelling, most laundrettes throughout Europe require you to offer your personal detergent and so on. We deliver a small quantity of ours so it’s prepared if we’d like it.
- COINS within the native forex. For parking, ideas, tolls- you’ll all the time want them!
- Fuel bottles- we feature two 6kg ones. Beware the problems with getting gasoline in Europe.
- Hose pipe for filling contemporary water.
Motorhome packing- extra ideas and tips
Listed below are some extra finest ideas and tips that can assist you pack your RV or motorhome.
- Put heavy objects as little as attainable
- Attempt to place belongings you don’t use very repeatedly (like snowchains) within the locations that are annoying to get to (behind lockers, underneath mattress, in center of storage and so on.
- Try to put heavy objects over the axles as a lot as attainable, and check out to not put ALL the heavy objects in the direction of the again/ entrance. You need the motorhome weight unfold over every axle as evenly as attainable
- Retailer tins/ heavy issues which may roll as little as attainable, and put them in luggage or bins to cease them rolling
- Strive to not carry many extras for plates/ mugs/ glasses, and put the extras in safe bins to allow them to’t rattle round.
- For those who’re attempting van life with children, ensure that they find out about packing securely so issues don’t get damaged in lockers.
You’ll be able to try extra storage concepts right here:
Cease the noise! Easy methods to cease rattles in your motorhome
I HATE rattles, bangs and noise within the van. I’ve been identified to cease 5 minutes right into a journey and repack.
It’s so unhealthy, I’ve written a complete submit on HOW to cease rattles in your motorhome, campervan or RV, stuffed with ideas that can assist you have a extra peaceable, calmer journey.
Don’t forget- rattles come final. There’s no level losing a whole lot of time stopping rattles in your motorhome, when an hour later you determine to maneuver all the pieces round anyway!
So, these are our finest ideas and tips for pack a motorhome. I hope you’ve discovered them helpful. Most of all, don’t panic. So long as you’ve gotten the appropriate paperwork, your keys and a credit score/ debit card, just about all the pieces else could be purchased en route if you could.
Except you’re going someplace actually off-grid. Wherein case, possibly panic – and please ship me images so I can get pleasure from your highway journey adventures!!!
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