The Wonder is an amazing vehicle, but as new LTV owners and RV-ers, our Wonder Rear Lounge presented us with a challenging learning curve. Throughout our travels, we have discovered that certain things go well in certain places in our LTV. So, in hopes that this might makes someone else’s start easier, here are some wonder-ful space-saving hacks that we have found to make our Wonder (named “Stevie”) work well for us.
Utilizing Spaces In Your LTV
The Wonder has many ingenious storage spaces and some that are a little unique. Two immediate examples: LTV’s characteristically thoughtful design makes the spaces available under the entry step and under the chair next to the door for spare shoes and gloves or other items you need when going in and out. The massive amount of storage under the rear couch seat is amazing. We use it for items we won’t need every day, and it holds a massive amount including our tools in two shoeboxes, a compressor, extra food, supplies, cleaning materials, hiking boots, extra shoes, trekking poles, golf umbrellas, a fishing rod and reel, and even a ukulele. What a great space!
Bathroom
There is a great little shelf behind the bathroom toilet on the outer wall that is perfect for stacking rolls of toilet paper. It fits an entire 8-roll package, so you can see when you’re running low. I put the bottle of Unique RV Digest-it on the floor, in the little space between the toilet, that shelf, and the sink so it’s convenient to pour it in each time after you’ve dumped your black tank. We also bought a small plastic storage bin that fits into the corner behind the toilet and functions well as a bathroom wastebasket.
We found a triple hook that hangs over the bathroom door to hold pajamas during the day and clothes at night. We leave it facing the hallway at night and turn it into the bathroom during the day to keep the hallway or bathroom less cluttered. Since the door is beautifully curved and the hooks are flat, the fit isn’t perfect, but we added stick-on cork pads to the part that goes over the door to protect the wood and to keep the hook solidly in place.
Since the Wonder only has one towel holder, you can also see that we hung another single plastic over-the-door hook for a second face towel.
The medicine cabinet is pretty straightforward, and there are a couple more spaces for larger items under the sink. We’ve used the little corner shelves to hold a small first aid kit (bottom) and a hair dryer (middle), and on the top shelf, we mounted a toothbrush holder, secured on the bottom with museum wax. Obviously, everyone will find their own ways to use the spaces in this cozy bathroom.
Rear Lounge
We’ve used the small angled rear shelves above the TV as our “desks,” where we keep our own pens, various cords, chargers, adaptors, glasses cases, and other miscellaneous personal items.
We also like to carry a lot of reading options, so we’ve turned the bottom clothes drawer into our “library.” There we put books, Kindles, notebooks, file folders, cellophane tape, checkbooks, stamps, envelopes for receipts, and quarters for the laundry. We use another shoebox to keep smaller items organized.
Each of us has one remaining drawer for clothes and we divide the four large overhead cabinets. Don’t overlook the corner space in the cabinets, it’s great for a backpack, belts, and gloves. We share the hanging closet and our laundry detergent fits in the back. When we packed for our first trip, we had lots of room left over and added more clothes. There is plenty of space!
The cupboard at the lower back corner has been a good place for us to put an extra bag of dog food, along with a tote bag holding treats and toys. The storage opening above it is perfect for bed pillows, a heating pad, and extra comforters while we travel. It holds comforters and throw pillows from the couch at night.
Shower
Our really helpful salesman, Joe Parisi at Van City RV, was great in getting us to “think RV” when it comes to storage. Best example: the shower has amazing storage space! Who knew? So it holds numerous things we get out of the RV first when we reach camp. Camp chairs and the broom and other large items like rolled Reflectix window covers for night, vacuum, and a yoga mat. It can also be the place where you hang a laundry bag.
Kitchen
The kitchen cupboards, drawers, and pantry also hold more than we imagined. Everyone will come up with their own arrangement I’m sure. But just know, you can fit a lot in those three drawers—we got a toaster and a small crockpot in the second drawer, with pots plus the wok in the bottom drawer. Placemats and potholders fit between things to keep them from rattling while driving. The pantry also holds more than you expect as well The upper cupboard over the stove is great for dishes and glassware, just make sure it’s not tippy! We experimented with an inner shelf rack once. When I opened the cupboard door, 4 bowls came tumbling out and shattered on the floor. Do not recommend it.
The upper corner storage shelves are great for dry goods that take more height—cracker or cereal boxes, snack bags, pasta. Our teapot and measuring cups go on the other side. The angled sides and roof make for some interesting challenges as we try to wedge things tight so they won’t tip out while driving. But you can certainly squeeze in a lot.
We even use the microwave/convection oven for storage when it’s not cooking, which is most of the time. It’s been ideal for bread and bagels when they are fresh and before they need to be refrigerated.
Likewise, the sink offers great storage while traveling. It holds our fruit bowl and fruit, with the sink cover on the top to keep things in place.
Front Cockpit Storage
The Transit has so many storage spaces behind and above the seats as well as in the dash that we can’t fill up completely, but some have been particularly handy.
A large spiral-bound road atlas goes on top of the dash. Door compartments hold more detailed paper maps (from AAA) and a variety of travel guides. In the canopy, we keep our road and camping journal along with any materials we gather such as national park brochures. Masks and sunglasses cases also fit above within easy reach and we can plug in our phones in several places to use Apple CarPlay and to re-charge while we drive.
Our laptops go in the seatback pouches, along with the book we’re reading at the moment.
Outside Passenger Side Compartments
The passenger side has a couple of smaller, but deep spaces. We put the dog items in one (towels, leashes, and water bowl). They are quickly available as soon as we stop and want to let the dogs out and the last things stored before we leave.
The space behind the door is good for our stack of leveling blocks again, this is handy as we arrive at a site for the night and want to get level right away. There is more than enough room here for blocks—so you can store other things in front of the blocks as well.
Outside Drivers Side
The largest compartment is below the water heater. You’ll want to think carefully and use it well. For us, this is the place for a large plastic-covered bin of dog food and the Weber grill with lots of room left between and around the edges for beer or other goodies we picked up during our travels.
The longer, short compartment above the service center is well-placed. We have a plastic box that contains outdoor-related miscellany—collapsible lantern, picnic tablecloth, etc.—at one end. Since it’s close to the water hookup and power connection, we store the fresh water hose (hooked together so it won’t leak), water filters (drained), the power cable, and the surge protector. On top of those, we squeeze in the patio rug—most of these things we get out as soon as we arrive, so everything fits and it’s conveniently located.
The Wonder is loaded with adaptable places and spaces—I know ours is but one of many working arrangements. In this respect, especially, I look forward to hearing how other Wonder owners have found ways to make the space work for them!
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