What would you take on the road?

[Lynn Coleman]

Hi all,

I'm wondering what you would pack for a six month roadtrip in your T or TTT.

I'm just dreaming here, can't leave for six months yet. But I do have some road trips I'm planning that will put me on the road for two to three months.

So any thoughts, ideas, lists (I love lists) would be helpful.

Lynn

[Kankujoe]

Well 6 months is a long time but my wife & I just did a 9 day trip (a different campsite every night & a few stops each day) and found out that we are glad we can stand up & sit in our TTT. It sure is nice to have room enough to change standing up indoors. And our several stops & detours were more comfortable with the standing/sitting room.

A few months back I was convinced that I would build a traditional TD... now I'm sure that if I build anything new it will have standing room or be able to expand to have standing room.

More to your question... we found that we pack way too much stuff. Essentials would be about a weeks worth of clothing for each season of travel. Two comfortable chairs, an awning or tarp, our bikes, our kayak, computer with lots of DVDs, kitchen set up, folding table, outdoor mats, books (especially travel & history), iPods, books on tape, cameras, travel chargers & rechargable batteries, tripod, broom, tools, personal items..... anything else forgotten can be purchased along the way....

[sdtripper2]

Here are a few lists that might get you started:


Dave and Kathy have a list on their site.
http://campadk.com/pjsnoozer/pjcamplist.html

Camping Check List - page 1
http://tinyurl.com/2jv2u2

Campinglists dot com
http://www.campinglists.com/

RV camping tips
http://tinyurl.com/2vln27

Other lists
http://home.gwi.net/~spectrum/list.html
http://tinyurl.com/2v3f8r

Camping Tips
http://tinyurl.com/39b735

[Lynn Coleman]

Well 6 months is a long time but my wife & I just did a 9 day trip (a different campsite every night & a few stops each day) and found out that we are glad we can stand up & sit in our TTT. It sure is nice to have room enough to change standing up indoors. And our several stops & detours were more comfortable with the standing/sitting room.

K-Joe we're building a TTT as well. It's useable right now but won't be finished until Dec. And then we'll be adding more to it after that. But yes, we're able to stand up as well.

Taking up stakes every day might be part of my needs while on a book tour, so I'm trying to think light but I also don't want to crowd myself too much on the inside.

Then there is the office issues, what to take, what works well, performs well with less voltage, if we're boondocking, etc. Anyway, I'm looking forward to anyone's lists and suggestions.

For example, what did you find was totally unnecessary and what did you wish you had remembered to make room for?

Lynn

[sdtripper2]

Lynn:

You might look at the Escapee forum for they promote on the road living in
RV's. They have a wealth of information that might stimulate your interest.

There are many more people on the Escapee forum that live on the road
and if there is a question of what to take or have available and or what to
remember back at home so all runs smooth the Escapee's have thought of it.

[Kankujoe]

Lynn:

You might look at the Escapee forum for they promote on the road living in
RV's. They have a wealth of information that might stimulate your interest.

There are many more people on the Escapee forum that live on the road
and if there is a question of what to take or have available and or what to
remember back at home so all runs smooth the Escapee's have thought of it.

Cool site!!! Thanks for posting it.

[Lynn Coleman]

Lynn:

You might look at the Escapee forum for they promote on the road living in
RV's. They have a wealth of information that might stimulate your interest.

There are many more people on the Escapee forum that live on the road
and if there is a question of what to take or have available and or what to
remember back at home so all runs smooth the Escapee's have thought of it.

Hey Steve,

Thanks for the links and this one too. I appreciate it. I have a list I've been working on that is set up like a spread sheet so I can check off each item for each trip. But so far those have been very limited one and two night excursions. I know what I needed when I was on the road for six weeks and traveled with just my truck but I'm hoping I'll have more comfort and work productivity with the trailer in tow.

I definitely want one of those Honda Eu2000i generators for those times I have to stop at a rest area and might need some r&r in a cool air conditioned trailer. For some odd reason publishers like releasing books in the summer months as well as the cooler months...go figure.

Again thanks for the links.

