How do you pack a Front Dinette?

[EnviroProf]

Hey all, I’d like to hear from the Fleet Front Dinette owners about how you pack your gear. I’m not sure if the larger models have the same cabinet space.

My use of the storage areas has evolved a bit as I have spent more time in the camper. I have a couple of cabinets that I‘m still scratching my head about, wondering if this space could be used more efficiently.

Under dinette bench driver’s side: Extension cord and adaptor, portable solar panel cord, table leg when not in use, tool bag

Under dinette bench passenger’s side: folding grill for fire, rain coats, hats, etc., that are rarely used, dirty clothes

Top storage space with flip up counter lid with mirror: sort of like my junk drawer at home – flashlights, playing cards, books, candles, Bose speaker, hammock, sunscreen, etc.

Floor level cabinet on passenger side: a bottle or two of attitude adjustment, newspaper fire starter, porta-potty (some trips), cleaning supplies, wet wipes, trash bags, etc.

Second level cabinet on passenger side: plates, bowls, kitchen towels, misc. kitchen stuff.

Third level cabinet on passenger side: the pantry – nuff said.

Cabinet under stove: pots, pans, coffee pot

Shallow cabinet under fridge(I have the large Isotherm, so it’s a deep space about 4 inches tall): haven’t quite figured out what to store here. Stakes for awning, a few tools, maybe water shoes ???

Propane compartment: shower head, collapsible gray water container.

Back of fridge: water filling hose, hatchet.

As my travels are usually over several weeks, I’m going to try the plastic storage drawers posted below. While the cabinets hold tons of stuff, I don’t like digging to find things that get pushed to the back. I think it will be nice to have a spot for large, but fragile groceries like bread, chips, and fruit. These drawers will be the only item other than our clothes duffels that we have to pick up and move each time we set up. I like the transparent sides so you can easily find what you are hunting for.

 

[longhorn1]

We have the Grandby FWC, so we have more space. Under the seats we pack our clothes, driver side for me and passenger side for my wife. Have 80L fridge. Storage above for table cloth, plates, place mats, coozies, platter, etc. Below the fridge goes flash lights, toilet
paper, wipes, bug spray, sun tan lotion, etc. Top back cabinet for paper towel holder, small box with soaps and other items, Kleenex, and other miscellaneous items. The 2 middle cabinets have canned goods, coffee press cups, pans, bowls, grilling tools, etc. The large bottom cabinet is for the portable potti. The cabinet below the stove is for 2 soft boxes that are packed for each trip: cooking items, syrup, hot sauces, pancake mix, cans, bread, crackers, spices. The liquid items in a plastic bag inside one box. This has been one of our greatest finds at Five Below. The other cabinets are the 2 batteries, water pump, etc. We just purchased an off road trailer that hauls all of our gear.

 

[trikebubble]

Front Dinette Hawk. We pack the skottle, a few little green propane cylinders, and a small roll up table under the right seat. We pretty much forgot about that little upper small console under the window...so I'm not sure if my Wife has put anything in there yet. My Wife does all the organizing (and does an excellent job of it I must say), so i'm not sure what is under the left side seat either. I slightly modified the right rear cabinet to house our Thetford Curve (well, my Wife's Thetford Curve...). I cut the bottom of the cabinet face off so it can easily slide in and out.
We keep all our dishes in the one cabinet under the cutlery drawer. The flip-up lid cabinet on the upper right is our pantry, the lower small cabinet below it stores all our toiletries, and the one below that stores our towels, dishrags, facecloths, etc. She has used dividers and containers to keep everything packed tight and safe and totally accessible. She also has used all the spare little spaces in the other cabinets to keep things like our flashlights, lighters, etc. We keep some games and stuff in the dinettes footbox.
We find the easiest way to store clothes is in a pair of duffle bags, which travel on the dinette seat, then get moved to the space above the fridge. We find it is far easier to access clothes that way, than having them stored in a cabinet or under the dinette seats. Our two Frontrunner chairs and two footstools travel on the dinette seat, and my Little Giant 3-step ladder gets strapped to the floor when traveling.

We had 10+ years of touring on motorcycles to work on compressing and organizing our crap. I have also removed the rear seat of my Tundra completely and maximized the storage in there, along with room for our two dogs. I keep all my tools and recovery gear there, along with extra water, spare papers towel and tp, dog food, and anything extra (like spare dry foodstuff) that we don't want clogging up the camper.

 

[LiveLifeNow]

Vertical space can also be used to advantage. In my 2004 Hawk with a shelf bench, I use a tool roll from Harbor Freight to hold kitchen utensils, small flashlights, pens, a Leatherman tool, etc. The tool roll is hung, using a "skirt hanger" thingy, to the riveted aluminum bracket which locks the front folding panel into the upright position. When lowering the roof, it is easy to remove the tool roll, roll it up, and stash it behind the shelf bench. This arrangement is much easier to use than the small utensil drawer in the Hawk.

From the front window facing the cab, I hang permanently attached multi-pouch shoe organizers from Bed, Bath & Beyond. They blend in well as they match the beige curtains.

