Newbie! How do I stock my Camper?

[davidsaxby]

Hi everyone, I'm an avid hiker and camper but a brand new owner of a camper (travel trailer). I'm looking for any help setting up my camper so I don't forget anything I might not think of on my first trip... I'm guessing many of you have your own secrets and tips that make your experience like living at home.

Some information about me: I teach yoga, I'm a vegetarian, I will most likely carry our bikes and SUPs with us on the road. I have 2 boys (11,9) who will be going on adventures with me. We live in Omaha so will try to hit as many spots 4-5 hours from here on weekends before our big trip to Yellowstone this summer.

Please help with lists or ideas... or links if this information already exists.

Thank you, see you on the road!

David

[pitch]

Our first trip out; pillows. First place we saw when we went exploring the next morning was Wal Mart.

[natedog_37]

All great advice. I agree camp drive way is a great way to start. Or first trip in the new TT will be in May. I plan on bringing her home a week early to start getting everything in it, and then to stay in it a couple of night.s First trip is 10 min from home. Helps if we forget something or there are issues we didn't see in the drive way.

[ependydad]

What you *NEED* is different than what you *SHOULD* have and clearly what you'll *WANT*. 🙂

See if this list of the absolute bare minimum needs:
http://www.learntorv.com/2014/02/newbie-first-trip-essentials.html

In it, I have nods to things you should have without trying to break the bank.

[manualman]

The local Dollar Store is your friend for equipping a first camper!

Cheap stuff that wouldn't last 6 months at home will go many years for you in an occasional use RV AND they tend to be lighter weight items than more expensive versions. (But don't buy a can opener there. Trust me!) The more gear that lives permanently in the trailer, the easier it is to prepare for and clean up after a trip.

[wannavolunteerF]

You will be able to use some of your things that you already have for camping. I carry my camp stove, and cook outside often. I use my lanterns if I am sitting around outside in the evening, I like the light from the lantern better than the glaring light on the side of the TT. I keep my sleeping bags in TT, as it is easier to use than trying to make up sofa bed with sheets, and easy to pick up in the morning. I carry my canopy and often use it over campsite table, as my awning doesn't usually reach where table and situated. Your kids may be happy in tent, outside of TT, unless weather is really horrid. Here in the Southeast, state parks allow a tent along with a RV on a single site.

[coolmom42]

Start with the basics you need for cooking--one of each utensil, one each of the things you use most at home.

Take whatever food you need for each trip---make a meal plan. Take a lot of things that are fast prep and good snacks. All food should be very well sealed in air-tight containers, to avoid attracting bugs & mice.

Everyone needs one set of sheets, and a couple of towels, plus handtowels and washcloths. Take small sizes of whatever toiletries you use at home.

Take some scissors and a box cutter, for opening things you might buy while on trips.

Take a notepad, like a steno pad, and make it the designated place for making lists, writing down campground info, etc. Much easier to keep up with than scraps of paper lying around.

[Mjoseph320]

Duct tape and WD-40 to stop things from moving that shouldn't and to move things that should. My DH forgot the duct tape our first trip and we ended up needing it, can't remember for what but I was shocked because he is a contractor and had a super well stocked toolbox and no duct tape. The other item we forgot was a corkscrew...that was an adventure trying to open the wine. We just purchased a new fifth wheel and I noticed as I was transferring stuff from the TT to the FW that we now have three corkscrews in there, duct tape, electrical tape, packing tape and scotch tape lol. We do learn.

[GaryWT]

It might be hard to do over night, we have been at it for years. We keep the trailer ready to go at all times, linens, toiletries, paper goods, cookware, dvd's, games, most food and clothes. When we come home things get washed and go back in the trailer. We keep a grocery list and when we shop that week items get put in the trailer so on Friday we just hook up and go. We do a shakedown trip as our first trip close to home and shopping. If we forget something it is usually something easy like ketchup or toothpaste or the like. Keep it easy, the more you can keep there the better off you are.

[toedtoes]

wecamp04 wrote:

Yeti plus wrote:
Visit "Camp Driveway" for the first weekend. That way you can either make a list of what you don't have, or get it out of the house.But make sure you live in the trailer for the weekend. Make sure you have a notebook and a pen to write down all the items you forgot.

X3

This will help you decide how you want to stock the trailer (such as disposable tableware vs. washable, etc.).

You'll very quickly fill it up to overflowing. Set yourselves a rule at the beginning that if it isn't used in one year (or one camping season), then out it goes. This will quickly reduce unnecessary gear.

