{"id":307,"date":"2015-07-07T05:06:54","date_gmt":"2015-07-07T12:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.forestcamping.com\/suzi-test\/?p=307"},"modified":"2015-07-07T05:07:31","modified_gmt":"2015-07-07T12:07:31","slug":"what-where-how-and-when-of-packing-an-rv-lessons-learned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestcamping.com\/dow\/suzi\/what-where-how-and-when-of-packing-an-rv-lessons-learned\/","title":{"rendered":"What, Where, How and When of Packing an RV – Lessons learned"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u00a0<\/strong>to pack when you travel in a recreational vehicle (rv) is simple – take everything you need. Your rv will be either your vacation or primary home and you’ll want to duplicate the comforts of home. Afterall, you aren’t a tent camper anymore. We have seen people bring their fancy coffee makers, sewing machines, a utility trailer full of power tools, and lots of other stuff. It’s all a matter of priorities. Here are some thoughts from what we have learned traveling for months in our rv that might help you.<\/p>\n

The first thing you should pack are the Absolute Necessities. Define Absolute Necessities as something that if you realize it was forgotten, you would turn around and go get it (e.g. laptop computer, passports, or heart medication) or accept the expense and purchase a replacement (e.g. cellphone, printer paper, or meat thermometer). After the Absolute Necessities comes the Absolute Nice-to-have (e.g. a fleece jacket, four months worth of Spam or dressy sun dress), and the priorities continues down to Things I Need if the World Ends (e.g. fancy jewelry and crystal wine glasses).<\/p>\n

\"Under<\/a>

Under bed storage area with hydraulic arm to hold open.<\/p><\/div>\n

Where<\/b> to put things should be governed by where they are needed, along with where physical space is available and your rig’s weight restrictions. You’ll want hookup and leveling equipment convenient and accessible since its used every time you set up or break down. Outside stuff, like drinking water hoses or lounge chairs, can be stored in your rig’s exterior cabinets or in the back of your towed or towing vehicle. Remember, storage of sewer hoses and related equipment MUST BE in a separate location so that it will NOT contaminate drinking water equipment. You’ll want to store heavy stuff low in your rig, so look for places under the bed, sofa or your rig’s basement, for things like canned goods, heavy hiking boots, and such. Kitchen stuff should be kept in the gallery or kitchen area, but many RV galleries are tiny. Limit the need for storing pantry items by buying things you need when you need them. Unless you are heading into the Alaskan Bush, hauling a dozen cans of soup around really isn’t practical.<\/p>\n

How\u00a0<\/b>can you optimize packing your RV. Here are some methods we’ve used:<\/p>\n