I was a semi-regular on rec.outdoor.rv-travel while we had our TT. I dug up an old post I had made back then about what to decide you needed to carry...
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Eric A. Roellig Jul 28 1999, 3:00 am show options
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel, alt.rv
From: "Eric A. Roellig" - Find messages by this author
Date: 1999/07/28
Subject: Re: Accessories List
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stan_ri...@hotmail.com wrote:
> Has anyone complied a list of all of the necessary accessories that are
> not included when you purchase an RV? I am trying to compile such a
> list so that when I start out, I won't be in east podunk and suddenly
> discover that I need a dump donut, or left handed power water reducing
> valve, or whatever.
> ~next time
> Stan
Stan,
While we have a list, it isn't accessable to me to post. Perhaps someone
else will point you to one of the sevral lists I have seen on-line.
However, I will re-post something I sent out last year on a similar
topic. I really didn't try to provide a comprehensive list, but to
suggest situations you should think about. The bottom line is you need
to think through the possible situations/mishaps you may encounter and
see what the best way for you to deal with them is...
Look in dejanews for the topic below to see the other suggestions people
made.
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Subject:
Re: 10 Most Necessary Accessories
Date:
1998/04/16
Author:
Eric A. Roellig
Posting History
Katie Price wrote:
> What do you consider the most necessary accessories to have while RVing?
> --
Be able to care for your tires!!!
Tire gage.
5-7 gal. portable air tank or heavy duty 12v air compressor.
If you are often at parks with electricity (and you rarely stay at the
same campground..) you might as well get adaptors so you can use 15/20
amp, 30 amp, and 50 amp outlets. The more places you visit the more
likely it will be a matter of "when" not "if" you will need them. My
TT has 30 amp service but I was once in a place where the only
available site had nothing but a 50 amp outlet. Several times only had
15/20 amp outlet. A 30 amp extension cord has also been used several
times.
An extra long (50 ft) water hose also gets used a couple of times/year
as not all water spigots are close by.
Good flash lights (NOT fluorescent!!!) big enough (i.e. 6 volt lantern
battery type) to give you light at night in the rain (and wind.) You
should try changing a flat tire at night in your driveway with a
"normal" flash light some time to see how frustrating it can be (with
rain its 10X worse...) BTW: Fluorescent lanterns don't put out light
worth anything when its cold out.
Good flash lights (as above) so you can hitch up in the dark in the
rain because the state park ranger has come by to say you have 30
minutes to leave the park because the river is going to overflow the
banks due to the heavy rain. Try THAT in the dark in your driveway
sometime as well!!! (BTW: I go to a place where that does happen now
and then. And there are NO security lights.) Also, if you travel to a
river site it wouldn't hurt to review exactly what the minimum of tear
down you require to hit the road for a case like this. In our case,
there are items that would simply get dumped on the floor so they
won't fall. We will worry about getting them put away when we get to a
safe location.
A rain suit for the above if you care.
A nice medical kit. Sam's had one for sale over Christmas that was a
real dandy (MUCH better than the one WalMart normally carries.)
Bandages(normal to very large), antibiotic creams, burn creams,
anti-diareal pills, eye patch & cream, instant cold pack, etc. Our
medical kit has been used to help mop up after a bike spill as well as
a few splinters & minor cuts. The kit also had a smaller box for the
car as well as an even smaller pack for bike, hike, etc. The further
out into the boonies you are the more important this is. We also
usually keep a couple of the gel cold packs in the freezer to help
with the aches & pains of "doing more than we are used to"
I also have an assortment of chemical flares, electric flashing
flares, road reflectors, and a reflecting/flashing belt made for
joggers. I'm determined to be SEEN if I have problems at the side of
the road at night in the rain.
An inexpensive hand held CB so my Lady can help back me into our site
at night as it is dark about 95% of the time we get anywhere.
A minimum of tools that you are comfortable using (assortment of
wrenches, screw drivers, a few extra screws for things that shake
lose.) I keep a tool kit in the trailer at all times as well as carry
a few other things along besides. Face it, you try taking your house
and drag it all over the road and you gotta EXPECT something to go
wrong now and then. Usually they are simple things that just aggravate
you during your outing. Decide ahead of time how much you think you
can handle on your own and be ready to deal with it. Whether your
experience/skill level is "overhaul the engine in the park" to "I can
at least change my own flat tire", the most frustrating thing is to
have something go wrong that YOU CAN take care of and not have the
tools to take care of it.
Check lists. They can be a bit of a pain to put together but they are
VERY helpful. We have a list for "preparing to leave for the trip",
"Setting up at the camp site", "Preparing to leave the camp site",
"Leaving the TT in its normal parking spot til next time", and the
"Evacuation" check list. These lists identify items/procedures that we feel MUST be included/done at those times (i.e. battery on/off, gas on/off, trailer running lights/turn signals tested, water heater
on/off, antenna down, water pump on/off, stove vent locked/unlocked,
etc...) We don't move until we have checked everything on the list so
we know it is safe to move/have everything "necessary" with us. In
addition, we have an inventory list of things we like to keep with us
(i.e. is there enough TP, wash kit, paper towels, medical kit stock,
food stuffs, etc)
IMHO, the most >necessary< items are "those that will help you
prevent/deal with/travel/get home even if you are having some
problems." Everything beyond that is just convenience/favorite toys.
For catastrophic problems have good road insurance and the "well
stocked credit card" (tm) mentioned in an earlier post.
Enjoy!!
Eric
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