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Planning a Camper Van Trip? Here’s What You Should Carry

From safety gear to daily comforts, everything you need before you hit the road

By Deborah LarsonPublished about 2 hours ago 4 min read

By the time you get back home and have parked the car at the end of the trip, the memories are usually impeccable- the peaceful mornings, the unexpected scenery and the open road. What the majority of people keep in their minds equally vividly, however, are the things they regret not having brought with them. An absent cable, a tool that was left behind or a safety measure can make a wonderful journey a stressful one. That is the reason why smart packing is important way before you switch the key.

We should go back on the trip and discuss what you should bring in order to make your camper van experience a peaceful, safe, and pleasant trip.

Comfort Items You’ll Be Grateful For at the End

You do not realize how comfortable you are after several days of driving and sightseeing. Additional bedding, clothing, weather-specific, and a small laundry bag can transform the last days of your travel into an even bigger pleasure. Most of the travelers fail to realize how fast clothes can accumulate in a tight area.

An in room water bottle, fast towels, and the personal hygiene are some items that wanderers cannot do without daily. An outdoor foldable chair or a mat these will come in handy when you want to rest outside your van once you have got crowded with more people in the camp. These things might seem non-essential in the beginning, but by the conclusion of the trip, they are vital.

Safety Gear That Protects More Than Just the Van

The advice on camper safety is usually never heeded until something is wrong. One of the most critical safety choices that you can make is to carry a fire extinguisher. The fuel, electricity and cooking equipment used in camper vans are placed in a small area and this deteriorates fire safety.

Knowledge of the classes of fires will make you select the appropriate extinguisher. A camper van can also have electrical, flammable liquid fire and combustible material fire. The right extinguisher in the plane, as well as the knowledge of how to operate it, will bring you peace of mind during your voyage.

The state of the extinguisher is also worth looking into. Hydrostatic testing is one of the things that most individuals do not pay much attention to, however, it makes sure that the pressurized fire safety devices are safe and functional when the time elapses. This is particularly significant when you are traveling a lot or you have your camper van parked in long durations.

Additional safety items are important like a first-aid kit, a flashlight, a reflective vest, and a basic emergency contact list, which has to be saved in digital and paper format.

Kitchen and Food Essentials That Save Time and Money

The aspects of cooking your own food are also one of the most enjoyable aspects of van life. A list of essentials in a camper van should also be designed in such a way that it contains compact cookware, sharp knife, reusable plates, and utensils that are easy to clean. Do not over pack- select multi-use wherever possible.

Food that does not have an expiration date, spices, and snacks minimise additional grocery trips. A refrigerator or mini fridge, as well as containers to store food, will also save you on the amount of wasted food, and you can keep your space tidy. They are not only saving money, but they also make the spontaneous stops much more pleasant.

Power, Navigation and Connectivity Tools

Halfway through the journey, power goes for nothing. Your devices are kept going with phone chargers, power banks and extension cables. It should have a GPS or an offline navigational application which is necessary when moving to far places with poor network connections.

Low-difficulty upgrades such as solar chargers or auxiliary batteries are trendy in terms of van travelers and among top search results of road trip packing lists. They enable you to remain in touch with each other without necessarily having to visit the campsites or refueling stations.

Maintenance Tools That Prevent Small Problems From Growing

Majority of van breakdowns begin as little problems. A set of simple tools such as a tire pressure gauge, jumper cables, duct tape, and a multi-tool can save a person hours of exasperation. Additional items that are clever are spare fuses, engine fluids and a printed copy of your van instruction manual.

They do not consume much space and when something goes wrong, you have control over these items particularly in countryside or off-grid areas.

Documents and Planning Essentials You Should Never Forget

Pre-packing before the journey is also necessary to ensure that all the necessary documentation is packed. This will contain your driver license, insurance documentation, bookings to a campground and emergency contacts. It is strongly advisable to always have digital backups either in your phone or cloud storage.

The van life checklist below is a simple list that you could print out or have on your phone to keep you on track of what you’ve packed and what remains to be done before you leave.

The Beginning Packing With Intention

Even when you are on your first trip to the camper van it is not about the amount of things you bring, but the things that really matter. Incident-free packing enhances comfort, safety, and flexibility during travel. Rather than imitating what each one of us is carrying, consider the way you travel, the destination and the time you will spend on the road.

With proper planning, you will not end your trip with the regret that you should have brought that. It will be full of pleasant recollections and assurance that you were ready to meet whatever the road could offer you.

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About the Creator

Deborah Larson

Deborah Larson is a professional writer and lifelong learner who shares her knowledge, insights and creative thoughts through her blog.

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