Basement Loading Plan

Topic: Basement Loading Plan (Read 1258 times) previous topic - next topic

Basement Loading Plan

March 27, 2012, 12:24:54 pm

Our U225 is our first motor home and the only RV we've had with "basement" storage. In the little Streamline 21-foot TT we would just keep personal items in the trailer and load the pickup truck we tow it with up with toys/tools/accessories.

Now I am not the most organized person in the world (as the DW would say in one of her kinder moments) but I'm trying to get a plan for the basement that will work for now and the future. I measured the clearance above the rolling drawers (18") and we stocked up on various containers at WM. We have tire chains (for winter travel) in one container, shore power cords in a second, electrical tools and supplies in a third, and a bunch of empty ones.

How do you organize your basement storage? Do you have one compartment for tools/parts/equipment or do you spread things out. Does anyone keep a spreadsheet for where things are? Does it work over time or is it useless after a year? Does it make sense to have some things on one side of the coach than on the other? (I'm thinking about items that you use often, for instance). We don't have huge storage like the unihomes but we don't bother with television, etc. We can carry folding chairs and tables in a roof-mounted pod (at least for now).

Just curious to hear what plans for work others.

Craig

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #1 – March 27, 2012, 05:18:17 pm

We try to keep the outdoor "furniture" in the back of the car, because it comes out when we set up "house" and then the car is empty. As far as the bays go, the only thing I can say is to keep your tool box where you can grab what you need quickly and have it on the curb side of the coach in case you are stopped on the side of a busy road. Jeff's favorite pastime is to empty all the bays and then put everything back again in a different spot ... thus ensuring that he can never find what he wants when he needs it ... except his tool box.

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #2 – March 27, 2012, 06:07:14 pm

Well, one thing I don't have and will never have is tire chains for snow.

I'll be parked or far, far away!

I probably packed and unpacked my basement 50 times over the year before I was comfortable with the results. I'll see an idea that someone else has and think, "Wow I could do that too!," so out comes everything yet again.

There's no one way... there are scores of ways. Have fun with it

I'll post pics of my new basement arrangement when it gets out of the shop. Ice maker and cabinet ( I had the cabinet that was inside the RV modified to fit in the basement top in the basement slide to serve as a table - a cocktail table to be precise

No more trekking up into the RV to get refills... it's all right there next to the TV. I know - I'm bad. Can't help it. Sigh.

I do carry two lounge chairs, one fold up cloth chair for company, a grill, a may to cover the grass/rocks if I'm not on a cement pad, a bucket of waterless cleaning supplies - and some tools. Small tools. If I need big tools I call for help. HA.

Cheers!

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #3 – March 27, 2012, 11:28:55 pm

Hi Craig,
I took my "stuff" and put them in containers, as you. I spent some time, placing them where I wanted them. I am a bit of a stickler, as I expect to have a place for everything, with everything in its place.
Then I took a 3 ring binder, and referenced every item, with some cross references. They are alphabetized by name, then listed as to which side of the coach they are on, door position, and box number listed, and all box positions listed.
If I use some things and can't remember exactly where they should be, I look up their position, and place it where it belongs.
Now, as much as I would like to think that this is perfection, let me assure you that I manage to get things a little out of sink. Usually once a year I will take a nice day and give things a once over, while comparing things with the binder. I don't change the binder, I just put any misplaced items where they actually belong.
I keep everything in the computer, also. I just know that when I need something, I can find it and be using it before the computer can get warmed up. All of this helps me compensate my "CRS".

Good luck,
LynnD, '01 GV

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #4 – March 27, 2012, 11:48:57 pm

Anne has the two forward bays. She has everything in plastic boxes. That includes quilting supplies, beading supplies, filing and paper supplies that don't fit in the coach. The two lawn chairs, big cleaning brush, awning hooks and the Mini bra when it's not on the car go there. I have the next two bays with their joey beds. Curb side has my hand tools, my portable drill, and all my lubricants and sampling supplies. The freezer is also there, filled with soda cans. They street side has all the hook-up supplies: extra 30 amp cable, various adapters, 75' of water hose, 75' of coaxial cable, two plastic bins: one with cleaning supplies and one with touch-up paints and polishes. Then there is the disassembled gun cart, my rifle, shotgun, two revolvers, ammo for all, plus holsters, belts, and gunsmithing tools. See why we need 42' with no slides?

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #5 – March 28, 2012, 12:11:23 am

Quote from: Steve & Kathy B – March 27, 2012, 06:07:14 pm

Well, one thing I don't have and will never have is tire chains for snow. I'll be parked or far, far away!

We live in Washington state and between us and the DW's family are the Cascade Mountains and a couple of mountain passes. Mountain passes can be pretty gnarly but oddly enough most of the time they're pretty easy to drive through; especially using the I-90 freeway. So, much of the winter the roads are bare and dry with mounds of snow next to the highway that one no longer has to drive through.

However... WA has passed a law that any vehicle that weighs more than about 10,000 lbs has to carry tire chains between November and March just to be legal on the highways in the mountain areas.

We do go cross country skiing in the mtns but don't expect to ever actually have to use the chains (which we bought from the previous owner). We have them, however; so we're legal.

Craig

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #6 – March 28, 2012, 05:29:12 am

I have one bay for the coach and one bay for us.

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #7 – March 28, 2012, 05:47:08 am

Wow, lots of work and organization going on under the coach, too much stress for me. Every thing seems to find it's place in our coach, and a good clean out and throwaway once a year inside and under a year takes care of the over crowding that naturally occurs. The plastic storage bins work well, but they to need "purged" once a year as they collect lots of neet stuff as well.

