General Checklist for Essential Gear on Long Term Trip

[mota32]

I need to get a checklist of essential gear (this will vary) to take a long distance/long term trip. I'm planning to leave at the end of May when my kids get out of school. They going to their mothers' house
and I'm going RVing. Probably starting at Outer Banks NC seashore, then maybe Gettysburg, Washington DC, then who knows. On this type of trip gear is life. Please help newbie get it right. It probably only me but possibly one companion. No pets no kids. Would like to pull with my Jeep GC but will prob use my 95 Suburban as it more suited for travel

[Blazing_Zippers]

We made a list that we keep in the computer and print it out for every trip we take. Some of the items are not needed, and we cross those off the list. The list has a section pertaining to the house, for closing up the place (turn off water, heater, AC, etc.
We also have a "breakdown" list printed on a pretty paper in a wooden frame that hangs just above the door. This is so I don't forget something before leaving the camp site (steps in, TV ant down, water pump off, etc)
See ya out there

[lizzie]

I live by lists and after over 50 years of camping/RVing, I have made a lot of them. We travel on a budget and don't like to run into WalMart or whatever for things we already have. Google "camping lists" or "RV camping lists" and you will come up with a selection of ready-made ones. Then, look them over and cross out or add to meet your needs. Try to use items for more than one function, especially clothes. Canned and bottled food and drink are heavy and they can be purchased along the way but I take staples and foods that we especially like. A "shake-down" trip where you make a list of everything you need that you did not bring and leave behind what you did not use can be helpful. lizzie

[garyhaupt]

I have been car, tent, VW, and now RV camping all my life and I can tell you what I wish I hadn't done...pack every damned thing I could think of. You are not going off the grid for 6 months...you don't 'need' very much. You will 'want' stuff tho. If you try and cover every contingency you will be over weight and the worst thing is? You'll spend a half hour looking for that piece of 'stuff' and maybe find it, maybe not.

Now..maybe you have to get it all in there. If you can pare it down to what you 'need' and then a few things you 'want'..you'll be a much happier camper. In all my years..I never needed all the wrenches, screw-drivers, jacks, pots-pans, plates, clothing, boots, sweaters,..I still drag around with me.


Gary Haupt

[Dadio24]

Take what you think you must have...Wal-Mart has everything in most emergencies and we are never more than a few miles from a store…emergency phones #s and insurance cards for the entire family, even if not with you…anything can happen, cash extra hidden away when CC are not allowed and medicines.

[A_hitch_and_hop]

As mentioned, Walmart is everywhere except along the highway. I would suggest getting Good Sam roadside insurance as changing a tire along an Interstate is not fun. Check out flares and road emergency warning signs. Also, I was advised by a Mississippi Highway patrol officer that they suggest call 911 or 411 ( what ever the emergency number is in the state your in) and ask that a patrolman come to your assistance if you are topped along the Interstate. H said they would rather park behind you with the lights flashing and do routine paper work, than cleaning up an accident report. In most states it is the law that you must move over a lane if there are flashing lights. I would suggest that you try placing a small piece of masking tape on the items that you take. As you use the item, remove the tape. At the end of the trip, remove the items that still have tape. Now you know what not to take on your next trip.

[Desert_Captain]

Make sure you have a decent spare and all of the tools necessary to change it out. A bottle jack and jack stand, lug and torque wrenches, tire repair kit and even a small portable compressor are all must haves. Trailers are notorious for picking up road junk, it is usually the right rear that catches the worst of it.

Having these items isn't much help if you don't know how and have experience using them. Practice changing a tire in your driveway just to confirm that you can do it quickly and safely as the side of the interstate is no place to linger.

:C

[Dick_B]

If you send me a PM I will send you my several page list of `stuff' we consider when RVing. Let me know what format is best for you. It's in MS Access but I can convert it to Word. If none of those work for you send me your snail mail address and I'll print it out and mail it. Put Checklist in the subject so I know what to do.

[NMDriver]

Fortunately if you are in a busy CG there is somebody nearby who has what you need

Yes me, because I do not like going door to door asking for a pair of pliers to tighten my hose. 😄

[Veebyes]

No matter how good you are, there is always something you will need that you don't have. Household stuff is never an emergency. Tools are needed when they are needed. Fortunately if you are in a busy CG there is somebody nearby who has what you need & is happy to loan a tool along with maybe some advice on the problem.

[ReadyToGo]

First rule, make sure you have all your chargers for all the electronic gear you and your kids will have.
Just about anything else can be bought at thrift stores, or dollar stores. Clothes, pots and pans, etc. Don't worry about tools as you can use my idea, every CG has someone with the correct tool, just ask when you need something.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Climate is what we expect - weather is what we get.

Be sure to include a medium jacket and some long pants. You hopefully won't need them in the summer, but you never know - and you don't want to try to find a coat at the beach in summer.

[midnightsadie]

you wanna watch your list very close, you,ll over pack and be over weight real quick. remember your camping.

[midnightsadie]

roll duck tape.

[oldmattb]

Walmart or the like can solve a lot of sudden problems.

Foul weather clothes. Clothes for working on the RV. A small collection of office supplies - pens, markers, envelopes, some postage, note pads.

Extra phone chargers, list of passwords for accounts and websites, important phone numbers not in your phones.

A credit card or LOC that you could put $10K on in an emergency.

Matt B