We pick up our 5th Wheel on Wednesday and will begin preparing for the road. I've read many posts about basement packing but not as much about the interior. We have a 2013 Keystone Cougar. All of the interior storage compartments have tight clasps and would appear to remain shut during travel as does the refrigerator. What can I expect and prepare for? We are destination bound and will have three stop overs before reaching our final destination where we will stay for six months. While I am anxious to make it "home" I am wondering if it would be best to leave everything boxed up until we do finally reach that destination and just make do with minimum supplies. Should never have watched that old movie "The Long Long Trailer"!!! I have visions of opening the door one evening and seeing everything dumped on the floor. Suggestions, tips, hints, good old fashioned advice is needed. Thanks Steve and Kate
scrappy said
07:57 PM Apr 21, 2013
Same here! We have ten days to go!
Curious to see the responses to your post as I was wondering the same thing!
NWescapee said
10:54 PM Apr 21, 2013
This is will be our 1st 5v'er but 4th trailer. Unless the latch seems loose on a cabinet you are probably safe packing it. In all of our previous units, we had more trouble with drawers coming open vs. cabinet doors.
Our most recent trailer the medicine cabinet didn't want to stay shut traveling down the road, an extra fastener took care of that issue.
Terry and Jo said
11:13 PM Apr 21, 2013
Well, if you don't mind having to go looking for the box with the item you need, every time you need it, I would recommend putting your most used items into the interior storage somewhere close to where you will need it. If you are anything like we were, Jo has moved some of the items in the coach two or three times in the last 2 years since we began living in our coach. Each time after she determined that she needed something else say, closer to the kitchen than something less used.
With regards to latches, I don't trust them. We had one drawer that managed to "pop-out" a bit and the handle caught when the slide was moved in for travel. When the dealer repaired things, they put on a second latch on that drawer. Two latches are better than one. (Oh, and while the thought is in my mind, when bringing in your slides, make sure that nothing is between the slide and the kitchen island, if you have that. - - Don't ask how I know that....)
Be careful when putting things into cabinets and if you stack things on one shelf, those will move. You are likely to open the cabinet door and need to have fast reflexes if you hope to catch all the things that can come out. They do make devices that go in place, but generally not at every "level" on the shelves, so one might need more than one per shelf area.
While I haven't done it yet, because we aren't traveling much at all yet, I've been considering taking pieces of plastic, roughly 1" or 2" in width that are just slighly longer than the cabinet is wide. By flexing them in the center to install horizontally across at the door, they could be slid up or down to help with holding stacked items from tumbling out when the door is opened. (If anyone else tries this first, let me know how it works.)
Keep in mind that unless you have a mind like a steel trap, you will forget where something is stored. Our satellite dish must have gotten "moved" in the last storms we had, so I don't have satellite TV right now. SOMEWHERE in this coach is the meter I bought for checking the satellite dish's alignment with the satellites themselves. Yep....you guessed it....I can't find it. So, while I slipped sheets of paper into the end of each of our clear plastic tubs so I can see what is supposed to be in the tub, I might also want to maintain an "inventory" of what is stored where, if it doesn't happen to be in one of the clear plastic tubs.
Good luck with all the planning and arranging, and if you get a really good idea of organizing, let the rest of us know as well. Some of us could use all the help we can get.
Terry
scrappy said
01:06 AM Apr 22, 2013
No steel trap here! haha. I barely have anything out there and cant find what Im looking for!
Im gonna blame that on all the times I have hit my head getting in bed. haha
Jim01 said
12:33 PM Apr 22, 2013
Kate,
If you have heavy items, try to keep them low in the RV. Also, it is actually better if cabinets are full so things don't slide around.
If a heavy item starts to slide and bangs into the door of a cabinet, it may pop it open and then, of course, everything comes out of the cabinet. Also, you don't want to try to pack too much into a cabinet. If it puts pressure on the door from the inside that may also cause the door to come open.
Our cabinets always seem to be full, but if they're not, you can use regular towels, rolls of paper towels or toilet paper to take up excess room.
We have used those spring loaded bars in our refrigerator for years. They can be positioned so items don't move around on the shelves and also keep taller items standing upright.
Hope this helps a little,
Jim
Lucky Mike said
01:24 PM Apr 22, 2013
Sometimes its better to leave it boxed if this is your first trip out......
1. gives you something to do as you lay over during travel.
2. the boxes are available to repack all that "STUFF" that maybe should of never ended up being packed the first time.
3.helps on weight distribution....being able to shift it till you get it right.
4. once "STUFF" is hidden in the storage spaces it will stay there and be forgotten about again til the next Spring cleaning in which you will hide it again!!!!!......(Honey ,why did we bring 3 can openers again?)
The transition of going full time doesnt happen the first trip out........little by little you will lighten up the unit and let go of the Stick & brick habits.
Enjoy yourself and prepare to let go and enjoy life , relaxation and good air!!!!!!!
MarkS said
02:31 PM Apr 22, 2013
Mike, #1 also works when a cabinet opens during travel and you empty the contents on the floor. I can't count the number of times I forgot to latch the refrigerator door in my truck and emptied it on the first left hand turn.
WestWardHo said
02:33 PM Apr 22, 2013
We found little strips of Velcro made to tie cords helpful to strap cabinet doors closed while traveling if that's any help. We are moving in too and FINALLY we're mostly there.
Pretty funny tho' as I would haul stuff out and Jesse would haul it back in. Then he'd pack things out and I'd be bringing them back in! Seriously, without thinking about it I had 3 sets of silverware planned to go with us. That is until I stopped and thought about it. We're now having "Pick and Don't Pay" events where friends and neighbors stop by and take what they need. Anyone want 3 VTech cordless phones??
