Packing and unpacking a travel trailer or RV can be a strenuous undertaking for frequent campers. Reduce some of the prep time by keep these basic items in your camper--you won't need to reload each time you plan a trip. When you're ready to embark, simply add your food, linens, clothes and other personal items. Maintaining a camper stocked with essentials also lessens your chance of forgetting a basic tool like a flashlight as you pack up for the great outdoors.
Lighting Supplies
No camper is fully prepared without several flashlights: before each trip, test the flashlights and bring along extra batteries for emergencies. Also have on hand waterproof and long-handled matches to make lighting campfires more convenient.
Kitchen Box
Keep a sturdy, lockable "kitchen box" of cooking gear in your camper. Bring cookware such as a skillet, Dutch oven or grill utensils; include a set of tableware--plate, bowl, mug and cutlery--for each family member. A can opener, wooden spoon, spatula, pot holder, corkscrew, coffeepot and chef's knife come in handy on every trip. The kitchen box container doubles as an animal-proof food-storage container when in camp.
Tool Box
Stock your tool box with essentials like a hammer, nails, screwdrivers, scissors, pliers, rope and clothespins. Store a small shovel for digging fire pits or burying waste. If you plan on building fires, include a camp saw or axe for chopping wood, but wrap the blades in cardboard to prevent injury when reaching into the tool cabinet.
Camp Maintenance Products
Trash bags for waste, biodegradable dish soap for after-dinner cleanup, rubber gloves, antibacterial hand sanitizer, sponges and paper towels are essential for maintaining a tidy camp. Keep a roll of heavy-duty aluminum foil in the camper for lining barbecue grills or roasting foods. Have baby wipes handy for cleaning up sticky spills.
Personal Care
Stock your RV's first-aid kit with alcohol pads, bandages, pain relief tablets and other necessities for treating common ailments like insect bites, sunburn or poison ivy rash. Keep a basket of sunscreen, insect repellent, biodegradable shampoo and conditioner, anti-inch lotion, body wash and toilet paper in one of the RV's cabinets.
Recreational Gear
Board games, a deck of cards or crossword puzzle books provide quiet camp entertainment. Store your hiking or backpacking gear in the camper. If your favorite campground offers recreational sports, keep tennis rackets, a volleyball or fishing poles in your camper's closet.
References
- California State Parks: Camping Boxes
- "The Campsite Companion: All You Need to Know for the Great Outdoors"; Rob Beattie; 2007.
- "Camping Made Easy: A Manual for Beginners with Tips for the Experienced"; Michael Rutter; 1997.
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