Categories to consider in your gear;

cookware (pots, pans, bakeware, measuring cups/spoons, cutting board, oven mitts, etc.)

tableware (dishes, cups, silverware, serving trays, condiment holders, etc.)

household supplies (paper towels, cleaners, etc.)

personal care (toothcare, haircare, first aid, soaps/cleaners, personal hygiene items, lotions, toilet paper, etc.)

outdoor gear (tables, chairs, outdoor grill [yes, vegetarians can use grills also], water toys, outdoor games, etc.)

indoor activities (books, cards, board games, etc.)

domestics (towels, sheets, blankets, pillows, throws, etc.)

clothing (if you don't stock "camping clothes" on a full-time basis, at least include one set of "emergency wear" in case someone forgets to pack undies or falls in a mud puddle)

miscellaneous (flashlights/lanterns/headlamps, extra batteries, small to medium soft-sided cooler, tablecloths, citronella candles, etc.)

food (canned goods, etc. can remain in the RV for periods of time; perishables should be brought in for each trip)

toolbox (screwdrivers, wrenches, duct tape, crazy glue, work gloves, etc.)

"RV gear" (fresh water hose, extension cord, black water tank dump gear, chocks, etc.)

Petcare (if you have pets going with you: food, dishes, leashes, treats, cat carrier, copy of rabies certificate and license, up to date photos, etc.)

What you actually choose to bring in each category will be dependent upon your way of RVing, wants, needs, and comfort level of DIY repairs, etc.

[davidsaxby]

Yeti plus wrote:
Visit "Camp Driveway" for the first weekend. That way you can either make a list of what you don't have, or get it out of the house.But make sure you live in the trailer for the weekend. Make sure you have a notebook and a pen to write down all the items you forgot. On one of our trips last year the notepad and pen went on the temporary list on the small notepad from the truck!:S
We leave everything except food in the trailer and camper for the winter, so it makes it easy to just add food and clothes and we are gone for a weekend.
Brian

Thanks Brian! I was going to go somewhere nearby but maybe the driveway is an even better idea.

[davidsaxby]

cdevidal wrote:
Here in the Beginner forum there is a "sticky" thread called Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Open Roads Forum which has a (huge!) lists section, along with many other interesting threads. I took their lists and whittled them down to suit our needs.

Thank you cdevidal! These will give me a great start!!!

[Magua]

Congrats!!! You guys will have a BLAST. Best thing we ever did as a family was purchase our hybrid TT 6 years ago. My DH does most of the "systems" stuff. I set us up with a complete (but cheap) kitchen set…dishes, silverware, serving utensils, pots and pans, some basic spices I kept in for the full season. Separate bedding sets and pillows, towels and washcloths and I even stock the bathroom like I do at home. Your kids are younger than mine, but I stock art supplies and fill a bin with LEGOs (since we have just over a trillion of them) to keep in the camper. Pick up a Weber Baby-Q grill…veggie burgers and veggie kabobs will taste great on it! We love ours. Get some fun lights to hang from your awning…kitschy but fun. 🙂 Pack your comfy camp chairs and bring along a plastic tablecloth for the picnic table. The only thing I pack is clothes and food for each trip.

Happy camping!

[wecamp04]

Yeti plus wrote:
Visit "Camp Driveway" for the first weekend. That way you can either make a list of what you don't have, or get it out of the house.But make sure you live in the trailer for the weekend. Make sure you have a notebook and a pen to write down all the items you forgot. On one of our trips last year the notepad and pen went on the temporary list on the small notepad from the truck!:S
We leave everything except food in the trailer and camper for the winter, so it makes it easy to just add food and clothes and we are gone for a weekend.
Brian

I second this camp driveway is a very good way to get to know your camper see how things work gives you time to set it up the way you want and if you need something write it down or get it out of the house,plus it will give your kids time to see what they might want to bring along,

[Yeti_plus]

Visit "Camp Driveway" for the first weekend. That way you can either make a list of what you don't have, or get it out of the house.But make sure you live in the trailer for the weekend. Make sure you have a notebook and a pen to write down all the items you forgot. On one of our trips last year the notepad and pen went on the temporary list on the small notepad from the truck!:S
We leave everything except food in the trailer and camper for the winter, so it makes it easy to just add food and clothes and we are gone for a weekend.
Brian

[GoPackGo]

Well, I guess you can skip the grill.