Supplies for Pop-Up Campers

Pack all the supplies you need for a successful camping trip.

Imagine setting up your pop-up camper at your favorite campground and realizing that not only did you forget a lighter, but you also forgot the lounge chairs. Create a master checklist for all the supplies you will need on each trip to make each outdoor adventure run smoothly. From cooking basics to first aid supplies, it is important to keep your pop-up camper well stocked and to make the most out of your small home away from home.

Kitchen and Cooking

Bring roasting sticks to cook over the fire.

One of the great things about camping in a pop-up camper is the convenience of cooking with full-sized supplies. Store cooking utensils, pots and pans and a coffee maker in your pop-up camper year-round to avoid forgetting them on your trip. Fill a drawer or container with dish rags, kitchen towels and detergent, along with paper towels and napkins. Ziploc bags, foil and plastic storage containers are also very useful, and will need to be replenished occasionally. Do not forget to pack a portable grill with extra propane, a butane lighter and other small appliances such as a toaster or electric skillet. For cooking over the fire, pack roasting sticks, oven mitts and skewers.

Outdoor Living Space

Pack a comfortable camp chair for each camper.

Whether your particular pop-up camper has an awning or not, you can create a comfortable outdoor living space along side your unit. Start with a large piece of outdoor carpet, and set out enough camp chairs for each person on the trip. Also include a folding table or two for preparing food, dining or playing cards. Hang a string of outdoor lights on your awning or camper wall for nighttime illumination.

Bedding and Linens

Use a sleeping bag inside the pop-up camper.

Make your pop-up camper beds as comfortable as your bed at home with sheets, blankets, pillows and a comforter. If you feel like roughing it a bit, use sleeping bags instead. Pack extra towels for showering or swimming.

Storage

Hang garment shelves from your camper closet rod.

Pop-up campers often lack extra storage space, so pack a plastic set of drawers for your clothes or a set of garment shelves to hang from your closet rod. Re-positionable adhesive hooks are useful for hanging kitchen towels, utensils or flashlights on the wall.

Other Gear

Remember to pack a flashlight and extra batteries.

Certain gear is irreplaceable when camping, so be sure to include a lantern and flashlights with extra batteries, a fire extinguisher, Swiss army knife and a roll of duct tape in your supplies. Also include a folding shovel, axe, multi-use tool and leveling blocks. Extra items to consider are a small broom, WD40, clothesline with pins and a small sewing kit for small repairs.

Toiletries, Medical Supplies and First Aid

Keep first aid supplies in your pop-up.

Each camper and each camping trip has different needs when it comes to toiletries, medical supplies and first aid. Pack lots of toilet paper and hand sanitizer along with any prescription or over-the-counter medicines you may need. Buy a first aid kit at a local discount store, or assemble your own with pain medicines, anti-itch ointment, alcohol swabs, bandages and a first aid instruction booklet based on where and when you will be camping.

References

• Coleman: RV Camping Checklist
• Vacation Lists: RV Packing List