If you’re an avid camper, then you’ve probably amassed a great deal of gear. Even primitive campers – who usually pride themselves on carrying as little as possible – can have tons of equipment. In fact, I know many campers who have so much gear that it no longer fits in their garages’ storage areas. If you’re facing a similar predicament, think about transforming your unused basement space into a camper’s paradise. While it may seem obvious to store camping gear in the basement, there are ways to create a storage space that makes the basement more than just a place to throw your random junk. If you think about it, you’ve likely spent a significant amount of money on your camping gear over the years. Ultralight tents, framed backpacks, and thermal sleeping bags don’t come cheap. To maximize their lifespan, you’ll want to take good care of these pricey pieces and keep them stored properly, and a basement remodeling project can help you accomplish just that.

Airing out your camping equipment is crucial to keeping it in good working order. You can inexpensively create a drying rack for your tent, sleeping bags, and backpacks out of PVC pipes from your local hardware store. The rack will end up being quite large (you won’t want any of your equipment dragging the ground), so it’s probably a good idea to construct it in the basement rather than having to worry about how you’ll get it down there. When you return from your camping trips, all you have to do is empty out your packs, shake out the tent, and let everything air out for a week or so.

In addition to a drying rack, you’ll need a place to store all the miscellany tools and supplies you’ve collected over the years. Purchase inexpensive wire shelving from a hardware store, superstore, or discount furniture store. You can usually pick up a good-sized set of shelves for around fifty dollars. You’ll also want to purchase storage bins (preferably with lids) that will fit onto the shelves. Place labels on the outside of the boxes so you know exactly what’s inside. I recommend having separate boxes for cooking utensils, flashlights, first aid supplies, and hydration-related items such as water purifiers and bladder packs.

Many of those who camp are also interested in “survival” and “prepping.” These hobbies can also take up a significant amount of space, making the basement an ideal storage location for their equipment, too. Pick up another set of wire shelves and a few more storage bins. Depending on how dedicated of a “prepper” you are, your supplies could take up more or less space than what I’ll outline here. That said, you may want to dedicate one shelf to canned goods, another to dry goods (i.e. rice, beans, powdered milk), and at least a couple more should be dedicated to storing bottled water.

Whether you camp once a year or every weekend, and whether you’re prepared for a week without electricity or an entire year, you’re sure to find it useful to have all your gear in one neat and organized space.

Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, replacement windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services, and his work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites.

Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services. His work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites. http://www.1800basement.com/

Author Bio: Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, replacement windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services, and his work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: basement remodeling