Sherry
Dave Buck said
01:33 AM Apr 23, 2013
You will find that you take things that you will never use and leave thing you will wish you had taken. But that's part of the fun. You will also take things that you know are there but you may never find where you put them until you've bought another one. The one area where we have to be careful on arrival is the medicine cabinet. Be very careful opening the door and be ready to catch things as they fall. Also as our medicine in above the toilet so we always make sure the lid is closed. The most important thing is to enjoy the trip.
SnowGypsy said
12:21 PM Apr 23, 2013
We traveled from NC to KS and encountered a lot of uneven roads in road construction but we didn't have any problems. I use non-slip in the cupboards and drawers and also bungee cord all cabinets and drawers together tightly. I put some things in the sink and cover it with the dish towels. I also used the tub for storage along with towels for breakables that normally sat out. We had a cabinet come open in an old motorhome years ago with Corelleware that fell and broke so after trying to clean that up over a long period of time, we no longer use that.
We pick up our 5th Wheel on Wednesday and will begin preparing for the road. I've read many posts about basement packing but not as much about the interior. We have a 2013 Keystone Cougar. All of the interior storage compartments have tight clasps and would appear to remain shut during travel as does the refrigerator. What can I expect and prepare for? We are destination bound and will have three stop overs before reaching our final destination where we will stay for six months. While I am anxious to make it "home" I am wondering if it would be best to leave everything boxed up until we do finally reach that destination and just make do with minimum supplies. Should never have watched that old movie "The Long Long Trailer"!!! I have visions of opening the door one evening and seeing everything dumped on the floor. Suggestions, tips, hints, good old fashioned advice is needed. Thanks Steve and Kate
Same here! We have ten days to go!
Curious to see the responses to your post as I was wondering the same thing!
Our most recent trailer the medicine cabinet didn't want to stay shut traveling down the road, an extra fastener took care of that issue.
Well, if you don't mind having to go looking for the box with the item you need, every time you need it, I would recommend putting your most used items into the interior storage somewhere close to where you will need it. If you are anything like we were, Jo has moved some of the items in the coach two or three times in the last 2 years since we began living in our coach. Each time after she determined that she needed something else say, closer to the kitchen than something less used.
With regards to latches, I don't trust them. We had one drawer that managed to "pop-out" a bit and the handle caught when the slide was moved in for travel. When the dealer repaired things, they put on a second latch on that drawer. Two latches are better than one. (Oh, and while the thought is in my mind, when bringing in your slides, make sure that nothing is between the slide and the kitchen island, if you have that. - - Don't ask how I know that....)
Be careful when putting things into cabinets and if you stack things on one shelf, those will move. You are likely to open the cabinet door and need to have fast reflexes if you hope to catch all the things that can come out. They do make devices that go in place, but generally not at every "level" on the shelves, so one might need more than one per shelf area.
While I haven't done it yet, because we aren't traveling much at all yet, I've been considering taking pieces of plastic, roughly 1" or 2" in width that are just slighly longer than the cabinet is wide. By flexing them in the center to install horizontally across at the door, they could be slid up or down to help with holding stacked items from tumbling out when the door is opened. (If anyone else tries this first, let me know how it works.)
Keep in mind that unless you have a mind like a steel trap, you will forget where something is stored. Our satellite dish must have gotten "moved" in the last storms we had, so I don't have satellite TV right now. SOMEWHERE in this coach is the meter I bought for checking the satellite dish's alignment with the satellites themselves. Yep....you guessed it....I can't find it. So, while I slipped sheets of paper into the end of each of our clear plastic tubs so I can see what is supposed to be in the tub, I might also want to maintain an "inventory" of what is stored where, if it doesn't happen to be in one of the clear plastic tubs.
Good luck with all the planning and arranging, and if you get a really good idea of organizing, let the rest of us know as well. Some of us could use all the help we can get.
Terry
No steel trap here! haha. I barely have anything out there and cant find what Im looking for!
Im gonna blame that on all the times I have hit my head getting in bed. haha
Kate,
If you have heavy items, try to keep them low in the RV. Also, it is actually better if cabinets are full so things don't slide around.
If a heavy item starts to slide and bangs into the door of a cabinet, it may pop it open and then, of course, everything comes out of the cabinet. Also, you don't want to try to pack too much into a cabinet. If it puts pressure on the door from the inside that may also cause the door to come open.
Our cabinets always seem to be full, but if they're not, you can use regular towels, rolls of paper towels or toilet paper to take up excess room.
We have used those spring loaded bars in our refrigerator for years. They can be positioned so items don't move around on the shelves and also keep taller items standing upright.
Hope this helps a little,
Jim
1. gives you something to do as you lay over during travel.
2. the boxes are available to repack all that "STUFF" that maybe should of never ended up being packed the first time.
3.helps on weight distribution....being able to shift it till you get it right.
4. once "STUFF" is hidden in the storage spaces it will stay there and be forgotten about again til the next Spring cleaning in which you will hide it again!!!!!......(Honey ,why did we bring 3 can openers again?)
The transition of going full time doesnt happen the first trip out........little by little you will lighten up the unit and let go of the Stick & brick habits.
Enjoy yourself and prepare to let go and enjoy life , relaxation and good air!!!!!!!
Pretty funny tho' as I would haul stuff out and Jesse would haul it back in. Then he'd pack things out and I'd be bringing them back in! Seriously, without thinking about it I had 3 sets of silverware planned to go with us. That is until I stopped and thought about it. We're now having "Pick and Don't Pay" events where friends and neighbors stop by and take what they need. Anyone want 3 VTech cordless phones??
Sherry