Camping is a traditional activity for most American families. Whether with the family or alone, a great number of people hit the road in a camper and enjoy the fun, thrill, and adventure that come along the way. However, one problem of camping with your family in a camp trailer is the limited space. For this reason, you must resort to some crafty RV hacks to make the available space more functional and the camping experience more convenient and delightful.
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37 Crafty RV Hacks to Enhance the Camping Experience
RV camping is a huge family experience where you can spend quality time with each other. Some people even choose full-time RV-ing, traveling from one state to another one. Nonetheless, you have to find ways to things differently in a camper because it does not have as much space and many facilities as a home. These RV camping hacks will save you from having a hard time on the road.
1. Shoe Rack Bed Storage
Beds are a great place for added storage. Basically take a shoe holder, cut it as shown, and wire it with heavy cord. It is sturdy enough to hold all of your shoes around your bed frame.
via: motorhome
2. Shoe Rack Shower Storage
RVs have the tendency to be low on extra space, shoe racks are always great ways to create instant organized storage. Hang one over your shower curtain rod for extra bath storage.
You can utilize the shoe rack not only for storing the shoes but also plenty of other small items. It could be one of your ultimate RV organization hacks as you can hand one over the shower curtain rod for holding the toiletries.
Another way to use shoe holders is to cut them after every layer of pockets and wire the upper edge of each layer with a strong wire or cord. Set them around the bed frame and keep whatever you want. They can hold shoes, toys, and other small items.
via: campingworld
3. DIY Travel Cup
What causes one of the most annoying messes when traveling? Spills of drinks. The Press’n Seal Wrap can minimize the spill rate and save you from tedious cleaning work. Just wrap it around the open face of the cup, make a hole in the middle, and use a straw to suck the drink. However, you can apply it only for cold drinks because it’s not possible to suck hot coffee with a straw.
via: glad
4. PVC Pipe Hammock
Who doesn’t love a hammock! After you’re parked be sure to put together a hammock for kids and big kids to enjoy. It can even double as an extra bed! It required 2 inch PVC Pipe for the main span and 1.5 in for the cross pieces. Sleeves were sewn in the fabric and the PVC was slipped through and connected together. Then ran rope through the long pieces and through a hole in 1.5 in pieces that are used to prevent the rope from slipping back through the door closure. You can store it in the pop top gap up top when not in use.
via: thesamba
5. Command Hook Curtains
Need a temporary curtain to create separation in your RV, don’t want to drill holes into the frame, or simply want a super easy way to hang curtains. Use command hooks to hold up your curtain rod!
via: instructables
6. DIY Tank Cleaner
You surely don’t want to mess with the toilets when you have to travel with it! But, toilets are a hassle to clean and the reek seems to be a real headache in a small place like the camper. Well, this DIY solution is one of the most effective RV hacks for cleaning the toilets.
Mix a cup of laundry detergent (which has borax in it) with ½ cup of a water softener. The detergent will fight the odor while the softener won’t let the waste to stick onto the waste tank’s wall.
via: ruggedthuglife
7. Dry Erase Board Use
A dry erase board is a multifunctional tool as you can use it for various purposes. Hang it in the kitchen and write the week’s menu or the cleaning tasks for everyone on it. Also, you can write down the campground’s name, address, phone number, spot number, and other necessary information on it in case you need them in an emergency.
via: BuzzFeed
8. Getting Better Wi-Fi Signal
This is one of the camper hacks that every social media and internet-addicted camper will welcome with open arms. Most of the campsite gives access to Wi-Fi but you won’t get a good signal at every spot. A Wi-Fi reception booster (which is nothing more than a $20 fix) will fix this problem and enhance the signal.
9. Collapsible Garbage Can
RV’s are low on storage, a large trashcan is difficult to travel with. However, using a collapsible laundry basket makes a perfect impromptu trash can that stores away easily.
via: realsimple
10. Space Saving Containers
Square containers use space more efficiently than the round containers many items come in, they piece together better, and don’t move around as easily while in transit!
11. Tissue Box Container
Tissue Boxes get tossed around, sat on, and wet until they become unusable. A simple Tupperware container can help to fix these problems. Cut a slot into the container and place the tissue box in it and it becomes a water proof box you won’t easily squish.
via: dollarstoremom
12. Black Out Curtain Trick
Blackout curtains are a must-have for a travel trailer. So, any tip about them is definitely one of the best RV hacks you can expect in a list. The curtains come handy when you need a completely dark bedroom after a long journey. Instead of hanging them from a separate hanging rod, you can Velcro them to your existing curtains.
via: home-2-me
13. Prevent Heat Loss
These Vent Cushions help to keep your RV insulated, they are inexpensive, and work great with deeper vents.
via: CampingWorld
14. DIY Awning Track Hanger
Make your own awning with a paracord! Each one you make will need 10 inches of paracord (ends melted), 1 inch of 1/4 inch rigid aluminum tubing, one M10 washer. Get directions here.
via: popupportal
15. Mount Electrical Adapters
Be sure you have all of your cords, adapters, and wires mounted and organized. It makes life easier when you are able to find your cords as you roll into your campsite late at night and need something.
