If you have a pop up camper, you know storage is at a premium. We are a family of 4, plus a dog. You need to make use of every available space. Here are some tips and tricks that I have come up with over the past 4 years.
I used to be a consultant for a direct sales organizing company and they have a lot of great products to help maximize your PUP storage. I am going to start with under the seats. We all know that these can be come catch all messes. I found that using wipeable storage cubes like these (https://www.cleverorganizingsolutions.com/collections/garage/products/copy-of-cube-it) have helped a ton. I have 2 on each side. They house all of the hoses, and cords for the camper on one side and on the other, they house garbage bags, bug spray, sunscreen, clotheslines, games, etc. It is nice to be able to see everything when I open up the bench. You can get in and out quickly.
Under the stove and sink, I used clear bins to store all of our spices that are kept in the camper year round. You can get some here (https://www.cleverorganizingsolutions.com/collections/kitchen/products/copy-of-fridge-and-freezer-bin-medium), but really any clear bin would work. I also use these to store Ziploc bags, napkins…anything that needs to be close at hand, but out of sight. I also utilize one of the cubes mentioned above on the stove top to store bread and chips so they don’t get crushed. I created a pantry out of these baskets and liners (https://www.cleverorganizingsolutions.com/collections/garage/products/better-together-baskets-set-of-2 https://www.cleverorganizingsolutions.com/collections/garage/products/better-together-basket-liners-set-of-2) I found they fit perfectly in that small space next to the stove. I have them organized by breakfast, snacks, dinner and misc items that we always seem to end up with. These baskets can also break down into sets of 2 that can be stored inside the camper during transit. Plus, if you are in bear country, it makes it quick and easy to remove them and store in the car.
I prefer regular dishes over paper ones. These, along with coffee mugs and our pots and pans (see link below for our dishes) are stored in the “cabinet” that hangs above the stove/sink area. Silverware is stored in the drawer under the stove using a typical organizer. On top of that, there is a little room, so I will use that to store some of the bulkier foods that we sometimes have on hand. (We have these plates: https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-12-Piece-Enamel-Dinnerware-Blue/dp/B0009PUSPS/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=metal+camping+dishes&qid=1587581126&sr=8-8 and we have these pots/pans: https://www.amazon.com/Texsport-Kangaroo-Camping-Cookware-Outdoor/dp/B000P9EZZM/ref=sr_1_16?crid=35PKTJSOG9Q60&dchild=1&keywords=camping+pots+and+pans+set&qid=1587581310&sprefix=camping+pots+and+pan%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-16)
I purchased several clear bins, similar to above, along with an egg bin to help keep the fridge organized. I can generally get about 4 days worth of food in the fridge by utilizing the bins. It also makes it easy to remove condiments, etc that are used only for camping, and store them in the house between trips. No more trying to remember if you have grabbed everything.
Clothes are kept in a drawer(https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-27-Quart-26-L-Stacking-Drawer-White-Available-in-a-Case-of-4-or-Single-Unit/13220046) for each family member. I use packing cubes (each person has a designated color) to help identify who’s is who’s. (https://www.cleverorganizingsolutions.com/collections/travel/products/packing-cubes-black-fall-getaway-special-60-off). I keep the drawers stored on top of the camper between trips to make for easy packing. They then travel in the car until we get to our destination. I also use these to store my kids blanket or stuffed animals that they sleep with on a nightly basis. We recently installed a 5-shelf hanging organizer to help corral jackets, sweatshirts, etc that end up getting thrown all over the camper (https://www.cleverorganizingsolutions.com/collections/closet/products/5-shelf-closet-organizer-black) A bonus to this one is that is has mesh side pockets to store gloves, hats, dog leash etc. I use the same type of drawer as above to store all the towels and other linens in. This drawer is kept in the camper during transit. I use a pop up clothes basket (similar to this https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Mesh-Pop-Up-Triple-Sort-Laundry-Basket/888326664) for dirty clothes that can be easily moved into the car and then into the laundry when we get home. Bonus, it fits on top of the clothing drawers!
We have shower in our PUP, which makes it easier to store those bathroom items. I use these caddies (https://www.cleverorganizingsolutions.com/collections/bath/products/totally-clever-tote) to keep all of our bathroom items. I have one caddy for the girls and one for the boys. I generally keep these in the camper year round. The caddies work great to also tote clean clothes and a towel to the showers in the campgrounds. When it is time to restock, I can simply bring them in the house, stock them and right back out they go.
Command hooks are another favorite of mine. I use them to hang up dishrags, dishtowels, hotpads, hats, a small broom/dustpan, etc. I also use them in the shower (waterproof ones) to hang up the shower caddies mentioned above.
I do not allow shoes inside, so again, I got one of the storage cubes from above to store them in outside of the camper door. The nice thing about these cubes, which I failed to mention earlier, are that they collapse and fold flat for easy storage when not in use.
We have a lot of different fire cooking gadgets. Burger cookers, roasting sticks, popcorn maker, pudgie pie makers, all of which get charbroiled coatings on them. To store these, I bought a long tub. This keeps the camper clean, makes it easy to store both during transit and while we are camping. (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-41-Quart-39-L-Storage-Box-Walmart-White/10401039)
I generally keep all the bedding on the beds during transit. I wash the sheets and put them right back on. When we close up the PUP, I store the pillows (all 4!!) in one of these pop n pack bags (https://www.cleverorganizingsolutions.com/collections/garage/products/copy-of-pop-n-pack-bag-1). They can hold A LOT! I get 2 king size and 2 regular size pillows in one and it is short enough that I can store it in the camper. Speaking of holding a lot, I also use one of the pop n pack bags to store extra bedding (I currently have 2 quilts (king and standard), an extra twin comforter and 2 standard size plush blankets in one!). These bags are durable enough that I can store it in the garage when not in use and keep it within reach outside of the camper door when we are camping. When we camp in colder weather, I also use one of these to pack and store all of our warm gear (kids winter boots, hats, mittens/gloves, heavy coats, kids snow pants).
What do you do with all the toys?!?! We have a decent selection of toys to help keep the kids entertained when we are in the campground. Bubbles, sidewalk chalk, bat and balls, etc. At first I was at a loss on how to keep everything contained, both in the camper and once we set up camp. I found these gear pockets and they work perfectly! I can fold them up and store them under the table in transit (see efficiently packing our PUP for more on that) and when we get to camp, I can hang them in a tree or use the hooks that came with it and hang it up in the screen porch. Unfortunately, the ones I got are no longer made, but something like this would also work well (https://www.amazon.com/OUNONA-Bath-Toy-Organizer-Storage/dp/B077K46BXL/ref=sr_1_66?crid=11H5XVPZBUNOV&dchild=1&keywords=hanging+toy+organizer&qid=1587686702&sprefix=hanging+toy+or%2Caps%2C298&sr=8-66&swrs=CC4145B49DE64D4DAB2E8FBE63294C42)
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