10 amazing RV storage hacks

It’s no secret that space is a valuable commodity for RV travel, no matter the size of your home on wheels. And almost anything you can do, from towing to stowing, that maximizes how you use that limited space will help you carry everything you need in the long run. For this reason, we’ve put together a list of products and ideas to help you save space in any size RV. 

1. Downsizing to an RV? Downsize your stuff, too

“Downsizing” doesn’t apply to everyone, but the sentiment certainly does. Whether you’re downsizing to live in your RV full-time or just taking a short vacation, the truth is that it is impossible for your RV ever to have the same amount of space and storage you’ll find in a brick-and-mortar house. This means that it’s unhelpful to pretend that adding more bins, hangers, or other storage solutions will help you fit more than you truly need in the smaller living space that RVs offer. 

If you use your RV for short outings, you’ll likely want it to feel hotel-like, like a haven away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Since you’ll still have another home base, you have the luxury of only traveling with the essentials for short journeys. As such, you are unlikely to clutter your home-away-from-home with items you would use less frequently, like cleaning solutions, tons of dry pantry goods, or excess/out-of-season clothing. 

If you’re downsizing to live in an RV full-time, however, you will want to take extra care to consider every item you add in terms of weight and storage space. One helpful way to reduce the amount of stuff you own is to go through each room of your home and divide the things in it into piles: one to keep, one to sell/give away, and one to think about/put in storage. This process might take a long time, but knowing that you’re only bringing the things you truly need to live comfortably will help your full-time RV life feel less cumbersome and cluttered in the long run.

2. Shoe organizers

One of the first areas that can feel overwhelming in any living space is that spot right next to the door where it seems like everyone dumps their shoes, bags, keys, etc. There’s been a steady increase in the popularity of “mud rooms” in homes as an attempt to quell this trend. Still, even the Instagram influencers you see with the nicest mud rooms in the nicest homes are undoubtedly battling the expanse of shoes into every surrounding room daily, just like the rest of us. 

In an RV, too many shoes in the small corridor can lead to tripping and falling, making it an untidy-looking safety hazard. For that reason, a shoe organizer is absolutely essential in an RV. You might consider one that goes over the door or that you can wrap around the base of the bed. 

Shoe organizers can also be used to store items other than shoes. Those over-the-door shoe holders are great in bathrooms, for example, to hold bottles and containers secure while the RV is in motion. Some experienced RVers even use them in the shower to keep things tidy and easily accessible. Don’t be afraid to experiment with uses for these handy organizers!

3. Maximize vertical space

This is more of a concept than a product, but there are many living spaces we occupy in our lives that don’t make the most of vertical space. For example, shelves in cabinets are often limited to a single row or shelf, so there is empty, unused wall space behind them. The area under cabinetry in the kitchen or bathrooms is another example of unused vertical space that can be used to store items with clever modifications. 

Undershelf baskets, shelving that creates tiers of items, and cabinets in place of shelves are all ways you can maximize the limited vertical space in your RV. Consider fruit hammocks in the kitchen and bathroom to store, well, fruits, but also for loose toiletry items like toothpaste, lotions, or tissue boxes. Tiered shelving provides smaller shelves to store different-sized items or additional cans/dry goods. Cabinets generally offer more stable shelving than open shelves, and they tend to look neater. 

4. Multi-use items

An item that can be used for multiple purposes is an item worth taking up some space in an RV! Some examples of things that can serve multiple purposes are a roll-up dish rack you can also use as a drying rack, reusable silicone storage bags/containers, a cutting board you can use as a serving tray, and storage ottomans/coffee tables. 

This is something you can get creative with, too. The more you think about different ways to use items, the more creative you can get with it. 

5. Magnetic strips…everywhere

Magnetic strips are a super useful storage tool, as they can be used to store knives and spices in the kitchen or cups for other items in the bathroom or bedroom. You’ll be amazed at all of the different ways you can use magnetic strips to make life in an RV that much easier. You can even use them to store some of your trusty tools for easy access and use!

6. Try a Lazy Susan

The suggestion to try a Lazy Susan is less a way to add more storage and more to make better use of what you already have. Not-so-lazy-Susans allow you to see the items in your pantry or other cabinets easily. They’re great for cleaning supplies under the sink, spices in the pantry, hygiene products in the bathroom, AND for use at the dinner table. 

7. Command™ hooks

Command™ hooks, like magnetic strips, have endless use in an RV or any other living space, really. And they’re super easy to use! Some can hold up to 20 pounds, even, which is a lot of weight! You may find that they are great for totes or dog leashes, coats, trash bags, and more in your RV. 

8. Can dispensers (fridge and/or pantry)

If you like to cook on the road or have a penchant for a can of beer or soda, you probably want to keep some cans available for consumption in your RV. Cans, by nature, take up a lot of space in a fridge or pantry, and anything that can help you store them more efficiently will come in handy. Can dispensers are special storage containers that can help you address the use of vertical space. These convenient dispensers allow you to pack and store cans in a way that makes them easy to access and 

9. Food storage containers that take up less space

Emptying your pantry and refrigerated goods from their containers and putting them in more uniformly sized containers will save you tons of space. It also allows you to stack the containers more efficiently, again maximizing the use of vertical space in your RV storage areas. As a bonus, they look tidy, can help you feel more at ease in the tight quarters of an RV, and can help you keep pests out of your RV.

10. Over-door storage

Beyond shoe racks, many options allow you to use your RV’s doors to hold storage containers. Use your imagination! If you’re a person who loves to read, these are great for storing books and magazines off the floor. Board games, toys, crafting supplies, and stuffed animals may also find a cozy home in over-door storage for RVing with children. 

Ready to get organized in an RV of your very own?

Here at Transwest, we know that investing in an RV is a huge life decision. That’s why our friendly and knowledgeable staff is always available to help you choose from the highest quality coaches (and more) from top manufacturers. Find a location near you today, or shop our online inventory and let our experts help you find the perfect RV to organize to your heart's content!