RE: Besides toilet paper, what ONE THING is a MUST HAVE?

[Camping Coxes]

 my4cuties
Lawn chairs,
 Uno Cards,
 CD Player and CDs.
 
 
 Oops, that s three.

[Opie431]

 my4cuties
Rain coats. We pack ours next to the door so if it raining when we set up they are right there.

[DiW]

 my4cuties
Good planning and a sense of humor, especially the ability to laugh at oneself. Things inevitably go wrong (at least for us) and how you view it, determines if it becomes a crisis or just an " oh well"  (or perhaps a funny story to tell on future trips). I must say that shebantum had the best attitude last year in TN when she got beaten up pretty well while river tubing, even having her glasses broken and having to walk back to camp. That could have " broken"  many but she just got herself into town, had a new set of eyeglasses made, and continued on with the party. That type of attitude gives me inspiration. (thanks Paula, I ll try to keep you in mind the next time something goes wrong).
 Di

[NCSunshine]

 my4cuties
My kids[][]
 
 Really though everything I think of could be bought.  But the one thing I would go back for is clothes (near the door[>:], how blonde, I mean dumb, can I be)[8D][]

[la62pv]

 my4cuties
Beer, Beer, and more Beer !!!! Oh, did I mention Beer ?

[Gamecock Camper]

 my4cuties
If you bring a pencil and notepad you will be able to list anything that you needed on your maiden voyage that you want to bring next time.  I have only been PU camping for a little over a year and have the PU packed with all the essentials except the food, clothing and firewood.  That s all I need to pack when camping now.

[whippetwrun]

 Gamecock Camper
Portapotty.  We didn t have one the first trip.  Never again with 2 kids.  Midnight gets very long when you take one kiddo to the bath house after repeatedly asking the other do you have to go too? Then on your return to the PU, the thoroughly questioned child pipes, " mommy, I gotta go now"
 
 If you don t have a portapotty, have a flashlight for your self and for each child.  The discussion over who gets to hold it isn t much fun.  And if you cave in, like I did, you wind up stumbling over everything in your path because the beam of light never finds the ground, instead it manages to keep pointing straight into your face.[&:]
 
 Extra shoes for kids and yourself (for those puddles you didn t see while the flashlight lit up your eyeballs.)

[LoveOurBayside]

 my4cuties
Well, my first two thoughts have already been covered.  On our first trip, to a primative park, we forgot the can opener.  Now we have a really nice one dedicated to the camper.  I also forgot my pillow once and we ended up going to Walmart and buying a new one.
 
 I agree that just about anything you NEED can probably be found at either the camp store or the nearest Wal-Mart.  
 

[Horscampr]

 Gamecock Camper
Even though my camper is carpeted, I think the one absolute thing I cannot live without is a dustpan and broom.
 
 I use a stiff broom which works real well over the carpeting both inside and out.  I find it a real necessity for keeping the dirt off things.  No matter where you camp, there will be dirt.....or sand....[]

[Popupnut]

 Gamecock Camper
A Camping Journal!!!!!
 
 I have brought ours on every trip - and when you are going thru the hysterics of camping with kids - and all of the adventures that entails (as mentioned in previous posts), you will want to jot them down - I have found that if I wait until after we come home - the stories lose their umph!!
 With this being your maiden voyage - you will have a number of funny stories to write about - they may not all seem funny while they are occuring - but some day - you will find yourself chucking over them!!
 I think that PUT Store actually sells a journal - I found mine at the bookstore - just a blank book that I decorated with a campoing scene on the front - it has been with us for every trip now and I love reading about our adventures - I especially love our very first Big trip - we faced everything --- bad directions, two toddlers on a 5 hour trip and 2 reluctant teenagers, a terrible site, torrential downpour and flooding, an abandoned CG afterwards and a soaked and filthy camping dog - (she was happy as a clam!)!!  The trip ended up being one of our best ever - so don t fret!!  
 
 

[BaysideBruce]

 Gamecock Camper
I would have to say, my wife.  If I " forgot"  her I would be clueless as to where anything is inside of the camper.  She packs the popup and let s just say that her common sense is not exactly the same common sense as mine.  She knows where everything is, just don t ask me why it s there and not where I would put it.  Plus she is GREAT to snuggle with at night.  Who needs a pillow!

[GeneF]

 Gamecock Camper
Bruce
 
 I think my wife would be heard hollering " KEEP GOING"  []

[Camping Coxes]

 whippetwrun

Then on your return to the PU, the thoroughly questioned child pipes, " mommy, I gotta go now"

 Well, then, there s your first mistake.  My kids say, " Daddy, I gotta go now."   Mommy is sound asleep.