Suggestions - Things to pack ?

[karyb72]

Just upgraded from a pop-up to a 25 foot self contained (yeah)
wondering what y'all might suggest to "keep" in the camper for the season..
I am soooo used to packing up rubbermaid bins prior to the trip.
I was thinking, bath towels, plastic wear...what else?
I know you seasoned folks out there must have some tricks...or a new camping gadget must have?

[Lucas874]

You'll be surprised to find out how much stuff accumulates, which we found out when we needed to clean out our trailer this fall to trade it in on a newer model.  We keep pots/pans, toiletries, space heaters, chairs, snack trays, toys, appliances, ah the list goes on and on in the trailer...basically the only thing we pack is food and clothes.  Enjoy the new TT....

[Thats Camping!]

Congrats on the upgrade!

I agree, a lot of stuff does accumulate. The only thing we pack for a trip is basically food, towels, clothes, laptop, camera. Most everything else is in the RV already, like toothbrushes, shampoo, pots/pans, toaster, tv, plates, heater, fan, coffee maker. Anything you can find a duplicate of, keep it in the RV.

I keep a packing list that I print out each week to remind me of what should be in there, and what I need to bring.

While you are camping, write down things as you think of them, and bring them next time.

[Conquest]

Coffee and a coffee maker. End of list.

[mdcamping]

Did some one say coffee and coffee maker... thats like priority #1 one my list..    If I don't have that I'll turn around and go back home ! LOL

[Thats Camping!]

Don't you guys know campgrounds sell coffee!?? hahaa. 

I guess I don't understand the attraction. I am a tea drinker myself! But my husband can sympathize. He gets cranky headaches if he doesn't get AM coffee!

[MonIvy]

Same here - the only thing we have to pack when we go is clothes and food - and we do not bring bags or suitcases - just carry the clothes out in laundry baskets and put them away in camper.  We go grocery shopping before we leave and load the food in as well.  Everything else is already in there.  When we get home, we wash the used towels and sheets and put them right back in the camper for next trip.  It took us a few trips out to have everything in there we needed.   We did buy a lot of new stuff for the camper, however some things we bought new for the house and put the older ones in the camper - like the towels.   Have fun with you new camper! Oh don't forget to pack games - that's must for us at night. 

[Thats Camping!]

ooh that is a great tip...how to carry in your clothes and such. We do the same thing. Baskets and then put them right away.

We also use soft cloth laundry bags and if we are away for a week, we usually always do a mid week laundrymatt run.

KEEP THESE IDEAS COMING! I am going to combine them for an article on the front page. Awesome tips!

[GaryWT]

Being seasonal, we do it a little different.  Each week we bring home the hamper with dirty cloths and a trash bag with the towels etc.  We wash and load the hamper up (after cleaning it) with the clean towels and any sheets etc.  I usually though my clothes in there as well.  Many weeks we stop on the way to do the shopping that way we avaoid coolers etc.

[Thats Camping!]

That's a good point, Gary....coolers.

We don't use coolers either.

The night before, we try to load up the fridge and cabinets with all our food. We try not to stop on the way up, but usually never bring enough food for the whole trip, so we always go shopping mid week. I know lots of you shop on the way up, but we usually don't...probably because we just want to get to our destination!

And make sure to allow yourself enough time for the fridge to cool down, so the RV needs to be plugged in a day or at least a few hours before you want to stock the fridge.

[NewEnglandCamper]

All good suggestions. I'm not sure I have anything extra to offer.

* We always keep an extra set of sheets.
* Non perishable food items and food wraps (e.g., aliumnum foil, sandwich bags, etc.)
* If you can keep your fridge plugged in between trips it may save you from emptying condiments, extra beverages, and then having to clean the mold from it. I aways hated doing this in our popup.
* a set of everyday tools (a screwdriver comes in handy ever know and then)
* camping lights (DW has a set for each season and then some)
* extra blankets (in case you run out of propane on a cool spring/fall night)
* appliances: toaster oven, crock pot, coffee pot, hair dryer, curling iron, etc.
* extra shampoo, conditioner, soap, laundry soap, extra tp, etc.

you have some shopping to do! 

[Thats Camping!]

Terrific suggestions, Bob!!! Great details.

Although, you can avoid the mold problem by just keeping the fridge door open while it's off. We do that at home, and don't get any mold.

[NewEnglandCamper]

Good idea. Although I don't suggest this while traveling. 
In our situation our fridge was up against the slideout so opening the door was not possible.

[bowcamper]

Hi All -- I have some friends that are newbie tent campers this year.  They have kids, all under 5years old.  Does anyone have a packing list they would like to share for tent camping with kids??  I am going to share my list with them, but it has been a while since I had little ones and was in a tent...
Thanks!!

[Thats Camping!]

I have the old list available that campermom wrote:

http://www.thatscamping.com/index.php/camping/single/what-to-pack-for-camping/

the link to the pdf file is listed in the above article. I think tent camping is fairly similar to popup camping in a lot of ways, so it should help.