16' Series How do you keep the boot organised?

Luke.sleeman

Member
Jan 14, 2019
35
18
8
Victoria
I'm curious to get people's ideas for keeping the boot organised. I've got a power cable, water hose, grey water hose, ampfibian 15a to 10a converter, solar panel, chairs and a whole bunch of other bits and pieces in mine. It all lives in the tunnel boot on my 16ft expanda.

The van has just been sitting in the driveway, but of course the cables and hoses seem to be able to tangle themselves up in the night. I can only imagine how bad things must be when your traveling and constantly packing, unpacking and rummaging around for things.

I'm curious to see what cleaver ideas people have for keeping everything organised. How do you avoid tangles and get at things when you need them?
 

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,723
19,450
113
QLD
Now that's the $64 question, flat water hoses that roll up never seem to last, so you need 2, hose bags can be a great source of stress's getting the damn hose in and out especially if the bluddy thing kinked last time, I find square plastic boxes pack well and bags for screens and stuff, free camping means you don't fight with power cables or hoses, I tidy it all up before I leave, throw it all back on ad I travel, big sort out after 5 weeks usually. The beauty of having this on the tug, if it don't for in the boot I chuck it in here..... 1552113086645-1452755620.jpg

This tool bag carries my water hoses and pump.....15521132003631049549091.jpg
 

Luke.sleeman

Member
Jan 14, 2019
35
18
8
Victoria
I took a trip to Bunnings last night and picked up a cheap tool bag for the power cables
IMG_20190312_222839.jpg

As it's the cheapest one they had, it folds down into a very small space. The more expensive ones are much more rigid.

I also picked up the smallest hose reel I could find:
IMG_20190312_215629.jpg

Unfortunately the bar on the top poked up and was tall enough to cause problems putting it in the boot. 30min with a hacksaw and a drill took about 8cm off the top bar
IMG_20190312_224845.jpg


And we now have a very handy hose reel which fits neatly through the boot door
IMG_20190312_230409.jpg



I haven't decided what to do with the sullage hose. It's so bulky! Bunnings has a fancy tool bag with a waterproof bottom for $99 which might be suitable, but it's expensive and bulky. I might try it on the hose reel to see if it fits, but I don't hold out much hope. I guess I could always get one of those sullage hose bags, but as @Drover said, I guess getting the hose in and out of a bag could be painful!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drover

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,723
19,450
113
QLD
I've been tempted to get a hose reel like that but have too much junk in boot..................I think sullage hoses are best stored in PVC pipe under the van, many have mounted a 45mm ????? length of PVC under the van, capped at one end, you slide the yucky pipe in and slip a cleavis pin on the end of the PVC to hold the pipe in, no drips or smells................. my sullage hose comes from Bunnings the 25mm black corrugated pipe thats 10m long and about $10 a roll, I roll it up by hand, stick the ends inside each other and shove it in a bag, not the best way but it works.......found the 25mm flows okay even with washing machine so didn't need to go the 45 - 50mm monster, less chance of low life knocking it off as well...
I have a few of those Bunnings blue tool bags in various sizes and find them just as good as the expensive jobs, the Milwaukee bag was given to me, the price of them is mind boggling.

Do you get to use the Amphibian much ? Have thought of making or getting one but haven't found a need to plug into a 10amp circuit ........

A well used, organised bench , always a good sign.
 
Last edited:

DRW

Well-Known Member
May 29, 2013
2,644
4,293
113
69
Beautiful Burrum Heads QLD
We were given a wind up flat hose with the van, it blew to pieces yesterday with the pressure here and being in the sun, it retailed for around $85 so don’t waste your money, kept the reel it might suit the electric lead. I wind hoses etc up ant put a small occy strap around them they go into the front boot on the gas bottles (yeah I know not supposed to) the tunnel boot is a pain in the but with chairs bbq step ladder it drives me crazy
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drover

davemc

Well-Known Member
Oct 29, 2013
4,360
4,737
113
55
Viewbank, Victoria
www.expandasdownunder.com
I worked in audio for 20+ years so the power lead gets done in seconds.. not like the video above use the under and over technique. .I used to try to show band members they get confused he he Winding up 50 odd leads a day you get fast. I can throw them out and they do not tangle once they trained. If you do the leads wrong they get kinks in them that leads to breaks.

