Ready-to-Go RVing – Be Prepared With Packing Lists

Apr 15, 2010
Thomas Alan Gray

RV Packing Checklist - Thomas A. Gray

Good packing checklists help get the RV ready for the road and ensure that travel essentials are aboard. Here's how to make a vacation checklist that works

"I thought you packed it!" So starts another vacation-spoiling argument.

Remembered the mustard but forgot the hot dogs? It seems that everybody forgets something when loading up the RV. It may be something trivial and easily replaced, or it may be something absolutely essential. "Stressing about whether we're forgetting something important is the least fun part of RVing," claims Vacation-Lists.com, which offers checklists for everything travel related, including RV packing.

There are two basic approaches to making sure that what needs to be packed actually gets on board.

Keep a full set of RV-ware that goes on every trip. That way, it's always there and can't be forgotten.
Use packing lists and check them off as items are loaded

The first method is discussed in a companion article, Ready-to-Go RVing – Keep the RV Stocked for Fast Getaways. The second method is discussed here.

Of course, it's possible to combine the two approaches, keeping some items always stocked, and using lists for others. Even if you do stock bathroom tissue in the RV, it pays to check that there are enough rolls for the trip.

Using Vacation Check Lists to Load the RV

"Some of the commonly forgotten items include medications, a can opener, and toilet paper," writes Eriani Doyel (RV Readiness — Are You and Your RV Ready for The Road? August 30, 2006).

"A packing list is most essential," claims Doyel. " As you think of things add them to the list and check them off when they are packed."

Vacation-List.com offers an excellent starting point for developing RV packing lists. Their RV packing checklist is roughly organized by functional area, although the categories are broad and overlap considerably. They offer a printable version that can be copied and pasted into a word processor to modify for individual use.

Packing Checklist for Cleaning and Sanitation – Everything from bathroom supplies to cleaning supplies, from dish washing to laundry is lumped in here.
Travel Packing List for Cooking and Campfires – Covers everything from firewood and firestarters to the campstove (but not an LPG refill), from kitchen utensils to toothpicks, and that all-essential corkscrew!
Travel Checklist for Food – This lists everything from condiments to fresh food. Many items don't spoil and could safely be left in the RV ready to go. Simply check them off as being already loaded. Items that require refrigeration can be stored in a small plastic tote and shuttled from RV fridge to home fridge. Make a sublist for the contents of the tote if necessary, but simply check off "Fridge tote" when it's loaded into the camper.
Packing Travel List for Games and Recreation – Forgot the kids' swimsuits? Many recreation items (inflatable kayak, for example) can stay aboard, but bicycles and swim gear will need to be loaded each time. Here, a checklist is a real boon.
Travel Essentials for RV Living – This section is a catch-all. Lantern, flashlight, clothespins, camp chairs, patio carpet, fire extinguisher, etc. are listed. While this list might be useful for the beginner, most RVers will eventually learn to keep this stuff in the RV. Why haul the fire extinguisher in and out?
Travel Packing List for First Aid Items – While this list is handy to check out the RV first aid kit, it shouldn't be necessary to go over this list every trip. Add "First aid kit" to one of the other lists. It lives in the RV. If something is used, it needs to be restocked.
Medical Packing List – To some extent, this list refers to individual needs, such as prescriptions, inhalers, hearing aid batteries and such. Common items such as ASA, antacids, water purification systems, etc. are included here as well, though again these items can easily be stored in the RV.

One thing missing from the Vacation-List.com RV packing list is clothing (though they may correct that omission after reading this article).

But that's a good point. As RV travelers develop a checklist and add to it over several trips, it becomes more complete, better suited to their particular rig, better focused on their specific needs, and more effective for making their RV packing smooth and hassle-free.

"Oh, did you pack the bird identification book?" will never again need to be asked. It's on the list.