How do you pack to reduce clutter? (packing accessories)

[Belladonna30c]

I forgot to add that one of our coolers gets used for The Lower Bed Extender that I made a couple of years ago.

You can check out the details here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=411075&highlight=bed+extender
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1986 Weekender, automatic, 2nd owner


"A picture is worth a 1,000 words..."

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

[Ahwahnee]

Best packing advice I ever heard was:

'Take half the clothes and twice the money you think you'll need'.

[rubbachicken]

we kind of went the other way on this one, we put EVERYTHING in, and are gradually chucking stuff that we don't don't need out

we still have way way too much stuff on board, and we seem to be filling up

we weigh in at 5160 lbs right now
_________________
lucy our westy

lucy's BIG adventure

meet 'burni'


markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310 or 617 935 4182

[Belladonna30c]

Also being a Weekender owner, Mr. Belladonna30c and I also use the Mountain Hardware packing cubes. We each get one for our regular clothes, and we each get one for specialty gear (bicycle gear for me and whatever he needs in the other).

One tip on improving organization when using these cubes: gallon-sized ziplock-type bags (but the one's with the slider, Hefty, I think). I use one for socks, one for the unmentionables, one for bandanas, hankies, etc. I reuse them over and over and just store them inside my cube so they are handy for the next trip.

I also created a packing list that I printed (and revise/update as needed) and put in a plastic paper protector. I use a dry-erase marker to check off my list when packing for each trip, and wipe off to reuse for next time. It is very handy and prevents me from forgetting something important.

Shoes: we keep it pretty simple. We each bring a pair of hiking-type shoes and a pair of Keen sandals. We slide our day shoes under the bench/bed when it is folded out and our Keens stay visible for quick access for the midnight bathroom break for ourselves and our elderly dog. Specialty bicycle shoes are kept in my bicycle "cube". I also bring a pair of Crocs that I wear in public showers, but those stay with my shower kit.

We each get a front seat area to pile our daypacks, and layer clothes over the backs of the chairs that we need to slip on quickly for bathroom breaks in the night. I keep my down jacket accessible first so I can quickly get something warm after I slip out of the sleeping bag!

We also use a small variety of plastic tubs w/ lids and Action Packers. I essentially create "kits" to keep things organized and manageable. In addition, we use two medium-sized coolers and pre-freeze certain food and beverage items to help minimize the amount of ice we need to bring along.

I once read about a great packing strategy for coolers using a two-cooler system: you put less perishable items in the one you will frequently open (cold soda, beer, etc.) and more perishable items in the other (one you open sparingly). For my milk and OJ containers, I fill them half-full and freeze, then on the day we leave for our trip, I add more milk and OJ. So the frozen parts help keep the rest nice and cold.

It took a few trips for us to learn our system for staying organized, but once we were both "on the same page", it made setting up and breaking down camp a lot easier.
_________________
1986 Weekender, automatic, 2nd owner


"A picture is worth a 1,000 words..."

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

[vanagonjr]

[randywebb]

We do have an assortment of camping trailers over here.

But if you are going to the trouble of pulling a trailer, then why have a Westy? You could pull it behind a Toyota 4wd pickup, a Jeep, or whatever...
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[mike_hayes]

Do you guys not have little camping trailers over there?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brenderup-1205s-Camping-...787wt_1304

Would solve all your storage issues and make a nice bed for the dog at night!

[davevickery]

I use the rooftop cargo area for a waterproof pelican type hard case that carries everything I need to have but don't normally need to get to. Recovery gear, jack, spare parts, and occassionally used camping gear.

I attached a short kitchen spice rack to the back of the pantry door. It holds small items on the door and doesn't take away much of the interior space.

I use the rear part of the westy rear cabinet for clean clothes. The top area for socks and underwear. The bottom areas for long pants, shirts, light jackets. It is easy to get to with the hatch open. Dirty clothes go in a bag under the seat.

The big part of the rear westy cabinet is a hassle. I want a weekender door to access it. But the bed setup stuff goes in there, my air compressor, the screens and front curtain, all kinds of junk.

I have made a 12" high x 18" wide box that fits nicely behind the passenger seat. It fits all kinds of food, and slides under the rear seat when folded down into a bed. It also makes a nice foot rest when sitting and reading in the van, or watching a movie.

It is usually just me in the van, so there is a ton of space.

[wolfej1]

there is a ton of room in there if you really keep it simple - and your family members are totally into the camping aspect and are willing to live spartan like
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1982 Westy
2004 KDX200
2008 Kawasaki KLR 650
1979 Yamaha DT 175
1995 Toyota 4Runner

[Mad Maxine]

oooh, I hadn't thought of using the interior floor mat as an outdoor mat, but I like that idea.

[wolfej1]

3 of us in full Westy - weekend trip
In the storage area above the bench seat:
Wife's clothing and 2 battery operated personal fans

In the rear closet with the 3 shelves:
One shelf for my clothes
One shelf for the son's cloths
One shelf for towels/hygiene/firstaid etc...

On the shelf above the engine compartment:
tools, rope, flashlight fuses, etc....

In the front closet with the mirror on the door:
3 sleeping bags and 3 pillows

Under the sink:
All of our food which consists of Montain House entrees, coffee, oatmeal, ramen noodles, instant rice,etc.. Everything we eat only requires boiled water.
Coffee perculator
2 pots
3 cups

In the drawer under the sink:
3 sporks
packets of salt/pepper/ketchup/mustard from fast food restaurants
pot holder
Instant drink mixes - tea - tang - gatorade
Kershaw kit that has handle with interchangable spoon, spatula, and fork
Swiss army knife - climber model

Fridge:
3 lbs dry ice - to make the lame fridge actually keep things cold
As many adult beverages that will fit in there. I can usuallly get 2 bottles of wine and 6 Sierra Nevada Torpedos in there.

