The first item you will need is a good, basic tool box, to allow you to make minor repairs on the road. Tools should include a hammer, crescent wrenches, a dual purpose screwdriver (Phillips/slot), a set of box wrenches, several sizes of C clamps and hose clamps, duct tape and an assortment of screws, nails and bolts. An electric drill is also a handy item.

Your RV probably came with the items you will need, to hook up your utilities, when you get to your destination. Check what you have and add those items you need by visiting your closest RV store. Quantity 2, 3" x 8' sewer hoses, with connector fittings. A 25' 30 amp or 50 amp electrical cable. An 8' fresh water hose and a pressure regulator. Lastly, a 25' cable for your cable TV connection.

If entertainment is as important to you as it is to me, you may wish to purchase the following equipment to enhance your TV viewing experience. If your rig does not have a centrally located TV (ours has a 20" CRT set), I would suggest a flat screen LCD or Plasma. Make sure the set you purchase is rated for use in an RV. A worthwhile upgrade is a remote control mounting that fits flush with the ceiling and deploys to view, at the press of a button. Either Dish or Direct TV offers satellite viewing at a reasonable price. We just move our 2nd receiver from our bedroom to the RV, when we leave. You can either invest in a roof mount dish or Camping World offers an inexpensive portable cube. Finish your system off with a DVD player, A/V receiver and surround sound speakers and a compact sub-woofer.

My wife would contend that outfitting the kitchen is much more important than entertainment media. So in deference to Jackie and my enjoyment of cooking and eating well, while on the road, here is a partial list of recommended appliances and utensils: Coffee maker, small mixer, toaster, an electric fry pan that can be used inside or out and a small crock pot comes in handy. Flat-ware, dishes, coffee mugs and glasses (service for 8). A selection of various sized pots and pans. You will also need a can opener, wine opener, mixing and serving spoons, storage containers, bowls, etc. It is best to use plastic and dishes by Corning, for weight and durability considerations. Place paper plates between dishes and use non skid material in storage cabinets, to keep things in place.
In conclusion, there is much to consider when selecting items to include in your on board inventory, such as utility, weight and storage space requirements. It is wise to keep a journal where you can make notes about all the items you wanted to have with you, but did not include on your provisioning list. After you have taken a trip or 2 you will refine your list. The next article will continue with outfitting your RV and some great dining experiences that we enjoyed during our travels.

Jackie and her husband Whit have over 40 years of camping and RV experience. The next article will complete the outfitting of your RV and share our memorable experience of attending the New Orleans School of cooking. You will able enjoy some of the recipes on our website.

Visit our website today @ http://www.cookingwithjackieL.com