Living in a camper trailer might seem impossible at first, but it’s more than doable. In fact, it can completely revolutionize how you see things. From cutting down on the amount of stuff you think you need, to becoming more self-sufficient than ever, living in a camper trailer can be a life-changing experience and you’ll quickly grow to love it. However, it can definitely be tricky at first. Learning to live in a small space with less will be tough, but this guide to living in a camper trailer will make the transition easy and painless. Keep reading for tips and tricks to living in a camper trailer for a few weeks, a few months, or even (gasp!) permanently.
- Plan Your Layout
Your first order of business is to design a fluid, intuitive layout for your trailer that makes living easy. While you might not be able to decide where the appliances and bed reside, you can figure out where the smartest places to keep food storage are, where to keep your laundry, cleaning supplies, etc. Giving everything a place that makes senses right off the bat will make your life 100% easier; you’ll immediately know when something feels out of place or why there’s clutter and how to fix it. Speaking of clutter, it’s a big no-no when living in a camper trailer. It can quickly feel cramped inside your trailer, so clutter will only worsen that. Tidy as you go, make your bed right away when you wake up, and keep everything in its designated spot when you’re not using it.
- Expand Living Area
If you’re able to, expanding your living area by any means possible will make it much easier living in a camper trailer. It’s not always possible to expand the inside, so creating an outdoor living area will do you wonders. A makeshift deck is a great idea with chairs, a BBQ, and lighting will create a separate space that feels so luxurious. You’ll have somewhere to get some air that still feels like part of your trailer.
- Clean Often
When living in a camper trailer, it’s more important than ever to keep things clean. The build-up of dirt and grime will quickly start to feel unliveable, so cleaning regularly can help mitigate that and keep the constant onslaught of dirt and dust at bay. You’ll want to sweep daily if possible, clean your water tanks regularly, do dishes immediately, watch for mildew, mould, and dry rot, and air out the trailer as often as you can. This will help keep your camper trailer feeling comfortable, clean, and more like a home.
- Use Less Water
When you’re living in a camper trailer, it’s easy to feel dirty and grimy, but you’ll need to get used to using as little water as possible to mitigate your costs (and how frequently you need to empty the tanks). Whether it’s using a nearby restroom instead, truck stop showers for long, hot showers, or wipes instead of washing your face twice a day, there are tons of ways to reduce your water consumption that will quickly start to feel normal and not like you’re depriving yourself.
- Keep Cooking Simple
Cooking while living in a camper trailer brings its own set of challenges. You don’t have the space you’re used to, you don’t have all your tools, and it can be tough to make healthy, quality meals. The trick is to keep things simple and to cook in bulk when you can. The less time you can spend in the small kitchen the better, so doing everything in advance on one day will make the rest of your week super easy. You can pre-chop all your vegetables and fruit (now you only have to wash the cutting board once), cook a big pot of soup or chili con carne, or cook something and portion it out for 4-5 lunches or dinners. Use the BBQ as often as you can, since it requires a lot less clean-up and time in the kitchen and get used to eating simply.
- Purge After a Month
After a few weeks or a month of living in a camper trailer, you’ll quickly realize what matters and what you don’t actually need. It’s good to give the trailer a purge at this point, getting rid of or putting into storage anything you’ve only used once or twice in that time, and things you can definitely live without in order to have more space. You’ll realize you probably only needed half the clothes you brought (and that you can wear clothes several times over before they actually need to be washed), you only need one set of dishes per person, and that you can usually make do without a lot of things you thought you needed. This purge will help you organize better, take stock of things you actually need, and generally give you more space.
