| There is an old adage that if you go back-packing you | | | | at the end of the article. Suffice to say that your |
| should only take the absolute minimum amount of | | | | emergency equipment is more important than anything |
| possessions that you think is possible, lay everything on | | | | else. If you forget to take your plates you can always |
| the floor and then half it! Well we are not sure at Class | | | | buy some. But if you have an emergency and you |
| Campers that this applies to taking a trip in a VW | | | | don't have any kit it will be too late to do anything |
| Camper but there are lessens to be learnt from this. | | | | about it. |
| Firstly, it is worth thinking carefully about what you pile | | | | Travel Checklist |
| in to your bus. Ours was a classic example: portable | | | | Everyday items: |
| satellite dish/receiver and 12 volt TV; 3 different tents | | | | - Knives/forks/spoons/corkscrew/plates/bowls/serving |
| and a swing ball for entertainment! All this and we | | | | spoon/mugs/glasses |
| forgot to take any plates or eating implements. | | | | - Tupperware for storing food |
| Secondly, too much weight will effect the ride of your | | | | - Herbs/salt/pepper/condiments |
| bus and decrease your fuel economy, which to be fair | | | | - Food/tea/coffee/sugar/milk |
| isn't very good anyway. I once asked on a VW | | | | - Washing up liquid/tea towel/scrubber |
| Camper forum how I could make my bus faster whilst | | | | - Soap/shampoo/flannel/towel/toothpaste/toothbrush |
| increasing fuel economy. The reply was "add lightness", | | | | shaver/shaving foam |
| a suggestion that I have never forgotten. | | | | - Toilet Paper/girly stuff |
| How does one remember everything that you might | | | | - Lighter/matches |
| need on a Volkswagen Camper road trip? | | | | - Black Bags |
| Some advocate a simple system by sticking a | | | | - Water Container |
| checklist to your fridge a week or two before you | | | | - Prescription Medication |
| leave and then just add to it every time you have a | | | | - Sleeping bag/duvet |
| thought! Others suggest that one should have your | | | | - Sunscreen |
| travelling equipment in your bus at all times. Thereby, | | | | - Pen Knife |
| each time you go on a trip you can add to your | | | | - Candles |
| supplies, after several road trips you should have | | | | - Maps/directions |
| everything you will require. Well although both of these | | | | - Travel alarm clock Safety:Â |
| methods work to a certain extent the first suggestion | | | | - Small Fire Extinguisher |
| is fraught will problems and will inevitably leave you | | | | - Fire Blanket |
| without something you really need. Like bog paper! The | | | | - Torch |
| second suggestion is one that I have used for years. I | | | | - Spare batteries |
| cleared out my camper only a couple of months ago | | | | - Warning Sign |
| and there must have a ton of crap in there! Most of | | | | - First Aid kit |
| which had no use at all. And after which my fuel | | | | - Hi-vis Jacket |
| economy got noticeably better. So here's how you do | | | | - Mobile phone/charger |
| it! Well its how I figure is the best way. | | | | Mechanical:Â |
| Write out list of everything you think you might need | | | | - Spare clutch/throttle cables (you might not know how |
| and throw it away! Then get a pen and write a list of | | | | to change them but it will save you a lot of time should |
| everything you will need to cook your breakfast | | | | one fail) |
| evening meal and make tea and coffee! Right that's | | | | - Set of points |
| nearly everything you need. Then write out a list of | | | | - Spare wheel |
| everything you need to have a shit/shave and a | | | | - Jack |
| shower. What you should have now is all the absolute | | | | - Wheel Brace |
| basics but enough to get you through a day or two. | | | | - Socket set |
| Now think about location specific stuff that you might | | | | - Screw Drivers (posidrive, flat head)Â |
| require. Are you going to the Lake District or to New | | | | - Jubilee Clips |
| quay- Cornwall, because if you are then you are likely | | | | - Air pump |
| to be going walking or surfing so think about what you | | | | - Jump leads |
| might need for these trips. Remember don't overload | | | | - Oil |
| your VW bus, there is absolutely no need to take 6 | | | | - Water |
| surf boards with you. | | | | - Bunge cords |
| Â Finally, what will you need if something | | | | - Electrical tape |
| happens to your bus, it breaks down or you have a | | | | Additional Items (these could be handy but might over |
| crash? Now this might not be so obvious to some | | | | load your camper, be selective! |
| folks out there so I have included a five part checklist | | | | |