Using velcro, I hang more multi-pouched shoe organizers from the thermal liner, placing them in the spaces between the windows on each side. They are also easy to remove, roll up & stow when lowering the roof. Their grey color matches the fabric of the thermal pack.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Vertical space can also be used to advantage. In my 2004 Hawk with a shelf bench, I use a tool roll from Harbor Freight to hold kitchen utensils, small flashlights, pens, a Leatherman tool, etc. The tool roll is hung, using a "skirt hanger" thingy, to the riveted aluminum bracket which locks the front folding panel into the upright position. When lowering the roof, it is easy to remove the tool roll, roll it up, and stash it behind the shelf bench. This arrangement is much easier to use than the small utensil drawer in the Hawk.
From the front window facing the cab, I hang permanently attached multi-pouch shoe organizers from Bed, Bath & Beyond. They blend in well as they match the beige curtains.
Using velcro, I hang more multi-pouched shoe organizers from the thermal liner, placing them in the spaces between the windows on each side. They are also easy to remove, roll up & stow when lowering the roof. Their grey color matches the fabric of the thermal pack.

Good ideas! Pixs?

 

[EnviroProf]

Vertical space can also be used to advantage. In my 2004 Hawk with a shelf bench, I use a tool roll from Harbor Freight to hold kitchen utensils, small flashlights, pens, a Leatherman tool, etc. The tool roll is hung, using a "skirt hanger" thingy, to the riveted aluminum bracket which locks the front folding panel into the upright position. When lowering the roof, it is easy to remove the tool roll, roll it up, and stash it behind the shelf bench. This arrangement is much easier to use than the small utensil drawer in the Hawk.

Yes, photos please. Sort of related, my wife found some hooks that are designed to fit over the top of doors, and we slip them between the folding panels that hold up the roof near the door and stove. We use these to hang a dish towel, wet coats, ball caps, etc.

 

[LiveLifeNow]

Responding to two requests, I will post photos if I can figure out how to do it. Are there instructions on the forum how to do this?

 

[EnviroProf]

Responding to two requests, I will post photos if I can figure out how to do it. Are there instructions on the forum how to do this?

From RC Pilot Jim:
[SIZE=14pt]Procedure to “embed” photos into Wander The West – Post[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]1. [/SIZE][SIZE=14pt]Open Two WTW windows. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]2. [/SIZE][SIZE=14pt]First window go to Post and select edit[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]3. [/SIZE][SIZE=14pt]Second Window Go to YOUR “My Gallery” on your profile.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]4. [/SIZE][SIZE=14pt]Upload pictures to WTW Gallery.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]5. [/SIZE][SIZE=14pt]Click on “Thumbnails”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]6. [/SIZE][SIZE=14pt]Click on “photo” to insert (enlarges it)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]7. [/SIZE][SIZE=14pt]Right click on image. Select “Direct Link to this image”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]8. [/SIZE][SIZE=14pt]Right click again . Select “copy link URL”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]9. [/SIZE][SIZE=14pt]Toggle to First window. Place cursor location photo to be located and Left click “Image” icon on Tool bar.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]10 Paste URL into open field. Click Ok[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]11, If done successfully – a large photo will appear.[/SIZE]

 

[kramme]

Thanks for sharing all of you. We are purchasing a Hawk in a month and love seeing the input from folks of where to put things. Anyone of you from these above posts or future posts, I would love (and I am sure others) to see more pictures. You have given sure wonderful input.

I will make sure I do the same when I get myself ownership. I like to organize things and find the right containers and storage places nice to others ideas.

 

[klahanie]

^ re containers and organizers. You probably already know dollar stores can be a good and inexpensive source. Even better are the ones like a couple chains we have here, ( Daiso and Miniso ) that sell a lot of product into the japanese and other asian markets. They carry lots of smaller sized items and often have different, sometimes even clever, storage solutions for living in small spaces.

 

[Timothy McGowen]

Under dinette bench driver’s side: folding grill for fire and cooking, folding chair (REI), folding table (REI)

Under dinette bench passenger’s side: (Small front) extra rain gear, hats, shower head, sweatshirt, sweatpants (Large Rear) bedding

Front Compartment Between Dinette Seats: Canned goods, deck of cards, tea bags, paracord, misc. parts

Top storage space with flip up counter lid with mirror: don't have this due to 130L refer

Floor level cabinet on passenger side: Don’t have due to cassette toilet.

Second level cabinet on passenger side: Don’t have due to cassette toilet.

Third level cabinet on passenger side: Water filter, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, extra paper towels, Tupperware containers

Horizontal Compartment Next To Cassette Toilet: Solar panel wiring, owners manual, folding water bag

Cabinet under stove: Headlamp, pots, pans, aeropress, cups, plates, bowels, dishtowels, rubbermaid drawer with: cooking utensils, spices, cooking oil

Battery Compartment: Shore power adaptor, extension cord, circuit tester, 30A-15A plug adaptor

Shallow cabinet under fridge: extra batteries, misc. electronics and parts

Propane compartment: 2 liter bottle of water to charge toilet if needed in an emergency

Back of fridge: water filling hose.

Water Pump Compartment: Plastic bags, elastic cords while top is up.

Floor Under Table: slippers, flip-flops, wire ham radio antennas

I store a couple days worth of clothes and my toiletries in an overnight bag that stays on the dinette bed while traveling. It helps wedge in my extra solar panel that travels there as well. My extra clothes live in a suitcase in the back seat of the truck.