Camping List

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I am not a big fan of lists, but when preparing for any trip away from home I have definitely learned that it is better to double check that you have everything you need with you rather than discovering that key item is missing … usually this discovery is made precisely when you needed it. Because my memory is not what it once was I have developed this list over the past few seasons and refer to it prior to each adventure.

With our trailer we find that some items are packed in the spring and they stay in the trailer all season, some items are needed for each trip, and some items are consumed during each trip and need to be checked and replenished if needed.

I have divided the following list into 4 categories: (click each section to expand)

  • Kitchen & Cleaning
  • Tool, Equipment & Accessories
  • Leisure, Clothes & Personal
  • Food

We use this list to identify items we would bring on an average trip. The bolded items are items we need to pack each time whereas the normal font are items usually left in the trailer.

I would suggest you use this list as a guide , but make changes to meet your needs and camping style.

 

Cooking

  • Bush pie irons
  • Cast iron griddle
  • Pots and frying pans with lids
  • Cook utensils-spatula, knife, spoon
  • Barbeque set – tongs,
  • Skewers/grill forks
  • Stove with fuel/propane
  • Potholders/oven mitts
  • BBQ grill
  • Folding table / BBQ Table

 

Food Prep & Dining

  • Tablecloth / thumb tacks / clips
  • Plates & bowls / paper plates
  • Silverware / plastic silverware
  • Measuring cups
  • Wine glasses & opener
  • Can opener / bottle opener
  • Mugs
  • Mixing bowl
  • Cutting board
  • Coffee grinder & Aero Press
  • Potato peeler
  • Canteen / water bottle
  • Coffee pot

 

Consumables

(check before each trip)

  • Heavy-duty aluminum foil
  • Paper towels
  • Trash bags
  • Dish soap
  • Matches / lighter
  • Ziploc bags
  • Tissues

 

Cleaning

  • Clothes pins
  • Dish rags / towels
  • Mat for entrance
  • Dust pan / brush
  • Scrub pad / Brillo
  • Rope / clothes line

Tools

  • Axe
  • Hammer

 

Tool Box

These are items we carry in a tool box which is loaded in the truck prior to each trip

  • Wrenches (imperial & metric)
  • 3/8” socket set (shallow & deep)
  • Mutimeter
  • Screwdrivers
  • Pliers (slip joint, side cutters, etc)
  • Epoxy / epoxy putty
  • Wire ties (zip ties in assorted sizes)
  • Wire
  • Plumbing caps
  • Washers (hose)
  • 2 sided tape
  • Teflon tape
  • Gas tape
  • Electrical tape
  • Jumper wire
  • 3/8” compression rings
  • 15A fuses
  • Duct tape/electrical tape

Outdoor Equipment

  • Propane torch (to light fire)
  • Solar panels
  • Street water hose
  • Water container filler hose
  • Drain hose
  • Wheel chocks
  • Wheel lock cables
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Work gloves
  • Small shovel
  • Misc. tools
  • Ground cloth / tarp

Accessories

  • Porta-potty & supplies
  • Lantern with fuel/mantles
  • Extra batteries/bulbs
  • Bug repellent/candles
  • Whistle
  • Books/magazines
  • Candles
  • Scissors
  • Maps/directions
  • Backpack/fanny pack
  • Sunglasses
  • Flashlight/batteries
  • Pocket knife
  • Plastic grocery bags
  • Binoculars
  • Bunge cords/straps
  • Cards / games / toys / golf
  • Notepad / pen
  • Cell phone/charger & 2-way radios
  • Safety pins
  • Money / ID / credit card / quarters
  • Travel alarm clock
  • Umbrella
  • Hand wipes
  • Small sewing kit
  • GPS
  • Camera/battery
  • Reservations info./confirmation
  • Portable weather station
  • Hiking Poles
  • Coolers/ice (only if needed)

Leisure

  • Folding chairs
  • Heaters – gas & electric
  • Sleeping bags
  • Pillows
  • Extra stakes
  • Shade tarp / poles / rope / stakes
  • Awning
  • Awning poles and ground pads
  • Kitchen shelter

Clothes

(packed for each trip)

  • Shoes/boots
  • Jeans/pant/belt
  • Shorts
  • T-shirts
  • Socks/extra socks
  • Hat
  • Bandana
  • Sweatshirt/jacket
  • Underwear
  • Sleep clothes
  • Rain gear
  • Swim suit/towel
  • Laundry bag
  • Hiking boots

Personal

  • Shower shoes/flip flops
  • Towels/washcloth
  • Soap in plastic case/shampoo
  • Tooth brush/tooth paste
  • Deodorant
  • Comb/brush
  • Razor
  • Feminine products
  • Toilet paper
  • Personal medications – take extra
  • Sunscreen/chap stick
  • Bear spray
  • Advil, Robax, Pepcid, Gavscon

Breakfast

  • Eggs
  • Instant oatmeal
  • Jam
  • Peanut butter
  • Pancake mix
  • Bagels
  • Syrup

 

Lunch

  • Beef jerky
  • Pita bread
  • Cheese
  • Fruit
  • Buns

 

