Advice about kitting out my new van

[Oldrat]

Hiya guys,

Our T6 has now arrived from Cambridge Campers, who have done a splendid conversion BTW. Its a common layout - SWB, pop top and a 3/4 width bed and full length units.

So the lovely Jan and I are setting about making it ours, but its not quite as easy as we thought.

Storage
How have you guys managed the cupboard space to best effect?

Our cupboards and cubbie holes are all different sizes so we thought we'd use (or make) canvas style bags for each, to make the best use of the space.??? Thoughts??

We bought some cheap small plastic 'baskets' which when lined up, fit the oversink cupboard. These seem to work well, but need to be lived with first before becoming permanent.

Plates
Where do you put yours?
Just two sets for us, so I was going to affix the two 'dinner' plates to the inside of a cupboard door, two side plates on another door, so no weight involved. Anyone seen any useful fixings, or I'll have to nail some lacky bands on

Glasses etc
Anyone use foam these to stop cups/ glasses breaking or rattling. What do you do?

Security
Take forum advice about layering security, my my, the safeTpedal is quiet a hefty bit of kit, very substantial

We are just sorting bedding, there's lots of info here, very useful

Any answers or other advice welcomed

 

[T6 Dave's Dad]

When doing my caravan many years ago I made vertical dividers to hold plates on their sides which also the provided storage for a couple of tea towels to stop rattles. Glasses I stored in racks made of ply that were constructed like cardboard bottle-separators with half-cuts in each piece and then slotted together. The glass racks were installed on their sides with a slope towards the back and small stops in the individual holders to prevent shorter glasses going right to the back. The space behind the glasses was used for storing odds and ends as well as being concealed storage for spare keys etc.

 

[Rookie]

The grip mat that you can get everywhere (Halfords, Homebase etc... etc....) works really well to stop glasses etc... sliding around and rattling

We have got one of these to hold plates etc.... - easily cut down to correct shape for cupboard. Dunelm Drying Rack. Brilliant!

 

[former member]

As above; that matting stuff is great.
Plates - we use plastic ones and just stack them (there's four of us).
Glasses and mugs - we use old glass yoghurt pots as wine glasses but otherwise use plastic stuff. For mugs we use sturdy china ones - tea or coffee + plastic does NOT go together! Store them upside down on the rubber matting stuff, keep them slightly apart so they don't rattle.
Security - never worried us. We keep anything worth nicking out of view and just lock it.
Bedding - we have a Zonesleep topper which comes with a big storage bag where sheets and pillows go. The rest goes in the front "cupboard" (we have a Cali) - blankets, kids sleeping bags and pillows.
We use a small garden bucket (Trugg I think) for washing up duties even when wild camping.

 

[Oldrat]

Great replies there, thanks team

Zonesleep eh, thx Polz will have a peek

I'll have a go at sourcing that spikey tray Rooks

 

[Walski]

Non slips matts for me too, plastic cups and plates stacked in the cupboards. Pint and wine glasses wrapped in towels for travelling

 

[Californiaman]

@Oldrat do you have the dual passenger bench seat? If so loads of storage in there!

 

[Veema]

I've got a set of luminarc crockery that we had in the caravan...lightweight and tough and dead cheap from the Range...I refuse to drink wine out if a plastic glass!

I should get my van next week, so will be looking at how to store stuff. I've bought some fab folding chairs...fold down really small. Need to source an awning and mattress toppers.

 

[Veema]

As above; that matting stuff is great.
Plates - we use plastic ones and just stack them (there's four of us).
Glasses and mugs - we use old glass yoghurt pots as wine glasses but otherwise use plastic stuff. For mugs we use sturdy china ones - tea or coffee + plastic does NOT go together! Store them upside down on the rubber matting stuff, keep them slightly apart so they don't rattle.
Security - never worried us. We keep anything worth nicking out of view and just lock it.
Bedding - we have a Zonesleep topper which comes with a big storage bag where sheets and pillows go. The rest goes in the front "cupboard" (we have a Cali) - blankets, kids sleeping bags and pillows.
We use a small garden bucket (Trugg I think) for washing up duties even when wild camping.

@Polzeylad I keep looking at the zonesleep and it looks really thin...is it really t6gat comfortable? I'm a biggish girl with a 'princess and the pea' sort of attitude...will I get on with it? It's an awful lot of money for a trial!

 

[former member]

@Polzeylad I keep looking at the zonesleep and it looks really thin...is it really t6gat comfortable? I'm a biggish girl with a 'princess and the pea' sort of attitude...will I get on with it? It's an awful lot of money for a trial!

We find it ideal; the plastic mesh thing works really well with the soft topping. And it's completely non sweaty.

