20 OCT 2024
HOW TO ORGANISE SPACES IN A SMALL MOTORHOME
Touring in a motorhome
Even on board a small motorhome, life can be pleasant and comfortable if you get organised and equip the habitation area appropriately. Large motorhomes naturally provide lots of space, but smaller camper vans are increasingly popular due to being easier to drive and park. However, if you’ve never tried living in a small motorhome, you may worry that life on board will be somewhat inconvenient, with no room for all your creature comforts. It doesn't have to be that way though, as long as you make the most of the spaces inside your compact van. Of course, the relationship between the size of the motorhome and the number of people actually on board is very important, so you should take this into account when evaluating the available space before each trip.
But how should you organise the space in a small motorhome? Let's start with the kitchen. There's no point bringing a complete cookware set on holiday; two or three pots and pans of different sizes and types will do — stackable of course! Frying pans shouldn’t have a long handle, unless it is detachable. Some pots come with an integrated colander. Plates and cups should also be stackable and chosen carefully, so that you only take what you really need. In drawers and cabinets, you can create partitions to fit in all your kitchenware with minimal wasted space.
Food and drinks can take up a lot of room in your cupboards, refrigerator and cargo area, so it is better to purchase them locally in the places you visit, rather than cluttering your motorhome with bulky supplies of water and wine, pasta and rice, canned vegetables and packets of biscuits. Shops and supermarkets can be found everywhere, so there is no need to bring more than a bare minimum of food and drink supplies from home.
You also need to be very selective when it comes to clothing, because if you bring too much, half of it will remain untouched in the wardrobe. It is more useful to pick versatile, durable and easily washable items that can be conveniently folded for storage in the overhead lockers. Most sportswear stores offer lightweight but tough garments which can also double as thermal wear. In winter, you should opt for clothing that provides warmth without the bulk. In some wardrobes, it may be useful to divide up the space with special stackable containers made from a lightweight yet robust material, for extra functionality without adding to your vehicle’s payload.
It can also be advantageous to hang hooks and pockets on doors or internal walls (such as in the bathroom), being careful not to drill holes in the external walls, as this would compromise the integrity and impermeability of the habitation area. Lastly, you can create different storage levels in certain places to suit the height of each occupant, such as by using shelves. Again, exercise caution when drilling holes.
To get the most out of holidays on board a small motorhome, aim to bring only the most useful things, leaving behind what you can do without, and opt for items that offer the best compromise between functionality and size.