5 Best Vehicle Storage Solutions For RVs That Nomads Swear By
Nomad-approved storage for your home on wheels.
Every RVer eventually has the talk. It’s not about where to go next, but where to put the stuff you need to get there. The dream of the open road quickly meets the reality of a 200-square-foot floor plan, and suddenly, every cubic inch matters.
Smart storage is more than just staying tidy. It’s the critical system that separates a frustrating camping trip from a seamless nomadic life. The right solutions reduce setup time, protect your gear, and ultimately, give you the mental and physical space to enjoy the freedom you set out to find in the first place.
This isn’t about cramming more things into your rig. It’s about strategically expanding your living space and creating organized, accessible systems for the gear that fuels your adventures. From the roof to the bumper, these are the solutions that seasoned nomads rely on to make small-space living work, year after year.
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Maximize Your Space: Top RV Storage for Nomads
The fundamental shift in RV living is learning to see your vehicle as a collection of underutilized surfaces. The floor is just the beginning. The real estate is on the walls, on the roof, under the frame, and hanging off the back.
Thinking in three dimensions is the key to unlocking your rig’s true potential. Vertical space inside can be claimed with modular wall systems, while the exterior offers a robust platform for weatherproof cargo. Your goal is to move items you don’t need daily access to—like seasonal gear or bulky equipment—out of the primary living area.
This frees up your precious interior cabinets and closets for the things you use every day, like clothes and food. By creating dedicated "zones" for different types of gear, you build a system that’s intuitive and efficient. You’ll spend less time digging through bins and more time enjoying your destination.
Thule Motion XT: Secure Your Gear Up Top
Reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency with the Thule Motion 3 XXL's aerodynamic design. Its PowerClick quick-mount system ensures fast, secure installation with an integrated torque indicator.
Your RV’s roof is one of the largest, most overlooked storage areas available. A rooftop cargo box is the perfect solution for items that are bulky but relatively lightweight. Think camping chairs, leveling blocks, outdoor rugs, or extra bedding for cold nights.
Stay refreshed and relaxed with the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair. This comfortable chair features a built-in 4-can cooler and a strong steel frame that supports up to 325 lbs.
The Thule Motion XT line is a long-standing favorite for a reason. Its aerodynamic shape helps minimize the impact on fuel economy, a real concern for any RVer. More importantly, many models feature a dual-side opening, which is a game-changer when you’re trying to access gear on a tall vehicle without having to reposition the entire rig.
The tradeoff is added height. You must know your new total clearance and be vigilant about low bridges, tree branches, and even some gas station overhangs. These boxes also have a weight limit—typically around 165 lbs—so they are not for heavy tools or full water jugs. A proper, professionally installed roof rack system is non-negotiable for safety.
CURT Hitch Carrier: Haul More on Your Bumper
Carry up to 500 lbs outside your vehicle with this durable steel cargo carrier. It features a folding shank for easy storage and integrated reflectors for enhanced safety on the road.
The receiver hitch is your rig’s workhorse, and it can do more than just tow a car. A hitch-mounted cargo carrier is the ideal spot for the heavy, dirty, or smelly items you’d never want inside. This is where you put the generator, the portable waste tank, extra fuel cans, or a stack of firewood.
Look for a carrier like those from CURT, which are known for their steel construction and high weight capacities. A key feature to seek out is a folding shank, which allows you to flip the carrier up against the bumper when it’s empty. This significantly reduces your overall length, making parking and maneuvering in tight campgrounds much easier.
Be aware that a hitch carrier extends your rig’s footprint and can impact your departure angle on steep driveways. You must also confirm your RV’s tongue weight capacity to ensure you don’t overload the chassis. For many, the ability to keep messy gear outside makes these considerations well worth it.
MORryde Tray: Easy Access to Your Basement
Easily access your RV batteries with this sliding tray. Features a 100% extension on ball bearing slides and a durable black powder coat finish.
The "basement" or pass-through storage bay on fifth wheels and Class A motorhomes offers cavernous space. The problem is that it quickly becomes a black hole. The gear you need always seems to have migrated to the unreachable center.
A sliding cargo tray completely transforms this space from a deep cavern into an accessible drawer. Companies like MORryde build heavy-duty trays that can slide out up to 100%, bringing the entire contents of your basement right to you. With weight ratings often exceeding 800 pounds, they can handle toolboxes, outdoor kitchens, and heavy bins with ease.
