Big E's List Of Recommended Camping Stuff

Very cool. I was recently thinking of adding a list of purchases to my mod list, but not counting them as anything in the mod count.

Nice starting list.  reminds me i need a tps system, victron and grill...

I never even thought to look at non "rv" toilet paper.  I might have to give that one a go.

I have the dominator hose as well (only 1 10' section though) and like it.  never tried the camco rhinoflex.

for our blue tank stuff we found some drop-ins, basically packets of concentrated stuff similar to the ones for washing machines or dish washers.  it's more $ per dose but takes up less space and no need to measure.  Got it at Walmart locally, i think this might be it.  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cam...ge-Drop-Ins/14504340

I'm really torn on the grill.  We had an R-Pod before the Lance and it had one that worked "ok".  it was super convenient but sometimes where the camper was and where the table was weren't all that close together so I'm not sure if I want one that connects directly to the trailer or something free standing like the weber q1200 that I can move around more.  it would mean having to carry a second tank but it would be more flexible in use.

I'm searching for a good outdoor mat that covers both the doors on my 2185.  leaning towards this but it's kinda pricey.   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T...coliid=IQSHCFR2VBI4R

Kent Smith posted:

Very cool. I was recently thinking of adding a list of purchases to my mod list, but not counting them as anything in the mod count.

Don't you already have some on your list?

• Water: City Filter - Completed
• Water: Filler Tube - Completed

etc.

cool.  i have green text now.  so easily amused at 12:05am...

Great list, Erick! We have the bake sheet and love it. We found by adding 12"x15" pizza stone under it while in the oven, it works even better. I will have to check WalMart on the TP.  I trust your testing. 

Erick, great post, thanks for sharing. The only thing I would add is a comfortable chair, a steak for the BBQ, and a beer or three.

Good list. We have a Webber that we love and I have a hose that goes directly to the propane tank so no need to modify the regulator. I will have to check out the TP.

Hi Erick,

Great idea for this "basics" list.  The air bake sheets work well for those home bakers, too.

One question about the leveling blocks.  I have one 10-pack of the Lynx levelers.  I do not recall seeing anything about the cap blocks.  Why and when do you use that block?

Thanks.

Good list Erick. One item that stays in the front pass-thru storage cab is our fold up picnic table. I've had it since 1982 and it's still in service even though it has the "made in China" emblem. It's a "must have" for boondock camping.

Nutman posted:

Erick, great post, thanks for sharing. The only thing I would add is a comfortable chair, a steak for the BBQ, and a beer or three.

I would add:

Chairs (as Nutman--Larry) alluded to:

And with the latter, one needs an ottoman:

A propane fire pit for this times where open fires are prohibited as discussed in a recent thread:

Along with my water hose, I take a garden hose for a black tank spritzer.

I also take this "Y" connector and hook both hoses to it so I can easily add water to our black tank:

I have a bunch of hose washers. For some reason I had several fall out early in our camping career. Since buying 10, I've lost none. 

Water regulator:

And of course, a water filter. We use the following. I thought about going more elaborate, but we use bottled water to drink out of anyway, so the following are sufficient.

Always take our Krueg. It's easier than making a pot and makes great coffee. When we plan on boon docking, we take a tea pot and thermal coffee pot like below.

And I always take my set of tools. No picture for that.

Nutman posted:

Erick, great post, thanks for sharing. The only thing I would add is a comfortable chair, a steak for the BBQ, and a beer or three.

.........

Great list Erick...I only have room for one pack of lynxs....want to get some caps....I have not cracked any but I have damaged some using them on large stoned site in State forest that had my camper tilted hard on a side hill...but I have had them since my first 5er and they have served me well....going to get another set to replace the damaged ones, and then carry some extras with the caps if I can get them shoved in somewhere..... 

I'd add an inflater. Giles and I both have an18V battery operated one that I love for its portability and digital setting capability. I also pack an 18V trouble light - small, portable, and has built in stand. Also it operates off normal house current. Finally I carry disposable rubber gloves. The best I've found are nitrile heavy duty black rubber. A ten pac costs about five dollars at HD.  

Leemom3 posted:

Hi Erick,

Great idea for this "basics" list.  The air bake sheets work well for those home bakers, too.

One question about the leveling blocks.  I have one 10-pack of the Lynx levelers.  I do not recall seeing anything about the cap blocks.  Why and when do you use that block?

Thanks.

