Camping essetials list! What would you add?

[loislane]

My best friend and her family just got a popup. They have tent camped in the past, but not for a few years now. I'm working on a list for her of must-have and nice-to-have items, as well as some useful tips. Since many of you are much more seasoned campers than I am, is there anything you would add to the list?

Essential/must have stuff:
*Sturdy tent stakes and tie downs to hold your awning in place
*A hatchet – you can hammer with the flat side and cut kindling with your campfire with the other.
*Rug for under your awning – we went to Lowes and had them cut a piece of indoor/outdoor green carpet. That’s the cheap route. For more money, you can get an outdoor rug with finished edges.
*Matches/long lighter
*Duct tape
*Basic tool set – screwdrivers, pliers, and a few adjustable wrenches at least.
*A level – we keep one in the camper for when we set it up. You can also buy stick-on levels to put on the outside of your camper (when you have it perfectly level) if you prefer
*Bug spray
*Sun screen
*Dustpan and broom
*Flashlight
*Some lightweight rope. Never know when you’ll need a clothesline or to tie something down
*Dish towels – bring plenty!
*Pot holders – the come in handy!
*Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, sandwich bags.
*Dish soap and a sponge – you can get nice smaller bottles of dish soap at the dollar store. Store the bottle in a plastic bag when you are traveling – they tend to leak, at least mine do!
*Cleaner wipes or a small spray bottle of cleaner – trust me, every surface in your camper will get dirty fast and you don’t want bugs.
*Ant traps – ants and camping seem to go together, so we usually have a trap or two handy.
*Batteries – a supply of whatever sizes you need for your flashlights, lanterns, etc.
*A pop-up hamper for dirty clothes. Easy storage when not in use.
*First aid kit!!! A MUST HAVE. Make sure you bring bandaids, pain killers, antacids, etc., etc., etc. with you.
*A heavy duty outdoor extension cord. Maybe even 2.
*A water hose suitable for drinking water. Again, maybe 2 – sometimes the hookups are not as close to your camper.
*A water pressure regulator – you’ll want one of these if you hook up to a campground water supply at your site to regulate the pressure of the water coming into your camper. It makes sure you don’t blow out the water lines on your camper.
*Tire chocks – don’t want that sucker rolling away. ‘Nuff said!
*Assorted small pieces of wood that will fit under your stabilizers so they don’t sink into the soft ground.
*Assorted pieces of wood for leveling the camper – they go under the tires on whichever side needs to be higher. You can also buy leveler blocks.
*A voltage meter – plug this into one of your outlets to make sure your power supply is correct.
*Fly swatter




Nice to have stuff:
*Dollar store disposable tablecloths. Bring extra because you may want to cut one in half lengthwise and cover the benches of the picnic table, especially if it’s been raining!
*Some kind of folding/easy to store outdoor table. You usually want an extra surface to set your outdoor kitchen up on so you can use the picnic table for eating.
*Deck of cards – never know when you’ll get stuck inside in the rain and want something to do
*We always have a big coffee can – It can keep your toilet paper dry OR serve as a worm container if you like to fish. Or just be used to hold any neat stuff you find.
*A toaster – if you have electric hookup, it’s nice to have a little $10 toaster in there for Pop Tarts, waffles, toast, etc.
*An electric kettle and/or a teapot – hot cocoa, instant coffee, tea, hot water for oatmeal.
*Sugar/sweetener packets – much easier than trying to figure out a sugar container. I just throw a few handfuls in a small plastic container and know it’s all contained and won’t attract bugs.
*Rubbermaid bread container – keeps your bread fresh, squish free and keeps it from attracting bugs – or from letting bugs get into it.
*Crock pot and liners – throw your dinner stuff in in the morning and go have fun! Dinner will be ready when you get back!
*A collapsible strainer – at some point you will want/need one, but you won’t want to store a big one.
*An electric griddle – great for making pancakes for the masses.
*A small tabletop propane grill. We cook almost exclusively on ours – much nicer cooking outside the camper but we are not charcoal grill people. We’ve never used the charcoal grill at any of our campsites.
*A big plastic bowl – use it to mix pancake batter or serve a salad.
*Disposable aluminum pans – I wash and reuse them. They are nice to have to put things hot off the grill in. Fill it with burgers and then just deliver to the table to serve.
*A dishpan for your sink – the sinks usually never hold water well for washing dishes. I bring the pan right out to the table when we eat and everyone puts their dirty stuff in it when they are done. Makes it easy to clear the table, carry the dirty stuff in and then I just fill it and wash up.
*Sturdy coated paper plates and plastic utensils – sometimes you just don’t want to wash dishes!
*A big tray with handles to carry food, plates, etc. in and out of the camper at mealtimes. Just load it up and go!
*A napkin holder that will keep your napkins from blowing away in the wind.
*A utensil caddy for easy transport of your silverware at mealtimes – sometimes there is even space for your napkins in it.
*A small shovel – good for digging worms.
*A power strip – campers don’t have a lot of outlets.
*Indoor extension cord – sometimes an outlet inside just isn’t where you need it to be.
*A folding stepstool
*Awning lights – make your site look nice and also provide nice lighting at night.
*Solar lights – we have two that we put in the ground where we stake the awning down. This way, no one trips over the ropes. Plus, it’s nice they come on automatically when it’s dark – no need to remember to plug them in.
*Folding camp chairs – they take up a lot of space even when in the bag, but that’s not really a problem if you bring them out and set them up right away. We usually use them around the fire pit if we have one. The only place we never used them was at Disney.
*Hand sanitizer and lotion.
*Travel/sample size shampoos, etc.
*Plastic basket with handle for transporting your soap, shampoo, etc. to the showers – you want something you can bring right in the shower stall with you so you can easily get your shampoo to use.
*Heavy duty clothespins


