Those of you who have been on the road for a couple of years, do you wish for more storage space. I think one area that (small) fifth wheelers may be a let down is with storage. I have gone and brought an extra cab ute, with the idea that the hitch would be placed over the back wheels of the ute, perhaps a dual cab would have been been better, then I could then use the rear cab for storage.
The extra's I see that we may carry apart from the usual, are hobby gear, extra cloths, bedding etc., tools and what ever else. Planning on selling the house and all, so what we take is everything we will own at the time.
This is one area that perhaps a standard caravan may have over a 5 wheeler, with the tug used as storage.
I have just gone through all that over the last few months and what I thought I'd need I decided to even get rid of some of that just recently. I have the twin cab ute and tow a van but didn't want anything on the back seat. I have heaps of room but weight is of the essence really.
It's good to have storage but consider the weight.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Hello Iana,
We have the space cab model Colorado with an aluminium tray.
The tray is 1.92 long x 1.86 wide x 460 deep.
All our valuables fit neatly in the rear area behind the front seats. Engle, Genny, Washing Machine, Cameras.
I have made a platform to cover the hump on the floor and can carry items under there as well.
Extra gear fits in the tray which has had the sides raised 100mm. to gain extra height needed for storage boxes.
Fuel, Outboard motor, Crab pots, Fishing Gear, Chairs, out door fire place, empty water containers, tables and fire wood if needed.
We have a latournae??? cover over the load for basic security.
Our 3.55 tinnie rides on top of a rack fitted above the roof line supported off the tray.
Our van is 16 feet so storage is important.
I try to load all the heavy gear towards the front of the tray and a lot stays in there until needed.
Also have fitted three storage boxes under the tray to contain my extra battery and spare ropes jacks tools etc.
Portable boat trailer sits under the boat on the hood rack.
When required as a ute off comes the rear ladder rail and the cover, back to a tray backed ute. simple.
I have found the longer we are on the road the less we seem to need and thus carry. We have been on the road a few years now and when starting out we trimmed down to only the essentials, well after a few years we have found that we hadn't trimmed much down and our idea of essentials has changed. Although a number of new essentials has since been added, we have also trimmed down and are now not traveling with anything like the volume of yesteryear. We enjoy more what we now have and don't miss anything of what we have discarded along the way.
terry
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Chris & Terry
3.2lt 4 x 4 Mazda BT 50, single cab chas with full alloy canopy
I have found the longer we are on the road the less we seem to need and thus carry. We have been on the road a few years now and when starting out we trimmed down to only the essentials, well after a few years we have found that we hadn't trimmed much down and our idea of essentials has changed. Although a number of new essentials has since been added, we have also trimmed down and are now not traveling with anything like the volume of yesteryear. We enjoy more what we now have and don't miss anything of what we have discarded along the way.
terry
Gday...
I think you have hit the nail on the head Terry.
"Storage" seems very dependent on how often (or how long) one travels, where one travels to, what one's interests are and of course lifestyle (level of comfort).
I travel full-time - for six years now. I had trouble fitting everything in that I "thought" I just had to have. During the second year, I sat down and reviewed all that I had and got rid of a considerable amount of stuff that I had never used, or rarely used. Each year now I repeat that process.
However, each time I review and clear out 'stuff' I think about what I "could have used" during the previous year and see if I can now fit it in. This year for instance I am going to buy a 3.2 metre telescopic ladder. I got room now and then I will not have to keep borrowing one to clean the solar panels and service the Winguard etc.
Cupboards inside the van? The overhead cupboards are either half full or less these days. Cupboards on the floor are still pretty full, but that is because I keep all the weight as low as I can.
The rear of the Landy has been reviewed each year as well. I have either chucked out stuff that is not been used and re-arranged things better - such as chucking out the folding table I left with and getting a more compact one which actually is more stable. (a stable table )
Chosen lifestyle is the biggest killer in 'storage' and weight. I often see people with four of the very large, lay-back chairs, I have seen people with a 50cm TV in the annex and number of cooking facilities - Weber and an 'electric cooker'. Add to that they also have a very large Waeco fridge under the awning that is nearly as big as the fridge they have in the van.
I think if people are going for short trips - 3-4 months - then they seem to cram heaps into their rigs. I think people have considerable difficulty leaving "home" behind.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 29th of January 2015 12:15:34 PM
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