Van Storage Solutions: Your Ultimate Guide

Van life storage ideas. You need them, and we have them. We’ve all experienced the chaos of clutter, whether it’s your bedroom, your garage, or your camper van. When you’re spending a lot of time in such a small space, organization and storage is key. Lucky for you, we’re here to help. 

In this guide, we’ll help you on your storage journey, from simple hacks that you can do with your existing storage, to unique products like LoftLockers that will take your storage game to the next level. Not every hack or product will make sense for every build, but with this guide and little creativity on your part, you’ll be on the road in a clean, well-organized home on wheels.

Table of Contents

1. Use Overhead Space with LoftLockers
2. Modular Drawer Units Under the Bed
3. Wall-Mounted Tool Storage
4. Collapsible + Stackable Storage Containers
5. Dual-Purpose Benches with Hidden Storage
6. Rear Door Storage + Cabinet Racks
7. Slide-Out Kitchen & Pantry Storage
8. Hanging Storage for Clothes & Laundry
9. Utility Hooks, Carabiners, and Bungees
10. Ceiling Nets & Vertical Storage
11. Take Back Your Space

Why Van Storage Ideas Matter

Organizing a cluttered van can seem daunting at first. That’s why having van storage ideas in your back pocket is so important before you start. Go in with a plan, and adjust as needed.

While it’s possible to simply hop in the van and drive off without a thought, eventually the mess is going to catch up with you. If you’re living in this van or even spending a week in it, you want it to have the same level of comfort as your home. But with limited space, every little bit counts. Having a well-organized storage situation will allow you to fully enjoy your time on the road.

Hack #1: Use Overhead Space with LoftLockers

There are a lot of van life storage ideas that involve overhead cabinets, but very few are as innovative as LoftLockers. Once you find out why, you’ll never want to go back to old cabinets.

If you own a camper van, you probably appreciate the great outdoors, and I’m willing to gander you have a nice duffel bag or two from Patagonia, North Face, or something similar. What if I told you that instead of having to find a place to stash those bags in your van, you could use the bags as overhead cabinets?

LoftLockers allow you to hang your duffels as cabinets, whether it’s above your bed, in the kitchen area, or even underneath your bed. No more bashing your head on a wooden cabinet when you wake up. Best of all? These allow you to just grab your “cabinets” and go on an adventure. Pack your duffels with your favorite gear, get on the road, and have them ready to go as soon as you get to your destination.

It’s simple to install LoftLockers, and their versatility allows you to add cabinet space anywhere you see fit in your build. Spend less time searching and more time adventuring with LoftLockers.

Hack #2: Modular Drawer Units Under the Bed

Some of the most overlooked sprinter van storage ideas involve using drawers underneath the bed. For most people, the space under the bed is the place to stash containers, recreational equipment, and anything else that doesn’t have a designated spot.

Using slide-out drawers, whether they’re custom or pre-made, will save so many headaches when trying to organize your stuff. If you’ve ever pulled every single thing out from under your bed (at home or in the van) just looking for one little item, you know how much drawers can help.

With drawers, you can organize and find everything under the bed with ease. Adding locks to the drawers will prevent them from sliding around when you’re driving, and adds an extra layer of security when you’re away from the van. 

Hack #3: Wall-Mounted Tool Storage

Need van tool storage ideas? We have you covered there too. Whether you work out of your van and need extra space for specialized tools, or you just need somewhere to store the basics to keep your rig well maintained, these hacks will help. 

A pegboard can work great if you’re always carrying tools around, but isn’t ideal for the casual user. The best storage solutions for multiple uses are magnetic strips or molle panels. Magnetic strips need to be super strong so your tools aren’t falling all over going through those bumpy dirt roads, but they can work great for the kitchen area, as you can also mount your knives and other utensils with it. Molle panels are generally better suited for compatible tools, but they can be used to hang other things as well. 

Hack #4: Collapsible + Stackable Storage Containers

Storage containers are essential for any build, but if you’re looking for small van storage ideas, try making those storage containers fancy. By fancy, we mean collapsible, stackable, or ideally both. 

Collapsible bins are perfect for food storage, since food is meant to be consumed and sometimes those bins will be empty, thereby saving you space. It’s science! 

Stackable storage bins are great for everything, and helps keep everything organized and saves space. Large bins are great for clothing and under bed storage, while smaller bins are perfect for things like toiletries, electronics, and other random items that need to be easily accessible while still staying out of the way. 

