3 ways to maximize your storage on a budget, according a van dweller who's lived tiny for 13 years

• Bob Wells, founder of CheapRVLiving, has been a full-time van dweller since 2008.
• Wells teaches people how to live comfortably in vans and RVs on a budget.
• Wells spoke to Insider about 3 of the best ways to maximize space in a tiny home.

When living in a van, making the most of your space is essential.

Fortunately, there are a few, excellent storage hacks that don't require any skill other than needing to secure items, longtime van dweller Bob Wells told Insider.

The founder of CheapRVLiving, Bob Wells teaches others how to live in a van on a budget while traveling around the US in a GMC Savanna 4x4. He has lived full-time in a van since 2008.

"If you can build shelving to your own specific needs, then that's ideal, but you don't have to be able to. I've known people who just choose regular furniture," Wells said.

Here are three of the best, budget-friendly ways to maximize storage space on the road, according to Wells.

1. Roll-top desk drawers offer many different storage options

Because of its different-sized drawers, a roll-top desk is "an incredibly practical way to get yourself organized," plus "it's attractive," Wells said.

Typically, a roll-top desk consists of side drawers, top drawers, and a central pull-out drawer that you could use to store anything from bathroom supplies to clothes.

You can find a used roll-top desk in thrift stores or second-hand furniture marketplaces, Wells said.

He suggests placing an electric, cooktop stove in the middle of the desk and placing a five-gallon bucket (for going to the bathroom) underneath it.

To prevent the desk from moving while driving, you can secure it to the van floor and walls using a drill and L brackets, which are available in a pack of 10 for $14 at Walmart.

2. Plastic storage drawers and boxes are easy to stack and can hold a lot of weight

Another budget-friendly storage solution that maximizes space is plastic drawers, Wells said.

Wells recommends Sterilite's four-drawer cabinet, which is available at Walmart for $57. It "is really practical and amazingly strong," he said. "It will hold a lot of weight and weighs nothing."

Rubbermaid's plastic storage boxes, known as "totes," are another good option, according to Wells.

While you have to dig around for items in a tote, they are easy to stack and secure with bungee cords, he said.

A set of six 16-quart Rubbermaid storage totes sells for $50 at Walmart.

3. A duffel bag is ideal for storing items in non-linear spaces because it's compressible

Storage in vans and RVs can be tricky because "there's always a place where it's curved," Wells said.

This is why he recommends using duffel dags for storage. The fact that duffel bags collapse and expand is great for tiny living: you can stick them in corners or stuff them in cubbies when you're not using them.

And Wells has found duffel bags for just "a couple of bucks" at thrift stores, he said.