Under the seat
3 cheapo folding chairs that come in bags
Coleman fuel
1 small folding table
spare parts and other tools as necessary
pillow case for dirty laundry
hiking boots/shoes
small electric heater - if needed

In the rear area:
1 collapsable trash can
1 medium sized cooler with ice and water
1 coleman lantern
3 hiking sticks

In the 2 compartments above water tank

Left side-
books
2 small battery powered lanterns
cards
anything else my son wants to bring that will fit in there

Right side-
3 plastic plates
Dish soap
Dish Towels
Hand Towels

Cabinet next to the fridge
Coleman Peak One backpacking stove
Cleaning items such as Simple Green, Lysol
Toilet paper
Trash bags
Matches/Lighter
Firestarters

In the roof storage area:
Firewood covered with tarp

In the shelf above sink:
Nothing - as there is no need for putting things there and hence no annoying rattling

Laying diagonally across the edge of the bench seat and the sink cabinet:
Awning that is rolled up with poles

Dont bring the rear fold out table as we never use it

Combination drink holder/storage compartment between front seats

Rubber floor mat on galley floor.

Upon arrival at camping location:

Park van on level spot
Take out rubber floor mat and place outside of door
Pop the top
Set up the awning
Lift the bench seat
remove the chairs, table and coleman fuel
set up collapsable trash can
lower bench seat

Spin front seats around and setup front table

open the stove /sink
turn on propane
fill perculator with water from sink
make coffee
drink coffee

get firewood from storage area
get firestarters
start fire
setup chairs and folding table

son makes his drinks as applicable

i crack a Torpedo and the wife a cup of wine

boil a pot of water
each of us has a mountain house entree for dinner by the fire.

throw empty mountain house bags in trash

put on hiking boots and grab walking sticks

hike - explore etc.....

at night drop the bench seat

get sleeping bags and pillows

go to bed - use portable fan if hot.

repeat as necessary

have fun
_________________
1982 Westy
2004 KDX200
2008 Kawasaki KLR 650
1979 Yamaha DT 175
1995 Toyota 4Runner

[tschroeder0]

good thread here, I took pics of my packing/set up on my recent 2 week 3000 mile trip, I plan on posting them today look for the trip report.

I don't think it makes sense to double post.
Thanks, Todd.

[Mad Maxine]

Someone suggested I post my recent blog article on our Van-Fu process here. Still a noob, myself. Hop someone finds it entertaining. It's long, but there are some photos. Enjoy!

http://madmaxine.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/epic-road-trips-and-the-art-of-van-fu/

[chardog1971]

[Vanaman]

I use this as a space saver, love the stuff and it lasts and lasts and lasts and etc.....
http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/haircare/solid-shampoos/
http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/hair/conditioners/jungle
Oh, my hair has never felt better. Just so you know, when first using their products, it will strip the wax crap that the other shampoos and conditioners use to give you that shine (and brittleness) right out of your hair leaving it dry and frizzy. Keep using the lush and it will go away leaving your hair oh so nice and soft. The natural oils from the Cocoa butter and the Avocado Oil will put a much better shine back in your hair. Enjoy!
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'80 Westy "The Hummingbird Messanger"

[[email protected]]

We use 6 milk crates in the back for organization (just 2 of us). At night the crates go in the poptop area and we sleep down below. Easy access to everything, 6 compartments make sorting stuff easy....and they are free!

[J Charlton]

shameless plug - OK, I admit it!!
put one of these on - same fuel consumption, everything is inside, lots of volume for all of that soft clutter, sleeping bags, clothes bags etc etc while underway.

_________________
NAHT hightop availability May 18 2023 -
Bend Oregon - for Oregon, California- (7 tot , 3 available), Kennewick Wa (6 tot, 1 available), Small Car Performance Fife Wa. (7 tot 4 avail ), Fairbanks Alaska (1 tot 0 avail)
Future availability TBD : Springfield Mass. Staunton Va, Florida, Colorado, Grand Junction Co., SLC probably late 2024

[IOSilver]

I just got a waterproof rooftop cargo bag & I love it.

It's zippered on 3 sides so you can access the contents through the pop-top screen window or open a door & step up to reach stuff from the sides.
I use it for lightweight bulky items like chairs, tarp, poles, sleeping bags, blankets & pillows. It's got handles on it so I just take it off & store it in the garage once home.

I find that I can fit everything else I need for camping (aside from ice chest & folding table) into the cabinets & it really is nice not having to pack anything but food & clothes before I go or shuffle anything around once I get there. Everything just stays in the cabinets out of sight so no clutter.

Happy camping!

[RHMoore]

Kam said:

[buildyourown]

Gear is an issue for us. I am often racing bikes while traveling in the van, so that means lots of gear. Tools, spare parts, extra wheels, pump, repair stand, tires, etc.

Roof top box = indispensable. Holds all the bulky stuff as well as the dirty stuff. Chairs, kids bike, folding table, BBQ, Kelty, dirty boots, etc.

The Mountainsmith cubes are sweet. Bought those this year and cut down on a lot of bags. Bought the 3 pack so everybody gets one. Even for me, it holds all my clean street clothes for about 4 days. Also really nice for taking to the shower at the camp ground. It's waterproof enough that you don't worry about it.

I condensed down my cook kit too. Bought an expedition backpacking nesting cook kit and ditched some bulky pans and dishes. Found a smaller plastic box for it all and saved some space. Using a backpacking stove over a 2-burner coleman. Cooking 2-3 pot meals takes some work, but it's worth the space savings. White gas is much more space efficient than propane too. Makes coffee in 1/2 the time too boot.

Next step is fridge removal. We carry a cooler anyways so ditching the fridge will just mean more space.