Hi everyone, new California Ocean owner

Hi everyone. Just downsized from a panel van conversion to a California ocean. Have a garage full of stuff that is not going to fit in! Looking for tips and ideas on how to live minimally. Looking forward to an easier car- like drive though.
:welcome :cheers
 
Hi everyone. Just downsized from a panel van conversion to a California ocean. Have a garage full of stuff that is not going to fit in! Looking for tips and ideas on how to live minimally. Looking forward to an easier car- like drive though.
Love it! I also thought we downsized from a conversion to a T6.1 Ocean but apparently it's just different storage. And welcome!
We have just been to Scotland in preparation for our trip to Norway later this year with the task of listing items we don't use and can leave at home. It was very successful and should be repeated every time we go out!
So, we have 4 boxes with food in the left kitchen cupboard (breakfast, beverages and snacks, supper and finally, food that doesn't go elsewhere.). Pots and pans, mugs and cutlery go in the right cupboard. Cloths, scourers, collapsible kettle in the sink.
Tall cupboard is shelved and has games, toilet rolls, binoculars, radio, chargers, generally useful stuff.
Rear cupboard above water tank, workshop (hammer, pegs, straps, camping paraphernalia) laundry (pegs, laundry soap sheets, ropes, hangers) and chemical store (for the Porta potti)
Drop down locker is toiletries and jammies.
Underseat is clean bedding (we are away for weeks) window fly mesh, magnetic window blinds and dirty laundry in IKEA shoe bags.
The boot. We realised that if you need the lower bed and it's grotty out, you need clothes on the top of the rear shelf. Clothing is stored in see through IKEA boxes (so we can see what we want from the outside of the box). They can be moved to the footwells if necessary. The bedding goes with the clothing or in the cabin area (only two of us).
Under the shelf goes ramps, cables, awning walls to attach to the cassette awning, insulated cover for the pop top, small toolbox, porta potti (unused to date) bbq, a step and more space for dirty laundry.
We keep warm jackets in cushion covers on the back seat.
All this gear doesn't come out if we are trapped in torrential rain and can stay put at bedtime.
Everyone has their own system. This works for us. Our logic is to get settled quickly if we need to and still cook dinner or have a cuppa.
Enjoy your new van. I am sure you will.
 
We have done away with both of our drive away awnings and have a bargain Trail gazebo £200 plus a mesh floor covering (emergency ground sheet if it’s really wet under foot).
We can really clear out the Van into a few boxes/pop up cupboard when camped and live an inside outside life which is all part of the Great Outdoors. It’s the Gin that really takes up the room. Just the ‘essential’ six bottles in the passenger door this trip ‍♂️
 
We have done away with both of our drive away awnings and have a bargain Trail gazebo £200 plus a mesh floor covering (emergency ground sheet if it’s really wet under foot).
We can really clear out the Van into a few boxes/pop up cupboard when camped and live an inside outside life which is all part of the Great Outdoors. It’s the Gin that really takes up the room. Just the ‘essential’ six bottles in the passenger door this trip ‍♂️
We keep our gin in the fridge!
 

Similar threads

G
Replies
9
Views
2K
IainB
IainB
D
Replies
3
Views
1K
GrannyJen
GrannyJen
N
Replies
2
Views
1K
flying banana
flying banana
Paul G - 2022 Ocean
Replies
8
Views
2K
HectorPascal
HectorPascal
Back
Top