We found a lot of storage in our travel trailer!!

[Bruce]

Our current trailer maybe makes vintage, a 1986 Kit brand Road Ranger 199.  Around 20 ft hitch to bumper.  I was actually impressed with the amount of storage for a relatively small trailer.  As always there was the under dinette seats, spacious but not overly handy.  The closet the PO (previous owner) had changed from hanging closet to a series of shelves, which has worked out well for the things we keep in the trailer (grill, camp stove, towels, coffee maker, etc).  The shower has a closet rod installed by the PO, since we use campground showers this is great; in the tub portion we have a couple boxes that we put folded (rolled) clothes in with room outside the boxes for shoes.  So far, this is actually pretty good.

This generation trailer always amuses me; sleeping for 172 people in a 20ft trailer.  To do this in our trailer there is the requisite bunk/cabinet over the main bed.  The PO had the front panel off and just put stuff onto the remaining shelf once at the campground.  We looked at the panel, 2 little doors to access a near 8 foot long and 2 foot deep cabinet when installed.  Totally useless.  My wife found collapsable bins about the size of a milk crate that when lined up fill the space side to side with around 8 inches left in the front.  My job was to devise a way to keep these bins from sliding forward or just bouncing around and spilling their contents.  I spent quite a while over-thinking this, then a co-worker stopped by our house to see the new to us trailer.  "Oh, I'd just...."

So Dave's wonderful suggestion that has worked much better than expected?  Two pieced of trim molding!  Push the little bins against the front wall of the trailer, attach a piece of half round to the un-used bunk so that it is just in contact with the bins which keeps them from sliding off the bunk/shelf.  With the bins still in position attach a piece of quarter-round to the wall so that it is just in contact with the bins, the flat side against the bins; this keeps the bins from bouncing around.  If I grab a bin and pull forward it hits the front half-round and tries to tip which it cannot because of the quarter-round.  There is some side to side sliding that takes place because there is some extra space, but the bins have never come off the shelf.  We use some binder clips to hold index cards listing the content of the bin to the front edge. When we need something from a bin we just lift the bin a little and slide it right over the half-round.  We still have space on the self/bunk to set books or what not that we want to be easily reached.  (Maybe could leave off the quarter-round along the back, but I really like the extra security it provides in keeping the bins in place.)

A picture or two would explain all this much better, but this will have to do.  We have used this for a few years now for weekend trips and this fall we did a 2 week, two thousand mile trip without a single bin leaving the shelf. And you will be surprised how much 8 milk crate sized totes will hold.

[Lakota Wolf]

I have a 24 footer and you be suprrised at what you can fit in a small space. I liked your idea of the quarter round stock. I have several of the colapsable bins that work perfect for this that and others. I am building and underbody storage tray bin for uner the front of my 5th wheel. I have plenty of height to put a16 inch tall cargo box all the way accross behind spare tire.

[House Sparrow]

I really like the way you did that storage. I have a travel trailer the same size and was also thinking of removing that door part of the upper bunk, but was wondering just how to make the most of the storage space. I am not traveling at the moment, but living in mine. But I do live in earthquake country and it is just above my bed. so I like the idea if things staying up there during an earthquake!!!! lol