Turn your SUV into a camper!
The organization methods I recommend supports the no build camper conversion approach, which enables you to easily transition from SUV to camper, and back again.
When it comes to organization, bigger is not always better!
For years, I utilized various bins, crates, boxes, bags, etc. to store my SUV camping supplies, which made every camping experience a unique challenge. Once I consolidated to just ONE type and size of bin for storing SUV camping essentials, it made packing, loading, camping, and unloading my camping gear much easier. That one bin is the 17 gallon black and yellow bin! It is an inexpensive solution to your SUV camping gear organizational challenges! This bin allows, by far, the most volume of camping supplies inside the Suburban. The main reason is it can be stacked 3-high. Trust me, I did the math and if there were nothing but 17 gallon bins in the back of the Suburban, they will provide significantly more storage than larger bins and they are much easier to handle and store. The 17 gallon bins stack securely, the lids fit tight, and they are very water resistant - just keep in mind the lids will collect water. Please note they are not dust resistant! Here are the bins I utilize to organize my SUV camping supplies…
Kitchen
This SUV camping gear bin holds a pot, pan, plates, silverware, collapsible bowl, cutting board, knife, cups, and much more. This bin plus the cooler and food bin is what you utilize to make a meal, so you always want them to be the most accessible bins.
Food
This SUV camping gear bin holds cooking oil, spices, along with canned, dry, and fresh food. It is plenty of storage for a couple weeks of food.
Beverages
Pretty self-explanatory! Looks like I need to restock the beer!
SUV Camping Gear
There is a lot of stuff in this camp supplies bin! These are all the miscellaneous things I regularly utilize or may need while SUV camping. I use pieces of cardboard as dividers, which helps fit more gear and keep it somewhat organized.
Canopy 2
This SUV camping gear bin holds the canopy pole connectors, the canopy walls, lantern lights, and gear to keep the canopy tied down.
Sleep
This SUV camping gear bin has sleeping bags and blankets. It also has a couple extra blankets I use for curtains.
Trash & dirty dishes
This is just an empty bin I keep nested under another bin until I need it. I put a full trash bag in here to haul it from my campsite, so it contains anything that may leak out. This is optional, but if you use a portable toilet, I highly recommend it! I also use it when I get lazy on the last day of SUV camping to transport dirty dishes to throw in the dishwasher when I get home.
Canopy 1
This SUV camping gear bin has the canopy roof tarp with its straps, four sandbags, and some extra tarps. It is heavy, so I lift safely!
Battery
This is a stacked double bin containing a deep cycle battery, battery cables, and an extension cord. I doubled it because the battery is very heavy. The bins have holes drilled in all the sides to provide ventilation for the battery. You should not use a battery in a completely enclosed space!
Watch this video to learn more about organization…