Hack #5: Dual-Purpose Benches with Hidden Storage

If you’re building out your van and thinking about including some seating, one of the best camper van storage ideas is to use bench seating as a source of storage. 

Bench storage can go one of two ways. You can use a bench to hide permanent equipment in the van, like batteries or water tanks (not in the same place, for safety reasons) or you can build out a bench, and then use it as extra storage. A simple lid on your bench can do wonders, and it's a great place to hide away seasonal equipment, extra bedding, or emergency supplies like water and food. 

Hack #6: Rear Door Storage + Cabinet Racks

Need more ideas for van storage? Utilize those rear doors! They’re good for more than just opening up for views and air flow. 

There are a few different ways to make the most out of your rear doors. One of the best ways is to attach pouches and hooks. It’s a great spot to stash the relevant gear for your current adventure, like hiking boots and a rain jacket for hiking, or water shoes and a wetsuit for a surfing trip. It keeps the gear out of the way while still allowing easy access as soon as you reach your destination. 

Another great way to use your rear doors is to install fold out shelves or cabinet racks. These can be great for storing things near your bed that you don’t necessarily need to store there all the time. The shelves are also perfect for preparing meals outside of your van. 

Hack #7: Slide-Out Kitchen & Pantry Storage

One of the best van storage ideas for the kitchen area is using sliding drawers, cabinets, and surfaces. It’s the perfect way to keep things organized and create extra space in the kitchen when you’re whipping up a meal on the go, while keeping the van as spacious as possible when not in use.

Having pull out drawers allows easy access to all of the panty items in the kitchen, which in turn helps reduce waste. No more cleaning out the pantry and finding expired items hiding in the very back.  

Another great kitchen hack is having pull out surfaces for meal prep. Having a wooden pull out surface can double as a cutting board and prep table, allowing more space when making meals while taking up any extra space when it’s not in use.

 

Hack #8: Hanging Storage for Clothes & Laundry

One of the often overlooked van life storage ideas involves utilizing hanging storage for some clothing. So often clothes and other laundry gets shoved into drawers or containers under the bed, but reserving hanging storage for regularly used items makes organization easier and saves space in other places.

Hanging canvas closets are great for commonly used clothing, especially if you’re going to be camped out in the same place for a while. They can fold up and be easily stored when not in use. Mesh pouches are also excellent for organization, and take up less space. These are especially useful for things like shoes, hats, sunglasses, and other accessories.  

Hack #9: Utility Hooks, Carabiners, and Bungees

A lot of the best van life storage ideas involved hanging things or attaching them somewhere you wouldn’t expect in order to maximize space. To do that efficiently, it’s important to have the right tools. 

While it’s really nice to use specialized tools such as LoftLockers to hang items, that’s not always possible or realistic. That’s why we suggest having hooks, carabiners, and bungees handy for your storage needs. 

Hooks can be used for a variety of things, from hanging up tools and kitchen items, to providing the base for your hanging closets or simply hanging a jacket for easy access. Properly positioned, they can even serve as a mount for curtains when you need privacy or to block out light. 

Hack #10: Ceiling Nets & Vertical Storage

Van storage ideas should cover every part of the van, from top to bottom. That’s why you should consider utilizing the roof of your van. Depending on the height of the van, this might not work for everyone, but if it’s usable, use it. 

Ceiling nets can be great for softer things, such as extra bedding or bulky items like winter jackets or sleeping bags. Just like duffels hanging from LoftLockers, this allows you to utilize the ceiling space of the van without the risk of bumping your head.

Another way the extra space in taller vans can be utilized is by installing vertical shelves for long, skinny items. This can be useful for skis, surfboards, walking sticks, anything you want out the way but don’t want rattling around

Take Back Your Space

Making the most out of your limited space is one of the biggest challenges when creating your ultimate van build. While all of these hacks can be useful, not all of them are going to work for everyone. We encourage you to consider all of these hacks, get creative with it, and do what works best for you!

Whether you’re building out a van from scratch or customizing and tweaking one that’s already been built, improvements can always be made. That’s why using specialized solutions like LoftLockers can save you time and headaches when creating new storage solutions. It allows for customization suited to your needs by placing them where needed, while the fast installation allows time to work on other projects and get on the road faster. 

We love seeing how everyone solves their storage problems, so let us know how you utilized the hacks in this article to better utilize the space in your van! As always, enjoy the journey and stay safe out there.