Newbie advice

Maxkie

Hello we’re new to the club having only bought a converted Mercedes camper van at the end of summer last year. Had a couple of enjoyable short stays in it so far and trying to find what we need or not (having come from a static caravan it’s proving to be a challenge with our limited space). As we have plenty of crockery etc from our old caravan we want to utilise it but can anyone give any advice please how to store it so it doesn’t rattle or break when we’re on the move?

Thank you in advance.

JillwithaJay

Hi Maxkie and welcome to the club. 

You don't say if your crockery is glass/breakable or lightweight alternative unbreakable pieces. 

Where possible, I don't carry any breakable/glass products, using only acrylic drinking glasses and melamine type crockery.  Because what I carry is more or less all 'unbreakable' it travels well in the overhead lockers but anything I consider 'delicate, I pad with pot towels or similar.  This avoid long winded transfers from 'containers' to lockers when we arrive on site.

Maxkie

Thank you JillwithaJay. It is breakable crockery, as we had so much surplus from our old caravan we wanted to use it rather than spend money buying lots of new stuff.

JayOutdoors

Non slip grip matting may help on shelves and c'van mug holders screwed inside the cupboards.  Also wrapping breakables in tea towels and putting them in washing up bowl in sink to travel.  Carrying less and washing up more often can help with the space issue. Good luck and enjoy your time away.

Wildwood

Provided everything fits in the rack there should be no problem, but otherwise do make sure any that do not fit are secure and I would put kitchen towel between them. If the finances allow I would swap them for melamine or similar though.

Maxkie

Thank you JayOutdoors & Wildwood.

cyberyacht

The non-slip shelf liner material makes a good 'anti-rattle' packing and can be cut to shape. Not as untidy as J-Cloths and kitchen roll.

Merve

I can certainly back up what Cyber and others are saying. The non slip matting is excellent for lining shelves with. I also line all my fridge door shelves with it- bottles and stuff can cause damage in the form of scratches etc. The one thing I would advise is strip everything to a bare necessity. 2 plates 2 cups- that sort of thing. If you don’t think you’ll use it- don’t take it. I gave up on Melamine some years ago and went to Correlle. This stuff is tough and doesn’t stain or scratch like melamine. If you buy just plain white, you can replace any breakages easily although I don’t quite know what you would have to do to break it!! The mugs though are just ordinary ceramic mugs. They can land a man on the moon but they can’t make a mug out of Correlle!! 

Maxkie

Thank you all so much for the great advice.

MalcMc

A trick I have used is make a mug carrier out of cardboard box, like you sometimes see to carry wine, mugs fit snug do not rattle and nothing like a real mug or beer glass.

Takethedogalong

Alternative to the anti slip matting is to use folded kitchen roll. Assume your crockery fits into a cupboard with one of those moulded crockery holders. Tea towels between pan and lid also helps, and tea towels again if stacking pans.

We always know when we are on ‘Home’ roads, the crockery plays a tune our roads are so bad.😀

JVB66

Do you know I had almost forgotten what it was like trying to get a rattle/squeak free motor caravan when traveling

cyberyacht

We always know when we are on ‘Home’ roads, the crockery plays a tune our roads are so bad.😀

You haven't been to Belgium yet, have you?