A camping trip with a travel trailer allows you to bring along some of the comforts of home while trekking to remote areas to experience nature. Before you take off on the camping trip, you need to pack the camper with the essentials and some extras that will make your travels safe and comfortable. In addition to knowing what to pack, strategic item placement is essential for a smooth trip without damage to your belongings or the inside of the travel trailer. Give yourself extra time to pack your travel trailer.
Items you will need
- Plastic tubs
- Shelf liner
- Shelf divider
- Child safety locks
- Bungee cords
Survey the contents of the travel trailer to determine what you already have packed. For example, you might keep pots and pans, sheets or cooking utensils in the trailer at all times. Make a written list of the items so you don't duplicate anything.
Review your camping itinerary to determine what the campground accommodations will provide and what you'll need for activities you have planned. Write a list of items you need specific to the location, such as a grate for cooking over a campfire, life jackets for water activities, extension cords or a generator if electrical hookups aren't available. Write down general items, such as clothing, tools, utensils, cooking supplies, food, bedding, towels, toiletries and medications.
Organize the camping items into groups, such as kitchen supplies, bathroom items, clothing and supplies you'll use outdoors while camping. Pack the items in logical areas based on their uses. For example, pack the kitchen items near the travel trailer's stove and the toiletries in the camper's bathroom. Place items you'll use outdoors, such as campfire roasting sticks, extension cords and lanterns, in a plastic tub to keep them from rolling around.
Pack all items low to the floor, especially heavy things. This keeps the overall weight lower for easier towing and prevents heavy items from falling down from a high shelf or cabinet during travel.
Line the travel trailer's shelves with a liner that helps hold items in place so the contents don't shift very much while driving. Use plastic bins or dividers on the shelves and in drawers to keep things in place.
Latch cabinet doors securely after packing. Add child safety locks or bungee cords to the handles if the doors don't latch well.
- Keep your packing list as short as possible to minimize the weight in the travel trailer. You'll also be able to find what you need more easily if you don't have to dig through extra items.