vanlife: organization tactics.

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Looking for more tips on packing in and keeping things sorted out! Pictures most welcome!
Happygirl, thank you for your input. A few pictures of your van inside would be much appreciated. We have too many things: climbing, diving, cycling, now a boat, carpentry tools, nursing uniforms, shoes and boots, food storage, and all season clothing for two. That's why we are trying to get everything super organized so it's easy to find and deal with. It's an ever changing process with us. Oh, don't forget the bedding, camping gear, sleeping bags, big wall gear and dirty laundry stash. We are constantly re organizing and improving our system.
We are also getting skis.

I dislike vans that are built out with nooks and crannies and kitchens, unless it is like a long Sprinter camper. The cramped and cluttered look annoys me on regular sized vans.

For regular vans I think the high top is important. With my set-up, I can sit comfortably on the bed with plenty head room, though I am only 5'4". I just have a 1-inch plywood platform, with 20 inches clearance underneath. This fits the 18 inch deep plastic bins, which I think are the best option for storage, along with whatever soft-sided pieces like backpacks or duffels and hard goods like stoves, table/chair etc. I can fit 10 of those bins underneath, if need be.

Having items like gear visible is not optimal, for obvious reasons, and adds to the sense of living in a closet.

The bed has a queen sized mattress, and it allows a side channel running along one side, which I can stow smaller covered tubs, standing on their shorter side. A full sized mattress would probably allow the bins to stow flat.

I think built in organization crap takes up valuable space, reduces the ability to be flexible and increases the chance of bumping elbows and knees against hard surfaces. But some people like those things.

Macwood Fleet wrote: Looking for more tips on packing in and keeping things sorted out! Pictures most welcome! Happygirl, thank you for your input. A few pictures of your van inside would be much appreciated. We have too many things: climbing, diving, cycling, now a boat, carpentry tools, nursing uniforms, shoes and boots, food storage, and all season clothing for two. That's why we are trying to get everything super organized so it's easy to find and deal with. It's an ever changing process with us. Oh, don't forget the bedding, camping gear, sleeping bags, big wall gear and dirty laundry stash. We are constantly re organizing and improving our system. We are also getting skis.

You could ditch unnecessary stuff like carpentry tools, a boat, skis and your bikes. You cannot do it all. You have to pick a single sport or two, or get an RV. You cannot reasonably expect to fit gear for six sports and two people into a midsize van with a reasonable amount of comfy space. If you really must do every sport in existence, you are going to need to get a real, legitimate RV, not a van. Either that or tow a pop up camper and just use the van for storage.

20 kN wrote: You could ditch unnecessary stuff like carpentry tools, a boat, skis and your bikes. You cannot do it all. You have to pick a single sport or two, or get an RV. You cannot reasonably expect to fit gear for six sports and two people into a midsize van with a reasonable amount of comfy space. If you really must do every sport in existence, you are going to need to get a real, legitimate RV, not a van. Either that or tow a pop up camper and just use the van for storage.

Another option is to get a storage space for the boat and put everything they dont use inside the boat. Assuming, of course, such space exists. Otherwise, multiple storage spaces are possible. I have one for the things I dont want to get rid of, but dont necessarily want to drag around.

It is an R V . An it is a folding inflatable kayak (a brand new 3 person model by Aquaglide) Thank you guys for the discount. It's an honor to be your social media peeps!

And no we are not giving up any sports. You only live once. I forgot, fishing too!

What about a utility/construction pro trailer? You can trick that out with cubby holes, cabinets and hooks with cargo netting. Install a solar powered fan/vent system to manage humidity and mildew. Additionally, you can use it for power generation and storage with a bank of batteries and a power cord to the van. Perhaps even wind generators in addition to solar.

20 kN wrote: You could ditch unnecessary stuff like carpentry tools, a boat, skis and your bikes. You cannot do it all. You have to pick a single sport or two, or get an RV. You cannot reasonably expect to fit gear for six sports and two people into a midsize van with a reasonable amount of comfy space. If you really must do every sport in existence, you are going to need to get a real, legitimate RV, not a van. Either that or tow a pop up camper and just use the van for storage.