Water hose have a hosebag I hate the stupid thing.. although works just.. Anyone have a better idea with that I am all ears.
I have a few canvas bags I put all the pegs etc in
The waste hose goes into a 10 litre bunnings bucket I have a connector on I use under the waste pipes so no water in shower when I do dishes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drover

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,723
19,450
113
QLD
My pet hate is when folks wind up electrical leads and ropes around elbow/hand, it causes rope and cable strands to unravel and kink, hold end in one hand and use other hand to feed and loop it into the other, the cable/rope should coil evenly with no kinks, at the end just a half hitch with the end going thru the bight...............all lines, cable, hoses have a lay, clockwise or anti clockwise, go against it, will make it kink.

My son in law is banned from using my leads and others can get the evil eye real quick.............................like @davemc I can just throw my lead out and it runs free, water hose is yet to be trained fully, bustard thing.
 

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,723
19,450
113
QLD
Seen a few of those flat hoses turfed in the bin, owners not happy as they tend to split, have grabbed the reels thinking I could use it for power lead but alas didn't work out and while I thought I could fix the hoses they all seemed to have split in the middle, I was hoping I could just trim a bit off........
 

Luke.sleeman

Member
Jan 14, 2019
35
18
8
Victoria
I guess you are all talking about the "roadie wrap" AKA the "under over" wrap for cables. That's what I use as well! I used to just coil extension cords around my arm, until I got tired of them twisting and tangling and looked for a better way. It's easy enough to learn and works really well.

I spent yesterday pondering the sullage hose. I've also heard that the solution @Drover suggested of fitting some PVC pipe under the back of the van was a good idea. However I wanted to try something a bit simpler first. After a bit of thought I decided to pick up a laundry basket from Bunnings: https://www.bunnings.com.au/ezy-storage-36l-oval-laundry-basket_p4510965
They are cheap. The round shape means the hose will coil up easily. Lastly, while I clip the ends of the sullage hose together to prevent leaks, the laundry basket would catch any odd drips and stop smelly grey water running about in the boot!

All up it sounded ideal. Unfortunately even the smallest laundry basket was too large. After a bit of rummaging around the garrage I found a plastic box which was perfect:
IMG_20190313_221207.jpg


I've also fitted some hooks to the boot to keep things up off the floor. I fitted a few more last night, and suddenly everything is starting to look very neat:
IMG_20190313_223104.jpg
 

MDS69

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2014
727
788
93
I have 2 lengths of 40mm electrical conduit shoved down one chassis rail and I cut 1.5m off my 10m sullage hose then cut the remaining 8.5m in half and each length goes down into the conduit. Usually I only need one length when set up but have the second length if I need to extend.
 

Luke.sleeman

Member
Jan 14, 2019
35
18
8
Victoria
Looking at that boot pic, I think your a neat freak @Luke.sleeman , who has ever seen such a clean boot ??????

New van helps! ;)

Before I got the van I spent a lot of time on the water. If sailing has tought me one thing, it's that you need your gear setup properly and ready to go, otherwise you will be in for it when the proverbial hits the fan.

I guess I still need to adapt my thinking to land. I need to keep reminding myself that we are not going to sink if something on the van or car doesn't work properly, or I can't get at it in a moment's notice :p
 

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,723
19,450
113
QLD
I was a Sailor for over a decade, 30 yrs later it is still packed with that in mind....don't fight it.......when my alternator went up in flames, bang it was put out with damage contained because of that " when it hits the fan" plan.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Luke.sleeman