The famous American statesman Ben Franklin ' who created timeless maxims like 'a penny saved is a penny earned,' explained that the person 'who owns much is soon owned' by his or her possessions. The masterful genius was also a celebrated inventor, and Franklin was the first to create bifocals to avoid having to carry two pair of eyeglasses. That was a remarkable space saving idea, but chances are that Franklin himself would be impressed by many of the intelligent innovations used by RV'ers to conserve precious room in their modern motor homes.
To widen the storage possibilities and make the most of an RV, first seek out nooks and crannies like those often found between walls and counters and put them to work. Sometimes there is extra unused space above or below cabinets, for example, that can be taken advantage of for storage of seldom used items like tools or spare parts. Many RVs also offer convertible furniture or seating that lifts up to reveal storage compartments. The 2009 Winnebago Adventurer, for instance, features a handsome wardrobe with doors that open to reveal fold-down bunk beds. During the daytime the wardrobe can do double duty to store bedding. Meanwhile the Winnebago 'Rest Easy Theater' seating module features seats that instantly convert into twin beds. The clever module includes a central storage compartment and the automatically reclining chairs have their own flip-out cup holders. Or choose Benchmark's new 'Dream Dinette' set. The dinette table can be transformed into a bed with a flick of the wrist, and the seat tops open up to built-in storage bins.
Buy an RV or have an existing one customized and upgraded to accommodate features like fold-down tables, slide-out trays, and wall-mounted or retractable audio or TV systems. The 'Extend-A-Shower' from Stromberg Carlson Products, for example, is essentially a cleverly designed shower curtain rod and only costs about $40. Once installed, the angular curtain rod expands the enclosed shower area by as much as 30 percent, giving more room to maneuver inside the tight space of a cramped RV shower stall. After taking a shower, just pivot the curtain back out of the way. For exterior storage options, one of the most impressive is the 'Bigfoot Basement' from Bigfoot Industries. The roadworthy basement is designed with a unique pass-through storage section plus other super-sized storage compartments including some that are completely climate controlled.
Keep in mind that high-tech options are always useful for freeing up space in an RV, and they are becoming increasingly affordable. Watch home movies on a razor-thin laptop that also plays music while performing all the functions of a typical desk top computer, or convert stacks of CDs and a bulky audio system into a tiny iPod that stores thousands of songs but is smaller than a deck of cards.
But low-tech solutions are sometimes the smartest, and they should be implemented before every excursion. Roll clothes into tight bundles instead of packing them loosely ' or consider repackaging items in order to yield much more spacious results. Storing square boxes of cereal alongside round bottles of juice, for example, creates in-between gaps of wasted space. Room organizing experts suggest using angular storage containers that can be fitted together as closely as sardines and then stacked on top of one another. That may require removing groceries from their original packages or loading sweaters and shoes into boxes, but it is well worth the extra effort if it provides the luxury of additional space and less aggravation.
Reorganize, prioritize, and jettison the clutter this summer and then enjoy the liberated feeling that comes from living in a truly 'squared-away' motor home out there on the open road.
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