Long trip planning

[klr650goldwing]

Having recently retired, we are heading out in the not to distant future and won't come back to MN until the snow is gone next spring. Or so we hope. Just wondering if anyone has a list, or suggestions of things to pack, techniques to pack, strategies to pack etc. Are there things you wish you would have brought, but didn't, are there things you brought, but didn't use. Did you place everything in plastic containers? etc.

[Shepherd]

Make sure not to overload, I have so much storage space that it's easy to overload.

[Rock_Wells]

Make sure your perscriptions are up to date, with plenty of refills available. Also, check with individual campgrounds on mail and shipping. We've found a few that don't accept US Mail, but accept UPS or vice-versa...

[Lexx]

IMO something that is vital is an automatic external defibrillator (AED). If you are somewhere remote, have no cell phone signal, or are more than 10 minutes away from EMS, an AED might well save your life of you have a cardiac event.

No they are not cheap. But what's your life worth? If your heart stops, you have about 10 minutes before irreversible brain damage occurs. I bet all of us have been on remote stretches of highway with no cell phone signal. Certainly many remote campsites have no cell coverage.

Take a CPR course and take an AED with you on your trip.

[camperkilgore]

I'm not a mechanic, but I can do some repairs. I try to think of the things that CAN happen and pack the tools and items that I might need to do the repairs that I am capable of. I don't like to rely too much on any roadside assistance plans. They sometimes take too long to get to me anyway. For major breakdowns it would be good to have however.

Tire troubles are high on the list, so I pack a battery powered impact wrench (like this) for the lug nuts, and whatever's needed to lift the camper. I also have a 12v air pump just in case.

Electrical problems have been part of our travels, so I pack a box of various butt splices, electrical tape, ring connectors, wire and the like. Also of course a crimping tool for those connectors, and wire strippers. A multimeter is good to have, and I also have one of those harness troubleshooting devices like this

Those things usually have gotten us out of tight spots out on the road in the boonies. But I also carry a little plumbing stuff to fix leaks in the camper. Clamps, extra hose, a length of pex and pex tools.

First aid kit is high on our list of things to keep in the truck.

[klr650goldwing]

Alright folks, with the credit card and sense of humor, we are good to go. Thanks for the help.

[suprz]

A wise old camper once told me to always bring 2 things while on a RV trip... A credit card, and a sense of humor

[ppine]

Relax. Bring your regular stuff.

[NCWriter]

Most years, we take the RV on a road trip of one or two months. The obvious stuff to bring includes extra prescription glasses, plenty of prescription drugs, a stash of cash etc.

Some other misc. things I like to bring are front & back copies of our credit cards and insurance cards, copies of passports along with the originals if you might cross a border. Copy of home insurance policy info & agent contact. Copies of the dog’s records especially rabies certificate (had to produce it at a NY State Park once).

I once lost a tooth crown in the middle of nowhere, and since then I carry a little container of temporary glue goop from Walgreens. Also eye drops and an over the counter eye ointment my eye doc recommended after a minor eye scratch. A little kit to repair eyeglasses. A thermometer and common over the counter meds like cough medicine, laxative, anti-diarrheal, chapstick, NSAID, etc.

Extra drinking water filter for your RV if you use one - we have encountered some bad local water with sediment and off taste, and bottled drinking water jugs for places with boil-water advisories.

Extra DEF for diesel people. A lot of the stuff listed can be purchased but we like to stay in state and national parks which are in the boonies sometimes. I smile when I recall the clerk at a Walgreens pharmacy back home who told me I didn’t need a 90 day supply, I could just go to the Walgreens in Yellowstone.

[2chiefsRus]

Try to pin down the difference between I might NEED that and I might WANT that when packing. Decide how much it might cost you if you didn't take something and then Wanted or Needed it. Would you buy one or would you just work around it? Things that are relatively inexpensive, especially food items, can be purchased on the road. Things like binoculars, backpacks, tools, etc can be more difficult to decide.

[klr650goldwing]

I saw a guy once who was packed to the max. When he opened his basement or front storage compartment, all you could see were various sized plastic containers. He knew what was in each one. There wasn't an inch of wasted space. I guess I was imagining that must be what is needed when on the road for a long time. You all make it sound much easier than that.

[agesilaus]

garyp4951 wrote:
One thing I do on our month long trips is keep everything like sugar, cookies, and candy in plastic containers, the fridge, or zip lock bags to keep the ants away, and close up garbage bags every night. Believe me, they can find a way in, and its hard to get rid on them.
Did I say I hate ants.

Good advice we started doing that this year, it reduces breakage and waste too. Everything went into tubs when possible.

[agesilaus]

K Charles wrote:
I found that a long trip is just like a bunch of short trips hooked together. If you pack something you never use, no harm done. If you forget something, buy one.

Ditto, there are a lot of Walmarts out there, and if you have Amazon Prime they will ship to a campground where you will be for several days. Do your best but you will forget stuff and also discover a need for stuff you never thought of before. We often do a 'shakedown' CG at the start of a season, near a Wally World, for 2 or 3 days.

[garyp4951]

One thing I do on our month long trips is keep everything like sugar, cookies, and candy in plastic containers, the fridge, or zip lock bags to keep the ants away, and close up garbage bags every night. Believe me, they can find a way in, and its hard to get rid on them.
Did I say I hate ants.

[justaboutretire]

We took an 8 week cross country trip in 2016. We traveled 10,000 miles. Most important thing to do is to remember tow vehicle maintenance. Oil changes were #1 for me. I carried a gallon of oil, gallon of antifreeze, Gallon of windshield washer fluid along with rags, gloves. All in a plastic container which I carried in the back of the truck. Oil changes I went to the local Ford dealer while we were at a campground for a couple of days. Also carried a tool box in case of something breaking or needed minor repair. I took a lot of things out of the trailer that I knew that I would not use. Don't think there was anything that I wish I had that I did not bring. There is always a Walmart somewhere in the area..
Have a good time and just look at what you have in the trailer and think I'm not going to use this (snow shovel)..

Bill