Organizing Provisions and Supplies

Knowing what to bring along on a camping trip is only half the battle. The other half is acquiring and organizing it so it will be safe and you can find what you need when you need it. Acquiring provisions is mostly a matter of making a list and going out and buying what you need.  Organizing your provisions and supplies in an RV is much like organizing things at home, only in a smaller space. Organizing your stuff for tent camping is more of a challenge and an opportunity to be creative. If you can't find something when you need it, why even bother to bring it in the first place?

Deciding what to bring. The first step in provisioning for a trip is to outline your needs: where are you going? How long will you be gone? How many people are in your group? Any food allergies or special dietary needs? Will you be able to purchase additional supplies on your trip? Once you know these things you can begin making a menu. Follow the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Camping is usually not an appropriate time for gourmet meals. However, if you want to plan special meals for special occasions, go right ahead. Just realize it may mean you have to bring extra supplies and equipment and allow extra time for setup, preparation, serving, and cleanup. Ready-to-eat meals are convenient for camping, but they can be expensive and are not always the most appetizing or nutritious. Try to stick with simple meals that only require basic ingredients and are easy to prepare and require little cleanup. The last thing you want to do is spend your camping trip repeatedly scrubbing pots and pans.

Acquiring provisions. Acquiring provisions may be as simple as a trip the grocery store unless you have special needs. If you plan ahead, you can accumulate a lot of non-perishable items over time to spread out the cost and take advantage of sales and coupons. Generally avoid giant sized containers unless you are feeding a large group or KNOW you will use them up quickly. You certainly don't need a bunch of half-empty, open containers that can spoil or spill in an RV or taking up room in your tent camping bins. A best approach is "right sizing" -- buy the right size for the number of people and number of meals on your trip. It is unlikely a 50# bag of flour will be necessary unless you're feeding a whole troop, but a 1 or 2 quart-size plastic container full may be handy for an any outing.  You might need to do some extra shopping to pick up specialty items, like Snow Cone syrup from a restaurant supply store instead of the grocery store.

Organizing your RV. Let's start by dividing things into two broad categories: indoor and outdoor items. Indoor items would include food, kitchen utensils, clothing, medicine, sundries, and indoor entertainments. Outdoor items would include major tools, firewood, RV fluids, outside electrical cords, fresh water hoses, sewer hoses, and outdoor recreational items. Hand tools can fall into both categories. I keep a small general tool kit inside my RV where it is handy for routine repairs. My larger tool kit, with socket sets and full wrench sets that may be needed for major repairs resides in an outside compartment, positioned so it is easily accessed.

Galley organization. Use the way you organize your home kitchen as a starting point for organizing your RV galley.  Keep things in as familiar an arrangement as possible. Because the cabinets are smaller you may have to make some compromises, but the closer you can maintain consistency, the easier and more convenient using your RV galley will be. You want often used things within easy reach and in familiar places. One thing you will probably have to do without is the "junk drawer" most of us have in our kitchens at home. If you need a place to gather odds and ends together, a plastic shoebox or other sturdy container might do the trick and could be stored under the dinette or sofa without sacrificing convenient space for more critical items. When choosing plates, bowls, cups, glasses, etc, remember your RV is going to be bouncing around. Avoid delicate or fragile pieces that can be easily damaged. There is some beautiful acrylic stemware that rival crystal for beauty yet is relatively impervious to bouncing around in an RV. China plates are elegant and beautiful, but Melmac or stainless steel or even the old pioneer-style "speckle ware" are more durable, usually lighter, and very appropriate for camping. If you're not familiar with "speckle ware", it is made of porcelain covered steel, usually dark blue with white specks. The plates, bowls, and cups are made of steel and are coated with porcelain. They are attractive, easy to clean, and very durable -- but the porcelain finish is subject to chipping if they are dropped or handled roughly. Plain old paper plates are always a good bet when camping. I like to use them with plastic or wicker holders since most paper plates are fairly flimsy. My favorite plate holders are made of plastic and have a lip molded into the bottom into which the top rim of a soda can fits snugly, giving me both a place to keep track of my soda and a sturdy handle to steady my plate. Plastic flatware is light weight and can be either re-used or discarded, depending on your preference and whether you'd rather do dishes while camping or spend more little more money. Ordinary stainless flatware is a good option. It is durable and a little classier than the plastic stuff, although I've seen some very elegant clear plastic and even silver finish flatware I would be proud to serve to any guest. Obviously, perishable provisions should go in the refrigerator or be kept in an ice chest. When it comes to storing non-perishable items, put light items in upper cupboards and heavy items, like canned goods, down low. If a cabinet comes open during an unexpectedly violent traffic maneuver the last thing you need is a can of chili flying toward your head. A bag of potato chips, box of cereal, or loaf of bread, would be a lot less painful. In addition, the lighter items will be less likely to knock the cabinet open in the first place. You may want to bring your favorite pots and pans, especially if you are planning any special meals that might require them. However, for more convenience for routine camping, we like to stock our RV with its own set of cookware. Cookware designed for RV or camping use is compact, usually stacks together for efficient storage, and has creative, multi-use items that maximize functionality while minimizing space and weight.  For example, the lid for the big pot usually is also a frying pan.

