How to Organize a Tent Trailer for Camping
Tent trailers provide an economical alternative to a full-sized camp trailer while still providing most of the same comforts. However, the smaller size restricts the amount of storage space available in the trailer during travel. With careful organization, you will find there is enough room for your supplies. Most tent trailers offer a limited amount of cabinet space and an ice box. Every tent trailer has open space at the center aisle, and where the dinette is, when the tent is fully set up. This space offers more room than you might think for stowing your gear and food supplies.
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Instructions
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Store bedding on the beds. This way, once the beds are pushed back out upon arrival and the tent trailer is set up, your bedding is already in place.
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Store non-perishable supplies, such as paper plates, batteries, trash bags and eating utensils, in a small storage container or their original packaging, in the large storage cabinet built into the tent trailer. If there is only one small storage cabinet, you will need to assess which items are necessary and which can be left at home.
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Pack toiletries, hand soap and sanitizer in the sink if your trailer is equipped with one. If not, place them all together in a small tote. This can be stored towards the back of the trailer as it is not immediately necessary upon arrival. These items will fit in a small tote that can be placed on top of another tote near the back.
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Store cooking gear such as pots, pans, grills, spatulas and spoons together in a storage cabinet near the stove if there is one. If not, store these items in the main storage bin. In the rare instance where you have only one small storage cabinet in your tent trailer, you should use nesting cookware and store these supplies in a tote just in front of toiletries and non-perishables.
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Stow a first aid kit and a light source, such as a flashlight or lantern, near the door. Almost every model of tent trailer has a storage cabinet just inside the door. This item, when needed, has to be easily accessible. Pack a second first aid kit in the tow vehicle as well.
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Store any mechanical equipment you might need near the door as well. Usually, the tent trailer jack and wrench needed in the event of a flat tire often come from the factory stored in the storage cabinet near the door.
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Store any games or toys near the front. When you get to your campsite, you may want something to distract little campers but also keep them close by while you set up. Use a storage tote to keep these items all together and put it in the camper just before any coolers or ice chests.
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Store food items that do not need to be refrigerated in a tote. The tote keeps everything together and keeps soft items such as bread and cookies from getting squished during transit.
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Place perishable foods in an ice chest or cooler. Use block ice where possible -- it stays frozen much longer. Use cubed ice for items that need to be cooled down quickly such as drink containers stored at room temperature. These items need to be closer to the door -- you want to get them out of the trailer and into the shade as soon as you arrive. You may want to store coolers in the back or trunk of the tow vehicle so you have quick and easy access to them if you're traveling far.
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Tips & Warnings
Set up your tent trailer at home and spend some time inside considering the best places to store long term items such as batteries, matches, a hatchet and camp shovel.
Try different combinations of totes in different sizes. You might be surprised at how much storage room there is in a tent trailer if you view every empty space, no matter how small, as a potential storage area.
