Hi
@MeganJ
Congrats on your purchase.
We also have a 14.44-4, are a family of 4(2A + 2C), and absolutely LOVE it!
We had a camper trailer for 5 years also, so were used to things in boxes and pop-up pantries and wardrobes.
I was concerned about the storage, but after our first few trips there is more than enough room for what we need, and OMG that first time we took the van away we were kicking back relaxing not more than 1/2hr after we pulled into our site. It was a revelation!
Here are a few answers to your questions:
1. We use the cupboards under (and to the right) of the sink as our pantry. I have bought some flattish rectangular plastic containers like this, which slide in and out the openings. It just keeps everything nice and neat and tidy.
2. There is SO much storage at the end of the kids' bunks, particularly the bottom one, at the foot end. I'm encouraging them to use one side each of that, for some of their clothes, as at the head ends they also have little 'boxes' with lids for books and things.
3. Our van had also had the robe converted to all shelves. I was a little sad about this (we bought it second hand just 10 months old) as it means that we can't hang any of our clothes. Mr TinyXpanda says this is a great thing, because we shouldn't be wearing hanging clothes when camping anyway. LOL! Because this cupboard is now divided into shelves, I am on the hunt for some of these, in the measurements that would fit into each pigeon-hole:
We would then be able to load this up with clothes and linen and slide them in. The pigeon holes are very narrow and particularly deep, though, so maybe I will have to sweet-talk Mr TinyXpanda into home-making me something.
4. I am not entirely sure, but I am thinking a porta-potti would fit into the cupboard under the robe. Ours has the air-conditioner condenser thingo as our A/C is not roof-mounted(sorry the very untechnical Mrs TinyXpanda writing this), so we can't fit anything in there!
5. Our first trip I had all of our crockery in the two drawers under the seats. This drove me bananas. The problem here is, though, that no normal size dinner plate will fit into the overhead cupboards above the sink. This is where I started my manic search for a plate that would fit. BigW to the rescue with the rectangular small platter (couldn't find a photo of it, but this is the round plate) from this range, which we use as our dinner plates:
I now use the drawers under the seats for our "glassware" which is acrylic, and sundry kitchen items like platters/bowls etc.
6. I have come to the conclusion that we need a few more hooks mounted in the van to put car keys etc on, and also we now have a few small plastic baskets which we keep on the shelf under the TV to throw mobiles/wallets in. We can then pop those away quickly, or put them in the car when we're leaving the van.
7. I found these over-the-door- hooks at KMART for about $8 for a pack of two. We use them for hand-towel/tea-towel and the other for the small rubbish bag we have inside the van (on the hunt for a rubbish solution outside). There is just no room for any other type of rubbish bin inside.
8. We use a collapsible laundry hamper which we had in the camper trailer. It can get put outside in the annexe on longer stays.
Hope these few things help, and best of luck setting up your new van. It is a very exciting time!
Mrs TinyXpanda
