The First Camping Trip Of The Year

by gunner

Spring and summer are close…so close you can smell the morning breakfast cooking over the open flame!  With that in mind, now is a good time to go through all your camping supplies.  Make sure everything is right and tight so this is one less major thing you will have to do when your friends call up out of the blue and say, “Hey, we're going camping this weekend, want to come?”

I am a list-type guy, if you have not figured that out by now from the other articles.  I make a list for everything, and then I check off what is done as it is done.  This comes in extremely handy on the first trip of the year.  You have used things last year and now have forgotten what they were, and a list will help you remember.  You can scan it fast, see what you have ready, and then what you need.

Tent:

If you have a tent, you need to set it up and inspect it all over for holes or rips, and then patch as needed.  If it is a canvas tent, a new coat of waterproofing could be applied.  Check the zippers and Velcro fasteners, and look at the tie-down loops and see if they need repaired.

Pop-Up Camper

If you have the pop-up type of camper, you need to open it up and check the ends, mattresses, flaps, screens, zippers, etc.  You also need to grease the tracks the ends slide out on, BUT clean the old gunk out of the tracks first.  It does no good to regrease over old dirty grease.  Check and lube all the cables, and oil the door hinge and door lock and knob.  Check your lines for propane if it is equipped with a stove.  Clean and grease the trailer wheel bearings.  Replace the tires if they are worn.  A little bit of grease in the ball receiver is not a bad idea.  Don’t forget to check the trailer lights and license plate light.  Check the condition of the trailer jack, and clean, oil, and grease as needed.  (Most people forget the jack until they need it…and if you need it and it doesn't work, that makes a bad time even worse.)

Equipment:

I always replace the mantles in the lanterns first, and then replace the glass if needed.  A little bit of WD-40 on the underside of the knob helps make it turn a little easier.  Then I move on to the stove, and check the burners and lines and igniter.  Clean and replace what is needed, and check your supply of Coleman fuel and propane.  Make sure all the utensils are there and clean…plates, mugs, plastic glasses should be all clean with no cracks.  Clean and re-season the cast iron skillets.  Also, check the little container of salt and pepper and seasonings, and make sure what needs replaced gets replaced. 

Open up and check your sleeping bag…right away, if it is washable, THROW IT in there!  Then, you look at the pillows and all the other washable things and put them in their piles to be washed right away.  This is something that we all need to do.  No matter how nice it is to have the smell of a wood burning fire in your gear, after this long … well…just wash it.

Some things on my list:

Toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste

Advil and any other medications you may need

Hairbrush

Soap and deodorant

Small bottle of shampoo

Rope

Matches, Zippo lighter and supplies

Two 30-minute flares

Snap lights in assorted colors

Binoculars

Flashlights and batteries

GPS and batteries or a compass

Canteen

Mess Kit

First-Aid kit

Snake bite kit

Duct tape (works great for a fast temporary hole repair in the tent, sleeping bag, or anything else)

Good set of two-way radios and extra batteries

Radio

Hatchet and hammer

Some sort of firearm (IF permitted in your area—check your local laws)

And, like always, these are just some of the things I take with me when I am going for a long camping trip…overnight or two, the list of supplies is shorter.  Still, one of the most important things to do is make a list, and use it.  If you're not a list-maker, just print out this page and use that.  You will see in no time how it makes your experience better…

Good camping and see you out there!

gunner