Van storage is never a ‘one size fits all’ situation – we all carry different gear and prioritise different storage options over others. While we all buy a setup to generally suit our needs, tweaking, modifying and adding to our van storage is an ideal way to travel more comfortably and efficiently. There are thousands of incredible storage solutions out there for any bit of gear, including many which can be constructed with materials found around home. Here are 12 amazing examples we’ve found that are sure to get your imagination flowing!
STORAGE SOLUTIONS UNDER $20
Overcoming glass breakages
It’s always impressive seeing innovative solutions to very common problems, especially when it doesn’t cost you a cent. Linda and Grant’s caravan and tow rig is full of top modifications and upgrades, but it is the simplicity of this separator in the glassware drawer that really makes it a standout. After a few trips into SA’s outback, Linda grew tired of pulling into camp to find broken glass in the drawers. Using an old cardboard box and a glue gun, Linda made up these easy, specified separators to keep wine glasses, mugs and the like snug and secure. “We haven’t had a breakage since,” Linda says.
TV support
Towing on rougher roads can result in a number of components inside your van to rattling loose. Having the TV on a retractable mount can add stress on wall fixings – something that can easily break on a corrugated outback road. A simple way to overcome this issue is to cut out foam supports for the TV. This is a cheap, easy DIY job any RVer can do – and it can drastically increase the longevity of your TV and mount.
Having tools at hand
When you’re out on the road, it’s really important to have the right tools easily accessible, just in case a mechanical or towing problem arises. One of the most accessible spots on your van is your main door, and there just happens to be a handy cavity in the steps that’s perfect for a tool box. You can either buy one that fits here, or make a simple one out of plyboard. Best of all it doubles as a handy step to assist you getting in and out of the van!
Smart use of ‘dead space’
One of the best ways to store your bulky items, like a washing machine, is to put them on a slide-out drawer. This gives you the ability to store them in harder-to-reach sections of your RV, and when it’s time to use them, you aren’t putting unnecessary stress on yourself to get it out. The storage of this washing machine is the perfect example – when not in use it’s tucked away under the sink, when it’s time to put a load on, simply unlatch and pull the slide out. There’s no heavy lifting, and you use up the dead space many vans have.
EXTERNAL ADD-ONS
Aluminium tool boxes
Simple aluminium tool boxes are a great addition to your RV. They’re readily available in a range of shapes and sizes, are often water and dust proof, and most importantly, they’re lockable. This means you can store obscure-shaped items, like fishing rods or cooking gear, safely out of the way and out of the grasps of would-be thieves. A cheap way to stop rubbing and rattling is to retro-fit your tool boxes with shelves and carpet or foam.
Rear bar storage
A van’s rear bar or real spare wheel carrier is an ideal position to store bulky items. This is mainly because you can weld or bolt boxes securely straight to the galvanised RHS steel. Paul and Trudi use this space to store a spare cassette for their onboard ensuite. Again you’ll notice the foam inside to keep it secure, and the lockable latch. The best thing about mods like this is you don’t need to spend a fortune on materials to get a practical storage solution.
Tangle-free extension cords
Here’s a nifty way to store your extension cords on your van. This home-made power cord hanger sits on the rear of the van, below the power input connector. There are small clips to hold the male and female ends in place when travelling. Little upgrades like this make a huge difference to the feel of camp – everything is neat and has a place.
EASE OF ACCESS
Accessibility is the biggest consideration that must be made when setting up your van or motorhome. For example, you could customise your kitchen drawers so that the top one is double-length. All the most-used items can be stored up top, more accessible than in the lower drawers.
DIY UNDER-BED STORAGE
Although many vans already come with storage under the island bed, there’s no reason why you can’t customise it to suit your needs, or start from scratch and build it right the first time. The trick is to ensure the bed and frame top isn’t too difficult to lift. Using lightweight marine ply and a simple steel frame will keep the weight down, and a decent set of gas struts is all you need to make lifting it a breeze. This is the perfect spot to store longer items that won’t fit elsewhere.
HANG ‘EM UP
Instead of having tools rolling around in an open space, getting broken and lost, Allan McGrath clipped the important items on clips on his compartment doors. For just $20 and half a Sunday afternoon you can have your expensive tools safe and easily accessible.
Anthony’s undercarriage upgrades
When you’re faced with limited storage space, like you are with many smaller pop top campers, you’ve really got to let your imagination run wild. This is exactly what Anthony has done. Made out of sturdy marine ply and a metal frame, the full length trundle tray adds a huge amount of extra storage to the RV, without adding too much extra weight in the wrong areas. This is ideal storage for things like spare parts and tools, which are the most ideal items to be storing in commonly used areas of your RV.
Towards the A frame of the van is another drop down compartment, where Anthony stores the outboard motor for his boat. By keeping all this weight down low, Anthony’s van still tows like a dream.
The fully custom-build trundle tray holds a lot of gear, and keeps the weight of the caravan down low
Spring latches keep the boxes secure, while the quality metal frame ensures it can take small impacts without falling apart
The padded, slide-out storage locker is ideal for storing expensive, bulky items like an outboard motor
WHAT’S YOUR STORAGE SOLUTION?
Send us a photo and description of the storage solution you’re most proud of to editorial@candm.com.au!