Press "Enter" to skip to content
Gear Roundup - What I Take With Me On Trips (2018 edition)

Gear Roundup | What I Take With Me On Trips (2018 edition)

December 29, 2018.

I get asked by a lot of folks, some flavor of, "What do you pack when you go on a trip?" So, I thought it'd be a good time to run through what goes into the truck for an adventure. In fact, I think that a post once a year outlining the gear could be a great thing, so that's the plan. Oh, and taken with the Rig Reviews that I've started, it will give a good sense of what's working and what's not with the setup.

So, without further ado, let's dig into what's on and in the truck at the end of 2018!

The Truck Itself

Obviously we can't adventure without the actual vehicle. To see how it's outfitted, check out the Truck Details Build Page (2018) and the relevant links there to the various mods that were part of this year's configuration.

From previous years, the following were new or significantly changed:

  1. Armor - new CBI Outback 1.0 rear bumper with dual swing-outs.
  2. Wheels and Tires - new SCS Stealth6 wheels and Cooper ST Maxx 255/85 R16 tires.

In all, the truck performed admirably - doing nearly everything I asked of it. As of right now, there are only three things I really want to look at changing for 2019:

  1. The suspension - I'll be stepping up to rebuildable suspension given the number of miles I put on the truck.
  2. The wheels - I really don't like the amount of mud that gets thrown around now - I'll be on the hunt for wheels with more backspacing.
  3. The battery - I'm finally at the point where I feel like I'm over-taxing the starting battery with the fridge on warm nights, and so I want to move to a two-battery system.

Sleeping Gear

Key to any longer trip is a good place to sleep. While I have some improvements that I think could be made to the CVT Mt. Shasta, in all it is a great tent and it's the foundation of my sleeping gear. In addition to the tent itself (with mattress and anti-condensation mat), the following come with me on every trip:

  1. Two heavyweight down comforters, twin size. We like comforters for two reasons - first, they are so much more comfortable and cozy than a sleeping bag - great for a good night sleep. And second, they compress better when the tent is folded up. Two allow us to control temperatures easily.
  2. One bottom sheet, fitted to the RTT mattress. With a sheet and comforters, it's like sleeping in a bed. Mostly.
  3. Two full-size pillows. There's no better pillow than your home pillow, and we've put two of our older ones in the tent permanently.
  4. Ear plugs. On windy nights, or if you're near the highway, soft foam (designed for sleeping) ear plugs can be a lifesaver. I always keep a few pair in one of the tent pockets.
  5. A warm (polartec) cap. I like to sleep with the doors and windows open whenever I can - even when it's cold. A cap keeps the breeze off my head, and keeps me a lot toastier through those cold nights.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing varies a bit each trip, but is more consistent than one might think. There are likely a couple reasons for this - first, the weather is unpredictable, so I always like to have both long-and-short pieces of clothing; second, I never end up changing clothes all that often on a trip - getting dirty is just part of the adventure. So, that said, here's what I bring:

  1. A clean pair of underwear for every day.
  2. A clean pair of socks for every day. I'll tend bring a 75/25 combo of crew/ankle socks depending on what I expect my pants/shorts situation to be, since I much prefer taller socks with pants and shorter socks with shorts.
  3. A pair of running sneakers - my primary shoe in dry conditions.
  4. A pair of Keen waterproof hiking boots - my primary shoe in wet conditions.
  5. One pair of pants per week of trip, plus one extra.
  6. One pair of shorts per week of trip, plus one extra.
  7. Two short-sleeve shirts per week of trip, plus one extra.
  8. Two long-sleeve shirts per week of trip, plus one extra.
  9. Two sweatshirts (with hoods).
  10. One pair of sweatpants - usually only used to layer if it gets cold, or to wear in bed at night if it's freezing.
  11. One waterproof, hooded, rain jacket.
  12. Weather dependent: One pair of goretex ski gloves.
  13. Sunglasses.
  14. A baseball hat.
  15. A fabric (not leather) belt - this turns out to be important, as you're often bending over and because I always tend to lose weight on longer trips.
  16. Two reusable grocery bags - one of which I use for dirty clothes, and the other to store my shoes in when I go in the tent.

With everything above, it's easy to adapt to the weather in almost any conditions. There are enough warm clothes to layer up when it gets cold. For me, everything except the footwear fits in a single large backpack or small duffel, and doesn't take up too much room in the truck.

Toiletries

Not much to say here - this stuff doesn't take up much room and I just slip most of it into my clothes bag.

  1. Toothbrush and toothpaste
  2. Toilet paper - 2 rolls. I've found that a single roll is enough for all but the longest trips, but this is something you want to have a backup of, in case you lose the first roll, or it gets wet...
  3. Baby wipes. Go for unscented, and make sure they are resealable. I like to take two packs per trip - one to keep in the cab, and the other in the kitchen box. Use them sparingly for washing hands and "showering" the spots that get stinky.
  4. Deodorant
  5. Electric shaver (two-week trips only) - while I probably only end up using this once per two-week trip, it's amazing how nice it can feel to get a week's worth of itchy facial hair growth trimmed down.

