26 Handy Camping Tips For Newbies

We’re heading into our sixth summer as Florida travel-trailer campers, or as I like to call us “glampers,” and we’ve taken to it like … well, Lewis and Clark.

So far, our expeditions have taken us out on weekends, spring breaks and during Florida’s hot summers.

We load up the essentials: the kids; the bikes; the fishing rods; the corn hole board for evening fun; the food; some adult beverages; and we venture off to see rustic America in all her beautiful glory. And she is amazingly breathtaking.

Along the way, through our own trial and error and the trusty advice of fellow campers, we’ve learned a thing or two … or 26, about what makes camping safer and easier.

Still Learning

And while we’ve still got lots more to learn, this post is for newbie campers or those just thinking about getting a travel-trailer, really those who are just like we were three years ago, as we followed our dream of exploring the great outdoors in our first camper and giving our kids lasting family memories.

And while we’ve still got lots more to learn, this post is for newbie campers or those just thinking about getting a travel-trailer, really those who are just like we were three years ago, as we followed our dream of exploring the great outdoors in our first camper and giving our kids lasting family memories.

This is by no means a full list of camping must-haves, but hopefully it will point you in the right direction for many of the things you’ll need on your travels.

The list includes many of the things we wish we’d known about when we started camping.

26 Camping Must-Haves

So here’s the list in no particular order of importance:

1. 1. Walkie-talkies: We use our kids’ walkie-talkies to communicate with each other while backing the trailer into a site. The kids also bring one with them as they cycle around the campsite so we can check in with them.
   2. Water filter: For additional peace of mind, we put the exterior water filter below on the hose that connects to the campsite’s water connection.
   3. Command strips: The great thing about these little hangers is they’re not permanent and don’t leave a mark on the wall.
   4. Bug spray: Florida is bug central. Bring bug repellent in the summertime.
   5. Roof vent covers: We added these vent covers to the bathroom and the kids’ bunk room and it works great for keeping those spaces aired out and well-ventilated without letting rain in.
   6. Screens for vents: We use these little flying insect screens to keep hornets or other bugs from nesting in the stove exhaust outlet.
   7. Dry goods: We keep canned and packaged dry goods stored in the trailer on a revolving basis so we have less to stock up each time we go out.
   8. Flashlight and head flashlight: In addition to keeping several LED flashlights on hand, we also have an Atomic Beam LED headlamp for hands-free lighting.
   9. Damp rid: When we’re not using the camper, we put damp rid containers in the kitchen area and bathroom to keep moisture and mildew away.
   10. Disposable gloves: Believe me, you’ll need to keep a stash of these gloves around for use when flushing out the sewer tank, also known as the black water tank.
   11. Lighters: Stock up on multipurpose lighters.
   12. Large outdoor mat: We saw campers using large mats outside their rigs and thought they look so cute and nice and optional, until we saw that in fact, they’re a necessity by cutting down on the amount of dirt tracked inside. We bought this plastic, reversible mat at Walmart and love it because it’s so functional. We just simply shake it out after each use and it doesn’t get moldy. It’s not fully extended in the picture because that site was too narrow to open it out completely.
   13. Swimming noodle: Take a swimming noodle, cut it in half and then cut each half down the middle on one side and you’ve got yourself a handy, dandy cover for the arms of your awning so no heads get bumped. A budget-friendly hack. See the noodles in the opposite picture? They’ve gotten a little worn but they’ve saved our heads from a bump on more than one occasion.
   14. Step carpet: We put a carpet on one of the steps on to the camper and it helps keeps down dust and dirt from being tracked inside. You can see it on the first step on the opposite picture.
   15. Extra pots, pans, dishes and flatware: We keep an extra set of cookware and melamine dishes at the camper for convenience. They just stay there.
   16. Sewer hose accordion: This device keeps the sewer hose off the ground and slopes the hose downward towards the sewer hook-up.
   17. 30/50 amp electrical adapter: Since some sites that we’ve been to have weak 30 amp breakers that keep tripping, we bring an adapter so there’s no need to switch sites.
   18. Vacuum cleaner: Any time something has more than one use is a great thing because it takes up less space. That’s why we use a lightweight vacuum cleaner that also turns into a hand vac for easy clean-up. It stays in the camper.
   19. Portable power pack: We use a four-in-one 12-volt portable power pack. It has an emergency light, car battery jumper cables, an air compressor, which we use to put air in the camper tire and bike tires, and a USB port for phones or computers.
   20. Outdoor Digital Thermometer: I stick this handy-dandy thermometer on the kitchen window each time we go out camping to get an easy read on the temperature when we’re inside. Just don’t forget to bring it in once you pack up to leave.
   21. Cordless screw gun: Instead of hand-cranking your camper’s stabilizers, use a cordless screw gun with a lug adapter. It’s quicker and easier.
   22. Levels: All sites are not created equal. Some are uneven and can slope slightly. Stick levelers outside your rig so you can easily gauge how flat you can get it. We also bring a level that can be carried.
   23. Wheel chocks: We use them to prevent the wheels from moving and stabilize the camper when it is parked.
   24. First aid kit: It’s essential to have a good first aid kit around in case of emergency. We use this kit and  luckily we’ve only had to use some of the band aids for minor cuts and scrapes.
   25. Closet lights: If your camper is like ours, there are no lights in the bedroom closets. So we’ve put battery-operated lights that stick to the wall in our these closets. This has been great for seeing into dark cabinets at a glance instead of shining our phones in there!
   26. Portable waste transporter: A must-have for added waste-water storage when camping in areas with no sewer hook-ups. We’ve used our 25-gallon Tote-N-Stor container twice so far on trips to state parks with only water and electric hook-ups. It comes with a tow bracket to hitch up to our truck so it can be brought to the dump station without moving the camper. When booking a site, make sure to determine what kinds of hook-up amenities the campground provides before making the reservation.

As I said, this is not a complete list of what you’ll need but it’s a good start.

Have Fun

Remember to have fun out there! Planning is essential, but sometimes life or Mother Nature happens and you forget to bring something or the weather doesn’t cooperate or the folks in Site 50 decide to stay longer and you won’t be getting that bigger, shadier lot … and that’s OK.

Wishing you happy and safe travels! Have fun with friends and family and enjoy nature!