when we head out many things we usually need are already in our Airstream, stored there. The basics of course in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom areas.
Also some board games, cards, a pair of binoculars, a power inverter (small 300 watt), and maps, trailerlife campground guide, magazines, etc. Tools, extra light bulbs, electrical and duct tape, scissors, extra batterries, velcro strips ( handy for holding lots of things together).
To this we ad our needs for the specific trip, not to include of course food, and personal needs.
No matter how prepared I feel like I am, it helps to have a checklist, as we almost always forget something! This last trip we forgot our digital camera, the book I was reading, and new magazines for my wife. Also, ketchup for the kids, which is an item of utmost importance.........
Cool! Thanks for the advice so far. I'm going to have to modify my request to ask what you all keep in your trailers permanently too!
I'm imagining dishes clanging around the cabinets and it occurs to me that I haven't even thought about how you keep stuff _still_ while you're on the go!
As to fuses, THANKS! I would never have thought of that. (Of course I may buy extras and bring them but forget about the possibility that they could actually fix something that goes wrong...)
The one for your tow vehicle often does not fit the trailer. I like the 4-way wrenches that fit most everything and are easy to get leverage on a tough klug nut.
Duct tape.
When I went to Copper Canyon, Mexico, a few years ago, the tour operator required that every RV carry a roll of duct tape. We used to call it 100-knot tape when we used it on our gliders. You can nail down anything loose with it.
Tool kit
I carry one of the fitted toolkits with a variety of wrenches, sockets, and screwdrivers. Sears has this kind of kit, among other places. Mine aren't expensive tools; variety is more useful than quality. I also carry a tire gage and a 12v compressor.
Warm blankets and cell phone
This being winter, even if you stay in motels enroute, some warm blankets will make a breakdown a lot easier to take. I carry a dual-band phone on all longer trips. In analog mode, I can get out on it most paces.
Miscellaneous
Not knowing the condition of the trailer, I don't know whether you will be camping or staying in motels. A campground guide can be handy, but I seldom drag one along anymore.
Throwaway plastic gloves, especially if you will be dumping tanks.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2007 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison LTZ
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
Tee hee! I hadn't even considered a motel - I figured if I can sleep out in a tent, I can sleep in even the worst of trailers. You guys are all gonna be expecting some Lucy type of tale from me when I get back, huh?
But really this one's a real peach. It's pretty much 100% restored, and I can't wait to stay in it!
I've already scoped out campgrounds for the way back...
The more stuff you have dedicated and leave in the trailer, the less there is to forget!
Our Gotta Have's (for the two of us, in no particular order) that stay in the trailer all the time:
Electrical outlet tester and/or cheap multimeter (no point pulling into a spot if the power and water aren't working)
25' 30A extension cord
50' 15A extension cord
30A female to 15A male electrical plug adapter
25' freshwater drinking hose (at least 2)
Water pressure regulator if the trailer doesn't have one.
10'-15' Sewer hose (at least 2)
Trailer to hose coupler
Hose to campgound coupler.
Hose to hose coupler.
Water thief adapter (for putting hose on non-threaded spigots)
Leveling Blocks
Chocks
2' 2X12 board for jack foot
Lock for coupler
Bubble Level (for parking)
Pair of FRS radios & charger (for parking)
Fire extinguisher with at least 1 or 2 A rating, and 5-10 BC preferably non-corrosive, non-residue gas/liquid
LP Leak detector - at least soapy water on all connections, preferably a wired detector inside.
Weather alert radio
2 good flashlights w/spare bulbs & batteries
Spares for all trailer bulbs and fuses
Basic set of tools
Bow saw
Ax
Shovel
Roll of duct tape
Roll of electrical tape
Bundle of long cable ties
Assortment of different bungie cords
GI sewing kit (pins, safety pins, needles, thread, spare buttons of different sizes)
Tweezers
Nail clippers and file
Scissors
120V Dirt Devil vacuum
Folding travel clothes iron
One white, one black spring wire & mesh clothes hampers
Camping World Nesting Pots and Pans
Cast iron skillet
Pizza Pan
Mini crock pot
2 slice bagel toaster
Hand Mixer
4 cup coffee maker
Not sure what cooking utensils the wife has...
4 large plates, 4 small plates, 4 bowls, 4 glasses, 4 coffee mugs, 4 flatware settings
4 bath towels, 4 hand towels, 4 wash cloths
2 fitted sheets, 2 top sheets, 4 pillow cases
1 comforter
2 pillows
TV
Sat Receiver
I'm sure I've left out some of the permanent stuff.