Tips:
*Pots and pans – obviously you need them but don’t have space for a full set like at home. Pick a few strategic pieces that can be used for multiple things.
*I like to store things – like my cooking utensils – in clear plastic shoeboxes. I just write on the outside in a Sharpie so I know what’s in each one.
*We have a bigger Rubbermaid tote with a locking lid that we keep all our “outside” stuff in - awning tie downs, citronella candles, tablecloths and clips, etc. We store it just inside the door of the camper while traveling so it’s the first thing out. Then we slide it under the camper while we’re on site so it’s within easy reach. Just less stuff to clutter up the inside, but it’s safe and protected from the weather and critters.
*I have an assortment of towels, washcloths, dish towels, and pillowcases that we only use in the camper. I store them in the camper all season long – laundering between trips obviously – and they get stored in the off season in those space bags that you vacuum all the air out.
*Square and rectangular containers seem to work best in the camper fridges.
*You can premake some foods like taco meat and freeze flat in a Ziploc bag before your trip. It will thaw slowly in the fridge while you travel and then you can just reheat and eat for dinner. This works really well in conjunction with the crock pot!

 

[Disneypeach]

wow! great list...I see several things I've missed on my camping list.
thanks!
Peach

 

[TinCanTee]

You've really got a good list. I might add a journal to keep track of mileage, time traveled, etc. so I have a record of wear on things like wheel bearings, mpg on my tow vehicle, etc. I also make notes about the campgrounds I visit like favorite site numbers, amenities (or lack thereof). Those plastic coffee cans also make great (whispers) covered chamber pots in a tent or pop up for middle-of-night calls. Oh...and don't forget a cork screw and something to use it on (thus the need for the chamber pot ).

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Since many of you are much more seasoned campers than I am, is there anything you would add to the list? . . .

1) Money.
2) Some more money.
3) Maybe even a little more money.

 

[loislane]

1) Money.
2) Some more money.
3) Maybe even a little more money.

So true! LOL

 

[airboat48]

a cardboard box oven

 

[Mfisc]

I would add a small umbrella to keep in the popup... I always forget that on any of my trips and either get wet or have to buy some junk one (usually both)

 

[dekraut]

Forgive me if I missed it in your list: but depending on the time of year they are camping, space heaters are important in a pop-up. They have saved our cold rear ends on several occasions.

If the pop-up doesn't have a potty, a coleman portable toilet can be very convenient in the middle of the night, especially if there are kids.

Flexibility and a sense of humor... all campers need that. Oh the stories I could tell of the things that have gone wrong - like the time I left the cold water faucet open when draining the water lines packing up. I had flipped the galley down. When I hooked up the water line at the next campground, I hadn't flipped up the galley yet, and the faucet was still open. In case you are wondering, an upside-down sink holds no water. I used so many towels. Did I mention it was snowing at the time?

 

[articfox676]

A length of clothesline and pins or clips. There is always something wet to hang.

 

[Maggie at the Fort]

You mentioned pot holders. We like the silicone kind so no worries if they get wet or dropped in the dirt. A couple disposable ponchos are great to have and take almost no room. Also if you are going to be camping in the winter, some hot hands pouches can really save the day! Glowsticks (for kids and adults!) a deck of cards and a cribbage board.

When we came at the Fort I hit the party goods aisle and get fun Mickey paper plates, cups, table clothes etc.

If they do have kids, coloring books and crayons, sidewalk chalk, and a few simple games for rainy days.

 

[loislane]

Thanks everyone - good stuff!

 

[SunshineCamper]

Tips:

*Paper towels, paper towels, paper towels-at least 2 rolls. messes and cleaning

*Spend the $$ buy the $50 outdoor rug-the cheaper outdoor carpet will be VERY heavy when wet and if you live in a state with humidity it will never dry and hold sand. Learned the hard way-messy and heavy.

*New campground: take the map of the campground and circle the sites you like and X the sites that your RV won't fit or has the lack of shade, a tree in the way of your awning etc.

*Flip flops in the showers

*Mesh bag (beach type bag or grocery-reusable) for carrying your clothes to and from your campsite to the Comfort Station/Bathroom. ***You place your towel and clothes to the showers in the mesh bag (or reusable grocery bag)-so you aren’t taking lots of cumbersome duffle bags into the bathroom. There might be a line of people to shower and this saves time.

*Set of bath towels and a set of pool towels for each camper.

*Can opener/Scissors-a MUST (the most forgotten items camping)

*Always keep baking soda on hand-(girl scout tip)-in case of a fire use baking soda on the fire to put it out.

*Disposable containers-Glad ware is great for storing leftovers to heat up again later. These are great for storing butter, hotdogs, etc. in coolers from getting soggy. (if you don’t have a fridge)

* Keep baking soda in your (RV) fridge while not in use-keep it fresh smelling

*WD40 and ant spray killer

*laundry detergent etc. Quarters for ice and laundry

*Plastic shoe rack from Walmart to hang outdoor shoes-keeps snakes and critters from using your shoes as a home

*Next Exit book or App

 

[Caelan Van Kanne]

I think, everything has been added to the lists needed in camping. Thanks for the tips!

 

[smadath]

A dutch oven, in addition to the crock pot, for real campfire cooking.

A compass, in case one or more goes hiking and gets lost. It's easier than a lot of people think to get turned around, even if you're on a trail!

 

[PEC]

Did I miss toilet paper. Understand Fort Wilderness CS are normally stocked but a roll or 2 just in case is not a bad idea. My family did an 8 mile hike in the woods close to the house the other day and they thought I was crazy bringing a roll for that. Of course they thought I was a genius around the 3-4 mile mark.