Our Best Van Tips – Part Two

Who are we?

We are Louise and Yvon, newly retired, outdoor enthusiasts, passionate and active, always looking for new adventures.

A van garage space is possible!

In the garage area, we need to store extra food and drinks, as well as all our outdoor gear: fishing rods, bikes, inflatable paddle boards, yoga mats, outdoor table, chairs, and more.

It’s like a game of Tetris—but with an added challenge: having access to everything at all times without unloading other items.

How do we manage it? It’s actually quite simple.

Thanks to aluminum extrusions.

The beds in VanLife Campers vans are mounted on aluminum extrusion rails, the same type used on the roof for solar panels. We added “drop-in” nuts with small rings on the upper rails and use bungee cords to hang lightweight items. You can slide the rings wherever you want along the rail.

Be careful not to block the ventilation holes under the bed to avoid moisture buildup. To protect both the rails and your gear, we add pipe insulation. This way, all lightweight items are stored up high.

The amazing bike drawer

What a great feature! We wouldn’t go without it. It’s mainly used for bikes, but also for the BBQ, hiking boots, and more.

Two Thule Low-Rider bike mounts are attached to the drawer rails, which are also made of aluminum extrusions. Extremely practical.

Wooden storage boxes

Our two paddle boards are simply placed on top of the wooden boxes located on each side. We added rubber mats on top for better grip and to prevent damage.

Thule storage bags

Another must-have: two Thule storage bags mounted on the rear doors. They’re attached to aluminum bars, where we also hang bike helmets.

Inside, we store bike accessories, a hose, clothesline, clothespins, and more.

Winter storage setup

It’s a bit easier in winter since we don’t carry bikes or paddle boards.

We still use the space under the bed for lightweight items, but mainly for snow brushes.

We added a floating, ventilated platform between the wooden boxes. It folds when needed and allows us to store more gear like snowshoes, skates, firewood, and winter coats, while still allowing proper heat circulation.

Below, we still have the bike drawer, which is incredibly useful. With this two-level setup, accessing gear becomes much easier.

We store an extra 20 liters of water, traction gear, leveling blocks, boots, and more—and still have space left!

The Thule bags are still there but hold fewer items than in summer.

Your turn!

In smaller spaces, you need to find smart ways to stay organized. Simplicity and easy access are key to keeping everything in its place—especially when traveling with more than one person.

There are many other tricks out there, but we’re sharing only the ones that truly worked for us. Keep it simple: the more complex it is, the less you’ll want to maintain it.

Feel free to add your own personal touch—and enjoy vanlife!