Find Hidden Storage in Your RV, Camper, or Boat

No matter how big or luxurious your RV, Camper, or boat is, you may still need more storage.  There always seems to be more stuff than there are places to put it.   If you have large items, your only option may be to add a roof pod or hitch-mounted trunk -- or get a trailer to haul it.  You may be able to find "hidden" spaces within your RV for smaller items.  Getting extra space on a boat will require even more creative solutions.

Many RVs and boats have small cavities under or behind existing features.  You have probably already discovered and made use of the space under the dinette cushions or under the sofa or the bed.  But sometimes there are other, less obvious places you might make use of.  I once found a large amount of wasted space under the night stand in one of my RVs.  Why they didn't put a door on it and make it into a cabinet in the first place is beyond me.  I utilized it in a rather unique way.  I wanted a place to carry an air compressor strong enough to handle the big RV tires.  The wasted space I found was big enough to accommodate a 3-gallon "pancake" compressor.  I was able to remove the counter top for the night stand and install the compressor in the space below and made the counter top easily removable so I didn't even have to do any finish carpentry to add a cabinet door.  Sometimes you can find extra space in the bilge of a boat, but exercise caution because the bilge often accumulates water if there are any leaks anywhere.  Some boats have extra space behind backrests or below the seats on salon settees or between or behind cabinets or other compartments.  Always exercise caution when modifying cabinets to be sure your modifications don't compromise structural integrity.

In most of our RVs I've found it convenient to store my "inside" tool box on the floor behind one of the lounge chairs next to the entry door where it is out of the way and easy to access.  I screwed a piece or two of angel iron to the floor to keep the tool box from sliding around during travel.  I mounted one of those self-contained LED light switches on the wall above it to compensate for the shadow the chair makes from the overhead lights.   The tool box is out of the way, mostly out of sight, yet easily accessible from the entry door,  The light also provides quick and easy illumination for entering the RV after dark that is more convenient than the original 12 volt light switches.  It is even more important to secure items in a boat as they are subject to a lot more pitching and rolling than RVs.

Some out-of-the-way spots will only be good for storing items you don't need to get to often, but they can give you a way of bringing along some extra things and free up more accessible space for things you need to get to.  Look for space behind drawers that are shorter than the cabinets that house them or for places where the builders may have "squared off" an area for convenience or cosmetic purposes that might have some hidden space inside, like over fender wells.  The odd shapes created by the shape of the original van body on some Class B’s or in the fiberglass front or rear caps of Class A’s sometimes contain cavities you can re-purpose for extra storage.   I found nearly a foot of open space between the back interior wall and the rear cap on a class A motorhome.  Getting access wasn't easy but it did provide space to install things like cup holders in the window sill and 12 volt outlets in the shelf under the rear window and above the space.   I also found space to install an extra outdoor outlet on the rear to provide convenient power to my enclosed motorcycle trailer in camp.  The curvature of the hull often creates unusual voids on many boats and you can often find space to store small items there if you can gain appropriate access.  Make sure your alternations don’t nullify insulating qualities, modify wiring or plumbing, or interfere with ventilation or create a new path for drafts.

 

Sometimes the same off-the-shelf cabinets are used in multiple models in an RV line up.   That often results in some unused space around the standard components which you might be able to creatively access for additional storage.

Another way of getting extra storage is to make better use of the space you already have.  I often find the addition of an extra shelf or two inside large cabinets allows me to make much better use of the space and makes using items in those cabinets a lot easier.  Trays or boxes are another good way to have better access to stuff in cabinets and closets.

My wife came up with an ingenious way of carrying files and other paperwork we sometimes need access to without giving up any precious cabinet space.  She slips the file folders behind the backrests on the dinette.  That won't work if you have extremely thick files, but for mail to be sorted, bills to pay, travel/tax receipts, etc, the thin folders fit nicely.  They are safe and easy to get to when needed without sacrificing any standard storage space. Putting them in Ziploc bags also helps keep them together and protects them from spills and humidity.  This technique can be easily used in RVs, campers, trailers, and boats.

Another idea I have to credit to my wife is a handy place to store the log lighter we use to light the burners on the range in the galley.  The microwave above the stove sticks out a half an inch or so from the cabinet face.  She put the lighter on that little lip and secured it with a Velcro tab so it doesn’t fall off when traveling.  Not only does it save valuable space in the kitchen drawers, it is in a really convenient place when we need it.

While I’m crediting her for her excellent ideas. let me share one more:  store baked goods (bread, rolls, donuts etc) in the microwave or oven while traveling.  Let the oven cool after using before putting baked goods in or it will promote the bread to dry out and/or mold faster.  Storing it in the microwave makes it easily accessible when needed and the light weight isn’t harmful to the microwave.  If your RV is equipped with a gas oven it too could be used to store similar items.  I would avoid putting things like potato chips in the oven.  Many ovens have a pilot light that could ignite the packaging.

I picked up a handy tip from the “Quick Tips” feature in Motorhome Magazine for storing shoes near the entry door.  There are usually a few inches between the back of the dinette and the pit for the entry stairwell.  Using brackets for a towel rack I fastened a rod across the bottom of the dinette a few inches from the floor that lets us slide the toes of our shoes behind it.  Since the dinette is upholstered in cloth, I put a piece of FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) like is used for waterproof kitchen and bathroom walls to protect the fabric.  This turned otherwise unused space into convenient shoe storage and helped us avoid tracking dirt into our RV.

The pickup truck we often tow our enclosed motorcycle trailer with has a place under the hood for a second battery (usually used to supply power for a camper).   Since we don't have camper on it at this time, it makes a convenient place to carry extra bottles of oil, antifreeze, and/or windshield washer solvent.

 

You can hang shoe storage systems on the back of closet and bathroom doors.  The shoe-sized pockets are about the right size to corral hair brushes, bottles of shampoo and conditioner, liquid soap, toothpaste, extra toilet paper, etc.   Just make sure you can still close the doors and that the stored items don't intrude into the often limited space in RV bathrooms and closets!  Also monitor the weight as you add things to the pockets so you don't tweak the door.

Some RVs, like travel trailers, often have wide rear bumpers that can be used for storing items that don't need to be kept inside.  Rear bumpers are especially good places for carrying gas cans or camp stove fuel cans that should NOT be carried in the living space.  I've also seen this space used for toolboxes.  You will want to make sure the tool boxes are waterproof and securely locked to prevent theft.

One bit of caution:  when seeking out unused spaces in an RV  or boat NEVER attempt to alter or store things in the compartments for the furnace, water heater, refrigerator, or even the converter or inverter even there is a lot of presumably wasted space.   Doing so may create a fire hazard or, at the very least, modify the ventilation for the appliance which could affect performance and longevity as well as risking a fire. 

You will be surprised how much extra storage space you can drum up with a little creativity.

Tuck it away!