RV Family Adventure Packing Tips

What We Bring on the Road with Our Airstream Flying Cloud
A man unloading a paddleboard out of the roof storage on a vehicle
Ben Hicks and his family with their Airstream Flying Cloud.
Ben Hicks and his family with their Airstream Flying Cloud.

Ben Hicks

2025 THOR Ambassador

Ben Hicks is a photographer who integrates his work with the elements of nature, often shooting in the water, and uses his images as a platform for environmental awareness. His gallery and studio are based in Boca Raton. Ben, along with his wife Cristina, son Carson, daughter Serena, and dog Luna, travels the world in search of the next adventure—RVing, surfing, mountain biking, and more. He built his first overland truck in 2002 but has been camping since childhood, and his family enjoys exploring even more in their Airstream Flying Cloud 25FB.

As a family that packs for all types of trips, we're always looking for ways to improve our packing process.

When getting ready for a trip in our 2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 25FB, we start by thinking about the kinds of adventures we’ll be going on. Will there be a beach? Waves? Cold water? The questions go on and on!

My wife has created a checklist for each type of trip we take. This includes not only RV trips but also air travel, which is crucial—because who can remember what to pack every single time?

Since we travel with a towable travel trailer, our tow vehicle becomes a key part of how we pack, especially for our adventure gear. That’s the focus of this article—how we pack for adventure travel with our Airstream and tow vehicle.

Our Airstream comfortably sleeps the four of us, but to keep it comfortable, we need to be smart about how we pack all our gear.

Know Your RV and Tow Vehicle’s Capacity

It’s essential to understand your RV and tow vehicle’s weight limits to ensure safe and even distribution of gear. We upgraded our tow vehicle with heavy-duty rear springs and Class D tires to handle additional weight more confidently.

The sofas and storage areas inside Ben Hicks' Airstream Flying Cloud.
Airstream Flying Cloud Travel Trailer

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Packing for Hiking Adventures

We always bring hiking gear, including lightweight backpacks with hydration systems for the adults, and pockets loaded with snacks. I often wear my Dakine hip pack with hydration, which allows me to layer my camera backpack on top.

Beach and Surf Essentials

We pack a waterproof beach bag in the bed of the tow vehicle (TV), filled with:

  • Multiple sunblock options
  • A compact, quick-dry blanket
  • Beach hats and goggles for the kids

Before heading out to the beach, we add:

  • 2 towels
  • Extra clothes for the kids
  • Rash guards
  • Sunglasses
  • iPhone water case
  • GoPro
  • 2 water bottles
  • Inflatable couch chairs (they pack down super small!)

Since I’m an underwater photographer, we always carry masks, fins, and snorkels in the truck.

Cooler and Food Storage

Our Yeti backpack cooler is a must. It keeps my hands free, is bike-friendly, and lives in the tow vehicle.

Kids’ Beach Toys

A mesh bag of beach toys keeps our 9- and 6-year-olds entertained. We store it in a Yakima rooftop carrier on top of the TV.

Kayaks

We don’t bring them every time, but when we do, our sea kayaks ride on Yakima ShowDown rooftop mounts, attached to a Yakima LockNLoad rack system.

A man mounting a kayak on top of a vehicle

Surfboards and Paddleboards

How many we bring depends on the trip. Longer boards travel in padded board bags stored in the Airstream’s alleyway. Once we arrive, we store them under the RV to protect them from sun and heat. We also use a Yakima SupDawg rack on the TV’s roof for board transport.

Our inflatable iRocker paddleboards either go in the bed of the TV or the rooftop carrier.

Fishing Gear

We carry two collapsible fishing poles in the truck at all times, along with a compact tackle kit. If we’re near freshwater, I bring my fly rod. All of this lives in the rooftop carrier.

Our Favorite Travel Gear

Bikes

We’re a bike-loving family! When we bought our Airstream, it had no bike rack option. As a lifelong cyclist, this was a problem I had to solve. I installed a Torklift receiver directly onto the Airstream’s frame—rated for 400+ lbs (though we avoid that max to reduce stress on the RV).

We use a Yakima StageTwo RV-rated bike rack to carry our Rad Power e-bikes. I remove the batteries and store them in the tow vehicle to reduce weight. These e-bikes have rear seats, so each child can ride with us. They’re perfect for 10–15-mile trips and can even handle off-road terrain or beach riding with their 4-inch fat tires.

We also bring pedal bikes for the kids and a training bike for myself. The kids’ bikes go in or on the TV, and mine mounts to the Yakima FrontLoader rack system on the rooftop.

We always bring bike support gear, too, which includes: Ryobi high-pressure inflator (for car tires, balls, and more), a patch kit, and spare tubes.

Final Thoughts

These are the adventure travel essentials that come with us most often! We're always refining what we bring, but let’s be honest—who wants to hit the road without their favorite toys?

Travel Trailers

Travel trailers are the most popular type of non-motorized RV. No doubt you've seen one pulled down the highway hitched to a car or pickup. Travel trailers come in all sizes, including tiny jelly bean-shaped models with a chuckwagon kitchen in the rear to a full blown house-on-wheels with multiple slide outs and residential-sized appliances.

Airstream Flying Cloud

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