Food on trips

No trip has exactly the same food - but I do follow a pattern, so it makes sense to explain that pattern and then I'll share some sample food items.

Generally, I plan to eat out (fast food) any meals that are on the way to the location of the trip; I eat out of the truck for the "on-trail" adventure; on the way home, I plan to eat out again. So, if I have an 8 hour freeway drive before hitting the trail, I might eat a single fast food meal each direction . If I've got 24-hours of "getting there," I could end up eating three meals before breaking into any of the food I packed, and then stopping for fast food three more times on the way home.

Using this methodology, I can generally expect two weeks of on-trail food (for one person; one weeks for 2 people, etc.). The real limiting factor is that you don't want to have food longer than a couple weeks without freezing, and fresh food (veggies, etc.) don't last longer than a couple weeks without rotting.

Eating Out of the Truck

When I'm eating out of the truck, I separate food into two classes: cooled and un-cooled. Cooled food must all fit in the ARB 50qt fridge, which I keep at 33-35ºF during the day (truck running) and 37-39ºF when in camp with the truck off; un-cooled food goes into a small-size military medical case (ebay).

As far as meals go, I like to pre-prepare as much as possible at home - largely to reduce prep and cleanup when on-trail. My goal, generally, is to have - at most - a single plate and single pan to clean after dinner, a single bowl at breakfast, and perhaps a knife at lunch!

I also repeat meals and ingredients (across meals to reduce the number of different packs of things to buy/pack). Breakfast and lunch may be identical every day or alternate between two options. Dinners repeat every 3-4 days.

With that background, here are some sample meals. Ingredients are coded as such: (PP) - pre-prepped | (O) - optional, may have a limited supply if on-trail for an extended time | Cooled | Un-cooled.

Breakfast

  • Breakfast cereal - Cheerios, milk, strawberries (O), blueberries (O). Note: fruit lasts up to 1 week.
  • Breakfast sandwich - outdoor roll, spicy sausage, 2 eggs, butter. Note: butter is to cook eggs.

Lunch

  • Lunch 1 - sliced sandwich bread, peanut butter, jelly, apple, chips, cookies.
  • Lunch 2 - sliced sandwich bread, deli meat, lettuce (PP), avocado, mayo (O), mustard (O), apple, chips, cookies. Note: mayo and mustard from packets.

Dinner

  • Tacos - ground beef with taco seasoning (PP - cooked), flour tortillas, sliced cheddar cheese, cabbage (PP), avocado.
  • Cheeseburger - elongated ground beef patty (PP - raw), outdoor roll, sliced cheddar cheese, lettuce (PP), avocado, mayo (O), mustard (O), pickle, chips. Note: mayo and mustard from packets; try to eat raw meat in first 5 days.
  • Steak - marinated skirt steak (PP - raw), mashed potatoes (PP - cooked), cauliflower; try to eat raw meat in first 5 days.
  • Pasta - tomato or pesto pasta sauce, cheese ravioli, cauliflower.
  • Hot dogs - spicy sausage, outdoor roll, ketchup (O), mustard (O), chips (O). Note: ketchup and mustard from packets.
  • Hobo meal - spicy sausage, potato, cabbage (O), onion (O),bell pepper (O), zucchini (O), cauliflower (O). Note: A hobo meal is cutting up all these ingredients and placing them in double-wrapped aluminum foil. Then, cook on the camp fire coals for ~40 minutes.

Dessert and Snacks

  • Homemade chocolate chip cookies (PP)
  • Hershey's Nuggets
  • Granola Bars
  • Chips

Kitchen Gear

All the kitchen gear is stored in a single, aluminum, medium-size, military medical case (ebay). This makes it relatively easy to get to, and of course protects it from the elements. The case contains:

