Basement storage / packing

Need a little guidance and direction on an efficient way to pack the basement as well as storage container ideas for "stuff" that goes in the basement.
I just picked up 2 containers with the split hinged lids to assist with the mess. I already have 2 milk crates with a plethora or propane / cooking / lantern stuff and the other holds water related items (hoses, pressure reg, spray nozzel, etc)
Also have a folding table, "camp kitchen" table, 2 reclining camp chairs, small oscillating fan (for those non-breezy days), leveling blocks, boards, wheel chalks, tool kit, shore power cable, extension cords, and so on and so on.......... You experienced folks probably have 2x the stuff I do in half the space!

On the way home from the first outing I took the table top off the dinette and stored all the camp chairs between the booths with the table top. That did free up some space in the basement but one of my biggest concerns is the "stuff" shifting around and destroying the hydraulics, water lines, filter, and the plumbing.

I would like to get ideas on how everyone sorts, seperates, and most of all packs the basement. My first outing, I spent a good bit of time packing and repacking throughout the trip just to find stuff. Do you guys recommend lockable storage so it can be left out under the camper?

I know to pack the chalks, blocks, and tool kit last..... learned that already

Has anyone installed a tie down system in the basement to prevent shifting?
Any and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

In the front storage area i keep my tool box and portable satillite dish and wire, tie outs for the dog, sons kites.
In the basement on the drivers side i keep all water related items in one crate and water hoses in another. On the passenger side basement i slide a camp table in first then stack on top of that chairs, awning accesories, outdoor rug in a large bag, flagpole,toys for all ages ,extra level and im sure im forgetting a million other things. On the little step down on the pasengers side basement i have a small gas grill and all my leveling blocks.
On the rear of the Cat i installed a 2" receiver and have a hitch haul attached and to that i have a metal footlocker bolted in which i carry all my torch fuel, citronella candles, extra wicks, horseshoes, quoits ,funnels and sewer hose attachments.
Ive never had any problems with movement of items or damage to any part of the storage areas, you just need to watch how you stack it when you put it in the storage areas.

I have 2 of the storage boxes on the street side, 1 has water related stuff, 5,10,15,20 foot hoses, fittings, pressure valves, filters, nozzle, etc.

The other box has misc stuff, power cord extensions, coax, engine oil, crc, ax, stuff like that.

Also on the street side is my tool box, sewer hose holder, shovel, air compressor, battery drill to raise/lower rear jacks, and non drinking coiled hose.

We have 3 folding chairs, folding table, BBQ & propane, and spare tire in the curb side, along with the cloths basket at the laundry shoot.

All chock & tire related stuff is in the front stacked beside the battery.

I wouldn't leave the storage boxes under the camper, even if they were locked, they could still walk away.

well, here it goes.....

drivers side front-water related stuff, towards front & towards the rear is a crate on its side with all of the leveling blocks. I also store all of the chairs in the middle of this compartment and access them from this door. Set in between all of this is my BAL chocks & wrench.

Drivers side rear - in the slide out drawer is all of the sewage stuff. In front of the sliding drawer I store the pin-box tripod.

Middle of slide out drawer - all the electrical related items (30 amp ext cord, 100' 12gauge cord, ect.

passenger side rear - in the slide out drawer is the hose for the grill, hatchet, hammer, awning holddown stakes. In front of the drawer is the marshallow skewers (in PVC pipe) and also fishing poles.

Passenger side rear front - weberQ, grill stand, small tabe, electric griddle, grilling tools. I also have a bin in the very front that hold some foil, smoking chips and also base ball gloves, a foot ball and some other stuff.

passenger side front - screen tent, door mat, compressor, sand toys, beverages and a cooler.

front door (under pin box) - 35 gal honey tank, tri-pod for cooking, 4-way for lug-nuts (if dewalt chordless impact doesnt work).

The above set-up has been refined over the 4 years that we have had the trailer and it seems to work well for me.

I picked up two of those long, wide plastic boxes from Walmart. They have wheels on one end and are typically used to store stuff under beds. They are handy because you can pull them out a ways to get to the stuff. I keep my tables under these boxes and put my hoses on top. My chairs go on top of everything because they usually come out first. I also built a wooden box to hold camp tools like shovel, ax, etc.

This is a previous post on the subject.

Holey Moley!!!

Is it going to take me 4+ years to figure out how to get all that into the basement??

We have a week long beach trip next month and now I am really nervous...

I have some serious figuring out to do! Can't remember who exactly, but the post from back in April had it broken up into groups. Mr Monk (aka OCD) had it in his posting. Sounds like a good way to keep everything organized.

Thanks for all the feedback and I hope I can get things in order soon!

Dont sweat it, just go out and enjoy it. You will find your own place for everything as you get your set-up / tear-down routine together. I am still tweaking my storage situation everytime we go out. The problem with my layout is that it almost has TOO much storage!

Over time you will find the things that work best for you.

When we first got ours, I put the leveling boards and blocks in the front storage compartment. Turned out to be a mistake, that door is very difficult to get into when the fiver is still hitched up. Now I keep things like tables and our chairs up there. Take them out after we have set up and they stay out until we leave.

AVid

Schleprock wrote:Holey Moley!!!

Is it going to take me 4+ years to figure out how to get all that into the basement??

We have a week long beach trip next month and now I am really nervous...

I have some serious figuring out to do! Can't remember who exactly, but the post from back in April had it broken up into groups. Mr Monk (aka OCD) had it in his posting. Sounds like a good way to keep everything organized.

Thanks for all the feedback and I hope I can get things in order soon!

That would be me, and yes, it has probably taken 4 years to get it all organized. Just make a list and take what you think you will need. Keep a note pad handy in the cat so you can add new items.

That is one of the many things I really like about the 29BHBP. It has huge basement storage area in the front and the back. Plus the backpack feature is awesome. I have way more storage space than I do stuff.

With that said,
Front road side basement;
- Basket (hoses, sewer hook-ups, latex gloves; flagpole; shovel

Front awning side basement;
- Storage box (tools, small gas bottles, ropes, etc...), storage bag w/ awning lights, and awning accessories; dirty clothes basket (under laundry shoot)

Front storage area (located on the front of the 5er)
- Charcoal, leveling blocks; misc small stuff

Rear road side basement;
- Storage for all drinks (water, soda, adult beverages)...this area is behind our pantry

Rear awning side basement;
- Leveling ramp, camp chairs, carpet, ez-up canopy

Back Pack
- Big blue water tank (porta tank), camp stove, charcoal grill, propane grill, lantern, plus room for kids bikes.

after 8 years of camping i still have not figured it out and probably never will. it seems once i organize i need to re-organize what i just organized!

I am with MaxRock on the BHBP (hoses, electrical cords, outdoor toys, Lynx leveling blocks and 2 kids bikes back there).
Front basement: Sewer stuff, stroller, de-flappers, small platform steps.
Rear basement: Outdoor rug, chairs, bike helmets, drill, cloth line that hooks up to the bumper and a box with lubricants, caulk, bug candles and awning lights.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do when we trade the 29BHBP for something else. I have really gotten spoiled with all the storage space.

I did read were someone took the bunk beds out and made a small office back there. Since I office out of my home, that is a definite possibility.

-Mark