What to take

McLellans · Member

What to take

Monica · Veteran Member

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 · Guru

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 · Member

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 · Guru

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 · Senior Member

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 · Veteran Member

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 · Veteran Member

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 · Veteran Member

Kathryn,

Dont forget your bread maker. Ma and I are taking ours.

tezza · Senior Member

we now carry about 1/2 what we started with 4 years ago and still have stuff we don't use

Monica · Veteran Member

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 · Guru

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 · Senior Member

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 · Senior Member

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 · Guru

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 · Guru

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 · Member

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 · Guru

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 · Guru

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