Efficient packing

NCMODELA wrote:
We already limit our stuff. It is not a quantity issue. Bring everything in with boxes or bags. Camper has own set of items. Clothes go in with baskets. It's the time she has to spend before getting stuff ready and she has to put other things aside to do it then she feels behind when we get home.

Sorry, but with a large family of 6, two of whom are under age 5, what else would you expect? :h Obviously a large family is going to take a lot more work at pretty well everything in life, camping is just one of those "things", so if you're convinced you're already doing as much as you can to limit what you take and are otherwise organized there's not much any of us can do to solve this for you. :R

I keep a big catch-all tote in the house closet for stray items that need to be returned to the camper like food storage containers & towels. I also toss in things for the next trip that I've purchased or want to remember to bring. Our camper is accessible, so I'll haul the tote out and put things away during the week. This leaves the main packing time for just clothes & food.

My wife started saying the same thing so I started planning the meals and going to the grocery store a day prior. She packs the kids clothes which sometimes seems like way to much but I don't question it. The kids each get a small bag which they have to carry. I can see how with four kids the laundry would be a killer plus she loses the weekend to do it. i offered witht that but was rejected. When we get back there is a big bag of dirty laundry and grocery shopping for the week, kids need baths, get ready for school so she is prett busy with that while I cut the lawn. As the kids get older they can start to do a lot on their own so it gets easier. Only downfall of the kids getting older is sitting in schools gyms watching 4th graders play volleyball on beautiful fall weekends.

We already limit our stuff. It is not a quantity issue. Bring everything in with boxes or bags. Camper has own set of items. Clothes go in with baskets. It's the time she has to spend before getting stuff ready and she has to put other things aside to do it then she feels behind when we get home. Thanks for the responses guys. Also. The two older ones keep the two younger ones busy during that time.

perhaps you are moving stuff from house to rV that you could easily/cheaply duplicate so as to not move it. i.e. toothbrushes, undies, etc. :)
bumpy

As always, try to simplify.
Limit the amount of stuff the children may bring. Select a duffle bag of appropriate size for each. That is the limit. Do that for yourself too, if necessary.
Plan your meals, so that there is a minimum of groceries going back into the house.
Make sure the TT has its own set of gear: pots, pans, silverware, tools, flashlights, etc. Don't try to make the stuff you already have do double duty.
Be sure that all children who can walk and talk have their own jobs.
Treat it like an extension of you house. If it was a short trip and you are going again next weekend, just make the beds and leave the clean clothes in the drawers/closets. No need to strip it each time.

Our family of six lived in our TT for 30 days and 7000 miles in one trip once. My wife managed the TT like a submarine. No wasted provisions, no wasted space, everything in its place. Once you get a good routine, the children will just keep getting more and more helpful. Beware, when they are grown up, you will miss them when they don't go!

NCMODELA wrote:
My wife's one big complaint is how long it takes to pack and unpack the trailer. It feels like she is behind a whole week when we get home.

Then don't take as much junk! :R. Simplify! :W

You also haven't said what type of trailer you have - if it's a popup or even a hybrid it's inherently going to take longer to pack and unpack, particularly when "A" can't be stored until "B" is in place which in turn can't be put in the trailer until "C" is stored, etc, etc, etc. Ultimately you want to have a dedicated spot for everything and especially with a travel trailer should be able to have it pretty well prepacked and maintained this way throughout the season so the only thing you really have to do before starting out on a camping trip is to fire up the fridge and load in fresh food as everything else you need should already be there. I know this may be a revelation but the less you take along with you camping the less you have to pack ... so if you're going through this much grief you're taking WAY too much. :S

Take food in and out using those canvas grocery bags. Use laundry baskets to haul in/out clothes and bedding. Start putting stuff in during the week prior to going. Get more people to help. After I back in the TT on the return trip, she starts unloading, and I unload the truck, unhook, etc. When, I'm done, I help her out. Takes us an hour to remove everything.

your packing to much stuff, unpack ,look at it, if you do,t use it every day ,you don,t need it.