There is nothing quite like hitching up a teardrop camper and heading out for a weekend under the stars — but the trip you remember for the right reasons starts with a good checklist. If you have ever reached camp only to find the stove fuel still on the garage shelf, or the bedding folded neatly on the bed at home, you already know how quickly one missing item can take the shine off a getaway. A solid list is the difference between a relaxed trip and a frustrating one, especially if you are new to camper trailer travel.
This is the complete, Australia-specific teardrop camping checklist we wish we'd had on our own first trips. It is built around how compact teardrop campers like the Hip Summit and Hip Companion actually work — because a well-equipped teardrop already carries the bed, the galley, solar, a lithium battery, an inverter, fresh water and an awning, your personal packing list is far shorter than it would be for a tent or a big caravan. Every section below has a scannable table you can screenshot, print, or save to your phone and run through before each trip.
Short answer — the 10 things you can't forget: whatever else slips your mind, these ten stop a trip going sideways.
- Bedding to suit the built-in mattress — fitted sheet, doona or sleeping bags, pillows
- A portable cooker and fuel — the galley has a sink and power but no built-in cooktop
- Food and enough drinking water for the trip, plus a way to keep perishables cold
- Warm layers and a rain jacket — regional nights get cold even in summer
- A stocked first aid kit and any personal medications
- Torch or headlamp with spare batteries
- Phone, chargers and a power bank, plus offline maps
- Sun and insect protection — SPF 50+ sunscreen and repellent
- Your licence, current registration and insurance details
- A UHF radio for anywhere mobile signal drops out (channel 40 is the road channel)
Everything after this is the detailed, category-by-category version — pre-departure checks, setup and kitchen, sleeping, power, water, safety, off-grid extras and documents — followed by a first-trip "essentials vs nice-to-haves" table and answers to the questions we get asked most.
Before You Leave: Vehicle and Trailer Checks
The most important part of any camping checklist happens before you load a single item. Fifteen minutes of vehicle and trailer checks prevents the breakdowns, blown fuses and roadside dramas that ruin the first day of a trip. Run through the table below every time you hitch up — it takes longer to read than to do.
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Tyre pressures & condition | All tow-vehicle and trailer tyres (plus both spares) at the correct pressure, with no cracks or uneven wear. A loaded teardrop sits near its 1,500 kg ATM, so pressures matter for handling and tyre life. |
| Coupling & safety chains | Coupling seated on the 50 mm ball and locked, safety chains crossed under the drawbar, and the breakaway/override cable connected. |
| Electric brakes | Working from your in-cab brake controller. The Hip Summit and Companion ship with electric brakes as standard; a corroded plug or a zero-gain controller is the usual culprit if they don't bite. |
| Lights & indicators | Have someone watch while you test brake lights, indicators and running lights. Carry spare globes or check the LED connectors. |
| Tow-ball weight & load | Roughly 10% of the loaded weight on the ball, heavy gear low and over the axle, nothing loose (more on this in the packing section below). |
| Towing mirrors | Fitted if the trailer is wider than the tow vehicle, so you have clear vision down both sides. |
| Fluids | Engine oil, coolant and washer fluid topped up — long towing runs in summer heat work the engine hard. |
| Registration & insurance | Trailer rego current and your policy valid for where you're going; some exclude unsealed roads, so read the fine print. |
| Quick service look-over | Wheel bearings, brakes and coupling in good order — see our teardrop maintenance guide for a full pre-trip routine. |
First-timer tip: If this is your first trip with a camper trailer, practise reversing in an empty car park before you hit the road. A teardrop is short and light, so it reacts faster than you expect — ten minutes of practice saves a lot of stress at a busy campsite. Not sure your vehicle is up to it? Our guide on towing a camper with a RAV4-sized SUV walks through the numbers.
How to Pack a Teardrop for Safe, Stable Towing
Pack heavy items low and close to the axle, keep about 10% of the loaded weight on the tow ball, and treat your payload as headroom — not an invitation to fill every space. The Hip Summit and Hip Companion have a tare of 700–750 kg and a 1,500 kg ATM, which leaves a generous 750–800 kg payload. That is a lot of margin for a teardrop, but weight distribution still matters more than total weight: a badly balanced trailer sways, and too little weight on the ball is as dangerous as too much.