Consumables (check before departing)
Paper Towels (kitchen)
Paper Plates (kitchen)
Coffee Filters (kitchen)
Garbage Bags (kitchen)
Dishwashing Liquid (kitchen)
Sponges/Scrubber Pads (kitchen)
GP Cleaner (409, etc) (kitchen)
Furniture/Dusting Polish (kitchen)
Windex (kitchen)
Carpet/Upholstery Cleaner (kitchen)
Laundry Detergent (kitchen)
Bleach (kitchen)
Rolls of quarters for laundry (kitchen)
Baking Soda (kitchen)
Kitty litter (kitchen)
Disposable butane grill lighters for lighting stove/oven, HWH, frig. (kitchen)
Matches (kitchen)
Bottle of distilled water for battery maintenance (kitchen)
Insect spray (for around wheels, jacks) (kitchen)
Surgical gloves for dumping (water hookup compartment)
Fast Orange Hand Cleaner (water hookup compartment)
Bath Soap (shower)
Shampoo (shower)
Razors/shave cream (vanity & shower)
Toilet Paper (vanity)
Hand Soap (vanity)
Deodorant (vanity)
Kleenex (vanity)
Feminine products (vanity)
Makeup (vanity)
Hair care (vanity)
Tooth brushes, paste, floss (vanity)
Sunscreen (vanity)
Insect repellant (vanity)
Medicines (vanity)
Vitamins, etc (vanity)
First-aid (vanity)
Holding tank chemicals (vanity)
To load in the truck bed:
Rolled up patio rug
8' step ladder
Brush on a pole
50' Garden hose w/nozzle
Wash bucket
Pet carrier disassembled and nested (for emergency trips to the vet)
Portable gas BBQ in pet carrier
Folding Table
Folding Lawn Chairs
Sat dish and cable
Generators and gas cans (hopefully some day)
And that doesn't even cover food, clothes, and things like the cell phone, digital camera, notebook PC, Palm Pilot, that usually come along in the truck on a trip even without the trailer.
A really decent first aid kit, you probably thought of that
A 1 gallon wet and dry vac. It is small, nice to get back in corners, cabinets, and so far I haven't had to use the wet portion.
Rags and an old vinyl table cloth or tarp if you have to get underneath, along with some old disposable clothes and gloves.
Spare engine belt(s). You don't want to know what spares I really carry for my mh.
A good rechargeable spotlight and small led flashlight.
Warning triangles or flares.
That is a tremendous list. That took a lot of time and effort to compile. I keep my checklists in an Air Force Pilot Checklist binder and yours is going in as soon as I can print it up.
Thanks again!!!
__________________
Vic Smith
WBCCI #6782
31' 78 Airstream Excella 500
2001 Ford Excursion V-10
Reese hitch and dual cam sway control
My new baby will be a '69 Globetrotter with blonde wood and the coveted dinette layout. I'll post pictures as soon as I've paid for it.
Thank you thank you Road King - I got four good belly laughs reading your list:
1. The folding travel iron - I haven't ironed anything in at least two years and I've got the big fancy kind and an ironing board and a whole laundry room to do it in!
2. How do you FIT all this STUFF into a TRAILER??
3. Kitty litter - i laughed at myself for thinking you meant this for a cat,
and
4. then I read about the pet carrier!!!
(I've got two cats, but they're not coming near my trailer!!)
RoadKingMoe's list is great for someone who lives in a 34' A/S full time, but it is overkill for getting a trailer home the first time.
He did list some things that I should have listed like levelling blocks, chocks, water hoses, and dump hoses. Some of that may be with the trailer already.
If this is, as I read into it, a go out, get it, and drag it right home mission, go as light as possible; just take the essentials. Then, when you get it home, inventory your storage spaces and make a computer list of what goes where. You can juggle items a lot easier on paper than in the confines of a trailer. Now, go down RoadKingMoe's list and pick off the items that you have a need for and the space to stow.
By the time my trailer was in my driveway for the first time, I had a detailed list of what went where. That made outfitting the trailer a snap and I know exactly where everything resides.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2007 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison LTZ
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
That is a tremendous list. That took a lot of time and effort to compile. I keep my checklists in an Air Force Pilot Checklist binder and yours is going in as soon as I can print it up.
Thanks again!!!
Thanks, Vic. As with flying, the important ones to have in the binder are the preflight, take-off, and landing (setup) checklists. I still need to do these myself! It's too easy to have someone come up and talk to you, distracting you and making you forget something. I'm going to do one for winterizing too. I got distracted this past fall and that pump put a gallon of antifreeze in the hot water heater before I remembered I forgot to bypass it.
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