Help for a first time camper

[ebtready2go]

Okay, maybe not a first time camper if you include girl scout camp 20-some years ago!

I'm going to be taking notes from the packing list sticky, but I need some suggestions how you keep your gear dry when driving down in a pick up. We're borrowing my dad's pick up which does not have a cover and even if it did, I don't think we could use it with the bikes back there, right? Do you store your stuff in totes? We can't store in the RV b/c we don't pick up the RV until 12 hours into our trip. What if it rains in that 12 hours??

THANKS! I look forward to a lot of help as I begin to pack!!!!

 

[Stitch76]

My DH and I used to do a lot of tent camping. We had a small pickup (before the kids came along), we found that the plastic totes was our best bet, and then we stretched a large tarp across the back and tied it down over the sides. Be sure to use a soft rope, or pad the sides of the truck where you are tying the tarp down, so not to scratch your truck's paint.
We went through some pretty heavy storms, and a few times when a corner of the tarp blew up a little the totes got a little damp, but our stuff stayed completely dry.
Hope this helps!

 

[chartle]

There are also huge size zip lock bags in the camping section of Walmart.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Packing List,

one word........fish'n poles











okay, maybe two words.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

The tote boxes seem to help keep things organized WHILE yor camping as well. The giant zip locks is a good idea too.

 

[2goofycampers]

Double bags always seem to work better for us.

 

[byejou]

Totes and tarps sound the best.

 

[Christine9125]

We have 2 rubber totes. One has our pans/cooking stuff in them and the other holds are food.

 

[Tigger0624]

This past October we drove up from FL to upstate NJ for a week long camping trip(just with the tents etc, no camper at all) and it POURED for the first 8 hours of the 17 hour drive! We had all of the sleeping bags, pillows etc in huge plastic totes, all the camping gear were in totes and the duffel bags of clothes and jackets were in doubled up contractor strength bags. We left the tent and dining tents just out in their carry bags. Besides that stuff everything else stood bone dry. We originally had a tarp tied down over everything as well, but less than 2 hours into the drive, the tarp tore and caused more problems than it solved... JMO... but this worked out for us... luckily it wasnt raining by the time we got there, I have set up in downpours more times than I care for...