What I might have missed.

[D-J Wade]

The wife and I are leaving on our real first trip in the teardrop on the 16th of this month. We will be taking a 12 day voyage out to southeast Utah and back home to Oklahoma. I have been racking my brain trying to make sure I haven't forgot to pack anything and make sure the teardrop is all ready to go. With that being said I would like to hear from all of you guys about things you forgot to do or pack for your trips so I can watch out and not make the same mistakes.

[mechmagcn]

Well.... I usually stick to the "You're seldom more than 50 miles from a Wal-Mart" theory. So If I forget something, I end up with an extra
But also, when my wife and I first started camping I would let her pack for a trip and then when she wasn't looking I would put half of it back Never really had a disaster where we couldn't make do with what we had on hand. After a few trips you will see what is needed and what is not. If I haven't used it in 3 trips, then it stays at home unless I have plans for it.

[Aaron Coffee]

My spare trailer tire. Saturday at the second ITG got thinking I hadn't seen my spare tire for the teardrop(a Chrysler compact spare), checked and didn't have it, asked around about any nearby salvage yards, but they weren't open on Saturdays, thought about and just took my chances going home, made it home with no problems, but just knowing that I didn't have a spare kind of worried me. Other things I have forgot are a blanket, luckily it was August so a cheap lap blanket from Wal-mart worked, also picked up a adapter to hook my extension cord to an rv electrical hookup(30amp?). Once I forgot food, went to the Black Hills and was Camping at Custer State Campground, I had intended on going into Custer to pick up groceries, but was tired from the drive, so I just made a meal that night of potato chips pop.

[Corwin C]

Well.... I usually stick to the "You're seldom more than 50 miles from a Wal-Mart" theory. So If I forget something, I end up with an extra

Ahem ... South East Utah ... 200 miles from Walmart isn't hard to do. We are pretty remote. Just make sure you have the things that can't be easily bought on the road (medication, glasses, etc.) A blanket, coleman fuel, propane, or that forgotten ingredient in you favorite dutch oven recipe can be found in many places. Part of camping is being flexible and rolling with the hand Carma and/or Murphy deals to you. Take some basic tools, jumper cables, good spare, extra water (it is the desert you know), and keep the fuel tank above 1/2 full (sometimes it's a long way to the next gas station too.)

Have fun!!

[jdarkoregon]

There is a chance you will forget something, but you will make do just fine without it. IF it is all that important, you won't forget it next time.

Pack and GO

John

[DMcCam]

I'm sure you've already done it but, check the bearings maybe?

Cheers,

Dave

[Shadow Catcher]

One of the advantages of having Compass Rose is that the essentials stay in CR so no chance of leaving them home. One suggestion is do an over night close to home before the big trip as a shake down.

[48Rob]

One suggestion is do an over night close to home before the big trip as a shake down.

Yes, very good advice!

We also keep everything except money, clothes, food, and water in the trailer so each trip out is much more enjoyable, not having to worry and spend a lot of time trying to remember what to pack.
We get water at the campground, or somewhere on the way, and we have a lot of fun checking out small town grocery stores to get the extra things we need for the trip (we keep the cooler cool by bringing frozen foods from home).

Rob

[D-J Wade]

DMcCam, thanks for the reminder about the bearings, I had forgot to put in a couple of pumps of grease in them.
CorwinC, that's what I was thinking too about southeast Utah. Not a lot around. We when out to the Four Corners area a few years back with our kids in tow but we stayed in motels not camping.
I guess I'm just worried I'll forget the camera again like I have on the last three or four trips so it's got me paranoid that my packing and preparedness isn't as good as it was a few years ago. Thanks for the replies everybody and keep them coming I have seven more days to be reminded by somebody else that I forgot something before we leave.

[deceiver]

If you lock your car, teardrop, and tongue box then put a set of car keys in the camper and camper keys in the tongue box (hidden) and make sure you have a tongue box key someplace that you can get to it if one of the keys gets misplaced, lost, or locked in the car. The key to the tongue box will give you access to everything.