Hi to all We are new to the nomad way of life,about to start our journey next monday.We have a pop top jayco van with ample storage,I dont know if I have been packing toooo much stuff.What did you all do when you first started out?
Kathryn
Monica said
11:37 AM Jun 20, 2009
Hi Kathryn and Stuart, Welcome to the forum. What a question, there will be lot of different opinions on that one (dont listen to the men, they just travel with one extra pair of jocks and two t shirts). I took evrything I could think of, Bob made me empty out my van and get rid of a lot of it (but I sneaked some of it back in) you just never know what you might need. I found after a few trips I did not need half of what I had in the van so I have end up getting rid of it. It is all trial and error, we all need different things (or think we do) one of the things I did pack too much of was clothes, hate to admit that but it is true. I think you will sort it all out after a few trips.
Ma said
12:33 PM Jun 20, 2009
I packed what I thought was only essential stuff. After each trip we come home and I take out stuff that we don't really need. My moto is keep it as simple as you can. No sense in taking along excess baggage. Helps with the fuel consumption too I would reckon........lighten the load.......LOL
chris & phil said
12:42 PM Jun 20, 2009
Kathryn I to always take too much, I am getting a lot better now after 20 years of caravaning. I like to take my slow cooker, electric frypan our latest addition is a little toaster oven only had it a short time but each trip we have used it. Clothes and shoes are another matter, I always take too many pairs of shoes and too many clothes, but a girl has to be prepared for any occasion. I never leave home without the hairdryer, mousse and hair spray. A lot of stuff we leave in the van, like socks, jocks toaster kettle cutlery crockery cleaning products. You will find a system that suits you after a few trips. We always leave linen in the van. Enjoy your travels. The advice on not too listen to the males is correct. Just say "yes dear" when they are advising on what not to take.
Chris & Phil
mike and Judy said
02:09 PM Jun 20, 2009
in the long run, we blokes are always right, extra jocks and t shirts, plus a couple plates and spoons and maybe a sharp knife
Vic41 said
02:27 PM Jun 20, 2009
And don't foret Mike plenty of booze in the fridge.....don't worry about the food, Nah.....just joking! Taking a hair dryer as someone suggested is also a good idea for drying any clothes you are wearing if you get caught in a shower, also for drying bedding or areas in the van if there is a water leak somewhere. Don't worry too much about clothes, a lot of people utilize the opportunity shops in towns en-route to buy 2nd hand clothes that don't matter if they get dirty etc.
After a trip or two, you will work out what you REALLY need as others have suggested here.
On our first trip around Oz we carried far too much "just in case" and came home with it never used.......didn't help the fuel bill any either !
Vic
Monica said
03:42 PM Jun 20, 2009
chris & phil wrote:
Kathryn I to always take too much, I am getting a lot better now after 20 years of caravaning. I like to take my slow cooker, electric frypan our latest addition is a little toaster oven only had it a short time but each trip we have used it. Clothes and shoes are another matter, I always take too many pairs of shoes and too many clothes, but a girl has to be prepared for any occasion. I never leave home without the hairdryer, mousse and hair spray. A lot of stuff we leave in the van, like socks, jocks toaster kettle cutlery crockery cleaning products. You will find a system that suits you after a few trips. We always leave linen in the van. Enjoy your travels. The advice on not too listen to the males is correct. Just say "yes dear" when they are advising on what not to take.
Chris & Phil
Chris you sound just like me. Hair dryer, see that Bob, she also takes her hair dryer, I'm not the only one. I also leave most of the van packed ready to go again. It is just a matter of putting in fresh clothes and transferring the house fridge perishables into the van's fridge.
Monica said
03:47 PM Jun 20, 2009
Vic41 wrote:
And don't foret Mike plenty of booze in the fridge.....don't worry about the food, Nah.....just joking! Taking a hair dryer as someone suggested is also a good idea for drying any clothes you are wearing if you get caught in a shower, also for drying bedding or areas in the van if there is a water leak somewhere. Don't worry too much about clothes, a lot of people utilize the opportunity shops in towns en-route to buy 2nd hand clothes that don't matter if they get dirty etc.
After a trip or two, you will work out what you REALLY need as others have suggested here. On our first trip around Oz we carried far too much "just in case" and came home with it never used.......didn't help the fuel bill any either !
Vic
Oh lookie, another hair dryer addict. Thank you Vic, I have been really ribbed for even mentioning my hair dryer.
