Setting out on a camping trip is a thrilling adventure for everyone – whether you’re a seasoned traveller or it’s your first time heading out to the bush. There is a special sense of excitement that only campers know, and we can’t wait for you to experience that feeling when you’re gearing up for your next trip to Murphy’s Creek Escape.
But in the middle of all that excitement, it’s easy to forget to pack something or leave one of your camping essentials at home! To make your job a whole lot easier, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to packing the ultimate bush camping trailer. With these handy tips, you’ll have plenty more time to spend dreaming about your trip!!
Start with a list of your Camp trailer items
If you haven’t sat down to make a list of everything you need to pack for your camp trip to South East Queensland, we suggest this is the best place to start. Knowing how much you need, takes the guesswork out of packing and helps you devise a plan of attack before you start throwing everything into the car.
The best lists are the ones that are broken down into subcategories, making sure it’s specific as possible. Consider breaking it down into:
- Vehicle – parts and tools that you will need for repairs or to keep your car going while you’re away. Freshly serviced camping trailer from the wheels to the chasis to the car engine, suspension and electronics. Ensure that your vehicle is in good working condition and the motor has not engine issues.
- Personal Safety – this is when you can consider items such as first-aid kits, supplies in case you’re away longer than you expect and anything else you need to make your trip as comfortable as possible. Bandaids for cuts and scratches, bandages and panadol will be useful in any emergencies.
- Keeping Away Animials – Things like stingos incase you get bitten by mosquitos, aeroguard also works terrific, mosquio coils, camping nets that you can throw over your annex or tent.
- Recreation – The great outdoors is a wonderful playground in itself, but there are still plenty of opportunities for you to whip out your toys. Whether it’s a mountain bike or your bird watching binoculars, remember to pack all your recreation essentials! Don’t forget things for the kids wether you need footballs, kayaks, tennis balls, surfboards or body boards, fishing rods, yabby pumps, butterfly nets and a trusty pack of cards.
The beauty of creating a list like this is that it’s a one-and-done job! If you get the list right the first time, you’re already one step ahead when it comes to your next getaway. Although every trip may require slightly different inventory, this list is a great starting base and will ensure you don’t forget any of the basics!
Packing efficiently
After you’ve established what you need to pack, the next step is to plan how you’re going to pack. It’s important to think about this step carefully before you start to ensure you keep your equipment damage-free and accessible.
Some of our particularly enthusiastic campers have invested in a drawer system in their cars. These units are a great way to store everything neatly and in different sections. There are plenty of different options on the market and you’ll find stacks of information and forums online to help you decide on which is the best set-up for your family. If you get stuck in the decision-making process, why not have a chat to one of our on-site staff? We love talking about camping gear, ALMOST as much as we love heading off on a camp trip!
Anyone heading away with the entire family will likely find themselves in a car absolutely packed to the brim! In between toys, clothes, snacks and everything else, there probably won’t be much empty space. In this situation, we would definitely recommend looking into a cargo barrier. Having some type of separation between you and your luggage will stop it from becoming a missile through the car in the event of rough roads or emergency braking!
Make good use of your Roof Racks
A common question we are asked is: Do I need roof racks? While roof racks are not an absolute essential packing item, once you try them out – you’ll never go back! Roof racks are a great place to store and transport bulky items that you don’t necessarily need to access at all times. This might include a kayak, your mountain bike or even a stand-up paddle board. You don’t need these things while you’re on the road, but they’ll be easy enough to get once you arrive at your campsite.
It’s important to be careful about what you choose to store up top though. Carrying items that are too big, too tall or oddly shaped can change the centre of gravity on your car. If you’re not careful, this can have a huge impact on your vehicle’s handling and fuel economy. Be sure to check what the load carrying capacity of your racks are too. It’s usually around 100kgs, and you’d be surprised how easily you can creep up to this number!
Regardless of how much or how little you choose to store on your roof rack – do not forget tie downs! Keeping everything firmly in-place as you drive is not just a safety must, it’s a legal requirement. We suggest packing extra tie downs in the car so that you’ve got back-ups if anything happens to the first lot!
Build up your Camping Supplies
One of the best tips we offer to anyone visiting us is to use their first trip as a test run, and then slowly build up their camping supplies. By establishing what you do and don’t need while you’re away, you can start to collect duplicates of all the essential items so that you don’t have to pack up everything from home for every trip.
When you’ve got a solid supply of camping gear, you can keep it store in your camping trailer. This will make packing and unpacking and absolute breeze, which is all the more reason to schedule plenty more weekend getaways and last-minute trips!
Another great tip to make packing easier is to check your supplies and inventory list when you get home, and then replace anything that needs to be stocked up immediately. Sticking to this proactive approach means you’re much less likely to arrive on your next getaway to South East Queensland without all the gear that you need.