New to VANLIFE? A Beginner’s Guide
Are you new to campervanning but feeling a bit overwhelmed? Or maybe you have taken your first trip already, but spent most of your time packing and repacking the campervan? It’s okay! Don’t panic. It’s completely normal and everything you need is right here!
Firstly, it is important that you understand that there are lots of potential ways of packing up your campervan and part of finding out what works best for you, is hitting the road and trying out different options plus making some mistakes! Learning to utilise all the space is very important. Think carefully about the things you will use more regularly and will require easier access. Some things you won’t need to access as often, so can be pushed to the back or put in cupboard that is harder to reach.
Practical kitchenware items
Whether you are setting your campervan up for day trips, weekends away or even for several weeks on the road touring the country, some practical items need to have high priority on your shopping list. Check out out recommendations here. Essential items include:
Storage containers for tea, coffee, sugar (consider shapes that stack)
Enamel tableware, including mugs (we chose enamel and use shallow bowls more than we do plates)
Cutlery (we still have metal in the campervan – it is our home-from-home after all)
A sharp knife
Stack-able pans
Salt and pepper
(I have included a very printable friendly packing list below – click for more details).
Non-stick matting is a great investment for inside the base of cupboards and shelves, especially those where plates, bowls and mugs could move around while you are driving.
Unless you have a cutlery draw, then a large lunch box is ideal storage for cutlery.
While many of you with full campervan conversions will have a twin gas burner inside your campervan, others of you won’t or maybe you just prefer the idea of cooking outside. This is especially wonderful in stunning destinations, or when the weather is glorious. We opted for a Cadac BBQ – you can read a full review of two of our favourites here.
In order to store these, utilise the space under the passenger seats, or slide the BBQ in narrow gaps – we especially love the Cadac 2 Cook 2 Pro Deluxe for this. Click here for a video of some of our favourite storage solutions.
Shop more storage recommendations here.
Clothing
Clothes, storage solutions and ideas are such a big topic of interest when it comes to vanlife or camping. The reason is rather obvious, because storage space is really important and it is very easy to over-pack clothing. Some things you might want to consider when choosing and packing clothing include:
Comfort - camping is very casual
Quick drying – there will come a time when you need to dry off your clothing inside your campervan
Similar colours – makes washing easier
Does not need ironing – makes it easy to just rewash and repack when at home
Compact – sometimes you will be required to pack for all weathers, but warmth can be achieved by wearing layers.
It is important that you remember to pack a bag that can be used for dirty washing too.
Invest in some packing cubes! These keep clothes compact, organised and can be easily stacked. We have one large cube for each member of the family. It gets filled and that's all we take. One cube for each family member is easy (especially if they are different colours or label them) so everyone can find their clothes quickly and easily. Rolling clothes instead of folding also means you can fit more in.
If you prefer to hang clothes, then consider adding a rail at the back of your van or invest in some headrest hooks.
Bedding
Mainly campers choose sleeping bags for convenience when camping, but with so many options avaliable now, this isn’t always the case. Before you rush out and buy new bedding, consider how and where you are going to store it. In our T5, we used a double sleeping bag, or Duvalay sleeping bags depending on what type of trip we are going on. These were stored above the rear passenger seats when on the road and on the drivers seat when we are parked up. The children used junior sleeping bags because they are compact, cosy and warm. Coverless duvets are another possibility.
Pillows are a necessary part of any campers packing list but the are unfortunately bulky. Storing pillows in PVC bags helps keeps them compact and clean when not in use. Click here for more campervan storage ideas.
A self inflating mattress is an essential purchase for any campervan with a pop up roof. Campers will otherwise be left sleeping on a hard, wooden board! The mattress needs to be thin enough to enable the roof to still close while not in use - 5cm is most widely used, but please check your own dimensions before ordering. Never assume all campervans are the same size. Mattress toppers for RIB or Rock and Roll beds are also windy used, but I’d recommend testing yours out first before rushing out to buy one. We would recommend Duvalay would made a wide range of travel toppers and/or custom toppers bespoke to any size, or shape you need.
If you are worried about being cold, you could consider a Vango Radiate Heat Mat. A full review can be found here.
Toiletries
Keeping an additional set of toiletries in the campervan, especially if you intend to go away regularly saves so much time and worry when packing up the campervan! Two separate bags are ideal. One for those occasions when you need to nip to the facilities block to brush your teeth and another to keep any *larger toiletries in - shampoo, conditioner, body wash etc.
Other items that will be essential to any family camping trip:
Outside table – our simple one from Outwell has bench-style chairs. It is slimline and easy to store at the back of the van
Chairs – so many options available on the market. Consider if storage or comfort is your priority.
*Electric cable for hook up on campsites
Thermal screen protector – used usually on the front windowscreen. These keep the van warm at night, cool during the summer and provide privacy and blackout.
A sunshade, awning or pop up tent – either are very much personal preference and depends how you prefer to travel.
The coronavirus pandemic brought the demand of self contained units on campsites with their own chemical toilets, but with an increasing number of families realising the advantages of having an onboard toilet, they are becoming much more common. We wouldn’t leave home without ours. Click here for our recommendations.
Fairy lights are something we have added that makes our van feel cosier and more homely. These USB lights are ideal and operate off the leisure battery, so we can use them when off mains hook up.
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