What should we bring?

[birchbark]

Heading to Backus in a couple days to pick up our new Scamp 16! We will be camping the first night in the neighborhood for a shakedown. Any recommendations for supplies to bring? Thinking chocks, hose, cord . . . Any ideas for quick window darkening?

They are only four hours from home so we aren't going on a huge road trip.

[Raspy]

You don't need to be too practical. Bring some bedding, some food you can easily prepare. Paper plates, a knife and forks. Maybe a bottle of wine and plastic cups to celebrate. A flashlight, change of clothes, some bottled water and a few towels.
Maybe a small container of instant coffee so you can feel like real pro and survey your surroundings in the morning, cup in hand. Have fun and start making your list of things to stock the trailer with.

Just in case you need to level it bring a few pieces of 2X6 to drive up on to, or place under the leveling jacks. You might not even need to disconnect and might level it by driving the TV onto the blocks.

The most fun I ever had while camping in a trailer, was a windy night in the desert in a small trailer owned by someone else who lent it to us. All we needed was to get out of the wind and a comfortable place to lay down. All night the wind howelled and the trailer rocked in response. I was so happy to be inside. The power and magic of the desert was on full display. A little cocoon, somehow secure in the maelstrom, as we listened and felt its power.

As soon as you begin to overthink it and pack everything you can imagine, the magic begins to fade. Go simple. You can always bring things you forgot on the next trip. You don't need to have everything with you on the first night. In fact, you'll have more fun if you don't.

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by birchbark

Heading to Backus in a couple days to pick up our new Scamp 16! We will be camping the first night in the neighborhood for a shakedown. Any recommendations for supplies to bring? Thinking chocks, hose, cord . . . Any ideas for quick window darkening?

They are only four hours from home so we aren't going on a huge road trip.

quick window darkening....grab some bath towels from home.

[GlassCastle]

You can put windshield protector/reflectors for cars, accordian fold up type. i stand them up between mattress and wall behind curtains. They will reflect heat, or cold and keep your camper more comfy if the temps are extreme.

[John in Michigan]

Tire iron and jack in the unlikely event...
Coupler lock and hitch pin lock

EDIT: And we always carry a few tools just in case.

[Steve Carlson]

Mosquito repellent

[Kai in Seattle]

Bring MONEY. Cash almost always works when you have a need. Bring credit cards for those OTHER expenses.

Remember, whatever you don't use will keep until next time! No refrigeration needed, even if it is COLD cash.

BEST
Kai

And--P.S. CONGRATULATIONS! HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL TRIP!

[CindyL]

Depends on where you are camping and what your new camper will be equipped with.

CindyL

[JRSeguin]

I think that ix excellent advice from John. Keep it as simple as possible-immediate needs- or you could be overwhelmed. You'll find out what you need as you go along. When we picked up the Scamp about a year ago we had little with us and did just fine. The past year I have found I am packing way too much junk. My most recent camping trip I have scaled down considerably and enjoy camping so much more. I am discovering what the minimal needs are as we gain experience and it just takes some time to figure out what works well for you.

[trainman]

We have not had a RV trailer in 35 years, went camping for the first time and to our surprise we were only out about $8.00 at Walmart to get what we forgot to bring. One was a flashlight, but I refused to buy one when we must have had 25 at home, other was some cooking items of some type. I can say we brought items that we didn't need and removed them from the trailer when we got back home, probably 10 pounds worth. My wife has a list which she made and the inside of the trailer is hers and I take care of everything outside, so far so good.

trainman

[JRSeguin]

I remember we did get 3 things when we headed off to camp after picking up Scamp and I think we were gone for 2 weeks
1)Essential-small 2x4s for leveling-a local lumberyard by Backus gave us a bunch for free
2)nice to have but not essential-bought white water hoses at for about 4 times as much as walmart at a hardstore in Grand Marais
3) great to have but not essential-bought rubber gloves for emptying black water tank (actually essential when you are new at black water tanks!)
course you will need camping stuff for cooking, sleeping but not RV specific

[Fred762]

Be careful to unplug the 7 pin connector from the TV..I hear leaving in in place can drain the batt of some TVs..wh means jumping the truck off in the AM. FWIW Learned this at Casita factory

[JRSeguin]

Yes, the Scamp factory told us this as well before our initial departure.

[MK Evenson]

Don't forget TP!

Mark

[GregandTeresa]

Originally Posted by Fred762

Be careful to unplug the 7 pin connector from the TV..I hear leaving in in place can drain the batt of some TVs..wh means jumping the truck off in the AM. FWIW Learned this at Casita factory

Also, be careful to unplug the 7 pin connector before you pull the tow vehicle away when unhooking. I learned this the hard way, which is why I now have a list...

[Kai in Seattle]

Mark; that is so true! While you can buy TP in every town and probably every mini-mart, nevertheless, if you forget it you'll might well be reminded of that fact at the worst possible moment.

[Gilda]

Yes, towels and Reflectix (mylar bubble wrap available by the foot at hardware stores) can black out windows. We used dark, lightweight, fleece blankets hung over the curtain rods. If it's extra cold, I prefer to use them as blankets rather than blocking out the sun although they do insulate the windows. Later, you may want to make hand-rolling window shades as in my previous posting. Search in FGRV forum for the Google drop-down for "Gilda window shades".