This is an investment, both in cost and weight. The tray mechanism itself adds a few hundred pounds to your rig and reduces the vertical height of the bay by a few inches. But for full-time nomads who live out of their basement storage, the daily convenience and back-saving ergonomics are transformative.
IKEA SKÅDIS: Organize Your Interior Walls
Organize your essentials with this set of 3 white SKÅDIS open-top storage containers. Designed to perfectly fit SKÅDIS pegboards, these durable steel containers (7.5x9x8cm) offer convenient, accessible storage.
Interior walls are the final frontier of RV storage. Most people are hesitant to drill into them, so they remain blank and inefficient. The IKEA SKÅDIS pegboard system is the perfect solution because it’s lightweight, affordable, and endlessly customizable.
Unlike traditional shelves where items can fly off during transit, the SKÅDIS system uses a variety of hooks, clips, containers, and shelves that hold items securely. It’s perfect for creating a kitchen spice rack, a charging station for all your electronics, or a bathroom organization hub. The modularity means you can adapt it as your needs change.
Proper installation is crucial. You must locate the aluminum wall studs or use appropriate hollow-wall anchors designed for RVs to ensure a secure hold. While it won’t support heavy items, it’s the single best way to get dozens of small, clutter-causing objects off your countertops and into an organized, visible system.
Kuat NV 2.0: The Ultimate Bike Rack for Your Rig
Transport your bikes securely with the KUAT NV 2.0 hitch rack. Its robust design carries two bikes, including e-bikes, and features an integrated Trail Doc repair stand for on-the-go maintenance.
For many nomads, bikes are not optional—they’re essential for transportation and recreation. Storing them inside is impractical, and cheap trunk racks are a disaster waiting to happen on bumpy roads. A high-quality, hitch-mounted platform rack is the only reliable solution.
The Kuat NV 2.0 is widely considered a top-tier choice for its sheer durability and smart design. It secures bikes by the wheels, meaning there’s no contact with your bike’s expensive frame, which is critical for carbon fiber or custom-painted bikes. Features like an integrated cable lock and a built-in repair stand show it was designed by people who actually ride.
This level of quality comes at a premium price, and the rack itself is heavy. It requires a 2-inch hitch receiver and is not suitable for mounting on the back of most travel trailers unless the frame has been specifically reinforced. For serious cyclists, however, the peace of mind that comes from knowing your bikes are secure is worth every penny.
How to Choose the Right Storage for Your RV
There is no single "best" solution, only the best solution for your specific needs. Before you buy anything, you need to perform a simple audit of your storage problems. Don’t just buy a product; solve a problem.
Start by asking yourself a few key questions. This process will guide you to the most effective upgrade for your rig and travel style.
- What is the problem? Are you storing heavy tools, bulky chairs, small kitchen items, or recreational gear? The item’s size, shape, and weight dictate the solution.
- Where is your empty space? Do you have an unused roof, a robust hitch, a deep basement, or bare walls? Match the solution to the available real estate.
- What can your RV handle? You must know your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), cargo carrying capacity, and tongue weight limits. Weight is the most critical factor in RV safety.
- How often do you need access? Daily-use items need to be easily accessible. Gear used once a season can be stored in a less convenient spot.
Resist the urge to solve every problem at once. Pick your biggest storage headache and start there. Add one solution, travel with it for a while, and see how it changes your workflow before moving on to the next.
Final Thoughts: Get Packed and Hit the Road
Ultimately, optimizing your RV storage isn’t about accumulating more stuff. It’s about enabling more experiences. A well-organized rig means less time spent packing, unpacking, and searching for that one misplaced item.
Your storage needs will evolve. The system that works for a weekend trip won’t be the same one you need for a six-month journey across the country. The key is to remain flexible and view your RV as a dynamic space that can be adapted to fit your adventure.
Getting your storage dialed in is one of the most satisfying parts of preparing for the road. It’s the final step that turns a vehicle into a home. Once it’s done, all that’s left is to turn the key and go.
Effective storage is the invisible architecture of a successful nomadic life. It’s not just about finding a place for everything; it’s about designing a system that makes your life easier, your travels smoother, and your adventures bigger. Choose wisely, install safely, and get back to what matters: the road ahead.