Ditto. Commit. Climbing is the only sport that matters anyway. Skis go on the roof. Bike goes on the roof. Boat goes on craigslist because boats are holes in the water that you put money into. You will need the tools necessary to fix your van. Also, thule storage rack for stuff that people will not steal. Also, get a big high top Sprinter. They are fuckhuge.

Dude, the boat folds down and fits in the "diving locker", diving bags had to go, skis will go on top, we found a laundromat that has a sweet gear drying area (the owner is an avid outdoorsman), so finally our ever wet BCD will get semi dry. The boat is plastic covered to reduce moisture and mildew. It can just be air dried easily and towel dried afterwards.

We still need an inverter and a fan. Possibly need more room created for an extra battery.

We both love diving and water just as much as we do climbing and ice so all those sports are here to stay. Bikes are a commuting necessity at times and we also do enjoy biking a lot, so they stay too.

The diving locker. Boat and both paddles packed in along with tanks octos, undergarments, and PFD's and BCD's. Dry suits hanging between bed and back door where I think they will stay since they never get completely dry.

You guys ever know someone that tried (without success) to fill that gaping void in their soul/personality with more and more hobbies? Constantly adding/changing/getting mildew on the next fun thing?

I know a couple/three.

Inhaling a lot of perm causes brain damage beyond repair. Fact.

We both have addictive personalities. So we decided to live this lifestyle of adventure. It seems to be working, especially now that manufacturers are asking us to be their social media people and give us discounts and free gear.

You could always have a little storage trailer.

caesar.salad wrote:You could always have a little storage trailer.

Storage locker would be something to consider. Although we do need our gear pretty much all the time since we never know where we are gonna be, what conditions there are gonna be and what we feel like doing at any given time. It takes skill to be well organized for what we do. The thing with lockers, then you feel like you have more space and fill it with crap.
The inflatable kayak is super crucial because it is so easy to store. We can carry it on the ferry on foot too. Only 46 pounds!
Sweet boat.

Sounds to me like you guys have it all figured out! feeling like you live in a pile of gear is the consequence for living out of a van and playing for a living. i think its a small price to pay. keep it up!

e burgess wrote:Sounds to me like you guys have it all figured out! feeling like you live in a pile of gear is the consequence for living out of a van and playing for a living. i think its a small price to pay. keep it up!

So true! We do live in a pile of gear:)! We like it. ;)

Whoops, I missed the inflateable part. I thought you meant an actual BOAT. Yeah that thing is dope. No I mean a little trailer, not a locker. Just a tiny one might make a big difference.

caesar.salad wrote:Whoops, I missed the inflateable part. I thought you meant an actual BOAT. Yeah that thing is dope. No I mean a little trailer, not a locker. Just a tiny one might make a big difference.

It's "inflatable" and it is an actual "boat", hope I enlightened you here.
Nah, dragging a trailer up and down the streets trying to find a parking would be a huge pain in the ahrse. That's why we need to perfect the skill of organizing it all etc.

Have you considered taking up horse riding? It seems it might be a nice compliment to your love of the outdoors, and you can get those horses into back country for fishing trips. You'll gain additional roof space for storage on the horse trailer, as a bonus.

Macwood Fleet wrote: now that manufacturers are asking us to be their social media people and give us discounts and free gear.

Congrats!

Prodeal from Abilify?

Yeah, when I read the discounts on gear thing, I almost puked a little. Delusions of grandeur ramping up to new max level!

You find a dusty container of Nuun from three years ago behind the adidas display at Sports Chalet, the kid behind the register says you can have it for free if you want it because he's just going to throw it out, and suddenly you're sponsored.

This internet thing - it gives the lulz. No doubt.

Macwood Fleet wrote: It's "inflatable" and it is an actual "boat", hope I enlightened you here. Nah, dragging a trailer up and down the streets trying to find a parking would be a huge pain in the ahrse. That's why we need to perfect the skill of organizing it all etc.

If you have all the answers already for any suggestions, why again are you asking?
Oh, "inflatable boat" = pool toy.

If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.

Jesus Christ