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boutdoors · 03-04-2010, 07:33 AM

Hi all,
We are starting to plan our first major cross country trip in our new AS. I am wondering what top 10 essentials you could not live without on the road? They could be tools, accessories, games or even foods. Thought this would be a fun way to use the brain trust here on the forums to add to our list of must haves. Thanks in advance for your responses.
-boutdoors

Bird's Nest · 03-04-2010, 07:43 AM

Water Bottles in the cockpit.
LED Flashlights.
GPS
Slip-on shoes.
Water Purifying Pitcher.
Bikes. (Road. Mt. or both depending on the location)
MacBooks.
All necessary chargers.
2nd set of keys for truck and AS.
Peanut M & M's. (so my husband says)

SilverRanger · 03-04-2010, 07:45 AM

I always carry the usual full set of tools, small air compressor, tire pressure gauge, flashlights (headlamp type), extra sewer hose with splice connector, some parks require the use of a sewer donut, 30-15 AMP adapter, and lots of duct tape, Velcro, and whiskey.

Lily&Me · 03-04-2010, 08:01 AM

Tarp, good coffee/tea, firestarter sticks.

Maggie

DaveFL · 03-04-2010, 08:06 AM

GPS including poi(walmarts, FJ, CW, TA, dump locations, etc.)
CC's and spare in lockbox
Cell phone, laptop
Tools(emergency repair materials, wire, duct tape, plastic sheet, ladder)
Spare parts(sp, sp wire, rotor, ignition module)
Extra sewer pipe to increase length
Electric cord extension, extra hose
outdoor lounger, chair and table
Navigator, copilot and chef(maybe she will post her 10)
A lot of this stuff stays in MH but I do check to make sure it is still there before departure.

Whirlaway · 03-04-2010, 08:17 AM

Jump'nCarry - Air Compress/ Battery Jump Pack
Honda 2000 /2000 Companion + Justrite safety gas can
Lug Nut Torch Wrench (I religiously Torch each tire prior to every trip it use to drive my old boyfriend CRAZY! It's a girl thing)
Printed Mapquest directions in case the GPS is wrong or not working
Wooden Cane to check the tires at rest stops
Small electric heater to take the chill off when attached to electric power
Rawhide Treats and tennis balls for the dog
Water to drink 1 gals size
Small Cooler to load all items that can spill and break i.e., beer, milk if the refrig opened by accident
Hand wipes for the kitchen & bath area

These things are loaded on AS or in TV so I do not have to put them in and out every trip. The exception is generators & gas can.

david686 · 03-04-2010, 08:30 AM

Money, cash in small denominations - just in case.

boutdoors · 03-04-2010, 08:36 AM

Whirlaway is that a GSP I see as your profile pic? Our GSP turns 1 today! Love em.

Bluto · 03-04-2010, 08:56 AM

Water Thief
50 to 30amp connector
Windex
paper towels
A/S manual
Grease for ball on hitch
WD-40
rain jacket
gloves to use when working with sewer hose
waterless hand soap
sun glasses

BillTex · 03-04-2010, 09:05 AM

Some fine Ale for the P.M.

Strong coffee for the A.M.

Jammer · 03-04-2010, 09:11 AM

Well, there are more than ten essentials, and it depends on who you're traveling with and where you're going. Here are some ideas to consider beyond the basic and obvious things.

1. I like to travel to remote areas where it may be an hours' drive to a drug store. I have two nylon stuff sacks that have one of pretty much every over-the-counter item that someone could want badly enough to warrant a late night drug store run. Family members and guests can help themselves as necessary, and I go through the stuff sacks before each season to replenish any missing or expired items.

2. I carry a tire plugging kit, a small air compressor, spare tires for the tow vehicle and trailer, jacks, and the wrenches necessary to change tires.

3. The inability to retract electric tongue jacks, levelers, awnings, and slides is common enough that you want to be sure you have whatever wrenches, cranks, etc., are necessary to do this manually. On most Airstreams the tongue jack is the only potential problem area.

