Essential gear for first trip

[EZAdventures]

I know the list of things one might consider essential will be very subjective. To that end, I am not referring to quality-of-life items so much as basic and essential gear. That is to ask, "What do I need to buy before we take our Escape out on its first camping trip to ensure safety, functionality, and longevity. (Estimated completion date mid-April!)

Currently, my list includes:

-Chocks for 4 wheels
-Levelers for 2 wheels minimum/blocks
-Hitch lock

-Drinking water hose
-Basic inline water filter
-Water pressure regulator
-30 amp surge protector for pedestal power

-Torque wrench/socket for trailer spare
-Basic tool kit with spare spade fuses?

-Nitrile gloves for dumping
-Black tank chemicals?

I'd love any hear any thoughts anyone might have. Again, I'm not trying to make a complete list for the next year just the things I might need during our first few outings to be safe and mitigate small problems. Plus, I think planning is half the fun.

Thank you all for your input

 

[penwia]

I am doing the same thing. I just got mine Escape a few weeks ago but I have been buying things here an there since November.

Escape sent me a bag with extra fuses and other spare parts, like a sail switch, cabinet hinges, and a few other things.

I think you have most of the essentials. There are a few comfort things like perhaps an out door Rug, lights, rubber mallet,

Escapes now come standard with a built in surge protector. No need for another one.

Have fun!

 

[EZAdventures]

I am doing the same thing. I just got mine Escape a few weeks ago but I have been buying things here an there since November.

Escape sent me a bag with extra fuses and other spare parts, like a sail switch, cabinet hinges, and a few other things.

I think you have most of the essentials. There are a few comfort things like perhaps an out door Rug, lights, rubber mallet,

Escapes now come standard with a built in surge protector. No need for another one.

Have fun!

Congrats! And thank you for the information. The electric stuff has me unsure at times so that's good know. The "comforts" list is a second and very fun list dream about.

 

[penwia]

Thank you and Congrats to you as well... Yes the comfort stuff is also fun. My wife has also been busy buying all kinds of cool things to furnish our new home away from home. Cant wait for spring.

You may want to create an amazon list and just add things as you think of them. Then delete once you purchase them, Not that I would purchase everything from amazon, but it's easy to create the list and access when needed.

 

[HABBERDABBER]

I'd have to add traveling with a basic tool kit. Search this forum for posts relating to tool kit. The list of items can be basic or go extensive. Stuff goes wonky, especially with a rig shaking & rattling as it goes down the road.
DUCT TAPE comes to mind, a torque wrench for wheel nuts and tools to drain your water heater, and multimeter are a few essentials that come to mind.

 

[occer]

I carry two water hoses.
Clean drinking water hose, (designed for potable water) not all hoses are.
Hose for everything else, like rising the sewer dump hose.

Does ETI still include a basic dump hose?
Lawn Chair
Matches or Bic Lighter
I 2nd on the roll of duct tape and of course WD40
Length of rope

 

[iamunique127]

We carry a set of reflective emergency cones in case we break down on the highway.

You might also consider a way to jack up the trailer in case of a flat, either levellers that will lift high enough or a jack. I carry a hydraulic jack and have CAA Premium RV in case something happens that I can't look after myself.

 

[GinoandLinda]

Your list and what has been added will put you on the path to a successful first trip. These are things I travel with as well. Personally, I avoid "all-in-one" products like a jumper box, flashlight, air compressor combo. I prefer dedicated tools devices.

12volt air compressor/inflator - I have the Harbor Freight model which is similar to the Milwaukee. It runs on either 12v or one of their battery packs.
Head lamp - I like to keep my hands free
Reflective vest - get a good quality one that won't flap around in the wind and wear it anytime you have to stop and get out along the highway
Red shop towels - I keep a half dozen of these in the tool kit. More durable than paper towels or those blue disposal towels and better for the environment
Multi-meter - for troubleshooting electrical issues
Someone suggested two drinking water hoses. I agree and would add that one of them should be a heated hose.
Jumper box - New ones are compact and can be used as a 12v source in a pinch as long as hey have battery clamps
A jack of some sort. Some people haul a garage floor jack around. Others like scissors jacks. I prefer bottle jacks
Impact driver - I know some folks don't like hearing these things. I get it. I have a basic 20v Porter Cable impact driver that will remove lug nuts (use your torque wrench to tighten them up, though) as well as lower and raise the stabilizers. Don't forget to get the appropriate socket for the stabilizers
Waterless hand cleaner and Heavy duty hand creams- I have a tube of GoJo and O'Keefes in the tool kit. Life's too short to deal with dry, cracked hands.
Work Gloves - Again, I tend to get good quality gloves, usually a pair of Mechanix and good quality full leather. You only have one pair of hands, treat them well
Cordage - About 100ft of paracord

Other things to consider:
Hatchet
Folding shovel
Folding saw
Matches and butane lighter

This all may sound like a lot, but it actually doesn't take up that much room. This is everything listed plus more packed in the front storage of our 5.0. We did expand the storage, but it all fit in there easily before I did the expansion project.

