Camper Essentials

It will depend on what type of camping you are planning on doing, as to what items you will deem to be Camper Essentials.  We have had a couple of reorganise’s since purchasing our trailer. We are now pretty happy with what we have in it. Of course everyone’s needs and likes are different. What is suited to us as a family may not suit others but I will give you a run through of what we have.  These lists can easily be adapted to suit caravanning and tent camping as well.

CAMPER ESSENTIALS IN THE TRAILER:

• 4 folding camp chairs
• plastic folding table
• 2 fold up camp stretchers (we bought good ones so they will last the kids for a couple of years)
• small portable BBQ (purchased at Bunnings for $89)
• esky (better for drinks & leaves the fridge for food)
• set of 4 stackable plastic drawers for kitchen essentials
• medium size plastic tub for towels
• large picnic mat
• small folding clothes line
• 2 x 4.5kg gas bottles
• 20 litre water drum
• shovel
• hammer
• tent peg puller

CAMPER ESSENTIALS IN THE KITCHEN:

I was actually surprised at how much room there is in our tail-gate kitchen.  There are different kitchen options that you you can choose from – either tail-gate style or a slide out one.  We choose a tail-gate one as this gives us more room in the trailer.  Ours has a bench extension that folds up on top of the kitchen when not in use.  When this is folded out it has a shelf underneath for handy storage and on the top we sit our gas stove.  The main part of the kitchen is metal and has a cut out section for a plastic washing up tub and two drawers – one large, one small.  There is also plenty of room underneath the sink for storage. I have packed under there the gas stove, a bucket, cutlery set, dustpan, and tea towels.

ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST

So here is a list of items that I actually have in my kitchen.  As with anything there may be things that you don’t consider essential or the list can always be added to.  You can print off the list as a handy reference by following this link – CAMP KITCHEN ESSENTIALS

• Portable Gas Stove (3 burner)
• 6 piece cutlery set (I have mine in a tray in a plastic container)
• 6 piece dinner set (melamine or plastic)
• drinking cups
• coffee cups
• wine glasses
• small saucepan
• large saucepan
• frying pan
• tin plate or tray
• Toaster rack (for gas stove)
• toasting forks (for camp fire)
• chopping board
• garbage bags
• sharp knife
• potato peeler
• tongs
• gas lighter
• egg slice
• whistling kettle
• salad bowl
• 2 mixing bowls (microwave safe is handy to have if using a camp kitchen)
• plastic storage containers (handy for leftovers)
• bucket
• can opener
• tea towels
• dish washing detergent
• scourer
• dish clothes
• rubber gloves
• dustpan & broom
• Cling wrap
• Foil
• paper towel
• tissues
• tea/coffee
• sugar
• salt/pepper
• stubby holders
• table cloth (handy if having a picnic somewhere & the table is dirty)
• torches
• washing powder
• pegs
• toilet paper
• citronella candles

PANTRY BASICS

Once you have everything you consider to be essential to your camping needs, you can pretty much leave it all packed. Then all that is required before a trip away is to pack the food that you will need.  I do keep some tinned basics, such as spaghetti, baked beans, sauce, beetroot etc in the kitchen.  I also find  pancake mixes handy as the kids can mix these up themselves for breakfast. A couple of cans of tinned veg is also handy if you want to add something extra to a meal.