Monica said
04:03 PM Jun 20, 2009
Kathryn,
Dont forget your bread maker. Ma and I are taking ours.
tezza said
07:27 PM Jun 20, 2009
we now carry about 1/2 what we started with 4 years ago and still have stuff we don't use
Monica said
07:43 PM Jun 20, 2009
tezza wrote:
we now carry about 1/2 what we started with 4 years ago and still have stuff we don't use
but it is there if you need it ... right !!
tonyd said
07:47 PM Jun 20, 2009
You can benefit from cast-offs.
Met a couple last week in Carnarvon. Nice van pulled by a Land Cruiser ute with canvas top. They had WAY TOO MUCH stuff, including a Harley-Davison motorbike!
And a copy of the Yellow Pages.
But Rob wanted to lighten ship and insisted that I take a bottle of Glenfiddich to help out. Was happy to oblige!
Cheers, Tony
Vic41 said
09:43 PM Jun 20, 2009
Monica wrote:Oh lookie, another hair dryer addict. Thank you Vic, I have been really ribbed for even mentioning my hair dryer.
Oh OK Monica.........I lied !! It was my wife's idea, not mine.....but it made sense, and yes we have used it for drying on a couple of occasions. It is an old one and we keep it in the van all the time (sounds like a vacuum cleaner), my wife carries her little travel one (powerful but small).
Vic
Vic41 said
09:46 PM Jun 20, 2009
tonyd wrote:
You can benefit from cast-offs. Met a couple last week in Carnarvon. Nice van pulled by a Land Cruiser ute with canvas top. They had WAY TOO MUCH stuff, including a Harley-Davison motorbike! And a copy of the Yellow Pages. But Rob wanted to lighten ship and insisted that I take a bottle of Glenfiddich to help out. Was happy to oblige! Cheers, Tony
Sounds like a fair trade off Tony.......I assume you found your way back again, lol!
Helena said
06:23 AM Jun 21, 2009
the boot is on the other foot with us I take just what I need but Bill takes everything he can possibly pack in and then brings half of it home unused. Men Helena.
Cruising Granny said
04:10 PM Jun 21, 2009
Welcome to Grey Nomads Forum Kathryn.
My van is my home and I still only carry what's necessary.
Clothes - mostly cotton to wear in the tropics where I spend most of my time. I carry some good clothes for going out socially, summer and winter. The cotton is also good in the cool climate. I do carry some warm clothes and a couple of flanno shirts for cool nights around the park. I prefer to dress down then up, but I do make the effort.
Shoes - (too many) Sandals & thongs(various), sneakers, work boots for the bush, even slippers if I get too close to the cold weather.
I rarely wear make up so that's not taking up much space and I don't use a hair dryer ever.
Basic crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils, but not heavy based saucepans. Glasses or acrylics, mugs etc. You may have campfire cook wear which you'll keep in the boot or on the back of the ute.
First Aid and medication space. Cleaning gear should only be detergent, (dish and clothes), vinegar and carb soda, otherwise some useful dual purpose cleaner.
I have a clean out about every 12 months, and if I haven't worn any items in that time, they go to the Salvos.
Be sensible from the beginning, and review when you get home again.
Don't stress about it. Just be practicle, realistic and flexible. Cheers Chris
McLellans said
09:01 PM Jun 21, 2009
Thanks everyone for your advise, we will try to be practical,but I am a women.
I would'nt go anywhere without my hairdryer.
cheers Kathryn
twobob said
11:35 PM Jun 21, 2009
Hairdryer Indeed!! - is that not what the car windows are for; wet hair, wind down window. For faster drying, stick head out window
Yep, I know, what if it is raining, cannot wind down window - well if its raining, why dry hair, only get wet again.
dave06 said
07:03 PM Jun 22, 2009
just let the woman decide what to take and then get her to find a place for it all, she will eventually get sick of dragging the excess around and trim it back to just what is truly needed
We are new to the nomad way of life,about to start our journey next monday.We have a pop top jayco van with ample storage,I dont know if I have been packing toooo much stuff.What did you all do when you first started out?
Kathryn
Welcome to the forum. What a question, there will be lot of different opinions on that one (dont listen to the men, they just travel with one extra pair of jocks and two t shirts).
I took evrything I could think of, Bob made me empty out my van and get rid of a lot of it (but I sneaked some of it back in) you just never know what you might need. I found after a few trips I did not need half of what I had in the van so I have end up getting rid of it. It is all trial and error, we all need different things (or think we do) one of the things I did pack too much of was clothes, hate to admit that but it is true. I think you will sort it all out after a few trips.
Chris & Phil
Dont forget your bread maker. Ma and I are taking ours.
Yep, I know, what if it is raining, cannot wind down window - well if its raining, why dry hair, only get wet again.