A few rules keep the rig planted:
- Low and central — water, tools, recovery gear and tinned food go low and near the axle, not up high or out at the tail.
- Ball weight around 10% — aim for roughly a tenth of the loaded trailer weight pushing down on the coupling, loading the front of the trailer slightly heavier than the back.
- Secure everything — anything that can slide will shift the balance mid-corner, so strap it or wedge it.
- Know your limits — never exceed the 1,500 kg ATM or your tow vehicle's rated capacity, whichever is lower. Trailer and tow limits are set by national vehicle standards, not guesswork; see the Australian Government's vehicle design regulations.
Because the camper already carries the big-ticket gear, you're mostly loading consumables and personal items — so hitting the payload ceiling is genuinely hard to do. For the full weight breakdown and exactly what's built in, see what's included with the Hip Summit and Companion. And if you're weighing a teardrop against a full caravan, our teardrop vs caravan comparison shows how much less there is to pack and tow.
Setup and Kitchen Checklist
The rear galley does the heavy lifting, so your kitchen list is short. Both models open to a full stainless-steel galley with a benchtop, a sink with hot and cold water, storage and 240V power points run from the onboard 2000W inverter — but there is no built-in cooktop, which is deliberate. You bring the cooker that suits you, whether that's a single- or twin-burner camp stove or a portable induction plate powered off the inverter. Both models include a bracket to mount your own gas bottle, and an instant retractable awning plus stabiliser jacks make site setup quick.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Portable stove + fuel | A single- or twin-burner camp stove, or an induction plate on the inverter. Bring enough canisters for the trip; the galley has power and a sink but no built-in cooktop. |
| Cookware | A camp frypan, small saucepan and kettle cover most meals; nesting hard-anodised sets pack small. |
| Utensils & prep | Tongs, spatula, sharp knife, chopping board, can opener, and a corkscrew (priorities). |
| Plates, bowls, cups | Enamel or melamine — one set per person plus a spare. |
| Washing up | Biodegradable dish soap, a sponge and a drying towel; the galley sink makes cleanup easy. |
| Cold storage | A quality esky with ice, or a 12V fridge, for perishables. Keep cold food at or below 5°C — see FSANZ food-safety advice. |
| Food & drinks | Plan meals ahead; pre-chop veg and marinate meat at home to save time and washing up at camp. |
| Camp chairs & table | Comfortable, well-supported chairs and a fold-up table — you'll spend hours in them, so don't buy the cheapest. |
| Awning mat / groundsheet | Under the awning it keeps dirt out of the cabin and gives you a clean living area. |
| Levelling & chocks | Levelling ramps for uneven sites plus wheel chocks once you've unhitched — a level camper sleeps and cooks far better. |
Sleeping and Comfort Checklist
Your teardrop already provides the hard part — a weatherproof cabin with a built-in mattress — so comfort comes down to good bedding and warm layers. Don't skimp here: a warm, well-made bed is the single biggest difference between a great trip and a miserable one. Bring bedding sized to the built-in mattress and pack for temperatures colder than the forecast, because regional and inland nights drop away fast after dark.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fitted sheet | Sized to the built-in mattress; bring a spare for longer trips. |
| Doona or sleeping bags | A doona with a cover is cosier than bags for couples; choose a warmer rating for cooler months. |
| Pillows | Your own from home — good sleep makes or breaks a trip. |
| Extra blanket | A wool or fleece blanket is cheap insurance against a cold night, even in summer. |
| Sleepwear & layers | Warm pyjamas and a jumper to throw on if you're up during the night. |
| Eye mask & earplugs | Handy at busy or brightly lit campgrounds. |
Heading out in the cooler months? Our winter teardrop camping guide covers condensation, heating and staying warm off-grid.
