This is how I organized my camping gear.  

I use different gear for different activities and I don’t bring it all along on every trip.  I bring dutch ovens and cooking gear if I’m attending a dutch oven cooking contest or planning to cook a specific dish. But, I don’t need to bring them along if I’m not going to be cooking any meals!   If I’m camping somewhere near water I might bring my inflatable kayak. I don’t bring it if there is no where to use it.  If I’m boondocking I might need my portable generator or extra coolers.   I probably wouldn’t need these if I’m plugged in at a campground. 

As the Colorado Girl Camper Chapter Guide I also have a lot of extra stuff I may need to bring along like extra tables and canopies, paper products, serving dishes & utensils, coffee makers and bottled water among other things.  

The Struggle is Real

My dilemma was where do I store all this extra stuff when I’m not taking it along?   I have a huge unfinished basement that I could fit a bowling alley in. But, I don’t like to carry everything up and down the stairs every time I load my truck.  With only one shelf in my garage it was not nearly enough room for everything. I had things scattered all over the garage.  

Voila !

My solution was to add two extra shelves and some clear storage bins in the garage.   I found the Muscle Rack shelving on sale but quite honestly didn’t realize they were so tall when I ordered them.   The shelves fit along one wall of the garage so everything is in one place and can easily be seen through the clear storage containers. I thought about labeling the bins but I will likely condense things into a few bins based on what I need so things will not stay in the same bins all the time.    BIG BONUS is that I still have room to park my truck in the garage!

I typically load the extra things I need into the back of my truck before I hook up my camper. This way I can just pick and choose what I want to take based on my planned activities for the trip.   After I’ve loaded my truck I can hook up my camper, (if I’m taking it) and be on my way! When I get back home I’ll do it in reverse, unhook the camper then unload the back of my truck. Everything will go back on the shelves until the next trip!