Lynn

[sdtripper2]

Lynn:

Glad to feed your need for lists ~

I don't have that affliction .... yea right ~

The Escapee's is the first club I joined back in the nineties
they have gatherings and have all sorts of educational
information. Our group is light and agile... where they go
for the goal of full time living in Rv's. But still you can glean
much information form their experience. I am sure if you like
lists you will have lots to digest, Lynn.

[Kankujoe]

Lynn,

Just finished looking through your photo album... what a cool TTT! Looks like you'll be pretty comfortable in your rig during your travels.

[Lynn Coleman]

Lynn,

Just finished looking through your photo album... what a cool TTT! Looks like you'll be pretty comfortable in your rig during your travels.

Hey K-Joe,

Thanks, we're comfortable in there. We've been real happy with the roominess of the Inkwell (our trailer) so far. But we haven't finished the interior, so I want to get a real good feel for what we need to take with us for long trips. I'm going to set a medicine cabinet in the back of the closet where it won't take up a lot of room and will be fairly easy for us to get things out of it. Paul and I have reached that point in time when you have several pills with your breakfast. I'm thinking an open cabinet with a netting or cord front for easy access.

Lynn

[sdtripper2]

Lynn:

I definitely want one of those Honda Eu2000i generators for those times I have to stop at a rest area and might need some r&r in a cool air conditioned trailer.

I have the Eu2000 and like it very much....



however the Kipor Generator seems to have a following also here.

The Kipor appears to be a sine-wave generator .... now need to do more
study but this might be good for one of those CAPA breath machines?
I am not sure about that ?? Just thinking out loud here ~

[Lynn Coleman]

Lynn:

I definitely want one of those Honda Eu2000i generators for those times I have to stop at a rest area and might need some r&r in a cool air conditioned trailer.

I have the Eu2000 and like it very much....



however the Kipor Generator seems to have a following also here.

The Kipor appears to be a sine-wave generator .... now need to do more
study but this might be good for one of those CAPA breath machines?
I am not sure about that ?? Just thinking out loud here ~

Yup that's the one. I haven't designed the tongue box for the Inkwell yet, we're still trying to decide how many batteries for the solar and I've heard the Honda's can develope feet if they aren't tied down. So I'm thinking it would be safer to put it inside a large tongue box or locked in the back end of the truck, either one would be wise, me thinks.

As for the Escapee Forum, yes, I'll be spending some time over there, thanks again for that link.

Lynn

[sdtripper2]

Yup that's the one. I haven't designed the tongue box for the Inkwell yet, we're still trying to decide how many batteries for the solar and I've heard the Honda's can develope feet if they aren't tied down. So I'm thinking it would be safer to put it inside a large tongue box or locked in the back end of the truck, either one would be wise, me thinks

Lynn:

Batteries needed and power consumption~
How much solar panels do you have?
What power consumption do you expect to use each day?


As far as the Generator growing feet ~ I use a bicycle cable lock for mine
and chain it to the "Y" in the tongue while in use.

[Lynn Coleman]

Batteries needed and power consumption~
How much solar panels do you have?
What power consumption do you expect to use each day?

Hi Steve,

We haven't purchased them yet. That's our 2008 expense for adding on to the trailer. But I'm looking to be able to run the fridge, computer and lighting on the solar panels. At the moment we're thinking it will take 3 12v deep cell batteries but we still have to crunch the numbers. And that would mean several solar panels on the roof. If my rough estimates are correct.

Lynn

[raprap]

Nothing I could afford to lose---and a deck of cards.

Camping lists are difficult to comply, but one I always refer to is in Colin Fletcher's "Complete Walker." Another good camping list is given in "The Boy Scout Fieldbook."

Then I'd refer to the late Warren Zevon's recommendations

Well, I went home with the waitress
The way I always do
How was I to know
She was with the Russians, too

I was gambling in Havana
I took a little risk
Send lawyers, guns and money
Dad, get me out of this

I'm the innocent bystander
Somehow I got stuck
Between the rock and the hard place
And I'm down on my luck
And I'm down on my luck
And I'm down on my luck

Now I'm hiding in Honduras
I'm a desperate man
Send lawyers, guns and money
The sh** has hit the fan

Send lawyers, guns and money...

Rap