We spend a lot of time in our 5th wheel so we have basically outfitted it with a whole set of kitchen and bathroom items.  For most trips we simply need to bring food and clothes.  We left yesterday and are traveling from Palm Coast, FL to Casper, WY and then to Ogden, UT.  We will be gone for 3 weeks and a day so the planning was a little more extensive than usual.

So, what are the top ten things we did to prepare for this trip?

1. Meal planning:  We always plan our meals when traveling in the 5th wheel.  If not, how would we know what food to bring, right?  We choose each meal for each day.  Peter makes a list of food from there.  Then we break that list into two different lists – one for grocery shopping and one for items we already have at home that just need to be brought to the camper.  Not only do we have to plan out the meals but we also have to ensure that there is enough room for the items in the camper.  That was particularly challenging this trip because of the limited freezer space.
2. Reservations for campsites:  We made reservations for 10 campgrounds for this trip.  On the way up we were concerned about not having reservations because we will be on the path of the Eclipse.  Our trip home is Labor Day weekend so that could become an issue as well.  I used the Good Sam trip planning page online to find campgrounds that met our needs that were about the right distance for a day’s travel.  Peter called each for reservations and then we recorded in our RoadTripper app.  I love the RoadTripper app because it is available on my cell.
3. Practice runs in 5th wheel:  We purchased this 5th wheel in May and so it was pretty new to us.  We made several “dry runs” including a few days at a campground in St. Augustine and a trip to South Carolina to ensure we were very comfortable with the hook up and breakdown process.  In addition, our dry runs gave us a chance to see what was missing.
4. Safety equipment and securing items:  I have heard some horror stories about tires on trailers so we got a system called Tire Minder.  It monitors the air pressure in the tires on the trailer and we can see this on a device in the truck.  If the pressure gets low, the device alarms so we can pull over, hopefully before a disaster.  We also ensured that the fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors were functioning.  We have learned a few lessons over the years in ensuring that things are secured properly for travel.  If you visited our 5th wheel you might think a child lived here because we have a few baby locks.  The overhead cabinets are secured with a baby lock so it will not come open.  We have had several items on the floor that were in the cabinet.  Also, there are two drawers on the side of our slide outs that we secure with a baby lock.  This keeps them from coming out and getting in the way when we open the slide.  Everything basically comes off the counter and is secured on the floor near the table during transport.  However, we have a candle on our counter top that I secured with Museum Putty.  It stays on the counter and doesn’t move!  The bed is a pretty good place to put things during transport.  May times I will push the pillows around the item to ensure it doesn’t go anywhere.

   

   

5. List of things to do:  One of the reasons I love the RoadTripper app is because it shows sites and things to do near your travel route.  I chose several things that I would like to do, especially near our destinations.  I haven’t necessarily planned out each day for this trip at our destination because of family schedules of which we are not sure but I have listed the things I want to do.  Also, we have found and called a Doggy Day Care to ensure we have the ability to go and see what we want since some things do not allow Akio to come.
6. Check in/out list:  The 5th wheel is much easier to set up and break down than the travel trailer but we still have a check in and a check out list.  It helps us ensure that we don’t miss something especially on those travel days where we are getting in late and/or leaving early.  Peter keeps it on his cell phone so he can run through it quickly as he gets things set.
7. Laundry:  Normally we do not need to do laundry on our trips because we are only gone for a week or so but this trip will require that we do laundry.  Almost all campgrounds have coin-operated laundry facilities.  We have found when we did need to do laundry that the laundry pods are the easiest things to use.  We keep a bag of them in the 5th wheel all the time and also ensure we have enough quarters to do a load if needed.
8. Lists and more lists:  I love lists.  Peter hates lists.  But he accepts my need to have things on a list.  One of the things that I have learned in camping and preparing for camping is that if I don’t make him put something on the list when I think of it, it will not get on the list and it won’t get done.  We have forgotten butter and propane for the grill because of this.
9. Entertainment – Roku & Games:  Most of our trips are because of my work and I end up spending a lot of time working.  If I am not working, we will take walks or hikes or spend time outside.  This time, I won’t be working a lot (hopefully).  Of course, camping in Florida means not wanting to spend a lot of time outside in 95 degree heat with 100% humidity so entertainment in the 5th wheel is necessary as well.  We have a television in our 5th wheel that is probably bigger than the one in our house.  Most of the time we use the antenna or watch movies but there is a limit to the number of times I want to watch the same movie and the selection on the antenna can be limited at best.  We recently purchased a Roku.  Since we have unlimited internet on our cell phones, we can connect and stream.  Most WiFi connections at campgrounds are not good enough to stream.  We also got a couple of small games like Pass the Pig and Farkle.  We are looking forward to some nice time together!
10. Campground Review Book:  I wish so much that I had started this a few years ago.  I put together a campground review booklet that allows us to record information about each campground that we stay in.  I can record things like the cost, if they have pull through sites, which sites we like or don’t like and what there is to do.  I think it will be super helpful as we plan trips in the future, especially when we are going to the same area.

    

    

A friend of mine commented that he expected me to have everything planned out.  Not that he was exactly stating that I was obsessive but, he was.  That’s ok.  I like being organized and detailed.