RV Hacks – Campanda News

5 Easy Ways To Organize Your RV

Tom Sperner — Thu, 10 May 2018 14:34:32 +0000

By Liz Wilcox Space is a precious commodity in an RV. And while your RV may never look as perfect as the ones on Pinterest (seriously, it’s impossible and I challenge any real-life RVer to prove me wrong!), that doesn’t mean you should give up on a cleverly organized rig! Here are some simple tricks to help you get organized:

1.Think Like A Square

Consider swapping out the plates and bowls in your RV for square ones like these

RVs are full of 90-degree angles. The cupboards, the refrigerator, the slides — everything is very square! Don’t fight it. Use square storage containers to maximize space in your RV. You can even go a step further and avoid round shapes in your rig altogether: Ditch canned goods and switch to boxed soups, beans, etc.; buy square pans (they exist!); and swap out your dishes for square plates, bowls and so on. It may seem extreme, but you’ll be amazed at how much more efficiently things fit in the cupboards.

2. Look Up

Use the wall space in your RV. We hung these shelves for storing fruit and vegetables in our kitchen, which saves valuable counter space.

Again, space is precious in a rig. That means you need to get creative about how and where you organize your things. A lot of RVs have dead space near the slide-outs and above cabinets and doors. If you’re looking for a place to store kitchen utensils, cutting boards and other lightweight stuff, consider putting them up high in these areas. Use command hooks to store drying racks, white boards and even your broom up high and out of the way.

3. Nest And Stack

A collapsable colander is a game changer in a small space like an RV.

I’m a natural-born minimalist and will always use what I have instead of buying new. I make an exception in my RV. It’s really important to carry things that nest, stack or collapse to keep your RV organized — so important, in fact, that you should replace anything that doesn’t fit well with your other supplies. We’ve replaced mismatched bowls, storage containers, and even pans with nesting ware. It has saved me so much sanity in organizing my RV kitchen!

I use crates like these to store my daughter’s clothes.

For the bedroom, we bought lightweight, stackable crates to store my daughter’s clothing in the cupboard. This has been amazing since we own a Class C motorhome with no extra closet for her. Being able to stack her clothes in a more organized way makes laundry day so much easier. It also helps keep things perfectly organized while traveling. When using bins, stack them based on usage. The most frequently accessed items should go in the top bin. If you really need to save space or just like the idea of having as much room as possible, check out collapsible products. They make bowls, pots, pans and even tea kettles that collapse within themselves to give you more space!

4. Ditch Unnecessary Packaging

We live in a world where boxes come within boxes. When you’re trying to organize your RV, this can be maddening.

Use stacking dry goods containers like these to keep your pantry organized.

When grocery shopping, look for products with minimal packaging. When you get back to your RV, you might consider taking things out of their packaging for a better fit. For example, if I buy graham crackers (s’mores anyone?), once I use one small package from the box, I’ll take the other out, store it in my pantry and get rid of the large box, which is no longer necessary. It’s also a good idea to reorganize pasta and rice. Instead of storing them in boxes that are only half full, empty dry goods into smaller airtight containers that better fit your pantry.

5.Get Things Off The Floor

I live in an RV full-time and I’ve made a lot of rookie RV mistakes along the way — storing things on the floor is one of them. It may sound silly, but leave a tub on the floor long enough and you’ll see what I mean.

Your RV shower can double as storage. We use ours as both a closet and a place to store things we need close at hand.

When we first moved into our motorhome, there was no place for my husband’s toolbox. I told him it was no big deal. We could keep it on the floor of my side of the bed. I thought it would be “out of sight, out of mind.” Boy was I wrong! Within a week, I was going crazy trying to find a new place for the box. It was completely in the way of my walking path and a huge eyesore. By the end of our first month in the rig, my husband had built a storage box just for the toolbox to save my sanity. If you’re having the same issue, try rearranging things in the storage bays outside to fit your belongings. If it’s something you need on hand and inside the RV, I suggest using your shower as a way of keeping it close but out of sight. We keep our toddler’s reading books, vacuum and broom in the shower for that reason.

For more RV organization tips and hacks to make life on the road easier, check out these 18 quick and easy RV hacks that you can do with easy-to-find materials. Still haven’t gotten started on your RV rental listing? Click the link below to learn more about renting your RV with Campanda:

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Are you an RV enthusiast without a motorhome to call your own? Stop daydreaming about organizing an RV you don’t have — rent an RV on Campanda and get out on the road!

