What do you carry in your AS?

[jmichaelr]

I am a rank newbie, having picked up our used Airstream (1997 Excella 25') this week. I have noted that many of you seasoned AS'ers have said that the tendency is to take too much "stuff" when you travel. Is there anywhere on the Airstream Forum where folks ave posted a listing or inventory of what you should take with you and what to leave at home?

Mike Randleman

[purman]

Food and plenty of it. Chairs for sitting in, nice soft cozy ones, don't buy the cheap ones..

It's always good to have a tool box w/ wrenches hammer screw driver all the essentials., I carry wire, tape to fix stuff with. If your trailer is older you may want to bring more things for fixing things.

And any toys you like, Boats, bikes etc.

There are some list of stuff people bring, hopefully someone will post a link for you.

The tendency is to bring to much stuff. After your first few trips take out the stuff you don't use and add stuff you want..

[moosetags]

A fairly complete tool box is number one including an 18 volt cordless drill (so that it can also be used for the stabilizers) and a variety of screws, bolts, and nuts.

Brian

[Mikethefixit]

I'm like Brian ,a 18 Volt Cordless Drill and several size rivets, rivet gun (Manual) Screwdrivers and a box full of wrenches. Oh I forgot a 12volt compressor and an 8ft stepladder. Why,Cause I got caught in Michigan last yr with the tv antenna up and could not get it down. I had to move a 150gal oil tank around and a short step ladder to get on top of the AS. Never again,as long as I have room in the truck for the ladder.
Wire,wire strippers,krimp connectors, 12volt test light .I probably could go on but U get the idea.I'm fairly well prepared for any emergency on the road. This is mostly the stuff I carried as a trucker,except for the ladder.
We always carry both summer clothes and winter jackets and raincoats.
You just never know.
Roger

[AirsDream]

Originally Posted by Mikethefixit

We always carry both summer clothes and winter jackets and raincoats.
You just never know.

Yes, you do know: if you don't have it, you'll need it for sure and it'll be a long drive to get it. If you take it along, chances are you won't need it and that's really good!

And that's especially true of clothes for us Northern folks - it's always cool of a morning, and it's almost certain to rain just when we want to be out hitching up, etc.

So - take it ALL along ... that's what trucks are for as tow vehicles!

[overlander64]

Greetings Mike!

Welcome to the Forums!

To an extent, what needs to be packed is dependent upon the type of trip that is being planned. I tend to caravann and attend rallys during most of my expeditions. When rallying or caravanning, I always make sure that I have packed:

• Free-flowing metal water hose "Y" (for daisy-chaining water connection).
• Three 50' 3/4" potable water hoses (for daisy-chaining water connection when a neighbor leaves before the end of the rally).
• Hose mounted external water pressure regulator.
• Supply of extra hose washers for potable water hoses.
• One 25' and one 50' 30-AMP RV extensions cord (rally and caravan parking often places electric service further than normal from the coach).
• A selection of electrical adapters -- 15-AMP to 30-AMP, 50-AMP to 30-AMP -- I carry two of each being sure that at least one has a short cord to permit connection to a crowded service box.
• A black washing machine hose (to connect to the dump valve cap) to drain graywater into blue-boy tank.
• Thetford dump valve cap with hose adapter (best to carry two or more spares as Thetford caps can be difficult to find when on road).

Kevin

[nswhite]

All the above plus 2 Waterford crystal wine glasses. (They're well packed.)

[danalee]

First aid kit, incluuding sunblock, bandaids etc paper products-when its just the two of us we wash dishes, bug spray, flashlights and batteries, sketch book, camera among the other routine stuff.

[dstalzer]

Make sure you carry some blocks for leveling in addition to all the above. Take only what you need, as too much stuff will make life difficult as you sort through it at the campsite.

[sempi2]

Don't forget the wine for the wine glasses.

[RangerJay]

Our "just in case" kit includes pretty much all of the tools and accessories mentioned here, and some more, with the possible exception of the 8 foot step ladder - but I would offer that a step stool will meet most of your needs EXCEPT actually getting up to the roof (if you actually have to get up there just about every coach and big 5th wheel in the campground will have something that will do the trick).

Not mentioned that we include on every trip is:

Spare bulbs and spare fuses.

12 volt compressor.

I assume you have a bottle jack already - but what works well with it is a single axle stand - ours has bailed us out of a number of situations - but has rarely seen an actual axle!

Another handy item to have when crawling under the trailer is a short version of one of those high-density foam mattresses.

We also carry small spray bombs of a number of lubricants: WD40, silicone and graphite as well as small squeeze tubes of di-electric and lithium grease.

The only really big items in my tool kit are an adjustable wrench, pipe wrench and torque wrench.

My last item is a 4 foot length of iron pipe that will give me the leverage to change any tire in the middle of nowhere ..... you know, those spots where you don't have the cell phone coverage to call your Emergency Road Service folks .....



Jay

[Mikethefixit]

Mike I forgot to say "Welcome to the forums" Do you find it amazing that we carry all that stuff. I do. I also carry alot of the things that other people mentioned. Its amazing what you can get into a 8 ft pickup bed. Some of the things are carried in the Airstream but most I think are in the truck.

[Bluto]

Extra wheel bearing set, grease and a grease seal for the trailer. A repair manual for the trailer and one for the tow vehicle.

[ZoominC6]

Zip lock bags with ice in the freezer for the party once you get all set up in the park!!!!

[sd90mac]

Welcome to the forum.

You also need food, clothes, jacket, toilet paper, paper towels, charcoal (unless you have a gas grill) lighter to light pilot lights, cork screw (for the wine and glasses) camera, lap top, (we never leave home with out one, or two) dog food for furry kid, dog toys, bags to lean up after pooch poops.

We have 2 of the items in the kitchen you use the most. One home and one in Bertha. Thank heaven fo dollar stores.

Good luck, and see you down the road.

Marie

[nick6930]

Welcome, an absolute must is couple good flashlights and a plug in light for outside, a fire extinguisher, duct tape, leveling and stabilizer blocks and like everyone said a good tool box. I use an open top bag from lowes and I am in it 5-6 times a day but with mine something is always breaking or leaking.

[Rebee]

I agree with everything, you just can not get it all in the trailer.

I do carry a 12 ton bottle nose jack and a board/piece of metal to put under jack (soft ground) and a wrench or socket to fit the large nut on the wheel hub. I have done brake repairs, adjustments and tire changes while on the road and on the side of the road.

A good quality burbon is essential for when you finish.

dale

[Bluto]

Some eye candy is always a plus in any trailer and makes travelling more fun too!

[Isadora]

Originally Posted by sempi2

Don't forget the wine for the wine glasses.

don't forget the cork puller for the wine bottle (don't ask how I know) unless you drink the stuff with a screw cap or in a box

[kstampa]

a drill with socket tip for running the leveling jacks up and down. and a bottle of liquor. with the bottle you'll care less about what you forgot to bring...