How one $11 trick could solve all your caravan storage woes
- Replies 0
Packing for a caravan trip can quickly turn from excitement to frustration as you try to find the perfect balance between bringing what you need and avoiding clutter.
What starts as a few simple items soon leads to a mountain of gear you’re not sure you’ll ever use.
One simple yet brilliant solution has become a game-changer for many, solving the problem of limited space with minimal effort.
When it comes to caravanning and camping, packing light is both a joy and a struggle.
With more Aussies hitting the open road to explore the country, the challenge of figuring out what to pack is a common complaint.
Realising you don't need a house full of toys, gadgets, and games for the kids to enjoy the great outdoors is incredibly freeing.
However, trying to plan for every ‘what if’ scenario can lead to overpacking, often resulting in four pairs of shoes for each person when only one or two are actually needed.
One thing is clear: finding a smart storage solution while on the road is invaluable.
A simple storage hack made waves in a popular social media group, offering a cheap, practical way to maximise space.
This trick involved repurposing cycling accessories to create hanging storage bins.
At just $11 each, wire bike baskets from Kmart quickly became a go-to storage solution for many.
'I have three at the end of the bed for all our shoes,' shared Andrea, a seasoned caravanner.
'They are bike baskets so they just hook over the bed base, I put a cloth under so they don't damage the bed. I can mostly access them without lifting the bed, but it’s no big deal if I have to lift it.'
The baskets come with two hooks at the back designed to slide over a bike’s handlebars.
They fit perfectly over the end of the bed frame in many caravans, floating just above the floor to store items like shoes, hats, jumpers, and Oodies.
How easily you can access the baskets depends on how much the mattress overhangs the bed base.
The more it overhangs, the trickier it is to access bulky items without lifting the mattress.
'I find them easy to use, they are off the floor and not hard to reach,' said one caravanner.
For those with less space at the bed's end, some opted to install the baskets higher up on the side of the bed frame.
'We don’t have much room at the end of our bed so I have the bike baskets hung on the side right up towards the head of the bed. Works well,’ shared one camper.
To prevent marks on the bed base, a few recommended placing foam under the brackets. Others, whose bed bases were too thick for the hooks to fit, drilled holes to thread the brackets through.
Though widely used, the bike basket hack isn't without its drawbacks.
The open wire design means dirt from shoes can spill onto the floor, and accessing the baskets can become inconvenient if the mattress overhangs too far.
Another popular solution for under-bed storage is the IKEA Trones shoe boxes, priced at $39 for a two-pack.
These boxes are white and blend well if the bed base is also white, but they must be permanently fastened to the base, which can be a hassle.
They don’t come with a fastening device, and while they’re perfect for storing books or paperwork, they can’t accommodate bulky items like boots or jumpers.
Van mum Kirra Stamp, who shares her caravanning experiences with her three kids via the social media page @thetravellingstamps_, found an aesthetic solution.
She replaced the black bike baskets with white rope baskets from Kmart.
These baskets didn’t come with hooks, so Kirra secured them with screw-in hooks instead.
While the exact baskets Kirra used are no longer available, similar ones like the Square Paper Rope Basket with Liner ($16) and Rectangle Braid Rope Basket ($14) can be found in Kmart.
Finding the right storage solution on the road can be a game-changer, whether you’re using clever hacks or opting for something more stylish.
What’s the most clever or unexpected storage trick you’ve used on your travels? Drop your ideas in the comments.
What starts as a few simple items soon leads to a mountain of gear you’re not sure you’ll ever use.
One simple yet brilliant solution has become a game-changer for many, solving the problem of limited space with minimal effort.
When it comes to caravanning and camping, packing light is both a joy and a struggle.
With more Aussies hitting the open road to explore the country, the challenge of figuring out what to pack is a common complaint.
Realising you don't need a house full of toys, gadgets, and games for the kids to enjoy the great outdoors is incredibly freeing.
However, trying to plan for every ‘what if’ scenario can lead to overpacking, often resulting in four pairs of shoes for each person when only one or two are actually needed.
One thing is clear: finding a smart storage solution while on the road is invaluable.
A simple storage hack made waves in a popular social media group, offering a cheap, practical way to maximise space.
This trick involved repurposing cycling accessories to create hanging storage bins.
At just $11 each, wire bike baskets from Kmart quickly became a go-to storage solution for many.
'I have three at the end of the bed for all our shoes,' shared Andrea, a seasoned caravanner.
'They are bike baskets so they just hook over the bed base, I put a cloth under so they don't damage the bed. I can mostly access them without lifting the bed, but it’s no big deal if I have to lift it.'
The baskets come with two hooks at the back designed to slide over a bike’s handlebars.
They fit perfectly over the end of the bed frame in many caravans, floating just above the floor to store items like shoes, hats, jumpers, and Oodies.
How easily you can access the baskets depends on how much the mattress overhangs the bed base.
The more it overhangs, the trickier it is to access bulky items without lifting the mattress.
'I find them easy to use, they are off the floor and not hard to reach,' said one caravanner.
For those with less space at the bed's end, some opted to install the baskets higher up on the side of the bed frame.
'We don’t have much room at the end of our bed so I have the bike baskets hung on the side right up towards the head of the bed. Works well,’ shared one camper.
To prevent marks on the bed base, a few recommended placing foam under the brackets. Others, whose bed bases were too thick for the hooks to fit, drilled holes to thread the brackets through.
Though widely used, the bike basket hack isn't without its drawbacks.
The open wire design means dirt from shoes can spill onto the floor, and accessing the baskets can become inconvenient if the mattress overhangs too far.
Another popular solution for under-bed storage is the IKEA Trones shoe boxes, priced at $39 for a two-pack.
These boxes are white and blend well if the bed base is also white, but they must be permanently fastened to the base, which can be a hassle.
They don’t come with a fastening device, and while they’re perfect for storing books or paperwork, they can’t accommodate bulky items like boots or jumpers.
Van mum Kirra Stamp, who shares her caravanning experiences with her three kids via the social media page @thetravellingstamps_, found an aesthetic solution.
Kirra Stamp shares her aesthetic caravanning storage solution. Image source: Instagram/thetravellingstamps_
She replaced the black bike baskets with white rope baskets from Kmart.
These baskets didn’t come with hooks, so Kirra secured them with screw-in hooks instead.
'I am super happy with how this has turned out! I am in love!' she said. While the exact baskets Kirra used are no longer available, similar ones like the Square Paper Rope Basket with Liner ($16) and Rectangle Braid Rope Basket ($14) can be found in Kmart.
Finding the right storage solution on the road can be a game-changer, whether you’re using clever hacks or opting for something more stylish.
What’s the most clever or unexpected storage trick you’ve used on your travels? Drop your ideas in the comments.