via: rvtravel
16. Pinesol Keeps Away Flies
Dilute it with water to create a 50/50 solution and wipe down your counters, tables, and awnings with it. Read more about this magical solution here.
via: thegardeningcook
17. String Light Hangers
Use these badge holder clips or paper clips to hang lights or decorations on your awning.
via: popupportal
18. Bubble Wrap Insulation
For those chilly winter months a campfire is great but inside your RV is a different story! An easy temporary solution is Bubble Wrap insulation. Get easy directions here.
via: builditsolar
19. Syringe to Fix Wood Veneer
Warped and peeling veneer wood is an all too common problem, click here to get more information on how to use the syringe to fix your RV’s veneer imperfections.
via: zoomcart
20. Easy Scrambled Eggs
Eggs are a staple breakfast that everyone loves. To create this easy meal while camping the easiest thing to do it break them into a bottle with a lid (i.e. a water bottle, creamer bottle, etc). Add a little milk (optional) and shake it before pouring it into the pan to cook. It’ll save a bowl, wisp, and it recycles a bottle!
via: lifehacker
21. DIY Floor Update on a Budget
The RV floors are too generic and almost everyone will want to update it with something that looks nice and lasts for a long time. But, RV hacks for floor updates are expensive and not every material is suitable for the camper floor.
Installing vinyl tiles is one of the best travel trailer hacks for updating the floor on a budget. These are inexpensive but looks beautiful. Also, they are pre-glued (for easy installation), easy to cut down into convenient sizes, and water-resistant.
via: gilbertconstruct
22. Line the Shelves with Non-Slip Liner
Traveling in a vehicle is not good news for glass materials. It won’t take long for your cabinetry to turn into a dishware graveyard if you are not careful. The RV camping tips for saving the glass items during bumpy road trips are to keep them in steel holders or line the shelves with non-slip liner
via: containerstore
23. Add Glow in the Dark Tape to Walk Ways
There will always be a clumsy member in every family who trips over everything. Help him/her by using neon-colored or glowing tape to mark the stair steps and other potentially trip-trap areas. It will also help others to be careful around these places in the dark.
via: rvtravel
24. Save the Condiments
Who does not love to get free condiments? But, those small packets create a mess in your refrigerator or cabinet drawer. Keep them in a small container or tie several packets together with rubber bands.
via: ruggedthuglife
25. Wasp Repellent
Most RVers use propane stove and heater but the smell of the chemical ingredient attracts a dangerous insect – wasp! One of the simplest RV hacks to keep them away is to use dog flea collars. Cut up a few collars into several pieces and place them in different areas, especially the places where you keep the propane stove or heater.
via: rvtravel
26. Place a Foam Noodle Over Awning Brace
An inexpensive easy solution for no more bumped heads as you walk around the RV.
via: andybiard
27. Food Container Wastebasket
The RV is filled with nooks and crannies that a large trash cant fit into easily. Those dry food containers are the perfect size to place around the RV to help keep it clean!
via: andybiard
28. Drying Clothes
Washing and drying clothes can be hard, and it gets expensive when traveling in an RV. A simple solution is to put a rack in the bathtub to at least cut down on drying costs. Just be sure your rod is secure in case you’re still drying while driving.
via: rv-boondocking-the-good-life
29. Anti-Fatigue Floor Mats Increase Comfort and Insulation
These squares a perfect RV hack for functionality and cost. You can buy 6 for around $20.
via: ruggedtimes
30. Spray Paint Dingy Parts
Spray paint is an inexpensive, quick, and easy update for anything on your RV. Help it look 10 years younger with this fix.
via: ruggedthuglife
31. Wine Bottle Sleeves
These plastic sleeves are a great solution for when your glass bottles are knocking around in the cabinets. They are a great way to keep those expensive bottles from breaking on the road. You can get them here.
via: goodsamcamping
32. Easy Reupholstering Method
It’s as easy as wrapping a present, get full directions here.
via: modishmanor
33. Suction Cup Kid’s Caddies
Kids make messes, it is a way of life. However, we can attempt to organize them with these caddies that suction to the car windows. It provides them a good place to put the toys, markers, and hair things when they clean up.
via: morsermoments1
34. Towel Rod Product Holder
Bath products never stay in one place while driving, use this simple hack to create a holder for all of your sink necessities!
via: FiveFs
35. Easy Washing Station
Create an easy washing station, all you need is a bar of soap placed in a leg of panty hose and tied around a water spigot. It will make cleaning up more convenient and your RV much cleaner.
via: momlovescamping
36. Mice Repellent
Irish Spring is actually a mice repellent. Not convinced read this testimonial. Or you can find the complete guide on how to mouse proof a camper here.
via: twomenandalittlefarm
37. Ikea Light Hack
Lighting can be scarce and outdated in some RVs, get a sleek look with lights from Ikea. Instructions are available here.
via: livinlightly
Applying these useful RV tips and hacks (collected by RVCoutdoors) will allow you to enjoy an RV camping experience with a hitch. These will make the life of all the members easier and reduce the stress of long journeys.
Last Updated on April 23, 2019
I enjoyed reading your ideas. I will be using the curtain rod one for sure.