What is your most prized camper accessory?

[micron]

Of all the cool and useful gadgets and accessories on the market and all of the neat little creations people have made out of necessity or convenience most of us have that one favorite item that we simply can not do without while camping. Its that one item that you would return home to retrieve if forgotten and usually the first thing that you would secure if a severe storm comes blowing in to the campground. So not counting people or pets, what is that one item you hold most dear?
For me it is my reclining camp chair. It wasn't expensive and isn't anything real fancy but it is my favorite chair and so far no others seem to be as comfortable for me while sitting by the fire.

[TWP723]

My EMS!

[mike837go]

Nothing not permanently attached to the TT is worth turning around for. Buying a substitute locally or doing without will have to suffice.


Other than food & clothing; All of the camping gear is stored in the TT. Rarely does anything get left behind.


Accumulation of extras is the ongoing battle.

[Tunce the traveler]

My Hitch

[Hattie]

Originally Posted by micron

Most of us have that one favorite item that we simply can not do without while camping. Its that one item that you would return home to retrieve if forgotten and usually the first thing that you would secure if a severe storm comes blowing in to the campground. So what is that one item you hold most dear?

1) Everything critical for the trip is already in the TT (set-up items, cooking implements, camping clothing and shoes).
2) If we forget living necessities (order of criticality: coffee, gene gas, quarters for the campground shower, food, personal hygiene items, clothes), then we start planning for errand runs.
3) Of things on our 'check-list to bring' that we can't buy on-the-road, I'd list electronics (hot-spot, cell phones, kindles, laptops or tablets) as necessities ~ but we never overlook these as the truck has a charging station that reminds us before we pull away from home.
4) Making sure we've topped-off or addressed things that may be tougher to acquire away from home (not always available at the camp site ... fresh water, charged batteries, full propane tanks, diesel/DEF supplied, tire pressure).
5) So, to answer the questions, we just can't leave home without a positive attitude! Put away the arguments, crankiness, and sniping; head out with a smile on everyone's face, a sense of adventure, and the ability to tolerate the worst. Even the most horrid outings eventually leave us with an outstanding story - have I told you about the time ........

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by Tunce the traveler

My Hitch

Doncha tink you'd notice dat one missin BEFORE gettin out of t' driveway?

[Tunce the traveler]

Originally Posted by mike837go

Doncha tink you'd notice dat one missin BEFORE gettin out of t' driveway?

That's why it's my prized accessory I'm flexible with everything else and a few tools just in case.

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by Tunce the traveler

That's why it's my prized accessory I'm flexible with everything else and a few tools just in case.

My most flexible tool seems to be the credit card.

[DocBrown]

I'm with Mike, pretty much nothing is worth turning back for. And everything that's really important is already in the trailer.

However there are a few things that I can think of that I must have with me. The #1 item being my camera and related equipment. Half of what I do on any trip is photography. Second behind the camera is my tablet. I rarely read paper books and magazines anymore, so everything I want on a trip for my leisure time at the campsite.

[Bucko06]

My wife. She wasn't impressed the last time I forgot. Lol

My Weber grill. I just love it. I would turn around if less than 15 minutes out.

[Seann45]

The cute little blonde that sometimes goes with me....

[Bassdogs]

We plan a 1st nite stop at a wally world and use that stop as an opportunity to stock up on necessary consumables and campsite items [green propane tanks, batteries, coffee etc]. Occasionally that includes a couple camp chairs that got removed for a family BBQ or dog treats. I don't always follow my golden rule, restock and repack after returning home each trip. Good idea so you get ready for your next trip without having to remember all the stuff you used up or broke the last time out.

I am a tv watcher so leaving home without my sat equipment is a show stopper. It will never happen because I have a complete check list starting with the tripod / dish, coax, receiver, remote, extra coax for a difficult setup etc.] We all have our priorities. No we don't sit around watching the Housewives of wherever, but that Nascar race on Sun or favorite evening Alaska show is a must once the sun goes down and the dog walks are finished/

[3'senough]

I would have to say my Camp Chef grill, followed by a 12 pack! There is nothing like that first one after setting up to start the trip.

[Camper_bob]

I'm mainly with Mike and DocBrown on this one. Most of our regular gear lives in the trailer full time. But if for some reason there's something that's found its way out and not back in, I'm not too worried about it. Certainly not enough to turn the rig around to go get it. Unless maybe it's the coffee. Even then, we have a stove top percolator in addition to our mini Keurig in the trailer, so all I REALLY need is the coffee itself, and I can get that just about anywhere.

So, now as I've typed this, I've realized that my most prized camping gear is my coffee gear! No coffee is a definite show-stopper. Beyond that, I don't really need anything other than the trailer itself. Well, and the Visa card of course! If the original coffee gear (Keurig and percolator) is dysfunctional or missing, I will straight up drive to Wal-Mart (or wherever) and buy a Mr. Coffee. Without hesitation. And whoever is responsible for my coffee gear not being where it belongs is in some serious trouble.

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

...snip... And whoever is responsible for my coffee gear not being where it belongs is in some serious trouble.

And what if that someone is looking at you in the mirror? Or worse, the DW?

Personally done that too many times!

[bankr63]

About the only thing I'd go back for is the Roadtrip Grill. We probably do 50% or more of our meals on the BBQ, but it sometimes comes out of the trailer for a tailgate. It is so good, I wouldn't want to use any other.

We have a ton of gadgetry that we have accumulated over the years, some good, some not so good. One of my favorites is our water bag - kind of like a dry bag in reverse with a spigot at the bottom. I wouldn't go back for it tho. We generally eat and then wash dishes outdoors unless it's raining, so I haul the wash water in it.

DW chimes in that we MUST have a good corkscrew. I think she's thinking of resort travel vacations since we usually bring box wine for camping (I don't like the bottles rattling around). Maybe she doesn't realize I've been bringing box wine?

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by mike837go

And what if that someone is looking at you in the mirror? Or worse, the DW?

Personally done that too many times!

That happens, and I'll admit it to the man in the mirror, but only him. DW would NEVER know! LOL!

[Flyrotor]

Two items come to mind and are closely related, but my all out favorite things are my Coleman white gas stoves and white gas lanterns, despite all the electric items and propane stoves, the old Colemans are by far my favorite, I cook outside most every meal, and percolating my coffee out on the gas stove brings me back to what I grew up as being real camping

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by Flyrotor

Two items come to mind and are closely related, but my all out favorite things are my Coleman white gas stoves and white gas lanterns, despite all the electric items and propane stoves, the old Colemans are by far my favorite, I cook outside most every meal, and percolating my coffee out on the gas stove brings me back to what I grew up as being real camping

You can keep your nostalgia!

I used to operate both a white gas stove and a lantern. Good riddance in favor of propane. No more pouring liquid fuel into little openings or having a funnel coated in flammable fuel. No more pumping up before lighting, after lighting and every now-and-again to keep a good flame.

I'll take purging the line before use and a puff of gas during disconnect over the liquid fuel issues any day.

Of course absolutely nothing beats cooking and talking with friends over a real wood campfire!

[Edd505]

My pillow & ice maker about the only things the float in and out. Like Hattie most everything lives in the TT.