  1. A propane Coleman Camp Stove/Grill. This makes it equally easy to heat up a pan or grill a burger, and folds down relatively small. The only think I don't really like about it is that the burners are either on or off - though they look adjustable, they aren't really.
  2. Two 1lb cylinders of propane. This seems to be enough to last for a couple weeks, and having a backup means that when one runs out, I can start looking for another if I think I'll run out before the end of the trip.
  3. A plastic cutting board. I generally don't use this all that much (I opt to cut on a disposable paper plate), but it's nice to have just in case.
  4. Plastic bowls - one per person, but a minimum of two. Used for breakfast cereal or scrambled eggs.
  5. Plastic plates - one per person, but a minimum of two. I sometimes use these for cutting items, but more often I use them for simply supporting a paper plate that I eat off of.
  6. Paper plates - usually about 50 of the cheapest ones I can find. We have a stack at home and I make sure there are a bunch in the case before a trip - these are my primary prep/eating surface since clean-up is easy (fire or trash).
  7. One stainless steel mixing bowl. Used primarily for doing dishes, when there are dishes to do.
  8. Utensils stored in a plastic container:
    1. Two (one per person, min of two) - forks, spoons
    2. One (only) - butter knife, spatula, serving spoon, small tongs, small sharp kitchen knife (love this knife, it's always sharp)
  9. Paper towels - one roll per week.
  10. Baby wipes. Go for unscented, and make sure they are resealable. Use them sparingly for washing hands.
  11. Aluminum foil - a full box, which you can use to make hobo meals (meals you cook in the camp fire, by double wrapping them with foil).
  12. A small container of dish soap and a sponge for washing dishes. Stored in a small watertight lock-and-lock box so that everything doesn't get wet and soapy. (Note: these lock-and-locks are great - we use the other sizes for storing food in the fridge.)
  13. Fire starting implements - at least one box of wooden matches and a cheap lighter.
  14. 10 quart-size Ziplock plastic freezer bags. A box of sandwich bags.
  15. A bit of clothesline rope. Never used, but good to have just in case we need to hang or tie something.

First Aid

I've been super lucky and never had to use my first aid kits for anything except minor cuts and scrapes, but I always take two kits with me - one for minor stuff, and one that can help in a more serious event. Of course, they both contain some of the basic items, since one kit or the other may be quicker to grab at any given time. The kit's contain the following:

Minor stuff; kit kept in kitchen container:

  • assortment of band-aids (sizes and shapes)
  • burn cream
  • sterile eye pads
  • sterile gauze (different sizes and shapes)
  • medical tape
  • scissors
  • CPR mouth shield
  • two ice packs
  • IB Profin (Advil)
  • UTI pills (cranberry concentrate)

Trauma kit, kept in cab of truck:

  • flexible splint
  • clothing scissors
  • large sterile pads (various large sizes and shapes)
  • non-latex rubber gloves
  • idoine cleaning pads
  • medical tape
  • band-aids (various sizes and shapes)
  • tourniquet

Basic Tools

These are tools that I think should go on every trip, no matter how short. Of course, a break down may mean the adventure is "over", but with them, you can get yourself out of a lot of situations, and back to civilization.

  • Tire related
    • 20-foot compressed air hose with ARB tire inflator - I've added a longer hose to the ARB inflator for convenience.
    • Full size spare tire (255/85 R16 Cooper ST Maxx) on matching wheel (16" SCS Stealth6) - Having a total replacement for a wheel/tire is good practice when in remote areas. Of course, along with tires, I also use the following on every trip:
    • Tire pressure gauge - get the cheapest you can IMO. It's just checking pressure and you mostly want to make sure all tires are the same and around a certain PSI.
    • Tire deflators - these things are cheap and work way better than the tools that unscrew the valve stem. You can even install them and then air down while driving.
    • Tire plug kit, to fit many small punctures. I didn't use the plug kit this year, but I've used it several times over the years. All the kits are basically the same as long as you get the tools. So get the cheapest one you can.
  • 48" Hi-Lift Jack - with a lifted truck, the stock bottle jack is no longer tall enough, so I now carry a Hi-Lift. No point in bringing a spare tire, if you don't have a jack that allows you to change it!
  • Fuel
    • 10 gallons extra fuel - in 5-gallon Scepter (military issue, plastic) jerry cans. I've only ever needed 5 gallons for myself, but it's nice to have extra and I've definitely shared with others who had thirstier trucks.
    • Cap opening wrench - necessary to open the Scepter jerry cans at a different altitude than they were previously closed.
    • To transfer fuel from the jerry cans to the tank, I bring and use a fuel siphon. Make sure to get a 10' siphon, so you can leave the fuel cans in the bed or on your rear bumper when you transfer fuel.
  • Small Fiskars hatchet - useful for splitting smaller firewood, clearing small down-fall, and as a hammer.
  • 20' of 3/8" rope - something I carry in the truck at all times, and always have.
  • A folding 10" Japanese pull saw - this is way more convenient for cutting small trees out of the way than the hatchet or chainsaw. I've used it well over 100 times and it's still as sharp as ever.
  • Two small (500lb) ratchet straps - these straps can be used for securing loads and for temporary repairs, holding pieces of your vehicle in place so you can limp to repair.
  • A pair of rubberized gloves - I get mine at Harbor Freight, but any gloves will do and they look cheaper on amazon if you buy several pair. These are a necessity when changing tires, working on the truck, chopping wood, or using the chainsaw - allowing for better grip than bare hands.