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #8 – March 28, 2012, 12:16:07 pm

Quote from: John S – March 28, 2012, 05:29:12 am

I have one bay for the coach and one bay for us.

I like this idea... more of a philosophy than a plan.

Craig

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #9 – March 28, 2012, 12:23:18 pm

Quote from: wa_desert_rat – March 28, 2012, 12:16:07 pm

I like this idea... more of a philosophy than a plan.

Craig

We do exactly the same. Driver's side bay is for the "coach"-- manuals in one Rubbermade container, fluids in another, spare parts in another, hoses, power cords, adapters, etc loose, brush and bucket for washing coach and misc. items.

Passengers side is for "whatever Dianne says", but includes our folding bicycles.

Brett

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #10 – March 30, 2012, 06:58:50 pm

Maybe it doesn't matter as much in a motor home, but I'd be a bit concerned about weight and balance. You might want to take all of the "stuff" out of the coach, fill the tanks, and then weigh it. If possible, get a weight on each corner, but at least get a weight for each axle. Then weigh the stuff that you're going to put into the coach. You may decide that the tool box needs to go more toward the center of the coach.

We don't have a lot of exterior storage space on the mpg, but I've tried to put only those things that are needed at the campground (hoses, cords, etc.) on the street side. I suppose that some day I may have to pull over in a place where I don't have much room between the trailer and a steep dropoff, but overall I'd rather not have to open any storage areas on the street-side unless I'm in a campground.

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #11 – March 31, 2012, 12:08:08 am

One thing to think about is the ability to get to stuff you might need for a roadside emergency. Many roads and interstates don't have wide shoulders and if there's a lot of traffic on the road getting things out on the drivers side could be a real challenge. BTDT on a freeway in Southern California at 5pm on a Friday! Fortunately for me I didn't have to get into any of the driver's side bins but it made me realize the dilemma if I did.

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #12 – March 31, 2012, 10:02:27 am

Yup, some folks make a big issue out of proper filing of the junk in the basement, then there the other type that simply "Cram a lot in", both types seem very happy

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #13 – March 31, 2012, 10:29:03 am

BTDT on a freeway in Southern California at 5pm on a Friday! Fortunately for me I didn't have to get into any of the driver's side bins but it made me realize the dilemma if I did.

BTDT..?? Blew two drive tires..?

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #14 – March 31, 2012, 10:32:45 am

BTDT? I am guessing "been there done that"...

Quote from: Ralph Trotter – March 31, 2012, 10:29:03 am

BTDT on a freeway in Southern California at 5pm on a Friday! Fortunately for me I didn't have to get into any of the driver's side bins but it made me realize the dilemma if I did.

BTDT..?? Blew two drive tires..?

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #15 – March 31, 2012, 11:05:38 am

Yes, "Been there,done that"

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #16 – March 31, 2012, 11:32:07 am

I was sure of that, just had to crack a funny...

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #17 – March 31, 2012, 04:37:15 pm

I use a few basic principles. Heavy stuff goes low, lighter higher. All hookup stuff on driver side. Tools on passenger side handy. Box with belts, hoses, filters and spares in least accessible spot. We like to use large plastic bins for various categories. Loaded we are well under GVW and only 150 lbs difference side to side.

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #18 – March 31, 2012, 06:56:35 pm

In the '92 U-280 the only storage bay has a Joey bed that extends from side to side. My heavy 5 shelf tool box couldn't go on the free end of the Joey bed (per instructions), so it had to be on the fixed end, which is the driver's side. This is the only down side to having the joey bed. The rest of the coach supplies (filters, belts, extra fluids like oil, coolant, tranny fluid) go in plastic bins that span from side to side. Just enough room for the gas grill to fit in on the passenger side. Fully loaded for summer-long trips we are 250 lbs less than GVWR.

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #19 – March 31, 2012, 07:12:22 pm

Don,

Our coach has two Joey beds. One on left/one on right.

And I remounted them (glassed in solid oak plugs in basement floor, replacing foam core), so weights and location are not an issue.

Brett

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #20 – April 06, 2012, 03:22:00 pm

I know this is going to sound like I'm too organized. To avoid the "someplace for everything and everything being someplace" we measured and bought plastic bins that could stack without sliding off each other. Another thing we thought about was getting the kind where the lid doesn't go too deep into the bin so we have a better idea of how much stuff to fill the bin. Next we numbered the bins and put similar stuff into each one. Made a list of the items and put it in the ocmputer alphabetically. Transfered that information to another computer list that is sorted by bin number. Stuff we need often is on the curb side and stuff like Christmas stuff is in a bin under the inverter since we need to get it only twice a year, Dec 1st and 31st.

Some stuff is stored at the son's house and those bins are labeled by letter...A,B,C...same computer list but with the letter rather than the number for the bin we know there's no reason to look for it under the coach. Can call teh son and he can find the bin easily enough by letter.

Re: Basement Loading Plan

Reply #21 – April 06, 2012, 05:25:47 pm

Our '93 U225 has three Joey Beds. Two of them make one full side-to-side storage area but they have to be accessed (and slid out) from each side. One of them is almost full-width that ends at the charger/converter (which is mounted against the entry stairs). The third one is about 6' long and has to be accessed from the street side.

I'm thinking that the curbside bed will be tools, chains, and coach parts and supplies. The shorter bin on the streetside will be power cords (we don't have a reel), power tools, DW's sewing machines, coach parts, The long Joey Bed (6') will be personal items and a fold-up table. Lawn chairs will go into the roof storage and anything light will go up there as well.

Right now it appears that we have more space than we need. I suspect that'll change. LOL

Thanks for all the great ideas.

Craig

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