I am sure you will get a lot of replies; here are a few observations from a couple who has been doing this for well over 30 years:

 

Naturally you should be concerned about weight distribution.  However, the problem is, due to functionality, most RV’s have most of the weight – the kitchen – on one side and not as much as the other.  It depends; always say that, on the design of the trailer but anything you can do to keep the really heavy stuff down lower and opposite the kitchen is a good thing – within practical reason.  Think about just how much “extra” food you must carry – but also dishes.  Do you really need service for 12?  (Just kidding)  If you don’t use it for a year, why do you carry it is one rule some use.

 

Cabinets need to be stocked – filled – as best you can so things can’t shift as much as that is possible.  Depending on the door design, some use bungee cords to make sure they don’t open.  Some need it, some don’t.  There will be other suggestions to this door latching point – 10 different ways to do it, pick the one you like.

 

We found it important to bungee the microwave door just to be safe.  On a really really bad road it came open once.  That won’t happen again.  Make sure you don’t overload any of the shelves in the fridge.  Easy to do and when you hit a bad bump that extra weight can bend a shelf.  I actually put extra center shelf supports in the fridge just to be safe as we have been known to take some really bad roads – like the Interstate in Connecticut which almost broke a shelf due to a bad repair of a road patch that wasn’t marked and dropped the rig 6”.  Bad roads come in all places, not just in the boondocks.

 

Many RV’s have storage under the bed.  A good place, but it may put extra weight on the tow vehicle.  Clothes are much heavier than you think.  But maybe this is a good place for those “extra” staple items you don’t need very often.  They may take lots of space but don’t weigh much.

 

Finally, make sure the basement area is loaded as well as possible on the opposite side from the kitchen.  That is, put the heavy stuff opposite the kitchen.  That’s not a perfect solution, but at least it moves some of the weight to the other side.  Like the joke about the dinner service, how many different socket wrench sets do you need to carry?  You do need tools, but evaluate them carefully.

 

If at all possible after you’re loaded up, try to get the rig weighed wheel by wheel, including the tow vehicle.  I.e. find Howard and Linda.  If you can’t do that, at least go to a truck stop that has a scale and make sure you axles aren’t overloaded.  It only costs $9.  Naturally make sure the tires are properly inflated.  That's the #1 reason tires fail - improper inflation - as well as overloading.

 

Most of this is just common sense and you’ll figure it out.

 

Enjoy the adventure.

 

Bill & Linda

Rosie, heed the advice given above. Our solution to the cabinet doors is the little toddler cabinet door locks.  Easy to install and remove--you needn't worry about light weight things, it's the heavy things (that could break something) or things that could break, that you might need to somehow secure the cabinet doors. We have had a few come open in our travels, it seems it has always been ones that face toward the front or the back of the trailer. Things tend to shift fore and back when you apply the breaks hard. I can't remember one coming open that faces the side of the trailer, in other words parallel with the side of the trailer. Definitely put something on the food/can cabinet especially if it faces the the front or back end, and don't forget the medicine cabinet in the bathroom if it faces front or back. 

Flyone 

Thanks everyone for your help. I did start moving some of our things into the RV and was mindful of weight distribution. I added some no slip drawer liner between items to keep them in place. Flyone - Thanks for your comments about cabinets facing front and rear. I hadn't thought of that. Kiddie locks may be the way to go.
Thanks again,
Rosie