Over packing

[ezmom]

Hi and thanks for all the advice I have recieved while lurking. But now my family of 4 has less than a week to experience our 1st tent camping adventure. Anyway I have made list after list and feel like everything that I have planned for is necessary. We are only eating out once so I feel like it is necessary to take a whole grocery store and a complete Kitchen. But as far as fun things to take is that necessary. I just don't want the kids 2.5, 6.5 to get bored while we are cooking and hanging out. We are taking 4 bikes which we know are a must but what is the one thing that I can do with out? Oh and I plan on packing everything in totes instead of suitcases, is this a BAD idea?

5 days to go and the BYRD"S migrate to DISNEY!!!!! :

Amy (MOM)
Greg(DAD0

 

[ntsammy5]

Totes work well. The only time I under pack is when I'm carrying it on my back - when I car camp I take everything I can, especially lots of beer and wine. Enjoy.

Have fun!

BTW you can always get groceries at Wally World when you get there!

 

[LONE-STAR]

Firm believer in over packing. We even bring the kitchen sink.

 

[3gr8kids]

My motto ~ better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

Have fun!!

 

[We4mickey]

We always use totes. It keeps everything nice and dry. If you don't have what you need you can always pick it up, but my motto is you can probably live without it for a few days.

 

[ezmom]

Thanks everyone for making me feel better. Ithink I am going to try to atleast try the space saver bag for the bedding. That will help.
My husband is threatening to buy a truck just to haul this down. Oh well atleast I am not alone in overpacking. Must be a woman thing

Amy (ME)
Greg(Hubby)
Zachary(6.5 DS)
Emily(2.5 DD)

 

[LONE-STAR]

Thanks everyone for making me feel better. Ithink I am going to try to atleast try the space saver bag for the bedding. That will help.
My husband is threatening to buy a truck just to haul this down. Oh well atleast I am not alone in overpacking. Must be a woman thing

Amy (ME)
Greg(Hubby)
Zachary(6.5 DS)
Emily(2.5 DD)

I say tell him to go get the truck. Make it a 1 ton crew cab diesel then your ready to pull what ever size trailer you need to haul everything. Thats what we did.

 

[disney4dan]

I would say pack whatever you can fit and tow! I was questioning all the tools I brought, thinking that in all the trips we've gone on I had not needed them for fixing things along the way and was thinkng the extra weight was not necessary.

Luckily, I kept them in as I ended up having to replace the power converter on the trailer and needed my electrical tools and some of the heavy gauge wire I keep handy (always figured I'd need it to ensure I had electric brakes if there was a short or fire in the wiring harness).

We used pretty much all the "stuff" we brought, had lots of options for entertainment while waiting out afternoon showers at the trailer. Our trip was busier than planned, so our meals were mostly quick prep options. However, DW planned ahead and prepped some ribs for an easy meal cooked in the crock pot on low most of the day, then we put them on the grille at the last minute to crisp them up - the kids are still talking about that dinner. The crock pot liner bags made it an easy meal to deal with after.

 

[Mickey Canada]

Ya ...... living the packing the van dream now ....we're hitting the road in a couple days!!!

It's not only a women thing ...it's also a man thing!!

I am going to post pictures of our van when I am done packing!!

 

[ezmom]

Good to know that I won't be the only one dragging the family van down with all this stuff. I know it would be easy to stay at a hotel but I really think this will be a great 1st experience (camping) for our family.

Thanks bunches!!

 

[bradisgoofy]

Over packing? You want to know over packing? Talk to my DW, we have a 38' motorhome and she knows how to over pack.






Only kidding, honey.

 

[CCIntrigue]

Over packing? Not in my vocabulary! Decide what you need and then cross half of it off your list.

I can pack for a week-long business trip in one carry on bag. In the MH about 40% of our storage space stays empty -- and we plan to keep it that way! (but if anyone in our family over packs, it's my DH)