How long does it take you to "get packed" and ready to ship out?

[Cooperhawk]

We just upgraded to a newer coach and last week we took a maiden trip to see what needed fixing. I got in trouble!

After watching my better half spend most of a day packing the coach for an overnight trip my Wife said, "I'm sure I'm forgetting something", to which I replied, "How could that be possible?"

Well, what she forgot was the actual date of the family reunion we were traveling to attend. We got there and found out we were a week early!

[lgarcia]

I have a small trailer and there are two of us. I found it is better to start with a nearly bare TT once we get home and restock gradually.

I find it is best to wash towels and sheets and quilt first on return. I put the sheets/quilt back on the bed generally the day after we come back, as I use the trailer daily when at home.

I have two each in three colors of a big towel, hand towel, and washcloth. I pack the towels in color coded batches in clear storage bags from the dollar store. So, brown towels could be day one, tan towels day two, green towels day three etc. I store them in the bathroom and have a folding towel rack outside for used ones. If we stay longer than three days, which is rare, we go two days on a set. When we leave the campsite, the now dry used ones get tossed in the shower stall.

I gave up my pretty melamine set that perfectly match the TT for space issues this year, but I use what I can for firestarter of the disposable stuff. I found it best to go minimal on disposable plates, cups etc. and only pack what we need for that trip - the remainder get stored in the house and I restock when we get back.

I stock soap and shampoo, but no foodstuff or clothes. It is faster to pack just before, than to have what I think I will use already in the trailer and then have to go through it when we leave.

I tried shopping for food when we arrive at the campground, but it seemed that we were always in the grocery store. I go the day ahead of time and buy breakfast, lunch and dinner for the days we are camping, and if we splurge on eating out, we just eat the groceries as the first meals when we get home.

We stock the fridge, hook up the night before and put in our house bedroom TV, DH's oxygen concentrator, and clothes that morning. My husband takes the trailer to work with him and I meet him later that day with laptops and meds after I get off work and run home to get the dog - and anything else we forgot. I leave my car at his work and we take off.

So, total time is probably a day, but we do it in short increments so it isn't too bad,

[historyljc]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Been RV'ing since 1957 so have everything we need in the MH. Just bring some of the food since we leave the refer and freezer on, our clothes, the 6 cats and their food, hook up the towed and go. Maybe an hour at the most, although with my wife's health problems, it could be two hours since I end up doing almost everything myself now.

We can do that. One cat.

[Chowboy]

We have both a trailer and a cruiser/boat. We find that each are stocked with what is needed to leave less food and some drink so time to load is really related to stocking food and destination. Destination variation could be fishing gear, hiking gear, astronomy. What I have found is that we always get home with extra changes of clothes and at least one new bottle of wine. Not a bad situation. I think the time taken to load is less than the time spent cleaning the trailer exterior prior to loading.

[Tom3205]

It,s about an hour. The real time killer is "Did you shut the garage door, or did you turn off the coffee, .. We have to go back and check. " Worst one was a few weeks ago. Got on the interstate, then remembered the I PASS was still in the car. 15 minutes to get back, and another 15 to get to where we were. Murphy's law !!!!

[halfwright]

I have found that it is much easier to pack one time and then hit the road. We packed our fifth wheel a year ago with every thing we thought we would need and have not unpacked it since. About 35,000 miles later, we need to start thinning things out. If we have not used it in a year,why carry it around??

[RetiredFPD]

If it takes you that long, you're taking too much stuff with you. Remember the "THREE TRIP RULE". If you don't use something after three outings, leave it behind. Keep your RV stocked with separate stuff from your house. You should be cocked, locked and ready to rock in two hours (less food shopping the day before).

[greezykid]

We always figure if we forgot it we will stop at walmart.

[Mitchyb]

When DW comes it seems like we pack for a couple days and the food bill is quite expensive but often I will take our 2 girls by myself and it can be done in a half an hour with a much more simple meal plan! Keep them fed and watered and they are happy kids!

[Francesca]

Originally Posted by Mitchyb

When DW comes it seems like we pack for a couple days and the food bill is quite expensive but often I will take our 2 girls by myself and it can be done in a half an hour with a much more simple meal plan! Keep them fed and watered and they are happy kids!

Every Mother's worst nightmare: Dad choosing the diet!

Lemme guess: One of those big tubs of Cheetos from Walmart, a case of Sunny D, and two dozen hot dogs, buns and ketchup only. (Ketchup meeting the "vegetable" needs for the trip)

How close did I come?

[Mitchyb]

HHaha fairly close you nailed the 2 dozen hotdogs, added with a good sturdy mayo based patatoe salad, we did add a spaghetti meal into the mix this time and small bag of vegetable! My one rule is no soda if its not there they don't miss it lots if water and the occasional juice box,. Hot dogs are the most versatile food because they can be handed off like a football as they pass by on their bikes!!

[Francesca]

Originally Posted by Mitchyb

HHaha fairly close you nailed the 2 dozen hotdogs, added with a good sturdy mayo based patatoe salad, we did add a spaghetti meal into the mix this time and small bag of vegetable! My one rule is no soda if its not there they don't miss it lots if water and the occasional juice box,. Hot dogs are the most versatile food because they can be handed off like a football as they pass by on their bikes!!

That is SO "Dad"!

"Mayo based potato salad"- a whole 'nother food group represented thereby: grease. Nice touch bringing along that small bag of vegetables...so handy when you run out of bean bags for the pitchin' contest...

Truth be told:

Yours are some lucky girls...and it sounds like your wife's a lucky woman, too. Bet she has a fine time relaxing while you take the kids off her hands for a few days. She can jam the health food into them when they come home all sunburned and happy...if slightly nauseous and totally exhausted.

Keep it up, Dad! !

[Kathryn]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Been RV'ing since 1957 ...

Originally Posted by Francesca

That's more than fifty years...did they even HAVE "RV's" back then?

I think they were called tents ... or station wagons ... !

( not that I would remember ... !!!)

Kathryn

~~~

[frederick w]

It takes my wife 2 or 3 days to prepare and about 3 hrs. for me to load her stuff in the MH.

This is just for a 2 or 3 day outing!!!!!!

It takes me 2 hrs. to ready the MH and load a small duffle bag, 2 shirts, pants, and coat.

Anyone out there with the same wife problem?