It only takes you a few minutes to list down the items you need to bring with you on the trip. We made a few different lists and wrote down all the necessary items we would need under each topic. As we loaded up the van the night before our big two month trip out west, we checked items off physically in the van. We did another check prior to leaving the next morning. Do you know we still forgot things? It’s going to happen, but if you take the time to jot everything down the chances are much better that when the time comes you will have brought what you needed / wanted. There are certain items that make the must bring or important list like documents and medicines for example. Other common things like toothpaste and batteries are often forgotten. It’s true these items can be purchased along the trip but why spend the extra money? Bring things from home like condiments, salt, pepper, napkins, paper plates and cups so you don’t have to waste time going out and buying that stuff and paying for stuff you already had! Anyways, off my soapbox for the moment, lol.

Here are categories we came up with. We made each into its own checklist.

The Checklists

Important Checklist:

1. Driver’s License

2. Wallet, cash, select credit cards

3. Pass Port

4. Vehicle Insurance Card

5. Vehicle Registration

6. Vehicle Manual

7. Park Pass (We brought America the Beautiful Pass)

8. National Park Reservations System (Check requirements)

9. Concealed Weapons Permit

10. Emergency Contacts List

11. Roadside Service Information (if applicable)

12. Notify Financial Institution of travel locations

13. Mail stopped or delivered elsewhere

14. Medicines

15. First Aid Kit

16. Maps / Photos of Maps / Locations

17. Tool Kit (ours is simple, it has hammer, crescent wrench, screwdriver with all different size heads, Phillips and Flat tipped, with pliers and a pair of needle nose pliers as well. It comes in so handy!) Allen wrenches may be required as well for some items.

Accessories Checklist:

1. Batteries

2. Headlamps / Flashlights

3. Wifi Jet Pack (Verizon Pre-paid)

4. Phone and Chargers

5. External Charger

6. Laptop and Chargers

7. Backpack for hiking / gear / water packs / with cords / cleaning supplies

8. Journals with writing instrument of choice

9. Camera gear and chargers

10. Sunglasses

11. Head gear / protection

12. Cool Rags

13. Hiking Stick

14. Utility Knife

15. Small Axe

16. Parachute Cord

17. Small dust broom with pan (you are going to be sweeping every day)

18. Camp Chairs

19. Camp Table

Health / Hygiene Checklist:

1. Aspirin

2. Motion Sickness Medication

3. Allergy Medication

4. Prescriptions

5. Vitamins

6. Toothbrush

7. Toothpaste

8. Mouthwash

9. Shampoo

10. Soap

11. Hair Gel

12. Brush

13. Hand Sanitizer

14. Wet Wipes

15. Sun Tan Lotion / Spray

16. First Aid Kit (Gauze, burn cream, insect bites, ect.)

17. Bug Spray

18. Trash Bags

19. Dirty Clothes Bag

20. Laundry soap, dryer sheets, quarters for machines

21. Towels, dish cloth, dish rags, dish sponge

22. Dawn, or dish soap of your preference

23. Toilet Paper

Cooking Supplies Checklist:

1. Pots

2. Pans

3. Forks, spoons, knives (plastic set as well)

4. Plates, bowls (paper plates as well)

5. Spatula, scoop, strainer, thongs, whisk, egg ring

6. Plastic egg holder

7. Anything from home, snacks, condiments, food items that you use often. salt and pepper, that sort of thing so you don’t have to keep buying it again out on the road)

8. Can / Bottle / Wine Opener

9. Cups, coffee cup, water tumbler for hiking

10. Spray (Pam or other product)

11. Butter

12. Milk

13. Water

14. Cheese

15. Condiments (Mayo, ketchup, ranch, ect.)

16. Towel Paper

17. Collapsable Containers (come in all different shapes and sizes / used to cook in, store food in, also bring collapsable measuring cups as well, super handy!)

Vehicle Checklist (Location / Use):

1. Tire Pressure Gauge

2. Tire Inflater / Deflater

3. Know when to inflate or deflate tires

4. Spare tire

5. Tire Jack

6. Know how to check and add oil, know what kind to buy

7. Know how to check and add washer fluid, bring extra

8. Know how your dash monitor display works & its functions

9. How to use cruise control, how to turn it off

10. Headlights, high beams, low beams, parking, hazards, fog lights

11. How to pump gas into vehicle, what kind of gas to use

12. How to operate camper’s Rapid Cam Plus system (operates everything in the camper portion of the van, there is also an AP you can use)

13. Know how to fill propane, turn it on, what it is used for in van

14. Know how to turn on and how generator works, when to use it

15. How to swivel and turn captain’s chairs

16. How to lock the vehicle properly

17. How to fill the fresh water tank and when to use it

18. How to heat up the water in the camper

19. How to heat up the camper inside when cold

20. How to operate the awning, when you should have it retracted

21. How to ignite and use the stove properly

22. How to operate the refrigerator / control the temperature inside

23. How to use the USB / electrical outlets / how they are powered

24. How to change your fuses, location of fuse box

25. How to open / set up the bed properly

26. How to operate screens and windows in van

27. How to use the wi-fi / Wine Guard or other installed system

28. How the solar panel works and charges, how to turn it on

29. How the fire alarm / smoke alarm / carbon monoxide alarm works

30. How to set up the shades on the windshield and windows

31. How to hook up electric at campground

32. How to hook up city water at campground or other

33. How to drain your grey water tank

34. How to check water tank levels and propane level

35. How to take out / put in cassette toilet, how to dispose of waste, and how to keep it clean

Bedding Checklist:

1. Pillows

2. Sheets

3. Blankets

4. Heavy Blanket (depending on destinations)

5. Inflatable mattress or thicker bedding

Planning, Research, and Resources for Trip Checklist:

1. Road Trippers

2. Google Maps

3. Trips and Streets

4. Actual Map or book

5. NPS / National Park Services AP

6. All Trails AP

7. Itinerary (to include maps, pictures, campgrounds, destinations, ect)

8. Internet Provide Website Information / Telephone Numbers

9. Campground Websites, Rules, and Check In / Check Out requirements (or late check in requirements if your like us, lol)

Packing Clothes Checklist:

1. T-shirts

2. Dress Shirt (for going out big, if you do, lol)

3. Long Sleeve Shirt

4. Dry Wick Shirt

5. Shorts (athletic, hiking, cargo)

6. Long Pants (pair jeans, long athletic pants hiking)

7. Socks

8. Underwear / Undergarment

9. Headgear (hats / beanies for cold)

10. Cool Rags (neck, hydration)

11. Comfortable Shoes (sandals, water shoes, hiking shoes, tennis shoes)

12. Parka, hoodies, rain jacket, heavy jacket, thunder wear (long johns)

13. Try to minimize in this area, wash more, bring less, take it from US we learned the hard way. Learn how to roll and pack it in tight. We use square divers with organizers within them. We also use a collapsable trunk. You can also bring additionally containers of different sorts and sizes you can organize neatly and move around easily.