new to camping

[jonessj]

We just purchased a 2004 Starcraft and can't wait to get out.  What suggestions do you have for getting started?  What extra gear do we need for our first shake down trip?

[SherryandFamily]

Welcome Jonessj!  

I hope you enjoy camping and the popup sites as much as I do.

There are several people on the board who have great list, and I am sure they will probably respond soon.  They must be camping.

The one thing I would recommend is a quick overnight trip to somewhere close to home.  That way you can get an idea of the "I wish I had brought" things.

Keep paper or a notebook so you can write those things down.  You should probably do that for a while because many things will come up.

I am sure someone will post their list for you soon.  

Good Luck and Happy Camping!

Sherry

[SherryandFamily]

I just found this on another board.  It is a pretty big list, but might be helpful

http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/abc.html

Sherry

[GrizzlyTaco]

I just found this on another board.  It is a pretty big list, but might be helpful

http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/abc.html

Sherry

If you take all that stuff you'll need another PU. Here's a list i use, I just cross off stuff that we dont need. After your first trip you'll start cutting down on alot of stuff that you dont need.....Ed

KEEP IN TRAILER AT ALL TIMES           last updated: Thu-25-Mar-2004 8:30pm         
Porta-potti (between couch and hutch)    Aluminum Foil    Tools: wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers    
Beer Skins    Coffee Maker + filters    Plastic Baggies    
Big Garbage Bags    Bug Junk    Corkscrew    
Garbage Can & bags    Plastic Clothes Hangers     Large Bowl (for salads, chips, etc.)    
SOS Pads    Camper Manual    Custom Playing Cards!    
AAR, AAR carpet, AAR tarp    Cutting Board    Plastic Zip Tie Wraps    
Thermometer    Cutlery and Utensils (incl. flipper & knives)    Utility Knife    
Matches & Lighters    Biodegradable dish soap    BBQ Utensils    
Handy Dandy Marshmallow Roasting Sticks    Dish Towels    Port-A-Potti chemicals    
Mirror    Broom    J Cloths    
Paper Towels    Flashlights    Graywater jugs (2 Aquatainers)    
Plastic measuring cup    Pen & Paper    Wire brush for friction pads (trailer door storage)    
Pots and pans; frying pan    Plates and Bowls    Fly Swatter    
Spray cleaner (Fantastic)    Deep cycle battery    Crank (in trailer door storage)    
Mosquito Coils    Linens: Sheets/Pillows & Pillow Cases    Clothes Pegs    
Can Opener    Electric mattress pads (leave on beds)    Folding Chairs (4)    
Toasters (electric & stovetop)    Toilet Paper    Ceramic heater, fan    
Camping table    Comforters (2)    Extra blankets (under dinette)    
Canoe Paddles (behind couch for travel)    Freshwater funnel (dinette bench)    Rechargeable lantern    
Fishing rods (behind couch for travel)    Outside stove (dinette bench)    GMRS/FRS Radios    
Awing Poles (behind couch for travel)    Wire brush for friction pads (in trailer door)    Lifejackets (dinette bench)    
Bath Towels    Freshwater container (dinette bench)    2 Hammocks (dinette bench)    
12V emergency light    BBQ (dinette bench)    Battery operated lanterns (two kids, one big one)    
Kids board games (porta potti cabinet)    Outside Shower Stall    Weatherradio    
        
STORAGE BOX FOR TRAILER STUFF (bottom left side of rear of van)         
Extension cord (50' 12 gauge, 15' light duty)    Rope    Lantern, Propane + extra mantles + funnel    
Two Wheel Chocks    Axe    Kryptonite cable lock    
Air compressor    Trailer tongue lock    Water Hose (50'), Pressure Regulator, Shower Hose    
Towing mirrors    30A adapters (two, one for each direction)    Clothesline    
Graywater drain    Aquatainer dumping hose    Deep cycle battery charger    
BAL Leveller    Hammer    Portable BBQ propane tanks    
Windsock    tongue jack         
Green toolbox: plastic ties, BAL wrench, GOOP, guy ropes, pegs, velcro, grommet kit, wrenches, spare bubble level    
             
STORAGE BOX FOR PLAY STUFF (bottom right side of rear of van)         
Fishing gear    Helmets, gloves, repair kit, shorts    Canoe: bailer, rope, whistle, paddles    
Hiking shoes/boots    Beach toys    Football, Ball Gloves, Ball, Skipping Ropes    
Frisbee, Soccer Ball       Misc. other kids toys    
             