Power and Lighting Checklist
Both Hip models come with 100W of roof solar, a 120Ah LiFePO4 battery and a 2000W pure sine wave inverter — enough for lights, charging and small appliances, but not unlimited. The trick to staying out longer is to harvest and conserve: charge during peak sun, run only LED lighting, and keep an eye on the battery monitor. For the full system explainer, see our teardrop power systems guide.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Device chargers & cables | USB and 12V leads for phones, cameras and battery banks — charge between 10am and 2pm when solar output peaks. |
| Power bank | Backup for phones so you can rest the main battery overnight. |
| LED lighting | The built-in lights are LED; any extras you bring (lanterns, strip lights) should be LED too, to spare the battery. |
| Headlamp + torch | Hands-free light for cooking and setup after dark, with spare batteries. |
| Portable solar blanket (optional) | Useful for shaded sites or long stays to supplement the roof panel. |
| Battery monitor habit | Avoid regularly drawing the lithium below about 20% to maximise its life — more in our LiFePO4 vs AGM comparison. |
Not sure whether 100W is enough for how you camp? Our guide to how much solar a camper trailer needs runs the numbers for different trip styles.
Water Checklist
The camper carries 80 litres of fresh water with instant hot water — enough for a couple for roughly two to three days with mindful use. Plan your refills and conserve, and you can stay out well beyond a powered site. Carry extra containers for longer or hotter trips, and know where potable water is along your route.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | The 80L onboard tank supplies the galley and outdoor shower; top up before you leave town. |
| Extra water containers | 10–20L jerry cans for longer trips or dry-camp areas where refills are scarce. |
| Conserve at sink & shower | Short bursts washing up, quick showers on the outdoor shower — small habits stretch 80L a long way. |
| Refill plan | Caravan parks and many rest areas have potable taps; mark them on your route. |
| Grey water container | Carry or use a grey-water container where required so you're leaving no trace — see our self-contained camping guide. |
For the full picture on balancing solar, water and power off the grid, read our off-grid camping guide.
Safety and Recovery Checklist
Safety gear is the part of the list you hope never to use — pack it every single time anyway. Australia's remote areas are spectacular and unforgiving in equal measure, and mobile signal disappears long before the good camping does. Carry a stocked first aid kit, fire and light, communications, and basic recovery gear if you're leaving the blacktop.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| First aid kit | Bandages, antiseptic, pain relief, antihistamines, tweezers and personal meds; check expiry dates before each trip. See the St John first aid kit guide and Healthdirect first aid basics. |
| Fire extinguisher | A small dry-powder unit (Class A/B/E) stored where you can reach it fast. |
| Torch & headlamp | With spare batteries — a headlamp keeps both hands free. |
| UHF radio | Essential where mobile reception drops out; channel 40 is Australia's road-safety channel for truckies and towers. |
| Phone + offline maps | A charged phone, a power bank, and maps downloaded for offline use before you lose signal. |
| Sun & insect protection | SPF 50+ sunscreen and repellent are non-negotiable in the Australian outdoors. |
| Recovery gear (unsealed/remote) | A rated tow or snatch strap, rated shackles, a shovel and a tyre repair kit — even on sealed roads you may need to help yourself or another traveller. |
| Personal locator beacon (remote) | Worth carrying for genuinely remote or no-signal areas. |
Check current conditions before you go: the Bureau of Meteorology for weather and warnings, and your destination's park service — for example Parks Victoria safety — for closures and alerts.
Off-Grid and Free-Camping Extras
Free camping — the riverside clearings, the coastal reserves, the state-forest pull-offs — is one of the great joys of teardrop travel, and a self-sufficient teardrop is built for it. What free camps ask of you is self-containment: bring your own facilities, contain your waste, and leave the site exactly as you found it. Add these to your standard kit whenever you're camping away from serviced parks.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Portable toilet | Many free camps have no facilities; a compact portable toilet is hygienic and increasingly expected by land managers and other campers. |
| Rubbish bags | Pack it in, pack it out — heavy-duty bags to carry every scrap of rubbish back out with you. |
| Grey water containment | Contain sink and shower water where required, rather than letting it run onto the ground. |
| Firewood — only where legal | Many parks and forests ban wood collection, and total fire bans are common in summer. Check restrictions first via your state fire authority, e.g. CFA total fire bans, and buy local firewood when fires are allowed. |
| Camping apps | WikiCamps, CamperMate or Hema for finding sites, reading reviews and checking facilities. |
| Cash & small notes | Honesty boxes and small-town shops don't always take cards. |
Want to see how far a teardrop can take you off-grid? Read our self-contained teardrop guide, and for trip ideas, our roundups of the best campgrounds in Victoria and NSW and best weekend camper trips from Melbourne.