Dinner

  • Canned stew
  • Canned corn (veggies)
  • Soup
  • Canned chicken chunks
  • Potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Peppers
  • Onions
  • Ground beef
  • Hot dogs
  • Steak
  • Hamburgers
  • Pasta & sauce

 

Snacks

  • Granola bars
  • Crackers
  • Trail mix
  • Snacks (chips)

 

Misc

  • Cooking oil / Pam spray
  • Containers for food storage
  • Hot chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Lemonade & ice tea
  • Seasoning (Mrs Dash)
  • Sugar
  • Margarine
  • Ketchup
  • Relish
  • Yogurt
  • BarBQ sauce

 

Click here for a Downloadable PDF version

 

Mexican Bathroom Renovation

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A single item can become the inspiration for a complete design.

When it came time to renovate our main bathroom we were looking for ideas and themes.

While I was randomly looking at fixtures on Ebay I came across an incredible hand hammered copper sink from Mexico, the inspiration for the design.

Over the next few weeks the ordinary and outdated bathroom was transformed, a faux beam was installed that contained two arches, one framing the vanity the other framing the shower entrance. Rustic tiles were installed on the floor, and walls and includes arched accents on the side walls.

The shower measuring 34″x44″ is built using the Kerdi waterproofing system and features a mosaic pattern of tile on the back wall, inset shelves, copper fixtures with Grohe valves, and custom arched glass doors.

For the custom vanity and overhead cabinet I used cedar, distressing all the surfaces with a wire brush and finishing it with a complimentary dark stain and flat polyurethane. The final touches are the antiqued hardware.

 

kerdi6

Shower with Kerdi waterproofing system

P1000340

Shower w/ custom arched glass doors

P1040573Toilet by Toto

P1000341Shower mosaic detail

P1000335

Vanity w/ overhead cabinet

P1040576Distressed wood & hardware

4 Poster Oak Captain Bed

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I made this solid Oak 4 poster captains bed for my son as his first “real” bed.

It has curved raised panel head and foot boards, the drawers are a full 32″+ deep on 150 lb full extension slides

Drawer fronts are also raised panel, drawer interior is Baltic birch with dovetail joints.

 

Perfect Camping Coffee

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Making perfect coffee is a very subjective topic, everyone has a preferred make of coffee, strength, and brewing method. I love coffee and have had excellent perked coffee, drip coffee, pressed coffee but when camping we have found one method that makes the best tasting and consistent coffee, even better than our $300 commercial machine at home.

The AeroPress “It’s unique brewing method gives the richest coffee flavour, with less bitterness and acidity, and no grounds left in your cup!” (quote from the AeroPress website). Using the AeroPress along with grinding fresh beans in the Hario MSS-1B Mini Mill Slim Coffee Grinder is a combination that cannot be beat.

There is a lot of information videos on the internet about the AeroPress, rather than repeat this information just Google it …. better yet buy one and give it a try, you will not be disappointed.

LED Lighting – Adapting Kitchen Undercounter Pucklights

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We all know the advantages of LED lights, the main ones are they draw very little power and they last a long time. You can buy LED bulbs as replacements for most standard automotive and RV light fixtures, but I personally hate the looks and the poor quality of RV plastic RV light fixtures.

Most low voltage lighting, including many LED packages, sold for household use often under cabinets in kitchens are 12V DC, check the packaging or the label on the transformer, if it say 12V DC you can use it. The lighting I am using in my Boler consists of 12V LED lights designed for kitchen under counter from Rona (Canadian equivalent to Home Depot).
There are 4 bright puck lights (2 on each side mid-cabin) that provide very good general task and work lighting. We have used these at dusk right through to total darkness and they provide all the light that is needed to cook, play cards or read.

In between the bright lights are 2 low intensity lights (one on each side) that provide enough light to get ready for bed or check the time at night.

To wire these lights in you do not need the transformer that comes with the kit, just wire them directly to a switch that is connected to the battery positive. Connect the negative to the battery ground. One thing to keep in mind when you are wiring LED lights, most are polarity sensitive. To identify which wire is positive and which is negative connect a voltmeter to the 12V output of the transformer (be very careful, don’t touch any bare wires with your fingers).

Boler External Water Reservoir

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P1030370Replacing the original fresh water tank with an inexpensive solution that actually keeps the water cool and tasting good.

Originally my Boler had a 10 gallon fresh water tank mounted under the rear frame, sometime in the past it was damaged, probably from bottoming out on a ramp.

I didn’t want the same type of tank because they increase the weight of the trailer by at least 100 lbs, the water always has that “plastic” taste, and you cannot thoroughly clean them.

My solution is to use an external 5 gallon insulated cooler that I installed a quick connect fitting in place of the spigot. The braided steel line leads directly to the electric water pump. We have used this system for the past 2 years and it works great and we have discovered it has several real advantages:

 

  • • It is easy to refill because the entire top comes off.
  • • Fill with buckets, bulk bottled water or carry it to the tap.
  • • In really hot weather we add a block of ice.
  • • It is easy to clean and sanitize
  • • Easy and cheap to replace, even when on the road or away from home on a trip.

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