OTHER              
Two Cell Phones & chargers    Four mountain bikes (on top of trailer)    PowerChill cooler    
"Extreme" cooler    Binoculars, whistle, compass     Day pack    
Batteries (AA & D Cell)    Guitar (old one or 3/4 size)    Powerchill cooler converter    
Camcorder, digital camera    Swim goggles    Blankie    
Books    DVDs    Colouring books & crayons    
Laptop incl. docking station for van    headphones, Y-connector    CD players and CDs    
First Aid Kit (one in van)    In van: duct tape, circuit tester, hitch grease, oil, spare bulbs, fuses, hitch pins, spare set of keys    
     
PERSONAL ITEMS (in Sterilite drawers in trailer)         
Brush/Comb    Shirts    Band Aids    
Hair Dryer & Curling Iron    Jackets     Sandals    
Toothbrush & toothpaste    Sweater     Watch    
Biodegradable Shower Soap    Hat    Running shoes    
Kleenex    Gloves    Shades    
Small bag to carry shower stuff    Rain coat & pants    Rubber boots    
Reading    Socks    Jeans    
Shampoo & Conditioner    Underwear    Camping pants    
Sun Screen    Bathing suit    Tylenol    
Water shoes    Shorts    Misc. medicine etc.    
             
COLD WEATHER GEAR (OPTIONAL; in Sterilite drawers and/or clothes box in van)         
Sweaters    Hats    Long Underwear    
Gloves    Fall or Ski jackets         
             
FOOD              
     Staples         
Coffee    Sugar    Vegtable Oil    
Hot Chocolate    Salt & pepper; spices    Non Dairy Creamer    
Jam (raspberry, no lumps!)    Bread    BBQ Sauce    
Ketchup    Mayonnaise    Marinating Sauce    
Syrup    Relish    Salad Dressing    
Mustard    Peanut butter    Cinnamon    
     Meat         
Luncheon meat    Hotdogs & buns    Bacon    
Hamburger & buns    Steak    Sausages    
Pork sirloin    Chicken         
     Fruits & Veggies         
Canteloupe    Potatoes    Lettuce    
Tomatoes    Peppers (red,  green)    Carrots    
Cucumbers    Corn on the Cob    Bananas (not in mosquito season!)    
Onions    Green Beans    Apples    
Oranges    Kiwi    Grapes    
Watermellon    Peaches    Pears    
Plums    Strawberries         
     Dairy         
Pudding/Yogurt    Eggs    Milk (skim & lactose free)    
OJ    Margarine/Butter    Sour Cream    
Cheese            
     Snacks         
Coolers    Marshmallows    Pretzels    
Cookies    Nacho chips    Chips    
Crackers    Salsa    Popcorn    
Trail Mix    Beer    Wine    
Drinking Boxes    Soft drinks    Doritos    
     Other         
Beans    Pancake mix    Fajita shells    
KD    Noodles    Bagels    
Spaghetti    Alphagetti    Soup    
Spaghetti sauce    After-dinner fancy drinks (liquors, etc.)

[Gone-Camping]

Grizz....you actually carry all that stuff in your PU?? That list has a whole lotta stuff on it...

[cobbs1]

We just started this year ourselves.  My advice would be to go slow on the buying things for the pop-up. We didn't. We had a blast stocking the thing, but now there are things I find I don't need and others that I do need.  It took 3 or 4 trips for things to sort of shake out.  So, spread the fun out and take a few trips before buying a bunch of stuff.  You don't need a whole lot for a short trip near home for a first time out.

[GrizzlyTaco]

Grizz....you actually carry all that stuff in your PU?? That list has a whole lotta stuff on it...

I hate to addmit it, but for our maiden voyage we had at least 3/4 of it. We had way too much stuff, when your new you dont want to take any chances i guess. We have since cut it way down, we take less the 1/4 of it now. Much better, its learn as you go..........Ed :sombraro:

[4campinfoxes]

We've bought stuff over time... and we are currently trying to figure out what we really need & don't need.  For example, we have a screenroom, but we don't use it much so now it's in our basement - to be taken out when we expect to use it.  Since it's a bit of a pain to put up, we generally only use it on longer trips.

I agree with others - keep a running list of what you forgot or what you figure out would be nice to have.  I definitely started out with more than I needed!

Good Luck

Sharon

[Monterey]

I agree that you should take a notebook with you.  When we took out PUP out on it's maiden voyage we took one and found we listed a bunch of stuff we needed and a bunch of stuff we had that we really didn't need.  It's also useful for when you go walking through the campgound and see a site that is MUCH better than yours.  Just jot down the site number and the next time you go to that campground, see if you can reserve the good site  

Also, I would suggest a first trip to Camp Driveway.  Spend overnight or a weekend living in the PUP in the driveway so you can better tell what you may or may not need on your first trip.