Hi Lee Ann.  The cap blocks are just a nice addition to the Lynx Levelers.  They provide a flat surface for the tire to rest on instead of the 4 raised lego bumps......

Here is the Amazon link for your shopping convenience........

https://www.amazon.com/Tri-Lyn...eywords=tri+lynx+cap

Big E posted:

Leemom3 posted:

Hi Erick,

Great idea for this "basics" list.  The air bake sheets work well for those home bakers, too.

One question about the leveling blocks.  I have one 10-pack of the Lynx levelers.  I do not recall seeing anything about the cap blocks.  Why and when do you use that block?

Thanks.

Hi Lee Ann.  The cap blocks are just a nice addition to the Lynx Levelers.  They provide a flat surface for the tire to rest on instead of the 4 raised lego bumps......

Here is the Amazon link for your shopping convenience........

https://www.amazon.com/Tri-Lyn...eywords=tri+lynx+cap

The Amazon cart is filling up again. You might want to ask them about a commission! Thanks.

BigE, Thanks for lego block caps link. I have been using my set(2) for 20 plus years and often wondered if a cap was made. Now I know and ordered a set for our next trip.

Happy Camping 

I use Lynx blocks for my tongue and the stabilizers as well as leveling the trailer, so I have 3 sets plus the caps.  The caps are useful for adding a half inch of height, and I've sometimes needed to go 3 blocks high to get level, and I've usually made a ramp up and a level parking surface for both wheels.  It takes more blocks, but it seems easier to me.  I also have the Lynx chocks that work with the blocks.

Got them from Amazon, the Lynx system seems better than the yellow ones I've seen at Camping World.

....Ask Bob R how long a set of CW blocks last......

Mike and Sue posted:

I'd add an inflater. Giles and I both have an18V battery operated one that I love for its portability and digital setting capability. I also pack an 18V trouble light - small, portable, and has built in stand. Also it operates off normal house current. Finally I carry disposable rubber gloves. The best I've found are nitrile heavy duty black rubber. A ten pac costs about five dollars at HD.  

I bought some of them gloves they where all the same....no pairs.....!

One hand fits all.......

setters posted:

....Ask Bob R how long a set of CW blocks last......

2 trips and I cracked some on both times. But I was using them upside down, how was I to know.  Pretty cheap stuff.

Would like to hook up victron battery monitor,not sure how involved it is?

Not difficult at all.......

I like the list and the additions later on.  The lego blocks are good i have used mine well so much so I have ruined two...have a new stack now.   

Now when it comes to toilet stuff, good old Costco TP works well, and i have not used a chem for at least 5 or 6 years...just have not had the need.  Extra cost and got to carry it someplace and hope it doesn't spill, ever tried to clean up the blue stain after it dries?   Why gloves, just wash your hands!  it is your stuff, why worry!  

I carry electrical adapters for 15 to 30 to 50, extension 30A cord with an LED light so I know I have power.

All sorts of water stuff so i can get water from almost any tap.  

Quick connectors for city and flush different heads so they are not mixed.

in line shut off always handy/

Short flex with pressure reducer in line makes it real easy to fit on almost any tap.

What are these called, slip it over a tap with out threads.

\

four way key, any good plumbing supply has them.

tank fill long enuf so it stays in place with shut off.

All my hoses have new cast brass fittings, not stamped, so they will take abuse plus they just work better and do not cross thread.  

Plus a fitting that goes inside a tap that had inside threads...they are anti tamper hose bibs and the thread on the outside cannot get destroyed.   

Hose to hose coupler...3/4"

Carry a Weber BBQ and the hose to feed from the low pressure LP.

It was easy to remove Weber reg and replace with good airhose fittings.

Big E posted:

Not difficult at all.......

When I installed the inverter I put a batt monitor in as well, I wonder how I got along without one before, but still have not figured out everything it call tell me and why I need to know!  it easy install and are not that expensive.  Check with Bestconverter.com.   

Thanks Big E  

I have most of that stuff, but not the legos.  Just use 2X lumber pieces.  Is there an advantage to using the legos?  

Mike and Sue posted:

I'd add an inflater. Giles and I both have an18V battery operated one that I love for its portability and digital setting capability. I also pack an 18V trouble light - small, portable, and has built in stand. Also it operates off normal house current. Finally I carry disposable rubber gloves. The best I've found are nitrile heavy duty black rubber. A ten pac costs about five dollars at HD.  

