One of the main things I’ve learned about cross-country camping with our rig is that the truck bed is the hub of all camping logistics. This is where we store all of our gear, food and clothes, so it is worth thinking about how it is organized. When I started cross-country camping, I thought I would spend a lot of time moving all of our gear from the back of the truck to the trailer, but that didn’t really happen. The reason why is that we don’t spend many waking hours in the trailer. The best thing to do is to have a small backpack of personal items for each person that gets put in the trailer for that night (toiletries, clothes, etc.), and the rest stays in the bed of the truck. It is way easier! Also, these are the huge advantages to keeping all of your gear organized in the truck bed, which keeps everything dry and locked. For example, if you decide to drop the trailer and head out on a day trip, you already have everything with you. You can pull off a trail anywhere and make a great meal on the tailgate. There is no “extra” planning needed on your end to make day trips work. Think of your truck bed as your giant camping man purse. So here are a few things besides your food, camping gear, and clothes bins that I keep in my GCMP.
- 2-ton jack, because you never know when you have to jack something up.
- Jumper cables and tow cables. Sparks and tugs can be really useful.
- Basic tool kit and socket set; no need to be crazy expensive on this one. Keep it simple.
- Assorted ratchet straps because you never know what needs tying down in a hurry.
- Grease gun, keep those trailer hubs lubed!
- Portable Air Conditioner; You’ll see…
- Splitting Axe; Chop that wood, make that fire. Add flannel and beard for increased toughness.
- First-Aid kit for all the boo-boo’s from the axe.
- Marine grade cooler; food poisoning will end your trip real quick!