Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Good morning Gents!

I have a question, I've searched through dozens of pages and could not find an answer to my itch...

Who of you make use of a master packing checklist/manifest to pack the car/trailer/caravan/rooftop tent before you leave for a trip?

This could be a list that includes all of the camping, overlanding, medical, emergency(car and human) items that either need to be loaded, serviced, arranged, locked away, notified before a trip of any length.

I seem to be one of those okes that always leaves one or two key items behind. And a list has been on my mind to try and avoid this happening...

So was wondering if any of you do make use of one, would you be willing to share it with us, or have any decent leads on obtaining one?

Thanks in Advance!

Adrian,

I don't have a list. Occasionally, the "Weg-Sleep" or similar magazines have "packing lists", but I've never used them.

Our stuff is all pre-packed in the wolfpacks - even non-perishable goods. We literally have everything packed apart from clothes and perishables. Anything used/partially used during the camp (for example, coffee) is replaced in it's box upon return. We camp often enough that this is not an issue, which is one of the reasons I tolerate living where I live and the relatively long commute to Pretoria each day - it's a fifteen minute drive from home and we're in the bush.

In other words, we load the wolf packs. Dump the perishables in the fridge. Load and go.

Whilst that has always been how we camp (tent-wise), we're currently in limbo regarding this process, as we're negotiating the purchase of a caravan (the one we "sleeped" to the Dunes a week / two ago). Once this is done, we'll probably apply the same process.

The benefits of this approach are:

1: It makes it very easy to manage one's camping inventory.
2: If you ever find you need something whilst camping, get it. Put it in the box. It will be there the next time.
3: We can decide to go camping on a whim (we do this often) and be ready to leave within thirty minutes.

Ian

Oh - a quick Google of "site:za camping packing list" provides the following:

AA's list: https://www.aa.co.za/upload/documents/t ... amping.pdf
Andre's stuff: http://www.andre4x4.co.za/assets/docume ... ist%20.pdf
Drive South Africa: http://www.drivesouthafrica.co.za/blog/ ... ate-guide/
And another one with links over at the Community web site. http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/sho ... hp?t=65304

HTH.

Ian

We switched from tent camping to a caravan a couple of months ago. We also try to keep everything except the perishables in the caravan. Makes life easier although on our last trip although on our last trip I "thought" the camping chairs was in the caravan......

Quick trip to Pick and pay for R100 camping chairs saved me but maybe not my back

I use a list, but a lot of my stuff is also pre-packed.

During my trip planning, I build a spreadsheet, which includes lots of stuff on different tabs. One has the itinerary, including contact details for campsites, booking confirmation numbers and so on. Costs are calculated on another page, another page for moon stages and timing (bad photography habit), one for the packing list, one or more shopping lists and so forth.

The trick is that the menu obviously influences the packing list.

Also, I have looked at other people's packing lists, but they don't work for me. I think they need to be customized.

I am happy to share mine (if I could figure out how to load a spreadsheet, but take it as a base to work from rather than the ultimate answer.

Hi,

A packing list is something you customize as time goes on.

The basics stay the same:
Clothes
When you in the bush you can wear your clothes for a few days, my 'short, shorts' vest and socks, (if I wear them) I change every day!
We have a 20/25 lt bucket that we strap onto the roof/trailer/boot and put the previous day's UNDIES in and a bit of soap/shampoo/washing powder and the shaking around does the rest. Just to rinse the 'sweat/lyf/smoke' out you don't even have to rinse it at the camp it will dry and smell like clean washing powder.
Even the tourists love this 'novel way' of washing.
Rule of 'THUMB' 1 set aan die bas ( what your wearing)
1 set in die kas (clean set for tomorrow)
1 set in die was (being washed in the bucket)
1 set of 'SPARE's' ( for incase )
We can leave at a moments notice, as long as it takes me to hitch the trailer/caravan that is how long it takes us to get ready to go anywhere!

Food:
We generally have a menu, first night out, a pre-cooked dinner, so we can just warm it up as we reach camp.
We pack for each person/pax ( I do tours into Africa 21 days plus for 4-24 people) 'ONE PORTION PER PERSON'
there is always a 'little' left over. You have been to many braais and dinners THERE IS TO MUCH OVER CATERING and I don't like leftovers IT IS A WASTE of food/preparation time/and costs. Rather take out something extra (desert/coffee/biscuits) if they are still hungry!
Non perishables we pack for a week at a time.( there are shops in most places)
2X fridge/freezer's pre-packed/vacuum packed one freezer for frozen/really cold stuff, and one for every day perishable goods.
TIP 1- put the meat/food from the freezer into the 'daily use' fridge in the morning it will help chill the fridge and defrost slowly for to night else you going to wait an hour or so for the meat to defrost.
Tip 2 For camping/trips wrap each portion of meat/chicken/worse whatever individually makes for easy separation/adding an extra portion.

Camping equipment:
These thing stay in the vicinity/in/on and ready packed.
Take the few seconds to run through your mind's eye setting up the camp and where every thing is it helps.

Emergency Kit:
Always handy

Left behind's:
Yes we/tourist/campers have left stuff behind but we can replace as we go.
'SCHOOL FEES' pay and learn

Most of all enjoy we do 4-6 trips per year!

J

EPIC EPIC info Gents! Thank you for your replies!

Good insight and some great links here.

Peter, I didn't even think of a spread sheet with tabs for the different categories...
Thanks!

I have just inherited my Grand Fathers caravan and have been going through everything that came with it. I am comparing all the gear against a full camping list as supplied above to see where I am as a starting point.
Some of the stuff is as old as the hills but still very functional. But a lot of gear I am going to need to replace or purchase as he was a big fan of the minimalist approach.
Considering it was usually just him and my Gran, they could get by on very little...

On a side note, can you guys recommend a decent caravan site close to Jozi? Would be nice to take the caravan out for a weekend and do a Uit Pak to see what we need, what is a bonus and what I don't need...

Thanks again for the info and replies guys! Really helps a ton!

Found this spread sheet through on of the links supplied by Ian!

trying to post a link for Excel, so it might not work...
http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/att ... 1283260809

It will ask if you want to open or save...
I just opened it and then can adjust and save at own will.

AdrianPowrie wrote: ... snip ...
On a side note, can you guys recommend a decent caravan site close to Jozi? Would be nice to take the caravan out for a weekend and do a Uit Pak to see what we need, what is a bonus and what I don't need...
... snip ...

Adrian,

Plenty around Brits area - you're spoiled for choice.

Kokoriba
Bush & Buck
Dube Game Lodge
Drie Berge
Klein Paradys
Hartbeeshoek
A ton more I cannot think of right now.

Of these, my favourites are normally Dube and Bush & Buck.

Dube because of the large-ish self-drive game farm (and some of the largest Eland I have seen in my life).
Bush & Buck because of the completely grassed stands.

I tend to avoid Kokoriba because the "younger" campers often stop by there and it can be rowdy.

Ian

I also use a spreadsheet which I got from "WEG" but it has been customised to suite my requirements and it is in Afrikaans. Not sure if it is readable on the site.