I have the smaller Ryobi inflator - handy little tools - works great for my air shocks, and an 18 volt, Ryobi drill that I use to raise/lower the stabilizers

Les1 posted:

Thanks Big E  

I have most of that stuff, but not the legos.  Just use 2X lumber pieces.  Is there an advantage to using the legos?  

The only real advantage(s) I can think of, they are light weight, stack for storage and take up little room.   Quite possibly no better than lumber.......

If you cross the border either way between USA and Canada, they could ask you to return and dump wood from the country you are coming if you use wood for stabilising or under wheel . The border agent are more and more vigilant regarding this..

I scoured everyone's lists and was shocked and saddened to realize that the one essential camping item was not on any of those lists ....

Now we're talkin' camping!!

Why fully cooked, part of the enjoyment is the wonderful smell and driving your neighbors insane!       

Capt PJ posted:

Why fully cooked, part of the enjoyment is the wonderful smell and driving your neighbors insane!       

Simple, fully cooked bacon when camping cuts down on cooking time and more important, cuts way down on grease to dispose of. Bacon grease can be a problem as one can not simply pour it down the drain so that leaves disposing outside as the only option. Unless you're able to have a campfire, the grease usually winds up on the ground somewhere and that can attract Bears when boondock camping.

Costco sells the exact same stuff (re-badged as Kirkland) and we like the taste.

You spoil all the fun!!!    

Erick thanks for the list and ideas and the beginning of what is sure to be a great and useful thread! I can see Santa bringing me a lot of essentials before I even have the Lance. 

R&V Spiker posted:

Capt PJ posted:

Why fully cooked, part of the enjoyment is the wonderful smell and driving your neighbors insane!       

Simple, fully cooked bacon when camping cuts down on cooking time and more important, cuts way down on grease to dispose of. Bacon grease can be a problem as one can not simply pour it down the drain so that leaves disposing outside as the only option. Unless you're able to have a campfire, the grease usually winds up on the ground somewhere and that can attract Bears when boondock camping.

Costco sells the exact same stuff (re-badged as Kirkland) and we like the taste.

We always fry 1 or 2 # of bacon early in the trip, save the grease, refrigerate it, and use it for frying eggs, pancakes, etc.  Nothing beats the taste of breakfast fried in bacon grease.  If we have extra grease we put it in an empty tin can, let it solidify, and dispose of it in a bear proof bin in the campground. 

After ther bacon grease cools some, we just pour it into a ziplock bag, use a paper towel to wipe the residual grease from the pan, put that into the bag too, seal it, and place in the trash. 

Dale L. posted:

R&V Spiker posted:

Capt PJ posted:

Why fully cooked, part of the enjoyment is the wonderful smell and driving your neighbors insane!       

Simple, fully cooked bacon when camping cuts down on cooking time and more important, cuts way down on grease to dispose of. Bacon grease can be a problem as one can not simply pour it down the drain so that leaves disposing outside as the only option. Unless you're able to have a campfire, the grease usually winds up on the ground somewhere and that can attract Bears when boondock camping.

Costco sells the exact same stuff (re-badged as Kirkland) and we like the taste.

We always fry 1 or 2 # of bacon early in the trip, save the grease, refrigerate it, and use it for frying eggs, pancakes, etc.  Nothing beats the taste of breakfast fried in bacon grease.  If we have extra grease we put it in an empty tin can, let it solidify, and dispose of it in a bear proof bin in the campground. 

The aluminum can would be my solution, as was done when I was a child.  However...I do not recall the use of it for frying eggs. I suspect it tastes much better than my no-cal cooking spray for frying eggs.

You all are reminding me of elk camp and/or fishing trips where we occasionally had to pass a beer around at 0330 or so to get an empty can for the bacon grease

Nutman posted:

After ther bacon grease cools some, we just pour it into a ziplock bag, use a paper towel to wipe the residual grease from the pan, put that into the bag too, seal it, and place in the trash. 

That's for the bears....um I mean birds......

I will, and do cook bacon, when camping (good bacon, as Jacster will agree)....but I will start the day before I leave, and broil about 3 lb and not totally finish it ,and let it cool and wrap it in a paper towel and put it in a bread bag or zip lock bags and keep in the fridge....then when It's time to start the Genny for a battery boost in the morning, I will Micro some ....cost far less(well maybe not) then buying the pre-cooked, and (but) is usually better. once it is all though I will cook some.... as Capt said the smell is some of the whole picture when camping.....