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Airperson · 10-01-2011, 04:33 AM

Help, my truck bed is a mess. Any and all tips on what you carry in your truck and how you keep it organized such as types of containers. It seems that what is needed first is always in the far back of the truck. I know someone out there has a plan. Airperson

gsmithii · 10-01-2011, 05:04 AM

Right. We're still learning how to do it but we have a plan. Before leaving I put everything I need in the front of the bed and everything I don't need in the back. Upon arrival I change everything from front to back. Before leaving I change everything back again. It works every time but it does take planning.

Lothlorian · 10-01-2011, 05:25 AM

The way I figure it is people are to busy admiring the airstream to even look in the back of the truck. Ha Ha. On my big trips I will be gone for about 5 weeks. I have learned to weed out many things. I carry my tools coolers, generator, spare tire and an extra pair of steps I made (Dogs are old and struggle).

Brian

dkottum · 10-01-2011, 06:22 AM

We travel pretty light. Bicycles, generator, gas can, all with chain and lock. Sewer Solution hose/connector, chocks, that's about it, good for six months.

No topper makes a more usable bed I think, especially at home. The modern extended cab pickups certainly have protected space inside for stuff.

doug k

65CV · 10-01-2011, 06:34 AM

We have a row of milk cartons that really helps us organize. Easiest to grab is the one that contains coiled hose and power cables so we can make or break camp quickly. Keeping like stuff together allows to grab and root through one square foot of stuff rather than many.

John

Wingeezer · 10-01-2011, 06:42 AM

Not sure if your truck bed is open or closed? We have a Leer cap, put on specifically so we can maximize use of the truck for storage to keep teh AS less cluttered.

It is still tough to keep the truck bed looking tidy though, but to help, I carry a number of large rubbermade boxes in there, each with duct tape labels to make things easier to find. we put extra boots and shoes on one, bicycle gear in another, and a couple of boxed for misc. stuff. As well, we put garden chairs, drinking water, soft drinks, beer, folding picnic table, a couple of toolboxes, folding ladder, gennie, gas, cleaning supplies, toys such as metal detector, etc. etc.

It is still a bit of a mess and can be a hassle if I need to climb over everything to get at some buried item. but really does help us to keep the trailer tidy.

Equally, since just the two of us travel, we load up the back of the crew cab with a couple more rubbermade boxes of extra food supplies as well as camera bags, computer stuff and the like.

Just can't seem to get the hang of traveling light!

Brian

sandlapper · 10-01-2011, 06:52 AM

This is the way I do it. A place for everything and everything in its place.

ROBERT CROSS · 10-01-2011, 06:54 AM

We have a little different system.....

Rule #1... If you think of it, you pack it.

That way when the question is asked you have the answer.

If the answer is "no" it better be there when needed.

Rule #2... See rule #1

Think about it.

Bob

Airtandem · 10-01-2011, 08:19 AM

My wife believes that if there is room, we can take it. I told her it is weight NOT volume as to what we can take. I told her that we would have EVERYTHING weighed, AS, TV, eqpt and supplies and including her. That changed her way of thinking.
Now it is easier to get organized and we carry less.

drew05 · 10-01-2011, 09:01 AM

We use a combination of milk crates and plastic bins with covers. The milk crates are good to hold 'stuff' that doesn't need too much protection from the weather, (dog chains, rope, tarps, etc. The can also serve as 'camp chairs' if needed. The plastic bins are for stuff we want protected from the elements. These are marked/labeled. These can either stay in the truck (open bed) or stacked along the trailer side. At home these bins get cleaned, restocked if needed, and stored on shelves in the garage ready for the next trip.

A spare milk crate also allows us to sort out anything recyclable.

If you have pets, we also clean and reuse kitty litter cans to store dog food, easy to store and keep sealed. We also use the kitty litter cans to store charcoal briquets. These also can be stacked. Nope the cats stay home

It's just me and the wife (and either 2 or 3 dogs)who travel so we know what we usually need. We try to keep everything we really need in the trailer between trips (makes it easy to hook up and go).

For now, the available space in the truck bed is dictated by the number of dog kennels we have. These also help keep us focused on what do we really need.

RickDavis · 10-01-2011, 09:19 AM

We have a cap on the truck and the bed is always full.
In the past we experienced the problem of it always in the back of the truck and you can't reach it.. I put a hook on the end of a long shovel handle and it was very handy for snagging things like lawn chairs.
When I replaced the cap I got one with lift up side windows and we can pretty well reach everything now

FreshAir · 10-01-2011, 09:21 AM

Our TV is a convertible. I sometimes suggest to myself that perhaps I should use a pick-up. Soon as that thought creeps into my head I realize that the more carry space means more stuff. We do have to place some 'important' stuff in the Airstream. So I bought 2 plastic storage boxes about 2' x 4' with a hinged cover and has a pair of wheels on one end. That makes them easy to roll like a wheel barrow. They wheel easily to quickly place into the coach then remove from the coach and rolls nicely under the coach. It sorta like having a basement.

Neil

Mikethefixit · 10-01-2011, 09:27 AM

I use a combo of old plastic milk crates and plastic buckets. Cords and hoses go into buckets.I have a short handled sledgehammer,jack handle/winch bar for the WD hitch,jumper cables,36inch breakerbar,little giant ladder,2 spares,2 Honda genni's,charcoal, charcoal grill (small wheeled model) Lots of blocking for leveling.
Full tool box.I know there is alot I have forgotten.Im pretty much prepared for anything. There is no rime or reason to the way stuff is loaded.If I need it,its always up front anyway,LOL My cap has no side windows,so OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND,I always say.

AirsDream · 10-01-2011, 09:36 AM

What Roger said. Only thing I do differently is (having only a hard tonneau cover) I put in two bed dividers made out of 2x12. At the very front go shovel, high lift jack, t-lugnut wrench, 1 13/16 open end wrench for hitch ball, jumper cables, axe, 20 ton hyrdraulic jack, come-along.

Middle (largest) section holds tool box, propane tank for gas grill and/or generator, 2400 watt generator, hoses and tow ropes and electrical cords in buckets, pie irons.

Rear section holds leveling blocks, combination snap-up tool for the hitch / hdraulic jack pump handle, spare hitch ball, homemade "socket tool" for the coach's stabil. jacks, hitch lube, extra trailer bearings and grease.

Fore/aft on top of the bed dividers ride flag poles and fishing rod cases. Sometimes I add a bicycle or two (though I usually put a folding Dahon in the back seat of the cab) and maybe a case of extra clothes.

I HATE emptying it out! Too much stuff? Maybe, but I've used it all on at least one occasion.