Typical "gear weight"
Hi, I am thinking of buying a travel trailer this year. Looking for something short and fairly lightweight due to the limitations of my TV. 2014 Ram quad cab express. The major limitation is going ...
Forum Discussion
It is really hard to say what is "typical".
A huge factor is just what kind of camping you will be doing.
Hitting campgrounds not far from civilization is wayyy different than boondocking far away from anything,,,, towns, or people.
A remote boondocker will just about always pack a lot more stuff.
It is what I do, and I am a heavyweight.
It is not about bringing stuff that we will never use, as some here say.. It is about bringing stuff that will keep the trip from going south, if you need it, and don't have it.
A few years ago, my propane changeover/regulator failed.
We were on a Spring turkey hunt at the north rim. With temps dipping into the teens, and no propane available for cooking and heating, it was a small emergency. I had to drive all the way to Flagstaff to get a new one. It cost about twice what it should have, plus all the fuel to go get it... And most importantly made me waste a day of my hunt. When I got back home, I ordered another one online at a good price. It is now part of my TT cargo.
That is just one example of why some pack more than others...
As for what it means to you as a newbie.... You likely do not have a clue about what kind of camper you will be. Many of us here have found that how we envisioned using our TTs turned out not to be how we actually use them. To the point of needing a different TT that better matched our needs. I am on TT #3 now, and each one has been better than the last.
I would not stress too much over it. Just get in the game with whatever will fit weight wise for your present TV. If you end up liking it as most everyone here does, you will then be able to make a better choice for how you end up using it, in future TV/TT purchases.
A huge factor is just what kind of camping you will be doing.
Hitting campgrounds not far from civilization is wayyy different than boondocking far away from anything,,,, towns, or people.
A remote boondocker will just about always pack a lot more stuff.
It is what I do, and I am a heavyweight.
It is not about bringing stuff that we will never use, as some here say.. It is about bringing stuff that will keep the trip from going south, if you need it, and don't have it.
A few years ago, my propane changeover/regulator failed.
We were on a Spring turkey hunt at the north rim. With temps dipping into the teens, and no propane available for cooking and heating, it was a small emergency. I had to drive all the way to Flagstaff to get a new one. It cost about twice what it should have, plus all the fuel to go get it... And most importantly made me waste a day of my hunt. When I got back home, I ordered another one online at a good price. It is now part of my TT cargo.
That is just one example of why some pack more than others...
As for what it means to you as a newbie.... You likely do not have a clue about what kind of camper you will be. Many of us here have found that how we envisioned using our TTs turned out not to be how we actually use them. To the point of needing a different TT that better matched our needs. I am on TT #3 now, and each one has been better than the last.
I would not stress too much over it. Just get in the game with whatever will fit weight wise for your present TV. If you end up liking it as most everyone here does, you will then be able to make a better choice for how you end up using it, in future TV/TT purchases.
