6 Best RV Under Bed Storage Drawers to Maximize Every Inch
Unlock hidden storage in your RV. Our guide to the 6 best under-bed drawers helps you organize gear and maximize every inch of your limited space.
You’ve packed, repacked, and played a frustrating game of Tetris with your gear, yet that pile of essentials still has nowhere to go. Every RVer knows this feeling. The solution isn’t a bigger rig; it’s unlocking the massive, wasted space hiding in plain sight—right under your bed.
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Why Under-Bed Storage is a Game-Changer for RVs
That space under the master bed is one of the largest single storage areas in most RVs. The problem is, it’s often a giant, inaccessible cavern. You either have to lift a heavy mattress or contort yourself to reach a small access door at the foot of the bed.
Transforming this area with drawers or a lift system does more than just add capacity. It creates accessible storage. This means you can grab your hiking boots, extra blankets, or seasonal clothes without wrestling a 70-pound mattress. It turns a dead zone into prime real estate.
Properly utilized, this space is also ideal for heavier items, keeping the center of gravity low and centered in your rig. This contributes to better stability on the road. It’s not just about tidiness; it’s about a smarter, safer, and less frustrating travel experience.
RecPro Charles: Pre-Built RV Drawer Solution
If you want a professional-looking result without building from scratch, the RecPro Charles drawer is your answer. These are pre-assembled drawer boxes designed specifically for the RV environment. You simply build a frame, or cut an opening in your existing bed platform, and slide the unit in.
This is the perfect solution for the RVer who is comfortable with basic carpentry but doesn’t want to mess with building and aligning drawer boxes and slides. The units come in various sizes and finishes, making it easy to find a close match for your interior. They are a massive time-saver.
The tradeoff is cost and a lack of custom sizing. You’re paying for convenience, and you have to design your space around their dimensions, not the other way around. But for a clean, fast, and durable installation, it’s hard to beat a ready-made product built for the road.
Lippert Stow N’ Go: A Seamless Integrated System
Easily access your RV roof with this telescoping ladder, designed for prepped 5th wheels, travel trailers, and motorhomes. It extends over 12 ft. for roof checks and cleaning, retracts to 33.5" for compact storage, and offers enhanced stability with a 330 lb. capacity.
Lippert’s Stow N’ Go takes a different approach. Instead of just a drawer, it’s a complete system designed to make the under-bed area more functional. It typically consists of a plastic bin that fits under the bed platform and a simple strut-assisted lift mechanism. The door often folds down, allowing you to slide the bin out easily.
This system is often found in newer RVs from the factory, but it can be retrofitted. It’s a great option if you prefer one large, removable container over several smaller drawers. Think of it as a giant, built-in footlocker you can easily pull out to load or unload.
The main benefit is the seamless, factory-finish look and the convenience of a single large bin. However, it’s less of a true "drawer" and more of a sliding tub. This is fantastic for bulky items like bedding or outdoor gear but offers less built-in organization for smaller things.
Hatch-Lift Bedlift Kit: Accessing the Entire Space
Sometimes the best "drawer" isn’t a drawer at all. A bedlift kit, like those from Hatch-Lift, uses gas struts to make lifting your entire mattress and bed platform effortless. With a gentle pull, the bed raises and holds itself up, giving you wide-open access to the entire space underneath.
This is the ultimate solution for maximizing raw volume. You get 100% of the under-bed cavity without any space lost to drawer boxes or slides. It’s perfect for storing large, bulky, or irregularly shaped items—camp chairs, inflatable kayaks, or large storage totes. You simply organize the space below with bins that fit your needs.
The downside is the lack of built-in organization. It’s one giant compartment. If you don’t use bins or dividers, it can quickly become a jumbled mess. This is the classic tradeoff: maximum space vs. structured organization. For many, the ability to store big items outweighs the need for tidy little drawers.
IRIS USA Rolling Bins for Flexible Storage
For those who want a non-permanent, budget-friendly option, look no further than low-profile rolling storage bins. Brands like IRIS USA make shallow plastic containers with small wheels that are designed to slide right under a standard bed frame. They are an immediate, zero-installation upgrade.
These are ideal for people in rental RVs or for anyone hesitant to make permanent modifications. You can pull them out to pack in the house, and they offer surprising capacity for clothes, shoes, or dry goods. If your bed platform is high enough off the floor, you can simply slide these right underneath.
Of course, this isn’t a true built-in. The bins can shift during travel if not secured, and you lose some efficiency because they aren’t custom-fit to the space. But for a cost of less than $20 and zero effort, they provide an incredible amount of functional, accessible storage.
The Container Store Box: Simple and Effective
Never underestimate the power of a simple, well-chosen plastic box. The most basic solution is to find shallow, lidded totes that fit the height of your under-bed compartment. Clear boxes are best, as they let you see the contents at a glance without pulling everything out.
This approach works best in combination with a bedlift kit, but it can also work if you have a front access panel. The key is measurement. Measure your space precisely and find totes that use the height, width, and depth as efficiently as possible. This is the go-to method for storing seasonal items you don’t need every day.
The obvious limitation is access. You have to physically pull each box out to get to its contents. But for deep storage of things like winter sweaters or extra pantry items, it’s an incredibly cost-effective and simple way to keep things organized, dust-free, and contained.
DIY Plywood Drawers: A Custom-Fit Solution
For the ultimate in space efficiency, nothing beats building your own drawers. A DIY solution allows you to build drawers that fit your space to the millimeter, ensuring not a single inch is wasted. You can customize the depth, height, and number of drawers to perfectly match what you need to store.
Using lightweight plywood (like 1/2" sande plywood) is crucial to keep weight down. The most important component is the drawer slides—don’t cheap out. Get heavy-duty, full-extension slides with a locking mechanism to prevent them from flying open on travel days. This is non-negotiable in a moving vehicle.
This is, without a doubt, the most labor-intensive option. It requires tools, patience, and a bit of skill. But the result is a storage system perfectly tailored to your rig and your life. You can build in dividers for shoes, a deep drawer for pots, or a shallow one for tools. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination and your skill with a saw.
Key Factors for Choosing Your Storage System
Choosing the right system comes down to balancing your needs, skills, and budget. There is no single "best" option, only the one that’s best for you. Before you buy or build, ask yourself these questions:
- Access vs. Volume: Do you need highly organized, quick-access drawers for daily items (DIY, RecPro)? Or do you need maximum raw space for bulky gear (Bedlift Kit)? This is the most important decision.
- Installation Skill & Time: Are you ready for a weekend project with saws and drills (DIY)? Or do you need a solution you can implement in under an hour (Rolling Bins, Pre-built Drawers)? Be honest about your abilities and available time.
- Budget: Your budget will guide your choice. A simple set of plastic totes might cost $50, while a set of custom-built drawers or a pre-made unit could run several hundred dollars.
- Permanence: Do you want a permanent modification that adds value to your rig? Or do you need a temporary solution that can be removed without a trace?
Think about what you plan to store. Storing bulky camp chairs requires a different solution than organizing socks and t-shirts. Match the storage type to the items, and you’ll create a system that makes your RV life easier, not more complicated.
Ultimately, reclaiming the space under your bed is one of the highest-impact upgrades you can make to your RV. It moves beyond just adding storage; it improves the flow and function of your entire living space. Choose the path that fits your rig and your style, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
