How to Hide Holiday Gifts in Your RV

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At this point, my family has spent a lot of holiday seasons in our RV. This means I’ve done a lot of holiday gift hiding over the years and I must say, I’ve gotten pretty darn good at it. That said, finding ways to hide holiday gifts in an RV can be tricky. If you’re feeling stumped, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I will share my top tips to make sure your holiday gifts stay hidden until you’re ready for them to be found.

Why Hiding Gifts in an RV is Different

First, let’s talk a bit about why hiding gifts in an RV is different from hiding them in a house as well as what makes it extra difficult.

The first and most obvious issue is, of course, space. In a house, you have all sorts of nooks and crannies to tuck things into. However, in an RV, we tend to use every last inch of storage space and my kids have access to most of it. This makes hiding things tricky.

Another thing we have to deal with? Weather. If we choose to use exterior storage at all, we have to remember that the weather can fluctuate quite a lot. This means ensuring sensitive items are stored in spots that don’t see huge jumps in  temperature.

Lastly, I have to keep safety in mind. Some hiding spots can be dangerous. Others are just easy for theirs to access, creating a risk of theft. Fortunately, these problems are relatively easy to avoid.

Where to Hide Gifts

So where should you hide your holiday gifts in an RV? Below are my top hiding spot picks.

Underbed Storage

I use the area under our bed to store all kinds of gifts. One year we even put a kid sized bike under the bed. I like to put the things I store there in boxes or bags just in case someone decides to lift the mattress up. But otherwise, this system has worked fairly well.

Dinette or Sofa Storage

The spots under the dinette seats and under the couch also work well for gift storage. I usually reserve these spaces for smaller items since the space is smaller than under the bed and again, I like to store everything in bins on bags just in case.

Overhead Cabinets and Closet Top Shelves

Even smaller items can be stored in cabinets or on the top shelf of the closet if you have one. I’ve found that books, small toys, candies, and some clothing items work well in these locations. Shoeboxes work well to hide these items, especially if you push them to the back of the cabinet. Do not put heavy items in cabinets, as they have a tendency to shift during travel and might fall out when the door is opened.

Exterior Locked Bays

Our exterior storage bays have played host to all kinds of gifts over the years. I love that I can fit larger items in the bays and that I can lock the doors so snooping kids aren’t an issue. That said, things do shift in storage bays quite a bit and temperature fluctuations can cause problems for electronics. Because of this, I don’t recommend storing anything fragile or sensitive in the bays.

Suitcases and Bags

We have always carried suitcases and duffle bags with us. Of course, we aren’t usually using these bags, meaning they sit untouched most of the time. This makes them the ideal hiding place for all kinds of gifts. To keep everything safe, put heavier items at the bottom and fragile items in the middle wrapped in clothes.

Roof Cargo Box

When we got our hatchback car, I was thrilled to learn that we could mount a rooftop box to it. We’ve used our roof cargo box for all kinds of things since then, but one of the most unexpected things we’ve used it for is holiday gifts. Pretty much any item that isn’t fragile or temperature sensitive can go in a cargo box. Just make sure the box is waterproof and be sure you lock it!

Keep Safety in Mind

Obviously, you will need to make sure you store things safely. This means thinking carefully about where you store things. For instance, you don’t want to overload cabinets or shelves where items could fall while driving or when doors are opened after parking and it’s important to secure everything for travel.

Yes it’s tempting, but you should never store gifts in the oven or microwave. You’ll also want to avoid placing presents near propane tanks, heaters, furnace vents, battery compartments, or wiring runs. Heat and gas-exposed areas are dangerous and can ruin gifts. Besides, storing items in these spots might lead to an RV fire, something you definitely don’t want.

Of course, if there is a fire, you want to make sure you and your family can escape the RV quickly. For this reason, you don’t want to obstruct emergency exits or walkways with gifts.

Guard Against Heat, Cold, and Moisture

One thing I’ve learned the hard way on more than one occasion? RVs are not well insulated. They see a lot of extreme temperature swings and condensation has a tendency to gather on the walls, especially in the winter. This means you might have to take extra steps to protect the gifts you store in your home-on-wheels.

• Electronics: Keep electronics in their original boxes, but add silica gel packs to each box to help absorb moisture. Store these items away from heat sources (water heater, engine bay), and if possible, keep them inside the living area rather than the exterior bays.
• Clothing & fabric: Vacuum-seal soft items like clothing, bedding, and stuffies. Not only will this reduce the amount of space needed from storage, but it will protect the items from moisture and odors.
• Fragile items: Breakable things should be wrapped in bubble-wrap or nested inside towels and placed in rigid boxes that are secured for travel. Avoid placing fragile items in high-traffic areas.
• Food & consumables: Some foods and most candies can melt, so you’ll want to keep these items cool or within a climate-controlled spot. I’ve found that storing chocolate in a decoy container (mixed vegetable bag is perfect) in the fridge or freezer works.

Snoop-Proofing Strategies

My kids aren’t actually very nosey. I don’t think I’ve ever caught them looking for their gifts. That said, if you do have a snoop on your hands, there are some things you can do to make finding gifts a little bit harder.

Putting gifts into decoy boxes is a great trick. For instance, you might hide something under a pile of “dirty” laundry in a hamper, in the bottom or a box of cereal that nobody in the family likes, or in a toolbox that rarely gets opened.

You could also try putting a less expensive decoy gift in an obvious hiding spot and hiding the real gift in a better spot. Generally, if a snoop finds something they will stop snooping,

Of course, there is also the option of storing things outside of the RV. If you have the option of storing gifts in a friend’s house or a storage locker that is the safest option.

Handling Deliveries and Online Shopping

One of the most challenging things about doing the holidays on the road? Ordering gifts to be delivered. Usually, we end up shipping things to an Amazon Locker or UPS Access Point. We’ve also had things delivered to friend’s and family’s homes when we’re nearby. Of course, we have to make sure to time things right, so we’re around when items are delivered. This can be tricky if you’re traveling quickly.

Keeping Inventory

I’m the first to admit that my memory isn’t what it used to be. This means it’s super easy for me to hide something and then completely forget that I even bought it, let alone where I hid it. This is where an inventory list comes into play.

I keep a simple list in a locked note on my phone. This ensures I am able to access the note anywhere, prevents me from losing it, and ensures the kids don’t find it.

There you have it; all my top tips for hiding holiday gifts in your RV. Start shopping and hiding now, so you’re totally prepared for the holiday season!

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