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dawnbarnard · 05-08-2011, 08:42 PM

Some of you may already be familiar with our story - some not. So I can be brief.

We are moving into our RV permanently --- at least for a couple of years. We anticipate it being moved to one location for the summer and then in fall, moved again to Southern Oregon where it will stay for awhile. But I am having the hardest time trying to figure out kitchen organization! Going from a full kitchen to an 1/8th of a kitchen is tough!!! I am looking at Tupperware and Rubbermaid for helping me out air proof/bug proof containers as well as a few other kitchen storage problems.

But I'd like to know how have you guys done it and make it work? ARGH.

I am giving up some pretty important stuff to me. I am thinking I am going to have to figure out a new way of living if this is going to work.

I attached a link to our RV at the beginning of this post so that you guys can get an idea of what we're facing.

Any help the ladies - or any of you for that matter - could provide, would be great. I just need to know what is realistic!! Obviously, 8 sets of plates is NOT going to work. LOL.

2011 Keystone Residence 402BH - Travel Trailer - Details

ralper · 05-08-2011, 10:15 PM

To start with I have a rear kitchen in my 5'er. That gives me twice the cabinets that a side kitchen has. I have a pantry cabinet with pull out shelves. I buy small containers of spices and other foods. I keep a running shopping list. I only keep one or two cans of each and need to resupply often.

Get the white metal closet shelving and use it to give your cabinets more shelves.

Condense and miniturize. Instead of using stone ware dishes use corelle. It stacks much tighter. I have a service of corelle for 6 , 2 platters, 2 large and 1 small serving bowls, dessert dishes, soup bowls, a set of strainers, hand juicer and other odds and ends in one upper cabinet that instead of having 2 shelves has four. 2 extra that I added. I use a miniture food processor, hand mixer, blender and a lot of kitchen hand tools instead of all the electric gadgets. I do not eat bread so no toaster. I drink tea so no coffee maker. I have no crock pot. I did splurge and get a thermal cooker. It beats a crock pot while using 20% of the energy. You will have to get used to moving things to get at other things that are in the back. That is one thing all RV'ers have in common.

I have very few folks for dinner and I noticed that is so with other RV'ers so a lot of plates etc. are not needed. Gear for 2 people and you will fit in everything you need. Maby not everything you want.

Renipladlo · 05-08-2011, 10:23 PM

Agree with post above, we use a Vacuum Seal Machine to keep our stuff fresh; it fits in the cabinet above the counter. Get Correll and Corning Wear since they are almost indestructible and take a beating good while traveling.

A smaller coffe pot will also work, the 5 cup GE model at walmart is good. Our MH does not have a lot of storage either, but we make do with keeping sealed stuff under the couch, and having a large refrigerator as you will have. You will learn how it all comes together as you get used to it. You will also make some changes once you get it all figured out. You cannot buy in bulk like you can with a house, but you also don't have to shop every day. We can keep two weeks’ worth of food in our MH. We eat home a lot since the cost of fuel has eroded our going out budget. We found a small (not tiny) crock pot at a garage sale for 3 dollars and it cooks 4 pork chops or a small roast just fine. They don't make that size any more, so you will have to look for one.

decodancer · 05-09-2011, 05:30 AM

I use my toaster oven more than my regular even at home so that goes with me. The small pans take up much less space and can at least bake a turkey breast if not the whole bird. I have a muffin tin that fit as well. My crockpot is also a can't live without, the medium size works best and takes up little space. Boxes (cereal, rice, pasta, etc.) are a waste of space, everythong goes into ziplock bags or tupparware, you actually gain space as you use things. I do have a mini chopper instead of a food processer. Agree with the others, Corelle is tops as far as dishware. Look for things that fit inside others, small colender fits in mixing bowl fits in saucepan, frypan under those. I use the no slip cloth dividers between everything, got those at Camping World. 4 cup coffee maker, stacking mugs, and plastic glasses that look like real but can be stacked are also space savers. Use wall and cabinet door space to hang cooking utensils, measuring spoons, and knives. Shelf dividers help with canned food and spices. Good luck on your venture will be joining the full time gang next year myself.

Clay L · 05-09-2011, 09:13 AM

We use a white wire/rod organizer with wire shelves that holds plates saucers, and bowls stacked vertically. I think my wife got it at Walmart.

We also use Corelle .
We use a lot of square plastic canisters that we transfer flour, sugar, pasta, beans, rice, etc into.

We have a wire organiser for canned goods. The cans lay on their sides and the ones in back roll down when the one in front is removed.
We use wire shelves with legs so we can stack stuff vertically.

Lee got a bunch of U shaped plastic pieces designed to grip spice jars at Camping World. I mounted a bunch of them (45) on a two pieces of 1/8 inch heavy mat board and stapled it to the back of a closet - it is only a couple of steps from the kitchen.