4. I carry a basic tool kit including: a screwdriver with interchangeable bits, an adjustable wrench, two sizes of pliers, electrical tape, duct tape, cotton gloves, jumper cables, zip ties, a small LED flashlight, a 12 volt test light, and three flares. Depending on the situation, where I'm going, how long I'll be away, and what I'm going to do, I might bring more, but that's the minimum.

5. Hook up wise you want to have whatever is appropriate for the anticipated situation. For full hookups you will want a sewer elbow and doughnut and some way to support the hose. If you think the site layout might be a little dodgy you might bring extra lengths of cord and hose. I carry a Y fitting for fresh water hose in case I have to share with someone for whatever reason.

6. I carry a variety of chocks, leveling blocks, and plywood blocking to support the tongue jack and leveling jacks on soft ground and level the trailer left to right.

7. A Bible, Book of Common Prayer, hymnal, deck of cards, a chess/checkers/backgammon set, and a couple of novels keep mind and soul engaged in the event of delays. Also a compact musical instrument if you play one

8. Some sort of portable safe may be helpful if you anticipate leaving valuable items in the trailer, e.g. while swimming or boating

Yhottys · 03-04-2010, 09:43 AM

1. Gnome, please see: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ome-61858.html

2. Humor, see #1

3. Patience (that probably should top the list)

4. Candles, preferrably Diptyque. They came in handy during a recent trip when we were boondocking and forgot to fill up the gas can AND Honda eu3000is

5. Baby wipes and Chlorox Disinfecting Wipes

6. Suncreen

7. Cash

8. Wind up flashlight and radio

9. Bucket

10. Paper plates that we can either use as compost or additional fire starters after they been used.

Whirlaway · 03-04-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boutdoors

Whirlaway is that a GSP I see as your profile pic? Our GSP turns 1 today! Love em.

She's the best...

Lin.

2airishuman · 03-04-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boutdoors

Hi all,
We are starting to plan our first major cross country trip in our new AS. I am wondering what top 10 essentials you could not live without on the road? They could be tools, accessories, games or even foods. Thought this would be a fun way to use the brain trust here on the forums to add to our list of must haves. Thanks in advance for your responses.
-boutdoors

Phoenix · 03-04-2010, 12:26 PM

If you have room, a floor jack...

If we'd have had one in Mexican Water, AZ, when we had our last Marathon tire blowout, it would have saved us six hours sitting by the side of the road and $400 for a tow truck to come Cortez, Co., to change the tire (later reimbursed by our insurance company).

That's the first thing I bought when we stopped at the next WalMart.

Diesel1 · 03-04-2010, 12:55 PM

A regular old fashioned map, Cash, Colt, model of 1911.

Steelegood · 03-04-2010, 03:13 PM

I'm still thinking about my top 10, but I do believe it appears that the first item I need is a second trailer, utility, to tow all the top 10 necessary items!

GO Bob · 03-04-2010, 06:50 PM

All that is needed is food and drink. The rest just stuff we think we need. I have a 20 page list of stuff I think I need.

MsRivet · 03-04-2010, 06:55 PM

GPS (Lee Garmanita is her name. She tends to take us to cemeteries & churches. Not sure what she is trying to tell us.)

Driver (Will hopefully take you to your destination . . . Unless one doubts GPS.)

Navigator (Awake & sober . . . Back seat drivers are always welcome.)

Bikes (Emergency vehicle . . . Just incase.)

Latex gloves (You never know . . . Also good for the dump station visits.)

French Press & Coffee (Only the good stuff on our expeditions.)

Liqueur (For the coffee of course. You know you'll start drink'n early. Might as well begin with breakfast. That's how I roll.)

PBR (If you are going to be trailer trashé you gotta do it right! At least be authentic about it. You know you want one.)

Camera (To catch those most memorable moments we all want to forget. Oh yeah!)

Extra Chairs (Everyone ends up at our camp . . . Wonder why? Gulp! Gulp!)

Pimped out Blue Boy (Never know when you might need it . . . A competition of some sort could break out at a moments notice.)

Oooopppps . . . That's eleven. You can take away any one of the above items at your own risk. Think about it . . . Which essential item could you live without?