Seanz0rz

Trip Planning: The Checklist

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Some adventures are best with as little planning as possible. These tend to make the best memories, but can often times be very stressful as well. Other adventures are best completed with a rigid itinerary resolved to the minute. Both have their purpose, and I have had two very memorable adventures using two very different ideologies. I have also had many experiences where no planning made for a miserable experience, and over planning left me bored.

The Checklist

The checklist is one of the most important parts of planning a trip. Although this is not the first step to trip planning, this will be the first discussion of many to delve into the dark and sometimes dangerous world of planning and adventure.



On nearly every trip, I have used a checklist to pack my vehicle for travel. This checklist has evolved over the years, and changes for each trip. Some items have been there since the beginning, and some are only there once.

Attached below is my personal checklist from our recent Mojave Road Expedition. It is a .doc so you can download this, and use it as a template for your own personalized checklist.

Let's discuss in more detail each section. I encourage you to download the checklist and follow along. Each section is divided according to purpose, but also where stuff is stored. My Vehicle section, for the most part, is stored under my cargo/sleeping platform, while my Electronics, Maps, etc section represents stuff that stays in the front seat or within reach in the rear seat.

Vehicle section:

This section is mostly dedicated to the tools and supplies that are purely vehicle related or usually live in the vehicle full time.

Included in this list are the two tool boxes (and their contents) I use. These items range from socket and wrench sets to bailing wire, duct tape, and super glue. Things that are loose in the box are listed individually, such as vise grips and and channel locks. Others are listed as sets, such as a socket set or tire repair kit. For me, these are organized into their own box within a larger box. Tool Storage Thread

My recovery box is limited at this time, but it consists of two D shackles, 2 tow straps (no hooks!), a snatch block for my winch, and my winch controller. Even though this box does not see much action, it gets checked before every trip, and each item checked off.

My compressor lives in another box all by itself. A check on the list means it was tested and working before setting off.

My first aid kit is also on this list, as well as my spare tire, HiLift jack, and other obvious items. It seems strange to put such obvious items on this list, but my desire is to be as complete as possible, making forgetting a necessary item nearly impossible and to remind me to inspect the item before checking it off.

Of course, you will have a different set of needs, and an entirely different set of tools to worry about. The idea is to capture every important piece on this list. The tools I keep in my vehicle are also the ones I use to work on other vehicles with. If I use an item from my tool box, I need to know - not think - that it is still in my tool box when I set off on an adventure.

Electronics, Maps, Etc.:

This section is pretty self explanatory. I do carry some odd pieces to some. The glow sticks and ribbon are to mark campsites for people coming in late. This has worked quite well in directing people to camp sites, and the method is being improved each time (more on this in another topic!)

The items from this section live in my Overland Junk Drawer. I highly recommend one!

Packing for 1 person is pretty easy!


Camping

This section is the one that changes the most from trip to trip. The attached file is for one person on an ultralight expedition trip. I have camped with as many as 8 people. Each destination and situation are different. What I bring comes from years of experience.

The basics are Light, Food, Sleep, and Sanitation.

Light can come from a campfire, flashlights, and lanterns. These require other items such as fuel and batteries.

Food is about preparing and eating. You need something to cook with, something to cook on, something to eat out of, etc. When water is scarce, it may be a good idea to use disposable plates to avoid carrying water just for dishes. You can cook on the camp fire or on a propane stove.

Sleeping items are very important. Being comfortable is key, especially for significant others who may be less enthusiastic about camping than you are. Forgetting a pillow is not the end of the world, but forgetting a sleeping bag could make for a very long, cold night!

Sanitation is a big deal, especially if camping outside of an established campground. With a lack of running water, or even a proper place to poo, this camping requires the most thought towards sanitation. I use a bucket with a molded plastic toilet seat that snaps on. Inside the bucket are Double Doodie bags to capture waste and allow it to be sealed up and packed out. Baby wipes and Anti-bacterial wipes can substitute a shower.

Personal Items

In this list, include those items that only you will use. Toiletries like deodorant and a tooth brush are a must! I also list every article of clothing I will be taking with me, to prevent forgetting underwear!

Food

Forgetting a food item is a pretty awful experience! Forgetting one ingredient of many in a planned dish is even worse!

Usually, I don't know what I am eating until a couple of days before I leave, so many of these boxes are blank. I will decide what I want, make a grocery list, and put each item on the check list. This ensures that each item actually ends up in the car.

Packing for more can be challenging!


This covers the basics of my checklist, but how does that help you? Here are some tips:

Decide what kind of trip you are packing for. Each one will be different.
Lay out all of the gear you think you need to take with you. Look at each piece and decide if you really need it. Traveling light is a challenge, but it usually makes the trip more enjoyable in the end.
Write down each piece of gear on paper. If that piece requires something else, say a flashlight needs extra batteries, make sure to include that as a separate item.
Be very thorough! No item is too trivial to include!
It will take a few times to get the list complete. You will inevitably forget things. When you do, make a note of what you forgot and edit your checklist after your trip.

Now that you have a check list, the only way it helps you is if you use it properly!

Only check items off when putting them in your vehicle.
For other items, like my compressor above, only check off when you have tested that they are functioning. You may even want to make a note such as: Compressor, Tested and Working.
Attached Thumbnails Attached Files

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