Documents and Admin Checklist
Sort the paperwork before you leave, not at the boom gate. The essentials are your licence, current trailer registration and valid insurance, plus your tow vehicle's capacity figures and any permits or bookings for where you're staying. Keep digital copies on your phone and, ideally, printed backups in the glovebox.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Driver's licence | Valid for the vehicle and trailer combination you're towing. |
| Trailer registration | Current and displayed; you register the camper in your own state. |
| Insurance | A policy that covers your destinations — check whether unsealed roads are excluded. |
| Tow capacity figures | Your vehicle's braked-towing and tow-ball limits, so you can load within them. |
| Permits & bookings | National park entry, camping permits or site bookings where required. |
| Roadside assistance | Membership details and a plan that covers a trailer. |
| Warranty & service docs | Keep your camper's paperwork handy; Hip campers carry a 24-month structural / 12-month warranty on fittings and components, backed by your consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law. |
| Emergency contacts | Saved offline, plus a note of where you're going and when you'll be back left with someone at home. |
If you're weighing up the ongoing expenses of ownership, our cost of owning a camper trailer guide covers registration, insurance, servicing and more.
First-Trip Essentials vs Nice-to-Haves
New to this? Don't buy everything at once. The table below splits the full list into what you genuinely need for a first, close-to-home overnighter versus the extras worth adding as you do more trips and camp further off-grid. Start with the essentials column; grow into the rest.
| Category | First-trip essential | Nice-to-have / add later |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeping | Fitted sheet, doona or bags, pillows, one warm blanket | Spare bedding, eye mask, earplugs, mattress topper |
| Kitchen | Portable stove + fuel, one pot/pan, kettle, basic utensils, plates & cups, dish soap | Second burner, 12V fridge, coffee gear, extra crockery |
| Cold storage | Esky with ice | Portable 12V fridge/freezer |
| Power | Phone chargers, power bank, headlamp | Portable solar blanket, extra lanterns, string lights |
| Water | Full 80L tank, one refill container | Extra jerry cans, grey-water container |
| Safety | First aid kit, fire extinguisher, sunscreen, repellent, UHF radio | Recovery gear, personal locator beacon, spare fuses/globes |
| Campsite | Camp chairs, wheel chocks (awning is built in) | Fold-up table, awning mat, levelling ramps, outdoor rug |
| Off-grid | Rubbish bags, camping app | Portable toilet, extra water, firewood (where legal) |
| Documents | Licence, registration, insurance | Permits, offline maps, roadside assistance |
Print this page or save it to your phone and you have both the full checklist and the beginner's short list in one place. As your trips get longer and more remote, work down the nice-to-have column.
Why a Hip Teardrop Keeps Your Packing List Short
The reason this checklist is shorter than a typical caravan packing list is simple: a well-specced teardrop already carries the infrastructure. The Hip Summit (skylight, sleeps two adults plus a child) and the Hip Companion (side window, sleeps two) both come standard with a built-in bed, a full stainless-steel galley, 100W solar, a 120Ah LiFePO4 battery, a 2000W inverter, 80L of fresh water with instant hot water, an outdoor shower, a retractable awning and a mount for your gas bottle — on a hot-dip galvanised chassis with electric brakes as standard.
That is why your list is mostly bedding, food, a cooker and clothes. It is also why a teardrop is such an easy first camper: less to buy, less to pack, less to tow, and far less to go wrong. If you are still deciding whether one suits you, our honest take on whether a teardrop camper is worth it and the real cost of owning a camper trailer lay out the numbers. Every Hip camper is finished and inspected in Melbourne and certified for Australian roads, and you register it in your own state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be on a teardrop camper camping checklist?
