RV Getting "Smaller?"

 
Every time we take a trip in our RV it seems to get a little smaller.  It's become more like a second house to store extra blankets, board games and other stuff that just doesn't seem to have a place in the sticks and bricks house.   So needless to say, even though we love the trip planning, we are still learning the trip packing.  I've picked up some tips from a few articles and experience that have really come in handy.

Here are my Top 10:

1. Roll your clothes in drawers-- Tightly roll most items into compact pieces. Fold stiffer and dressy ones. Save the hanging space for only suits and dresses or even other larger articles (brooms, vacuum, travel ironing board, etc.)


2. Use soft-side travel bags. You can use every square inch and they compress when zipped. Minimizes wrinkles, maximizes space.  Especially helpful when traveling with bulky clothes like sweaters or hunting cover ups.


3. Inflatable hangers - for hand laundry; pack with individual packets of Woolite. They fold small, and inflate with a few breaths so you can drip-dry creaselessly.

4. Keep a food pantry list.  If you use your RV regularly, every time you use a non-perishable item on the list, replace it.  If you use it less than 2 times a year, just mark it out on the list so you know you need to replace it on your next trip.  Remember that even canned goods and spices lose their flavor if kept in a hot RV for too long.

5. Silk travel blanket -- as warm as a regular blanket, yet takes up much less space. Pocket at bottom keeps feet toasty; blanket rolls up and tucks into a 12 x 4" pouch.  This is especially nice for the guest/kids bed that gets packed up after each use.

6. Wet Wipes to sanitize and for a million other uses in your travels. Also save small laundry soap and other containers to transfer and bring only small amounts in the RV, especially if the trip is short. 

7. Sealable plastic bags, different sizes—handy to store snacks, for refrigerated leftovers, etc.  Also handy for small electronics, phones, ipads, nooks and tablets to keep them safe from the sand and sea.

8. Pack as few clothes as possible. Take a pair of black, beige or white pants and tops that will go with all three colors.  (I am not very good at this - it's impossible to plan for every occasion so I bring everything, to my husbands great disappointment.)

9. Collapsible cooler - pack snacks or lunches when out on excursions (can pay for itself in one day!)

10. Comfortable shoes – Try to limit each person to 2 really comfy pairs.

Do you have any handy packing tips to add?  Share your ideas with us and fellow RVers in the comment below.

Teri Blaschke is the RV Park operator of family owned HiddenValley RV Park in San Antonio, TX and writer of the park blog “A Little Piece of Country in San Antonio.” Teri contributes to various other blogs with a focus on either travel or social media and how it relates to the outdoor hospitality industry but her passion is serving the RV travel community by providing a memorable RV camping experience and growing the Hidden Valley RV family.  Connect with Teri on Google+, Facebook and Twitter@HiddenValleyRV