Closet Rod

When we first started camping with the Wildcat, we just hung our clothes on the rod, and everything traveled very well. Then, on one trip, we went over some very bumpy roads, and when we stopped for the night EVERYTHING was off the rod and in a big heap on the floor - we couldn't even open the sliding doors all the way. Our solution was to turn some of the hangers around so they came through the slots from the back. We didn't like that though, it was a pain in the neck. So, we finally decided to try something we did with the Prowlers we had in the 80s..... only a little more refined. We just used a stick and tie bands in the Prowlers. Here are some photos of our Wildcat version:


Drill holes in each end of a dowel rod (old broom handle). Attach a zip tie through one end, and another zip tie through one of the slots in the OEM rod, and then through the tie on the dowel (linked like a chain). Attach a strong tie band through the hole on the other end of the dowel.


Hang clothes. Then place the dowel over the hangers, and fasten the tie band to one of the slots in the OEM rod. Let the dowel down when you set up in camp for easy removal of clothing.


This is the other end of the closet. Custom fit the dowels for your own needs. If you hang clothes completely across the OEM rod, it would probably be best to make 3-4 dowel rods.


We used to hang clothes all the way across, then we started putting hampers in the middle of the closet. We did some organizing in our upper cabinets, and most of the clothes that hung is now folded - and we still have room to spare.

Tater

You sure do travel lite. My wife has to take along 30 pair of shoes and I have no idea about change of cloths. I use 10 pair of shorts and shirts 2 pair of shoes.

Yes that is a great idea to keep the cloths on the rod. I will use it.Tks for a great idea.

Ken,
You might like this idea for shoes. It's a mod we did about 2 years ago. We bought an over-the-door shoe holder and cut it apart. Each piece was the width of the shoe holder (holds 4 shoes), and the height of one shoe. I sewed a strip across the top of enough sections to fit across the end of the bed box, and Scruffy stapled it to the bed box. Then I sewed a strip on each of two sections, and Scruffy stapled one to each side of the bed box. I can't remember off hand how many shoes would fit across the end of the bed box - probably 8... which would be 4 pairs of tennies. The holders on the sides didn't have as much expansion, so those holders hold thinner shoes (sandals, flats, etc.) Here is a picture:


The mattress is wider and longer than the bed box, so the shoes are all recessed under the mattress. We hid it all with a store bought bed skirt.

Scruffy and Tater, your mod looks good, but I have to share this its even better then the clothes just jumping off. We pulled into Zooland Campground NC on Wednesday. Went to open the closet and not only were the clothes on the floor so was the entire clothes hanger bar. Wife and I had to make the favorite trip to Lowes and Walmart for the material to repair it. Found the bar was only attached with 1/4 inch screws and only in the panel under the cabinet. I put in panel anchors that spread out hopefully it will hold.

PS, I now have another cheap Black and Decker 14 volt drill anyone need one

That hasn't happened to us fortunately.

When we got the trailer, our clothes often got hung up on the sliding door. Scruffy moved the clothes bar about an inch farther back, and now the doors don't get caught on the clothes. I think he reinforced the bar when he moved it. In the pictures above, you can see some dots in front of the bar - that's where it was attached before.

Tater

That is a great idea about the shoes. Show it to the wife and she can sew it up. That sure is better than taken plastic boxes of shoes on the trip. I seen her change cloths 3 times before we got out of the camper to go places.

Rich5117 I had the same thing happen to us. I had to rebuild the cloths and put a 1X4 across it to support the rod.

Scruffy I see that you are a fan of check shirts,
And where does Tater put her clothes, I am sure she does not travel that light. Great Idea though.
Sean

Sean,
We used to have the closet packed end-to-end with two hangers in each slot. Then we started cutting down. Most of the space in the overhead cabinets in the bedroom is filled with clothing, as are the drawers on each side of the closet. Each of the open spaces above the drawers has a nice basket - I put all of my socks in mine. Scruffy made the storage unit in the photo below - for more clothes. We DO travel a lot lighter than we used to. We also don't mind taking a few hours out of a day now and then to do laundry.


We bought these boxes to use as drawers. The top drawer is the lid from one of the boxes. Before doing this mod, I had also thought of making a shoe cabinet, but decided we needed the space for clothing. The boxes are the same size as a copy paper box that would hold 10 reams of 8.5 x 11 paper.

Tater