A complete teardrop camper checklist covers seven groups: pre-departure vehicle and trailer checks; setup and kitchen gear; sleeping and comfort; power and lighting; water; safety and recovery; and off-grid or free-camping extras, plus your documents. Because a teardrop like the Hip Summit or Hip Companion already carries the bed, galley, 100W solar, a 120Ah lithium battery, a 2000W inverter, 80L of fresh water and an awning, your personal list is short — mostly bedding, a portable cooker, food, safety gear and clothing.
What do I actually need for my first teardrop camper trip?
For a first overnighter you only truly need the non-negotiables: bedding to suit the built-in mattress, a portable stove and cookware, food and drinking water, a first aid kit, warm layers, a torch or headlamp, and your licence, registration and insurance details. Everything else — extra lighting, a portable toilet, recovery gear, an awning mat — is a nice-to-have you can add as you do more trips. Start light; a teardrop is designed so you don't need a trailer full of gear.
Does a teardrop camper come with a stove, or do I bring my own?
You bring your own. The Hip Summit and Hip Companion have a full stainless-steel galley with a benchtop, sink, hot and cold water and 240V power points from the onboard 2000W inverter, but no built-in cooktop — that's by design, so you can choose a single- or twin-burner camp stove or a portable induction plate run off the inverter. Both models include a holder to mount your own gas bottle. Pack the cooker and fuel you prefer, plus cookware and utensils.
How much fresh water and battery does a teardrop hold for off-grid trips?
Both Hip models carry 80 litres of fresh water with instant hot water, a 120Ah LiFePO4 battery, 100W of roof solar and a 2000W inverter. As a rough guide, 80L lasts a couple two to three days with mindful use, and the solar tops the battery back up each sunny day for lights, phones and small appliances. For longer or hotter trips, carry extra water containers and charge devices between 10am and 2pm when solar output peaks.
How should I pack a teardrop camper so it tows safely?
Keep heavy items low and close to the axle, aim for roughly 10% of the loaded weight pushing down on the tow ball, and don't overload the back or the drawbar. The Hip Summit and Companion have a tare of 700–750 kg and a 1,500 kg ATM, which leaves a generous 750–800 kg payload — plenty of margin, but you still need to distribute the load, not just pile it in. Weigh the loaded rig if you're unsure, and never exceed the ATM or your tow vehicle's rated capacity.
What safety and recovery gear should I carry in Australia?
Carry a stocked first aid kit, a dry-powder fire extinguisher, a torch and headlamp with spare batteries, a UHF radio for areas with no mobile signal (channel 40 is the road-safety channel), SPF 50+ sunscreen and repellent, and drinking water. For unsealed or remote roads add recovery basics: a rated tow or snatch strap, rated shackles, a shovel and a tyre repair kit. Check that your trailer's electric brakes and lights work before every trip.
What extra gear do I need for free camping?
Beyond your standard kit, free (bush) camping calls for a portable toilet where there are no facilities, heavy-duty bags to carry out all rubbish, a way to contain grey water, and firewood only where it's legal to have a fire — always check current fire restrictions first. A camping app such as WikiCamps or CamperMate helps you find sites and check facilities. Being self-sufficient with power, water and waste is what lets a teardrop stay out well beyond a powered site.
What documents and admin should I sort before towing?
Before you leave, confirm your driver's licence, current trailer registration and an insurance policy that covers where you're going (some exclude unsealed roads). Carry your tow vehicle's towing capacity figures, roadside assistance details, and any national park or camping permits or bookings. Save offline maps and your key emergency and campsite contacts to your phone in case you lose reception.
Have a question we haven't covered? Our FAQ page goes deeper, or you can just get in touch — we're happy to talk through anything before your first trip.
Ready to Hit the Road
A teardrop keeps camping beautifully simple. With the right checklist and a bit of prep, you can roll into any site — powered or off-grid — knowing you have everything covered, and spend the weekend relaxing instead of driving back to town for something you forgot.
The fully-equipped Hip Summit ($22,500) and Hip Companion ($21,500) come ready for exactly this kind of travel, and you can build and price your own from $19,000 (Summit) or $18,000 (Companion) in our 3D configurator. See what's currently in stock, or get in touch to arrange a viewing of our Perth display unit — all you'll need to add is the gear on this list and a destination.