 

[Veema]

We find it ideal; the plastic mesh thing works really well with the soft topping. And it's completely non sweaty.

So you can't feel the lumps and bumps through it?

 

[GJH]

We,have Duvalay sleeping bags (4cm)... comfy as, and I always get a good nights sleep

 

[former member]

So you can't feel the lumps and bumps through it?

Well we can't

 

[Oldrat]

@Oldrat do you have the dual passenger bench seat? If so loads of storage in there!

Thanks but no, two captains swivel seats

I've got a set of luminarc crockery that we had in the caravan...lightweight and tough and dead cheap from the Range...I refuse to drink wine out if a plastic glass!
Need to source an awning and mattress toppers.

Ah, a wine connysewer...actually, we feel the same here
We need a topper too, going to try an inflatable one first, because thy pack away really small, will then look at others solutions.

We find it ideal; the plastic mesh thing works really well with the soft topping. And it's completely non sweaty.

Might need to go with a propper topper laugh: ) so your opinion is very welcome

 

[former member]

Thanks but no, two captains swivel seats


Ah, a wine connysewer...actually, we feel the same here
We need a topper too, going to try an inflatable one first, because thy pack away really small, will then look at others solutions.




Might need to go with a propper topper laugh: ) so your opinion is very welcome

We had a fairly good look around with our old Cali and this came out top - pretty much ALL the rest are memory foam which is sweaty. And seeing as we spend 5-6 weeks a year in Southern Europe, sweaty is NOT good. Happy to post photos but I do recommend them a lot.

 

[Veema]

We had a fairly good look around with our old Cali and this came out top - pretty much ALL the rest are memory foam which is sweaty. And seeing as we spend 5-6 weeks a year in Southern Europe, sweaty is NOT good. Happy to post photos but I do recommend them a lot.

How small does it roll/fold up?

 

[Caulkhead]

We had a fairly good look around with our old Cali and this came out top - pretty much ALL the rest are memory foam which is sweaty. And seeing as we spend 5-6 weeks a year in Southern Europe, sweaty is NOT good. Happy to post photos but I do recommend them a lot.

Do you use the mesh under you matress topper as well ?
Looking at Zonesleep it looks as though you can buy at the required size as well ?

 

[former member]

Do you use the mesh under you matress topper as well ?
Looking at Zonesleep it looks as though you can buy at the required size as well ?

Here's a couple of photos - the first is just a corner folded over



This one shows the corner cutout needed to fit in a Cali;



You can probably see how thin it is - maybe just over an inch thick?
That mesh support you and keeps the air flowing, the thin padded layer keeps it comfortable - a Cali bed has a lot of bump and lumps in it - this hides them all for us. We just stick a fitted sheet (normal one - you don't need a special shape) and then whatever we want on top - a duvet in cool weather, just a sheet or a blanket in warm weather.

It's very foldable and we store it in a bag made for it - basically just a big sack. It's about 3ft square by about 1ft thick with the mattress and a bit of light bedding in it.

We had one in the last Cali and sold it for decent money - I had to wash it in the bath but it was fine and came out like new.

I wouldn't say it like a very decent hotel/home mattress but it's a lot better than camping on a Thermarest or a decent inflatable mattress.

One point - we're both fairly compact. I'm 5'8" and 11.5 stone, the wife is 5'6" and 9.5 stone(ish).

 

[Caulkhead]

Here's a couple of photos - the first is just a corner folded over

View attachment 10213

This one shows the corner cutout needed to fit in a Cali;

View attachment 10214

You can probably see how thin it is - maybe just over an inch thick?
That mesh support you and keeps the air flowing, the thin padded layer keeps it comfortable - a Cali bed has a lot of bump and lumps in it - this hides them all for us. We just stick a fitted sheet (normal one - you don't need a special shape) and then whatever we want on top - a duvet in cool weather, just a sheet or a blanket in warm weather.

It's very foldable and we store it in a bag made for it - basically just a big sack. It's about 3ft square by about 1ft thick with the mattress and a bit of light bedding in it.

We had one in the last Cali and sold it for decent money - I had to wash it in the bath but it was fine and came out like new.

I wouldn't say it like a very decent hotel/home mattress but it's a lot better than camping on a Thermarest or a decent inflatable mattress.

One point - we're both fairly compact. I'm 5'8" and 11.5 stone, the wife is 5'6" and 9.5 stone(ish).

Do you buy the matress & the mesh underlay section as one and with those cut out's to suit the Cali
.
Thanks

 

[former member]

Do you buy the matress & the mesh underlay section as one and with those cut out's to suit the Cali
.
Thanks

Yep all one item and it's cut for a Cali. They do other sizes too.