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How To Use Pinterest To Plan Your RV Trip

Tom Sperner — Wed, 09 May 2018 17:04:25 +0000

By Camille Attell

RV trip planning can be fun and exciting. It can also be overwhelming. What should you pack, where should you go, what route should you take? Questions like these are just the beginning of what can feel like a daunting set of tasks. Luckily it’s Pinterest to the rescue!

Keep reading to find out how Pinterest could make your next RV rental even better.

What is Pinterest?

A good “pin” will have a well-crafted description explaining the image.

When Pinterest came onto the scene back in 2010, people used it to search for and save (“pin”) things like recipes and wedding dresses. If you loved scrapbooking then you were guaranteed to love Pinterest even more. It’s like a massive, online vision board with infinite possibilities of ideas.

If you haven’t logged in to Pinterest in a while (or ever) then you might be puzzled when I say that it’s also an amazing tool to plan road trips and vacations. It’s not just for cupcakes anymore!

When you click on a pin it will take you to the source of the content, like a website, where you can get more information.

Why Pinterest Is A Great Tool

Over the years Pinterest has evolved into a search engine. A search engine helps you locate information on the internet. Google is what everyone thinks of as the go-to search engine. But Pinterest is a powerful search engine too, which surprises people because they think it’s a social media platform like Facebook. It isn’t, and that distinction is important for a couple for reasons.

Although it’s a social platform, Pinterest functions like a search engine. That means you can use it to look up information and tips.

For consumers (aka RVers browsing the internet), it’s a place where you can search and find information. For example, let’s say you want to travel to Utah and see national parks. If you type “Utah National Parks,” you’ll to find a wealth of information.

For content creators (bloggers, companies, etc.) it’s a useful platform to share your content and drive traffic back to your site. Let’s say you’re a travel blogger who writes articles about national parks: If you write one about Utah and make a great visual pin, there’s a good chance that your pin (and therefore your article) could be found in a search.

How To Use Pinterest To Plan An RV Trip

So how exactly do you use Pinterest to plan a vacation? To get started, you’ll need set up a profile on Pinterest. This will enable you to set up “boards” where you can organize all the pins you collect. Think of boards like file folders or different pages in a scrapbook, each with its own category.

You can use Pinterest to search for travel inspiration and discover amazing destinations.

Here’s how a board works: Using the Utah national parks example, you would create a board called “Utah Travel Board.” Then, you’d search for terms that fit the type of trip you’re planning, such as:

Utah National Parks
Utah driving routes
Hiking in Utah
Utah RV Parks

After you’ve collected a bunch of images and resources about your destination, you can then search for other helpful information. For example, if you want ideas about what to pack, you could search for terms like “RV travel checklist,” “hiking gear” or “packing for RVing.”

You can find tons of RV resources on Pinterest, like helpful checklists and packing tips.

You can even look for awesome camping recipes by searching terms like “RV recipes,” “camping recipes,” “food for camping” and so on.

As you discover new pins, you can keep adding them to your board. Over time you’ll collect a wide range of pins that you can refer to as you plan — all in one place!

(As a side note, Utah has some truly awesome National Parks. Check out this article for my favorite hikes while RVing, including Bryce Canyon in Utah.)

Using Pinterest Long-Term

You can also create multiple boards for different categories. For example, if you plan to take multiple trips, you could categorize your boards. This could mean one for each destination, or you could set up boards like this:

North America Travel
Route Planning
RV Parks
RV Gear
RV Cooking & Recipes

This way, whenever you plan a new trip, you can consult your boards and look at the pins that relate to that trip. You can check out how I’ve organized my own RV Pinterest boards here.

Think of boards as folders. These can be organized however you want, and one pin can be put in multiple folders for cross-categorization.

Over time you’ll build a great resource for trip planning. Your account becomes like a resource library and you become a part of the Pinterest information-sharing community (you can also set your boards to “private” if you’re feeling secretive about your travel plans).

In short, Pinterest is a wonderful way to plan an RV trip. It’s easy to use and fun too! The next time you plan a trip, consider using Pinterest as a source of helpful information.

