Here are a few ideas to help you save weight on your next camping trip
Pack only the essentials and do your major grocery shopping closer to the campgrounds
Carrying cases of soda, bottled water, canned goods, etc can add a lot of extra weight for you to pull. Also think of dehydrated or freeze dried vs canned, for example a “box” of ready to eat soup (just add boiling water) is far lighter than a can.
Don’t fill your water tanks until you get to the campgrounds.
Water weighs over 8 pounds per gallon, so a 35 gallon fresh water tank, when filled, adds 280 lbs to your trailer. (Of course if you’re boon docking, you’ll need your tanks full)
Evaluate your “stuff”
Do you really need those 5 extra towels? (Can you whittle it down to maybe 2?) Are you going to read all those books? (or can you use paperbacks or an e-reader instead?) Repurposing that extra large DVD player from the house may be a great money saver, but how much weight does it add over buying an inexpensive smaller DVD player? Do you need that ceramic bowl crock pot?
Clothing appropriate for the trip
While you need to be ready for “any” weather, don’t be foolish (like I was) – those heavy sweatshirts (that I use in the Adirondacks even in summer) were “left” in my camper during a trip to Virginia Beach in Late July. Talk about unnecessary weight. I could have taken one (that I know I wouldn’t even use) and left the others home. Or even bought a Virginia Beach sweatshirt there -if it looked like there would be a need for it.
“Collapsible” kitchen items
Replace those old clunky aluminum strainers, measuring cups, heavy plastic dish washing trays, food storage containers even utility tubs with lighter collapsible plastic versions! You’ll not only save weight, you’ll save space!
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