Basic Recovery Gear

Much of the equipment in the basic tool set and OSK can be used as part of a recovery - but in addition to those items, I always have the following with me in the truck. Every one of these items has been used on one trip or another, though none of them are used very often. I'd bring all of these things, even if I wasn't bringing the full OSK.

I of course also have a Warn M8000-S winch hidden in the front bumper of the truck, but it's usually the last tool I turn to - I've found that most situations don't require a winch to escape.

OSK (Oh Shit Kit) - More Tools and Spare Parts

My OSK is still a work in progress. I essentially started only basic tools at the beginning of the year, but longer and more remote trips - as well as prodding from others with more experience - have gotten me to start building out this kit. It's definitely still evolving and I don't suggest that it's the complete set of stuff you should have on the trail. Even for me, it'll be interesting to see how it morphs over time.

The OSK containers I use are a 5 gallon bucket (for fluids) and an aluminum, medium-size, military medical case (ebay).

Fluids

  • 5 qt Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic engine oil - this isn't enough for a full oil change, but it is enough to refill a lot of lost oil, and is likely enough to limp back to town for more oil.
  • 1 qt Lucas 80W-90 gear oil - similar to the motor oil, this is enough to refill a leak, but not fully fill a diff. Use it to limp back.
  • WD-40 PTFE Dry Lube - This is the WD-40 that I now use as my go-to variant since it's a dry lube and so doesn't attract the dust and dirt so common on the trail.
  • MAF cleaner - I've had problems with my MAF a couple of times, so this is now a staple in my kit.
  • Throttle Body cleaner - I've never (that I know) had a specific problem with the TB, but this is a good all-purpose cleaner as well, so it is part of the kit.
  • Brake fluid - brakes are a key component of a working rig. If a leak happens somewhere, I want to be able to refill any lost fluid - at least enough to limp back to civilization.

Parts

Tools

Water

I bring 5 gallons in a Scepter (military issue, plastic) jerry can. I generally expect to use ½-1 gallon/day per person. Fill up in town (fuel stations) when running low.

Though water is stored in the jerry can, that's not a convenient way to drink it, or use it for washing. For those activities, we use

  • Two Camelbak water bottles - these are useful for drinking out of, and stay sealed up when driving.
  • Camelbak Rogue Hydration Pack - this can store enough water for a longer hike and is also useful for washing dishes - water flow can be started by suction and then continues via siphon at a high enough rate to wash, but low enough rate to not waste too much water.

Miscellaneous

There are a few things that don't fit well in other categories, so I'll list them here:

  • A Trasharoo for all our garbage. We don't generally make much trash on a trip, but any we do (and any we find in camp from previous adventurers) goes into the bag and is forgotten until we get home.
  • Low camp chair - I like this model of chair because it's a more reclined position which is comfortable for me when lounging around the fire or reading. I should note that it's not better when eating.
  • Several 18-inch long 2x6 boards - for leveling the truck in camp.
  • A 2' x 3' astroturf rug/door mat - for the bottom of the RTT ladder, to keep from getting muddy on those rainy nights. And, for laying on if I have to work on the truck while on the dusty trail. Get whatever old mat you can find for free - that's how I got mine!

Only on Some Trips

There isn't much that I only bring on certain trips, since a bed that isn't full means that things have a tendency to slide around. But, there are a few things that only come along when I think I'll need them.

Chainsaw

  • Chainsaw - I decided that if I need a chainsaw, I want it to work, so I purchased a Stihl MS-261 professional saw with a 20" bar. This wasn't a cheap purchase, but it's never let me down...and I know other saws that can't say the same.
  • Chainsaw fuel - 1 gallon of pre-mixed fuel/oil mix in a fuel rotopax. This seems to be more than I ever need on a single trip.
  • Chainsaw bar oil - 1 qt of Stihl bar oil. Like the fuel, if I need more than this, I should likely find another route around the dead-fall.

 

And that's what I've got. I think I've managed to list pretty much everything, but I'm sure there are things that you may feel that I'm missing. I'd love to hear any feedback or suggestions!

 

More annual gear roundups

Gear Roundup | What I Take With Me On Trips (2023 edition) Gear Roundup | What I Take With Me On Trips (2023 edition)
Gear Roundup | What I Take With Me On Trips (2022 edition) Gear Roundup | What I Take With Me On Trips (2022 edition)
Gear Roundup - What I Take With Me On Trips (2021 edition) Gear Roundup | What I Take With Me On Trips (2021 edition)
Gear Roundup - What I Take With Me On Trips (2020 edition) Gear Roundup | What I Take With Me On Trips (2020 edition)
Gear Roundup - What I Take With Me On Trips (2019 edition) Gear Roundup | What I Take With Me On Trips (2019 edition)
Gear Roundup - What I Take With Me On Trips (2018 edition) Gear Roundup | What I Take With Me On Trips (2018 edition)

Published in Product Review; experienced on 2018-12-29

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *