Packing Clothes

[Skillet]

Since it's near 7 degrees (windchill) right now and I'm not doing much, this thought came to mind:
How does everyone pack clothing for their trips? I haven't been on a trip longer than 3 days and I have soft luggage that was made for my Goldwing's trunks that I use. The large bag will hold 3 days easily and I bring a laundry bag to put my dirty clothes in. I also have a toiletry bag that holds that type of stuff. The clothing bag I put in the side overhead compartment behind the driver.

[SMan]

We use Sterilite storage bins for our clothes (and other items) and store them in the forward overhead. Once I removed the stock TV and VCR it created much more room. I also roll my clothes like I did in the military. They stay neat and compact. The smaller bins fit nicely in the side overheads for misc items as well.

[Blue~Go]

I keep mine in the overhead cabinets over the couch/dining area. Reason I chose that is that those cabinets are so heavy on their own (MDF, plus held in by screws in tension up into the ceiling) that I didn't want to put heavy stuff in them. Also, clothing fit quite efficiently (folded) and so each door was kind of like a dresser "drawer." Initially I had put clothing in the overcab, but then I realized that was one of the few "large" storage areas, vs. the nine million small cabinets everywhere. So I put larger things in the overcab.

I also keep a few clothing-type things in the closet by the door, which I have shelved. This would be rain gear, jacket, hiking shoes, shower bag and flip flops, etc.

I used to like using duffel bags or tubs for gear. One of the things that drove me nuts about my camper van (Chinook is similar but I was used to it by the time I got the Chinook) is that I could no longer easily use my interchangeable duffel bag/tub system for loading gear as I had in the past in my truck or wagon. Instead I had to "unpack" into little cubicles. Still not my favorite feature, but it's typical of RV's.

[Xatlatc]

The closet is only used for shirts/tops on hangers and we also use this hanger that was advertised on television to increase the amount that can be hung. Everything else is folded and placed in the upper cabinets. I found a small iron and ironing board to take care of any wrinkles and the board stores behind the couch and the iron can go just about anywhere. The shoe rack I made that attaches to the couch drop down panel/door handles all of our shoes.

[kdarling]

The shoe rack I made that attaches to the couch drop down panel/door handles all of our shoes.

Ooooo. Clever. I take it that the shoe rack is on the inside? Or outside?

In either case, you just gave me the idea of cutting that single long under-couch door into two or three separately hinged sections, so that it's easier to open and reach into one smaller section to access storage or water valves, without the entire door laying on the floor and being in the way. (Especially on dinette models with narrow aisle.)

Do any models come split already?

Kev

(-20 windchill here. I have a little electric heater sitting on the stovetop in the Chinook running 24/7, just for grins)

[Xatlatc]

The shoes are on the inside of the door. I have several pair of shoes on the door and it works well. I left Upstate South Carolina today to thaw in Florida for a few days. Sanibel Island then Melbourne Beach. Stay warm.

[99ChinookTXGRANS]

Blue and go
you said you have shelves in the closet...
How did you do that with the rounded back?

[Blue~Go]

Blue and go
you said you have shelves in the closet...
How did you do that with the rounded back?

Nothing too fancy at this point. I had some black-wire-grid shelves from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Each grid is a flat panel of around 14" x 14" and they normally connect together with round plastic discs. I can't remember exactly why, but I found that with the discs they didn't fit very well in the closet. So instead I used black zip ties, which worked great. On the left they went right up against the wall shared by the refrigerator compartment (I used some felt circles to keep them from scratching the wall). On the right there was a few inches of tall space left over where I can slip taller items. I also ran one longer "foot" (an extra grid) on the right (aft) side down to the lower floor level for support of the aft side. These fit really well and took about 15 minutes to install. They stay in place just fine. Here is a link to them:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/p ... e+shelving

Another way I've seen used in other RV closets that aren't square or don't have walls you can attach to. That is to cut a number of plywood shelves to the shape of the space. Then run dowels (or some other round/small post) up the four corners of the space. Drill horizontal holes in all four dowels at the same intervals to fit a peg (smaller dowel or etc.). Stack the shelf boards in a "deck" like cards and make holes that fit the dowels right through the whole stack (in the corners, wherever the dowels will be that fits the closet space), and then put the dowels in place and "load" the dowels with the stack of shelves at the bottom. Lift each shelf to where you want it and put four of the "pegs" through the holes in the dowels to hold the shelf. Do each shelf in turn until you have them all in place. (I hope that was at least somewhat understandable...)