 

[EZAdventures]

I'd have to add traveling with a basic tool kit. Search this forum for posts relating to tool kit. The list of items can be basic or go extensive. Stuff goes wonky, especially with a rig shaking & rattling as it goes down the road.
DUCT TAPE comes to mind, a torque wrench for wheel nuts and tools to drain your water heater, and multimeter are a few essentials that come to mind.

Up until now I've been moving tool bag items back and forth from my home when I go camping, sounds like I'll need to buy some dedicated camper items now.

 

[EZAdventures]

I carry two water hoses.
Clean drinking water hose, (designed for potable water) not all hoses are.
Hose for everything else, like rising the sewer dump hose.

Does ETI still include a basic dump hose?
Lawn Chair
Matches or Bic Lighter
I 2nd on the roll of duct tape and of course WD40
Length of rope

I hadn't considered a general purpose hose. That's going on the list for sure. Also a lighter, I hadn't considered that the stove may not have an igniter.

 

[EZAdventures]

We carry a set of reflective emergency cones in case we break down on the highway.

You might also consider a way to jack up the trailer in case of a flat, either levellers that will lift high enough or a jack. I carry a hydraulic jack and have CAA Premium RV in case something happens that I can't look after myself.

Thanks to the forum I've learned and now plan on purchasing one set of rocker-style levelers so that I can "jack" up the trailer if the need arises. I just looked up CAA, looks like it's out of Canada. I hadn't considered getting a roadside assistance plan for the trailer. Thanks for the idea.

 

[EZAdventures]

Your list and what has been added will put you on the path to a successful first trip. These are things I travel with as well. Personally, I avoid "all-in-one" products like a jumper box, flashlight, air compressor combo. I prefer dedicated tools devices.

12volt air compressor/inflator - I have the Harbor Freight model which is similar to the Milwaukee. It runs on either 12v or one of their battery packs.
Head lamp - I like to keep my hands free
Reflective vest - get a good quality one that won't flap around in the wind and wear it anytime you have to stop and get out along the highway
Red shop towels - I keep a half dozen of these in the tool kit. More durable than paper towels or those blue disposal towels and better for the environment
Multi-meter - for troubleshooting electrical issues
Someone suggested two drinking water hoses. I agree and would add that one of them should be a heated hose.
Jumper box - New ones are compact and can be used as a 12v source in a pinch as long as hey have battery clamps
A jack of some sort. Some people haul a garage floor jack around. Others like scissors jacks. I prefer bottle jacks
Impact driver - I know some folks don't like hearing these things. I get it. I have a basic 20v Porter Cable impact driver that will remove lug nuts (use your torque wrench to tighten them up, though) as well as lower and raise the stabilizers. Don't forget to get the appropriate socket for the stabilizers
Waterless hand cleaner and Heavy duty hand creams- I have a tube of GoJo and O'Keefes in the tool kit. Life's too short to deal with dry, cracked hands.
Work Gloves - Again, I tend to get good quality gloves, usually a pair of Mechanix and good quality full leather. You only have one pair of hands, treat them well
Cordage - About 100ft of paracord

Other things to consider:
Hatchet
Folding shovel
Folding saw
Matches and butane lighter

This all may sound like a lot, but it actually doesn't take up that much room. This is everything listed plus more packed in the front storage of our 5.0. We did expand the storage, but it all fit in there easily before I did the expansion project.

I'll combine all these reply's into one next time. I'm still learning how to forum. Sorry ya'll.

Fantastic list, thank you. You're the second person to mention reflective roadside gear. I guess I need invest in this as well; it'd never crossed my mind.

With my current camper, a tiny little pop up, I've had the worst luck over the years with gloves. In 5 years I've gone through probably 5 Ace Hardware brand gloves, 2 full leather gloves, and one more expensive pair. Maybe this is normal but feels so wasteful. They all either wear a hole or rip along the finger seam. Maybe I need to just pay for the pricey stuff and stop being cheap.

