Van life forces you to adapt quickly. Here are five campervan accessories that will make your new lifestyle on the road that little bit easier.
Van life in the UK is going through the roof. We currently have about 225,000 motorhomes roaming our roads – and that excludes touring caravans, caravan holiday homes, and self-conversions.
It’s easy to see why van life has gotten so popular. Travelling in a campervan is a real adventure and the UK is the perfect environment for van living – the weather is (mostly) mild, you’re never far from shops or basic facilities, and help can always be called if you need it. All of this reduces many of the pressures of van living and helps to make every day feel like a holiday.
That being said, there are some drawbacks. Your living space is drastically downsized, you don’t have access to household conveniences, and you’re constantly on the move. That means you will need to make some adjustments to adapt to this new lifestyle.
One great way to do this is to fill your campervan with handy accessories and essential items to make your 4-wheeled home as comfortable as possible. Let’s take a look at some of the best campervan accessories out there to help with your time spent on the road.
One of the hardest things about living in a campervan is not having a constant stream of electricity. Many RVs and motorhomes do have an electrical hook-up, but this isn’t as convenient as you might think. You must be stationary at a campsite with specialised electrical pitches to keep this functioning.
Another option is to install a deep cycle leisure battery in your van which can then be wired up to solar panels on the roof or linked to an alternator. This circuit is called a split charge relay. Anyone handy with electronics can fit it themselves, but for everyone else, you may need to go to a specialist electrician. You can cut out both of these options by simply purchasing a Jackery Power Station.
The Jackery Explorer works on the same principle as any small portable charger you might use to power your phone. The only difference is that the Jackery is much bigger which allows it to generate way more charge.
Washing is the bane of every camper’s existence. Showering and bathing are easy enough in daily life, but when you live in a van, the whole process becomes a bit of a mission.
Campsite showers are always a good idea whenever you can find them – this way you’re (almost) always guaranteed hot water and you won’t deplete your own supplies. But when you’re living off-grid, you’ll need a solution to washing – regardless of how much luxury it lacks.
There are several ways to fix this problem, but owning a camping solar shower is our favourite.
The Risepro solar shower allows you to wash wherever you like without requiring gas or electricity to heat your hot water. Instead, it uses the sun!
Difficult to warm up unless in strong, direct sunlight
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If you’re fortunate enough to have a pre-fitted stove in your campervan then you’re already prepared to cook up a storm. However, if you’re a van lifer without a full kitchen, you’re going to need to construct your own cooking area.
This begins with a camping stove. You can either secure it in place and link it to a big gas tank, or keep it mobile and use smaller gas cylinders. In this case, Campingaz offers the best of both worlds!
This double-burner stove and grill combines portability with functionality. This stove allows you to cook great meals in your campervan both indoors and al fresco! We’re also huge fans of the Campingaz 400-ST if you’re looking for something a little different.
It’s shocking how fast a campervan can get dirty. No matter how much cleaning you do, the interior of the van always seems to return to a relative state of squalor. Perhaps this is unsurprising given your small living space is effectively a boot room, garage, bedroom, kitchen, and vehicle all rolled into one.
Carrying multiple cleaning products such as mops, sponges, vacuums, and water buckets isn’t very practical. Fortunately, a good disinfectant wipe can just about fill the hole left by these items in most circumstances.
These antibacterial wipes can be used to wipe floors, disinfect surfaces, clean dishes, and do most other cleaning jobs you can think of. So simple, and usually much more effective than higher-end gadgets out there.
Storage in a van is another hurdle to leap over. A well-packed van should operate like a Swiss army knife – that means you need storage boxes, hooks, nets, and straps to de-clutter your space.
Storage nets are a great addition to your campervan, these stop loose items from shaking and rattling when you’re driving and allow for easy access. Storage boxes are another great option for organising bulkier items like clothes and kitchen utensils. To get the best of both worlds, try the Finpac hanging organisers.
These hanging organisers are fantastic for storing campervan accessories. Utilising the dead space around doors and on the backs of chairs, these are really handy for compartmentalising loose items in a softbox structure.
Have a question about finding the best accessories for your campervan? Check out our FAQ below and we might just cover your question!
The Jackery Explorer is the perfect portable charger for your van. It’s easy to move, fast to charge, stores plenty of power, and can be connected to solar panels.
The Risepro solar shower ensures you can wash and keep clean on the road. This portable shower can heat 20 litres of water to 45 degrees in just 3 hours.
The Campingaz portable stove has a dual burner and grill to optimise campervan meals. It can be hooked up to a portable gas canister via a regulator and hose.
The Dettol multipurpose cleaning wipes are a wonderfully simple solution to keeping your van clean. They are cheap, easy to use, biodegradable, and antibacterial.
The Finpac hanging organisers are the ideal storage solution for a campervan. They can compartmentalise and de-clutter loose items without filling up valuable van space.
Still not managed to solve your issue? Don’t be afraid to reach out and send us a message on one of our socials – we’re always happy to help!
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