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

[mdamerell]

Recreational Vehicle - Jeff Daniels

:B Thanks it's funny!

[wa8yxm]

In the monolog "The Recreational Vehicle" by Jeff Daniels.. he speaks of his wife filling every nook and cranny with snacks. (If you have never heard it, Look it up on You Tube and .. DO NOT HAVE FOOD OR DRINK IN YOUR MOUTH when you play it. (I have been accused of working for keyboard companies too many times).
(you will understand after you play it).

In fact,, one of the things I had to teach my wife.. When it comes to clothing, and tools, pack what you need. But when it comes to food, pack light,, There is always a Wal*Mart, or a Kroger, Aldi, Albertson's, Bi-Lo _____Supermarket chain of your choice____ or ___Compeitior____ near where you are going.

[wendyly]

I stock mine with what I think I will need for cooking, eating, sleeping, etc, and I adjust constantly as time goes. I keep a notebook in th motorhome, and during each trip I write about the campground, campsite, and sites we would prefer for future visits. I alo list anything I wish I had brought and anything I need to resupply before the next trip.

[Allworth]

Milk crates are great for stuff like wheel chocks, power cords, etc. Not the "decorator" kind from Target, but real ones from a salvage store.

[drae0814]

Have fun with it i went to Wallmart 2 times on our fisrt camp trip in our new to us RV. when we did our walk through of the RV he told me in the welcome box you will find a new sewer hose so i said great when i open the box and saw all of neat thing even a small box of tools i was pretty excited when we got to the camp ground i went to hook up the free sewer hose to find it was about 6 feet to short that was the first trip to Walmart. And dont forget bring more then one lighter its hard to make a fire or light the stove with out it.

[toedtoes]

I started using those soft sided packing cubes for travel. Get the ones with a handle on the end. They work to keep clothes organized in cupboards (you can use a different color for each family member). I also use them for shore power cords and adapters, extension cords, fresh water hoses, electronic device cables and connectors, spare batteries, and even as a "junk drawer". Because they are soft-sided, they don't take any more room than their contents, but they make it easy to grab a cube and go. I gained more than one full cupboard of space with them.

[mdamerell]

Totes that fit your storage locations to keep things organized. Often easier to pull out a tote and go through it than dig through a storage bay. Clear totes (so you can se in them) are also helpful.

[vgoulette]

If we have it in the S&B, we probably have it in the RV -- including a printer. Agree with the can opener. When my cheap one broke, I had to send DH and DD out to purchase a new one (not a cheap one this time!!).

[dieharder]

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

This is the best thing you can do right here. but don't treat the home like it's right there on site - pretend it's not even there and "going home" is not an option. When you find you need something, note it but see how long you can go without it. It's the only way to find out those items you are missing are truly "must have" items. While you may want to, you really can't bring everything from the home you might want along with you.

[Veebyes]

Go camping with a pencil, a notepad & a Walmart not too far away.

[davidsaxby]

Wow, thanks for all the great ideas and links and such. Ordered a couple books and will start a list or 2... now I just need winter to end. Thank you all!

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Start making lists for each area: Kitchen, bath, bedding, outside, then keep adding as you think of stuff. The dollar store is a good place for gadgets. Manual can opener. Storage zip lock bags, paper plates (not styrofoam). Plastic bowls for cereal, coffee mugs. Skillet (medium), small and medium pots. Chairs for sitting outside. Grill (we have gas less mess). Garbage bags, dish soap. Clear storage bin for each person. Collapsible laundry bag. Little container for quarters for laundry unless you have washer-dryer in TT. Storage containers for all food (prevents ants and critters). Ant baits. Flashlights or lanterns. Strikers for starting campfires.

[mowermech]

The most important thing to remember is a CAN OPENER!
Opening cans with a belt knife is NOT fun!
don't ask.

Other than that, if you need one in your kitchen, your dining room, or your bedroom, you will probably want one in your Travel Trailer.
I don't bother with lists. Everything from boot hooks to dishes to pillows to pots and pans are duplicated in the house and the coach. The only thing we need to add is food and condiments.
Well, this year I will have to reload my Amateur Radio masts and antennas. I took them out last year, need to put them back.

[pitch]

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