 

[Selkirk]

In addition to all the above suggestions, here are a few other recommendations.
- 1 or 2 good quality flashlights, along with spare batteries.
- Socket for the hot water heater anode and teflon pipe tape
- Thermometer for fridge
- Inexpensive tongue scale
- A few 2x4 or 2x6 wood offcuts. These are handy to use as levelers, base for the tongue jack, or underneath stabilizers.

I'll also add my voice to the importance of a good tire inflator/compressor. It has been one of the most-used tools I've purchased. The Viair model I have is powerful enough to blow out the water lines. That's a great feature if you find yourself in a situation where you have to winterize quickly.

Also, don't overlook essentials for the tow vehicle.....
- Tow mirrors
- Hitch and ball (if not supplied with trailer)
- Brake controller installed/verified functional
- Vehicle maintenance up to date
- Locking hitch receiver pin
- Tires in good condition, including spare

 

[Jim Bennett]

This is really quite a subjective subject. No two couples will want or need the same things. Cooking appliances is just one thing where you will get a dozen different things to cook with outdoors, we just use a good gas grill and stove.

I would look through the lists provided and decide what works for you. As you travel you will find things you would like to have, so get them at that time. There is no need to take everything you think you might need, there are lots of things you just won't use.

Also at the end of the first season critically go through what you took along and see if there is stuff you really don't need or use and pull it out. You will find you remove a fair few things. I still do this occasionally and find things we either don't use, or no longer use.

I prefer to travel as light as possible, just take the things we need to go have fun and make some good memories.

 

[GinoandLinda]

Up until now I've been moving tool bag items back and forth from my home when I go camping, sounds like I'll need to buy some dedicated camper items now.

Yep, that's normal. Probably the simplest way to manage that is a checklist that meets your needs. We have some dedicated stuff, and some stuff we use regularly and load into the trailer. It's all a matter of what you are comfortable with. We try to keep our trailer close enough to ready to be able to pack, hitch and leave in about an hour or so.

 

[Shadious]

We bring a spray bottle of bleach for sanitizing our dump hose ends, vale handles and dump elbows. We also have a dedicated tool box that rides in the tow vehicle, a drill and necessary sockets for the levelers, trailer Valet jack and Anderson WDH.
One thing I read a few times when we used to have a Casita- if you need something more than 2 or 3 times, purchase it. Otherwise you may end up with a lot of stuff that only gets used one time and then becomes dead weight. Generally this applies to items that are not tools/spare parts of course!

 

[EZAdventures]

Tons of great info. My list is growing! I went to Harbor Freight tonight and the list wanted to get even longer.

I had a thought as I was reading Shadious's post about dumping. Since this is my first time with any sort of holding tanks, would it be absolutely silly if, while the camper is in my yard being prepped for its first trip, I filled the fresh, gray, and black tanks with water? Hear me out, my thought is it would do two things. First, test watertightness of the all the fittings before getting anything filthy in the tanks and second, allow me a practice dump when I arrive to the campground (only a few miles away) before anything filthy could get everywhere if I messed up.

 

[Ron in BC]

Good idea. Bit of a learning curve on a couple of items.

1. Hooking up the hose; it's possible to not quite get it fully on and it could leak. Better it be plain fresh water.

2. Sometimes one or both valves don't full seal and when you remove the cap it can leak a bit.

So, yes, practice is a good idea. After a few uses you won't give it much thought, it'll just be a routine.

Ron

 

[penwia]

I carry two water hoses.
Clean drinking water hose, (designed for potable water) not all hoses are.
Hose for everything else, like rising the sewer dump hose.

Does ETI still include a basic dump hose?
Lawn Chair
Matches or Bic Lighter
I 2nd on the roll of duct tape and of course WD40
Length of rope

Yes, you get a 'Stinky slinky" but it does not have a piece to connect to the swearer. I am planning on getting the Rino.

 

[penwia]

Tons of great info. My list is growing! I went to Harbor Freight tonight and the list wanted to get even longer.

I had a thought as I was reading Shadious's post about dumping. Since this is my first time with any sort of holding tanks, would it be absolutely silly if, while the camper is in my yard being prepped for its first trip, I filled the fresh, gray, and black tanks with water? Hear me out, my thought is it would do two things. First, test watertightness of the all the fittings before getting anything filthy in the tanks and second, allow me a practice dump when I arrive to the campground (only a few miles away) before anything filthy could get everywhere if I messed up.

I am planning this exact thing, once the weather warms up. I have played with all the electrical features and think I have mastered them. I have to wait to practice and try all the plumbing stuff. I will for sure fill the tank and try out the pump and the water heater. I also plan to practice dumping my tanks (with only fresh water of course)