Family Camper Essentials

Camping is one of the best ways to spend good, quality time with your friends and family. The memories you make will last a lifetime. I grew up camping with my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. All of our families had a camper of some sort or another. As adults, Andy and I have continued our family camping tradition.

Mingled in with the memories of roasting marshmallows over an open fire and catching fireflies in glass jars are memories of my brother and I marching from the house to the motor home with laundry baskets filled with camping essentials. My parents were always prepared. I learned from them that having the right camping gear can mean the difference between having a good camping experience or a bad one. All of your family camping essentials can be found at Cabela’s.

Here is a list of a few items we think you shouldn’t leave home without.

Cabela’s Director’s Chair

This super sturdy, lightweight, and comfortable chair comes with a fold-out table and drink holder. No assembly is required. Just unfold it and it’s ready for camping, ballgames, and your favorite fishing hole.

Cabela’s 12-LED Lantern with Remote

Camp fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Light up your nighttime activities with this long-lasting LED light source. The main light bar has LEDs on all four sides for a flood of light in every direction. In addition, the remote enables you to turn the lamp on and off from anywhere within 35 feet.

YETI Tundra 45 Cooler

No camping adventure is complete without camp cooking! The Yeti Tundra 45 is a well-constructed cooler that will hold ice for several days and is designed with great technology and common sense. With thick walls, ample insulation, freezer-style gaskets, and seamless construction, this cooler will take your camp cooking up a notch. It is lockable, bear-resistant, includes a leak-proof drain plug, and rubber feet prevent any sliding in your truck or boat.

Cabela’s Roll-Top Dining Table

This five-piece table assembles in minutes and will hold up to 70 pounds! Now that’s my kind of feast. In addition to being strong, the weather-resistant powder-coated aluminum tubing will provide your family years of service, and the rubber grips on the table feet will keep it stable.

Z-Shade 12 ft. x 12 ft. Slant-Leg Shelter

Don’t let a little rain ruin your picnic. The Z-Shade 12 ft. x 12 ft. Slant-Leg Shelter provides instant protection from the sun or rain. In addition, it is sturdy and goes up and comes down very easily.

Camco RV Stack-A-Plate

I like nesting kitchen sets. They keep things compact and organized. Not only do these handy stackers organize your cabinets, they also prevent plates from sliding and rattling, and protect them from breakage. This set of two includes a smaller size for plates up to 7-1/4″ diameter and larger size for plates up to 10-1/4″ diameter. They are dishwasher safe.

12-Volt Travel Blanket

Having raised four kids, I’ve gotten quite good at being prepared for anything. This blanket will come in handy for cold-weather travel or for that unexpected roadside emergency. It’s made of warm polyester Polarfleece and features an eight-foot power cord to reach your vehicle’s backseat or to a bed in your RV or camper.

Dish Network Tailgater HD Portable Satellite TV Antenna System

I love watching sports as much as I love camping. Go Thunder! With the Tailgater, I never have to miss a game. Setup is simple: just plug it in and the Tailgater automatically acquires a signal. In addition, you can sign up for DISH Pay-as-you-Go (no long-term contract) or add to your home DISH home service for only $7 a month.

Peak Performance 3.5” Back Up Mirror

Let’s face it, backing up an RV can be difficult and intimidating. This rearview mirror features a 3.5-inch LCD screen to give you a clear view of everything behind you in one convenient place. The water-resistant color camera easily attaches to your rear license-plate bracket and sends full-color picture to the screen via a wireless transmitter. It’s a great safety addition to any vehicle, from cars to RVs or even boat trailers and tow-behind campers. As an additional precaution, it helps to have a spotter outside the vehicle.

Camco RV Dish Drainer

This heavy-duty dish drainer is designed for the limited counter space of RVs. Its sloped tray directs excess water into the sink and snaps onto the top of the rack for convenient storage.

Camco RV Outdoor Mats

These durable mats help keep the dirt outside the RV. They clean up easily, store nicely, and come in several patterns, colors, and sizes.

This article was produced in cooperation with Cabela’s.

Andy and Tami McDaniels

Andy McDaniels is the Sportsmen’s Outreach Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation’s Vanishing Paradise Campaign. Andy works with hunters, anglers, outdoor media and the hunting and fishing industry throughout the United States. Andy also serves as the Conservation Director of Pro-Staff for Hardcore Decoys and Huntducks.com. He believes that conservation is the cornerstone of hunting and fishing, and he has committed himself to educating hunters and fishermen about the conservation issues that will affect our children and grandchildren. His effort on behalf of conservation and his outreach to hunters, anglers, congressional members, political groups, and citizen action organizations has been monumental. In 2003 and 2004 Andy was recognized for his work on State Wildlife Grants by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. His efforts on the Farm Bill garnered him the esteemed Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Award from the National Wildlife Federation in May 2008.

Tami is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a certified English teacher and freelance writer. She has published numerous articles on a variety of outdoor topics. Her most recent articles on outdoor subjects include 10 Indicators of a Quality Guide, The Anatomy of a Hunting Guide Website, Hunting Guides along the Corridor, and First Steps to Get Kids Hunting and Back into the Outdoors. In addition, she is the web content administrator for three websites. Her volunteer work includes managing web and social media sites, writing grants, organizing fundraising activities, and planning community events.