Already have a Pinterest full of road trip ideas? Hit the road in an RV rental from Campanda! Click the link below to search our selection of camper vans, motorhomes and trailers:

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18 Quick And Easy RV Hacks

Tom Sperner — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 17:53:33 +0000

By Liz Wilcox

Make your next RV adventure even better (and impress your next Campanda renters with your ingenuity) with these quick and easy RV hacks — all of which can be done with materials that are readily and cheaply available at most hardware and superstores.

Storage:

1. Hang a suspension rod in the shower.

While most RVs come equipped with lots of storage solutions, sometimes it just isn’t enough. Install a suspension rod in the shower to create an extra closet.

2. Keep things in place with bungee cords and tension rods.

These little guys are very functional for RVing. Use the cords to secure cabinets and semi-loose items in the bathroom, kitchen and refrigerator during travel days.

Tension rods can be used to secure canned goods, hang curtains or even make a shelf.

3. Command hooks — hang everything!

For Rvers, command hooks may just be the best thing since sliced bread! They can be used to help you with just about any storage problem in the RV.

Use them to hang your cooking utensils, towels, coats or just about anything else you can think of. They’re even a great alternative for hanging up pictures — forget drilling into your RV!

4. Store kitchen supplies in file folder boxes.

Have too many kitchen supplies and not enough drawer or cabinet space? Use hanging file folder boxes to organize and quickly access kitchen supplies.

5. Get a suction-cup toothbrush holder.

Travel days can be hard. Make them easier by keeping your toothbrush secure. A toothbrush holder with a suction cup will ensure that your toothbrush stays safe and germ-free all the way to your next destination.

6. Nesting ware is your friend.

Nesting bowls and spoons are an all-around win for the RV. They can also double as toys for the kids!

7. Utilize the oven!

The oven is prime real estate for just about anything that needs to be kept close at hand. When it’s not being used, of course!

Editor’s Note: No seriously, make sure that oven is turned OFF. And be sure to check that it’s empty before switching it on.

Temperature Control:

8. Use styrofoam.

Covering the door window in your RV is a great way to get some extra privacy and temperature control. A simple method is to cut a piece of styrofoam to size, then tape it to the window. Voila!

9. Put a ceramic tile in the oven to distribute heat evenly.

Oven not cooperating? Place a ceramic tile in the center of the RV oven and presto! The perfect recipe becomes the perfect dinner!

10. Buy a vent cushion.

Because RVs are not insulated like houses, temperature can be harder to regulate. A vent cushion is a small investment that goes a long way. This is especially true if you are staying in a park that charges for electricity, or if you use propane to heat your rig in the winter.

You can find them in the RV section of most superstores.

Lighting:

11. Create bright light with a five-gallon bucket

Let there be light! Place a cheap work light in a five-gallon bucket around your the campsite for a bright glow. around your the campground site.

12. Add light and ambience with LED lights.

Add LED lights to the living room, your bedroom slide or along the stairs of your rig for a little extra light and personality.

13. Install push lights.

The lights in many RVs tend to be rather yellow, which isn’t ideal at night. Install a few push lights in dimly lit corners and cabinets. This will help with nighttime chores — and late night snacking.

14. Stick glow-in-the dark tape on the stairs.

RV steps are not known for their stability. At night it can be tricky getting in and out of your camper. Adding strips of glow-in-the-dark tape to the stairs is a quick and easy solution.

Decorating:

15. Upholster with crib sheets.

Want to give your RV a mini-makeover without all the hard work? Cover dinette couch cushions with crib sheets. Change them out periodically for a fresh look.

Add a matching tablecloth and some fun salt and pepper shakers and give your RV a whole new vibe!

16. Use adhesive window film for privacy and style.

A bit of decorative window film can really improve and personalize a small space. It also adds a welcome touch of privacy.

17. Buy a digital photo frame.

Love having your family photos up but feel like there isn’t enough wall space in your camper? Try a digital photo frame with all your favorite pictures on rotation. It’s a space-saver and a great conversation piece!

For Everything Else:

18. Use the community center!

Community centers are the hidden gems of RV parks and campgrounds. Use them when you’re in need of privacy, open space or a comfortable couch and some pixel-free TV. Many even include sinks, refrigerators, microwaves and wifi!

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