Taking "IT" with you, something different?

[hiker]

Stupid question time.

As backpackers we take it all in our backpacks- shelter, food, water, and what not. As long as it is lightweight.
Now that we are approaching the end of trailer construction my wife asked a question last night. What do we put in all the storage compartments/areas?
She assumed we just put food in tree, backpacks at our feet.

What do you put in your trailer that is different from when you dayhike/backpack?
What is something that you wished you had taken along?

[HMK]

A chair. I like to sit down and watch sunset. Of course you can always sit on ground, but having a chair is so much better.

Better means of cooking too. When I hike, I usually just take snacks. When I camp, I eat!

[Shadow Catcher]

I have tent camped for 6o years. My wife for 36 years. My goal was to make meal prep and clean up no more difficult than than it is at home. With the tear and it's water heater, it is no more difficult.
Having a heater, AC, XM radio, TV/DVD, refrigerator... all this stuff makes for a great deal more comfort. You can take it with you, so why not.

[Kharn]

Our camping gear is quite different from what I used to take back-packing. It includes a variety of pots, pans and utensils, so we're not struggling to repurpose an item I would have brought backpacking to save weight. Like having a real can opener instead of struggling with a P38, or 8 complete sets of silverware instead of a spork and a pocket knife per person. Or a variety of cast iron that you'd normally only bring along if you were in a large group, or tables so you can work at countertop height instead of hunched over a stove or wash basin on the ground.

Also you can bring along extra or unseasonable clothes. You wouldn't pack a sweatshirt or jeans while backpacking in July, but with a tear you can just stuff them down in a compartment somewhere and not think about them until it gets cold unexpectedly.

[hiker]

Actual silverware and glasses! I carry my cup and spork to work daily. My wife still hates cast iron, but now it will have a home.

A real chair would be better than a thermarest kit. Free gift, never carried due to weight. This will be like outfitting a home just smaller.

My original thinking behind the trailer was to get ALL camp gear out of the house. Then realized would require a huge trailer. Currently child free, so downsizing the contents of the home. Yes, we know the Refuse Dpt folks by name and have their cell numbers. We kept our backpack bins and the Kitchen and FAK bins. Then gave the rest away to needy campers.

[Mary C]

OK, last camp out I had Eggs Benedict, Coffee and of course Grits. I put on a Dutch oven with a very small roast, potatoes,onions, carrots and made a rich brown gravy. A glass of wine and in the other Dutch oven a chocolate cherry cake and made a chocolate sauce to go with it. Now think of the utensils you would need at home to cook that with and That is what I carry. We carry the utensils we need to cook with It took me a while to get my mind back to just relaxing, most of us take a little hike a go with a kayak or swim but this is for me a relaxing time. I washed my backpack and it came apart. it is no longer water proof. The material went ucky. I know that it is probably done for, and that is ok. I decided it was ok because I probably wont need it anymore. I don't know your ages but somewhere around 40 I gave up the 30 to 40 mile hikes I just didn't sleep well and the second day I was too tired to hike. Before that I would have loved the teardrop so I could have had a relaxing campout away from the kids. I am planning a 3 month trip out west and I have to have stuff to live with and I don't think I could eat the backpack menu for long.

Mary C.

[hiker]

Definitely have to reevaluate how to use this trailer. I was thinking of this as a 5,200 liter backpack, when it is a home on wheels.
Yea, seems silly when I read what I wrote.

[GuitarPhotog]

Yeah, it requires an entirely different point of view. Beware that there is a creeping disease called "takeitall" which over time will cause your trailer to become overloaded with stuff you never use.

After backpacking and tent camping for 50+ years, the transition to trailering was strange for me. The idea of using plastic bins to store stuff instead of stuff bags takes some adjustment, as does bringing you pillow from home, instead of using a down jacket in a stuff bag, or carrying actual shampoo and body wash instead of a "one product does it all" solution.

When in doubt, put it in. You can always leave it behind later ;-)

<Chas>

[GerryS]

Takin all is a serious disease! We suffer badly from it.

The camper itself then, then we we added a grill...the grill became a mini-egg style komodo cooker, then came the dog playpen so we don't have to leash the dogs....then the bikes....looking at a kayak rack...that will lead to fishing gear....

Ugh...Houston, we have a problem...too much crap.

The dogs are probably the biggest cause for increased cargo....the kennel/pen and the necessary side tent to give them a dry night sleep is the big problem.

[bonnie]

Definitely have to reevaluate how to use this trailer. I was thinking of this as a 5,200 liter backpack, when it is a home on wheels.
Yea, seems silly when I read what I wrote.

Maybe a bit silly, but aren't we all? I am coming to teardropping from a primitive camping background, too. My first two tear drop events helped give me a better idea of what my eventual hard tent will be like. In the end, though, I will probably spend a lot of time figuring out what helps me enjoy the time I spend camping and then I will know what to leave at home.

[bobhenry]

Here ya go ! Choke this bit of info down.

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=33301&p=595910&hilit=list#p595910

[rowerwet]

I like to canoe camp, I bring a little less in a canoe than the tear, but no where near the miserly amount you can take hiking (never done it, not really interested). the only real extra we bring tear camping is the EZ-up. I even bring the webberQ in the canoe since we canoe camp in a large group, cooking over a camp fire for 14+ people is hard enough, after too many meals where one side was raw and the other burned, I take the grill.

[hiker]

Here ya go ! Choke this bit of info down.

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=33301&p=595910&hilit=list#p595910

I've been using a Snow Peak 700 cup & spork for years, cook in, eat out of, add hot cocoa to drink it clean.

for griddle, flip the lid to dutch oven.

I will be saving this list and the comments.

[tony.latham]

A damn shower. We were using a Zodi Shower, and Zodi stall. We're shifting over to a device we bought on eBay. Search 12v pet shower. Just heat up a bucket of water to 180f and you're good to go.

[GerryS]

We don't have a zodi, but we do have a heater....never used it. Dishes and cleanup hot water is a pot and stove away. The pot is usually self cleaning at that point and it restricts use...which stretches the 8 gallons of fresh water just a little bit more.

However, at home when I've got a spigot, it's nice to be able to wash the car with warm water