What can't you live without in your van?

[Waggy]

Must get one of those wind up phone chargers twice this summer my phone died when we had no hook up - had to resort to a phone box - first time in years!

MP3 player and portable speakers for chilling out with the wine
Levelling chocks or I end up squishing my four year old son if we aren't level
card games etc for when the weather is bad

agree about spare clothes just remember to leave a set in when you are camped up for a week and not left in holdalls in your awning (and I apologise to any lorry drivers who looked in and caught sight of the 4 of us trouserless after getting drenched crossing the causeway at St Michaels Mount in July!)

[cyphrsbird]

me.....aa membership, kettle, tea and the makings of a full english breakfast, red wine (box to avoid frustration by loss of corkscrew) my heater so i dont get chilly and me porta-potti....oh and baccy.....all the essentials of a fab camping weekend

[R0B]

tina..

[Silky]

I'm delving right back in the annals now, but as a complete campervan newbie I'm making a list as I read this thread - I've spent too much time packing and unpacking my car for camping trips (the tent still isn't dry after our last one), I can't wait to be able to simply "wash & go"...

Travelling Chick I didn't see the Pimms on your list?
Silky

[dela]

I get my van next week therefore a total newbie and finding this thread useful.

thanks guys.

AA membership is so sounding a must.....oh what have I let myself in for hehe

dela

[roj62]

For us its the Espresso maker (the hob type ones that come in two parts) and a bottle of Baileys. Theres nothing like a shot of boozy espresso when you've just been battling with the van on a twisty road for 5 hours! (of course after the third one i'm not driving anywhere)

other essentials:
a long bike lock cable: attached to the side of the buddy seat so you can let the dog roam around a bit without chasing birds or scaring kids - better than yard chain as it doesn't scratch the van and he cant chew it.

Those packs of flash wipes when you need to clean up a spill or theres not enough stuff to justify washing up

a crappy old towel - handy for barfing kids and wet dogs

head torch (if just to be able to see into the backs of some of the cupboards)

Ear plugs (self explanatory)

[binka]

AA card
Jump leads
EHU lead
Sleeping bags, pillows.
Dog stake, poo bags, bowls
Mobile phone charger, sat nav and charger, nintendo ds charger
Games cupboard full of board games, books, colouring books, etc. Mainly for Tasha but you know.......
Maps, camping and caravan club book, national trust handbook.
Box of basic foodstuff - pasta, rice, dolmio sauce, teabags, sweetner, ketchup, tinned curry, biscuits, chocolate, hot chocolate.
camping chairs
rug/picnic blanket
head torch, spare battery.
fire extinguisher.
first aid kit, hand gel stuff, soap, toothpaste, hairbrush, shower gel, plasters, calpol, baby wipes.
cutlery, plates, kettle, saucepans, frying pan.
matches
loo paper.
sandwich bags
used carrier bags
tea towel, towels

Thats whats always in my van. So ready to go once I've chucked a few clothes in a bag.

[rainman]

tommyK

You've got Tommy K in your van?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecCfCj_s ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[timski]

We only got our van recently and have only done 3 trips but we already know chocks are a must! On the first trip we spent the first night sliding down the bed. Promptly bought some. Second trip didn't need them but had them. Third trip, needed them but forgot them doh!

Hopefully by now we've learnt our lesson If we ever get round to writing up a list, they're going straight on there. Or I suppose we could just leave them in the van

For the time being we're in the middle of a big project and still trying to make use of the van while we can so everything is in and out like the hokey kokey. Can't wait to have everything sorted so we just jump in and away. I think we'll be in the "everything you need in the van" school.... if we ever get our act in gear

[schizowife]

Excellent thread, off to orkney in a few weeks and lots of useful ideas gained here. Thanks all

[hicksy]

Excellent thread, copying and pasting all suggestions to make a list. Thank you everyone

[ghost123uk]

Just to add - we (usually, see below = ) have a check list to refer to before we set off because in the past we have got where we were going, only to realise we have forgotten something important. We add or remove stuff from the check list based on experiences.

Last week we did not use the check list. We got to the lovely Cae Du campsite * and found we had forgotten the camping chairs, a camping table is not so handy with no chairs
Fortunately, for a change, it was warm and dry enough to eat sitting on the grass - In future we WILL use the list !


* = right by the sea in west Wales = great place to be @ Cae Du campsite Rhoslefain, Tywyn, LL36 9ND

[Daffy]

In addition to most of the above. Scented nappy sacks (handy mini bins as well as poo sacks/vomit bags) dog lead with long rope and stake for the hounds to roam, playing cards and wellies. We've all got a pair that we keep in the van as well as waterproofs - as the saying goes, there's no such thing as wrong weather just the wrong clothing...... Enjoy ;-0

[Alison-D]

This thread is excellent! I am a complete newbie - just got my beloved T25, and I am fully absorbing all these tips!
Thank you!!