Storage is the number one complaint among caravanners, regardless of van size. Even a 23-foot caravan with a generous layout runs out of space surprisingly fast when you’re living in it full-time. Everything you own needs a home, and that home needs to keep things secure during transit, accessible when you need them, and organised enough that you’re not pulling everything out to find the one thing at the back.
The good news: most caravan storage problems aren’t about space. They’re about organisation. The right containers, dividers, racks, and systems can double the usable capacity of your existing cupboards, drawers, and external storage without adding weight or bulk.
The Storage Problem
Caravan cupboards are designed to look spacious at a display day. They’re not designed for the reality of full-time living. Deep overhead lockers swallow items into a black hole at the back. Tall pantry cupboards let everything slide and topple in transit. Under-bed storage is a tangled mess after 500km of corrugations. Drawers fly open on rough roads. Tunnel boots become a jumble of tools, hoses, and levelling gear that takes 10 minutes to unpack.
The solution isn’t more space. It’s better use of the space you have. Every storage area in your van benefits from a combination of: containers that match the shelf dimensions, non-slip liners that stop things moving, dividers that create compartments, and a system where everything has a designated spot.
Kitchen Storage
The kitchen is the storage battleground. It holds the most items, gets used most frequently, and suffers the most from transit vibration (rattling pots, sliding bottles, falling spice jars). Non-slip liners, stackable containers, tension rods, and magnetic strips are the essential tools. We’ve covered kitchen storage in detail in a dedicated guide.
Bathroom & Bedroom Storage
Bathroom: Suction cup and adhesive organisers are your best friend. Command hooks on the back of cupboard doors, a shower caddy on the wall, and small stackable containers under the sink. Keep toiletries in a hanging bag that can be moved easily. Avoid storing anything heavy above head height in the bathroom; it will fall on you.
Bedroom: Under-bed storage bins with lids keep seasonal clothing, spare bedding, and bulky items contained and protected. Clear bins let you see what’s inside without opening them. Vacuum storage bags compress bulky items like doonas and jackets to a fraction of their size, freeing significant under-bed space. Bedside caddies that hang from the mattress edge hold phones, books, glasses, and water bottles without cluttering the bed.
Wardrobe & Clothing
Most caravan wardrobes are narrow, shallow, and barely tall enough for shirts. Hanging organisers ($15–$25) that attach to the wardrobe rail create multiple shelves from a single hanging space, perfect for folded clothes, shoes, and accessories. Slim velvet hangers ($10–$20 for a pack of 30) take up half the rod space of bulky plastic hangers. A door-mounted shoe organiser doubles as storage for hats, socks, underwear, and small items.
The real wardrobe secret is taking less. You need far fewer clothes than you think. Most Big Lappers settle into a rotation of 5 to 7 outfits plus a warm layer, a rain jacket, and a set of nicer clothes for town days. If you haven’t worn something in two weeks on the road, you don’t need it.
Tunnel Boot & External Storage
The tunnel boot (if your van has one) is where tools, hoses, cables, levelling gear, and recovery equipment live. It’s also where chaos thrives. Stackable storage tubs ($10–$20 each) that fit the boot dimensions are the foundation. Label each tub: “electrical,” “water,” “tools,” “levelling.” Bungee cords or ratchet straps across the tubs stop them sliding in transit.
For vans without a tunnel boot, external storage boxes mounted to the drawbar or chassis ($100–$300) add dedicated space for the gear that doesn’t belong inside the van. Rhino-Rack and ARB make lockable boxes that handle road conditions.
General Principles
Non-slip liners everywhere. Every shelf, every drawer, every cupboard. This is the single most effective storage upgrade. It costs $15–$25 for the whole van and stops everything from sliding during transit.
Secure everything for transit. If it can move, it will. Bungee cords across shelves, tension rods in cupboards, child locks on doors, and drawer latches that hold under vibration. Assume your van will be shaken violently (because on corrugated roads, it will be).
Clear containers over opaque. Being able to see what’s inside without opening the container saves time and frustration.
Match containers to spaces. Measure your cupboards and shelves before buying containers. A container that’s 2cm too wide is useless. A container that fits perfectly maximises every centimetre.
Vertical space is underused. Under-shelf baskets, stackable bins, over-door hooks, and magnetic strips on walls all exploit vertical space that’s typically wasted.
- Most caravan storage problems are organisation problems, not space problems. The right containers and systems make a dramatic difference.
- Non-slip liners in every cupboard and drawer is the number one upgrade. Cheap, easy, and instantly effective.
- Measure your spaces before buying containers. A perfect fit maximises capacity.
- Secure everything for transit. Assume your van will be shaken hard, because it will be.
- Take less stuff. If you haven’t used something in two weeks, you don’t need it on the road.
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