Medicine and sundries. These are typically stored in the cabinets in the bathroom or bedroom area. Because space is limited, choose "travel size" items and take advantage of multi-use items such as combined shampoo/conditioner/body wash to reduce both space and weight without losing functionality.  Small items can be secured in small plastic containers so they don't cascade out every time you open the cabinet door.

Clothing. Most RVs have some closet space and some drawer or cupboard space to help you organize your on board wardrobe. If the space in your unit is insufficient, put your clothing in duffle bags or plastic tubs and store it under the dinette or on the bed (you can move it to the shower or some front seating area to get it out of your way at bed time).

Outdoor cabinets. You will want to plan the use of your outdoor cabinets to maximize convenience and usability. Things you use frequently and things related to activities under or near your RV awning should be stored in curb-side cabinets. Fresh water hoses and sewer hoses should be stored near the connections in street-side cabinets. Try to keep fresh water hoses and sewer hoses in different places to avoid contamination. Some folks like to use cloth tote bags to store hoses and extension cords, keeping them from getting tangled and helping to keep them clean. I like to keep spare fluids (oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze) in a curb-side cabinets in case I have to access them alongside a busy roadway. Same with my big tool box. I put the fluids in a plastic tub in case they drip or spill.  Things you won't use until you are in camp can be relegated to street-side cabinets.

Organizing for tent camping. I have found moderate size plastic tubs very convenient for tent camping. I like the ones that are translucent rather than opaque so I can kind of see what is inside. Large containers are bulky to store and heavy to move about. Moderate sizes fit into the trunk or back seat or cargo area better and are easier to move from storage to vehicle to picnic table and back. It is also easier to find things if there isn't so much stuff all jammed in together. Put like things and things that will be used together, together in the same tub. If you have any trouble remembering where things are, mark the contents on the outside with a felt tip pen or attach labels. Many of the recommendations given above for selecting cookware, tableware, and flatware for RVing are applicable to tent camping as well. Having things well organized and keeping them well organized will make it faster and easier to get on the road at the beginning of a trip and at each stop and get things put away when you get back. If you have room to transport it, a chuck box is a good way to organize your camp kitchen for convenient use.  When you get to camp, organize your camp site for efficiency and convenience. If you have access to water, put your camp kitchen near your source of water but away from restrooms. Keep a trash bag or trash can nearby. Set up your tent upwind from the fire pit and restrooms if possible. Keep a shovel and/or a bucket of water near your fire pit. String out clothes lines where you can hang clothing and towels to dry and sleeping bags to air out. If you air out your sleeping bags every morning, they will be more pleasant to sleep in and they will keep you warmer at night. If you sleep in them or roll them up while they are still damp, you will compress the fill and reduce the amount of insulation they provide to keep you warm. Hang some ribbons on clothes lines when not in use so someone doesn't walk into them. If you don't have any attractive ribbons, tear some strips from grocery bags. You want the line to be clearly visible.

"A place for everything and everything in its place."   Its more than clever thing Grandma used to say and it isn't just a motto of people with OCD.  It is a very useful guideline for organization.  Figure out the best place for every item you bring along, then make sure it gets put back in its proper place every time after you use it.  I'm kind of anal about putting my tools back in their proper place in the tool box, even if I expect to be using them again fairly soon.  Sure, it takes a few minutes to wipe them down and put them away, but in the long run it saves time that would otherwise be wasted trying to figure out where I last used them or where I left them.  And it saves often saves the expense of replacing lost tools.

Some folks think organization is restrictive. In reality, organization is the key to freedom. By being organized you will be free to pursue the recreational activities you came out for instead of wasting time searching for things you need. A little time spent organizing your provisions for convenience will pay big dividends in camp. Being able to find what you need when you need it is kind of fun. Not being able to find it when you need it is very aggravating and wastes a lot of time.

Get your stuff together!