Your Guide to Campervan Essentials and Accessories
Whether you’re gearing up for your first road trip or looking to upgrade your setup, having the right campervan essentials is a must. From practical tools to Van Life accessories, the right gear can transform your experience on the road. In this guide, weāve created a list of the best essential items for campervans, along with some must-have campervan accessories that we love and use while living full time in our van.
Why Do You Need the Right Campervan Essentials?
Packing for van life is more complicated than just throwing your belongings into your vehicleā¦ I mean they wonāt all fit! You need to ensure you have everything you need for cooking, sleeping, staying organised, and handling emergencies on the road. By investing in high-quality campervan accessories like kitchen gadgets, tiny home storage solutions, and solar-powered devices, youāll maximise space, comfort, and convenience during your travels.
What Makes These Campervan Accessories a Must-Have?
Whether you’re driving a compact camper or a fully kitted-out Sprinter campervan, choosing versatile and durable items is key. Weāve included a mix of universal campervan essentials and specialised accessories for campervans to suit all types of travellers.
Living in a van is extremely exciting and gives you freedom like no other lifestyle, however the space is small so anything you decide to take with you needs to earn its place. Here we share our top campervan essentials, adventure gadgets and other items we take with us in our van.
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Explore campervan kitchenware, bathroom must-haves and little extras that make our van feel like home. We also share what we pack to make sure we are safe while taking our home on adventures around the UK and mainland Europe.
Below we share our essentials list which comprises of our top campervan accessories, Happy Shopping!
5G Motorhome Wifi
Antenna and SIM
A cheaper alternative to Starlink which is great if you don’t rely on fast connection.
Starlink
Satellite Dish and Router
Starlink is a game changer. We could connect anywhere which made nomadic life a lot easier.
Karcher Window Vac
Condensation Hoover
Helps clear inevitable condensation inside your van quickly and efficiently. We use it everyday in the van!
Isotherm Cruise Fridge 85L
85L 12v Compressor Fridge
85L is a great size for a van build. This one was large enough for us to keep a weeks worth of food, plus it has a small freezer.
Thetford Hob and Oven
12v Hob, Oven and Grill Cooker
Having an oven in a van is a luxury and one we loved. The smell of fresh bread is unbeaten
Extendible Hose
Small, Compact Hose
An extendible hose is useful when you can’t get close to fill up taps.
Bug Screen
Side Door and Back Door Screen
In hot climates keeping out bugs can get annoying so this magnetic bug screen works a treat. (Rear and Side Door)
Lagun Swivel Mount
Mount for a Table
If you need a table that can freely move the Lagun Swivel mount is lightweight and durable.
Window Covers
Insulated, Blackout Blinds
Home made window covers which are perfect for any build. Follow the link and find out how to make your own.
Solar Trickle Charger
Electrical
A must have for any van build. This will keep your vans batteries charged when you’re not driving it as much as you should!
Electric Charging Cable
To Plug Into Shore Power
If you need to charge your van at campsites or with shore power then you need a charging cable.
Leatherman Multi-Tool
Leatherman Wave+
Our Leatherman fixes pretty much anything broken in the van plus we use it for camping.
Water Filter
3 Stage Water Filter System
Filter water from your fresh tank for safe drinking water.
Nesting Pots and Pans
With Removable Handle
We didn’t take all the pans from this set as they are heavy, however they nest nicely and are durable.
Plates and Bowls
Enamel Tableware
These are the most beautiful plates and bonus they won’t smash as they are made of enamel
Metal Dustpan and Brush
Cleaning
This a must for Van Life. We are always sweeping the van, plus this is plastic free!
Grey Waste Cleaner
Cleaning
Cleaning waste water tanks is super important, we use this cleaner from Thetford.
Yeti Mug
Insulated Travel Mug
A Van Life staple.
Omina Oven
Portable Oven For a Gas Stove
If you don’t have an oven in your van you can always use an omnia.
Panda Mattress Topper
Lightweight Mattress
We don’t have a fixed bed so we put this topper over our sofa cushions to create a comfy bed at night.
Cab Curtain
Insulated, Blackout Curtain
We opted for a insulated, blackout curtain held up by hooks to separate our cab and it works perfectly.
Cab Curtain Hooks
Hooks For Cab Curtain
Not only did these hold up our curtain they acted as extra storage for coats and bags.
Wet Shoes
Lightweight Water Shoes
Great for wild swims, beaches and kayaking. They have a proper sole and stay tight to your feet.
Ultra Dry Bag
10L Waterproof Bag
10L dry bag with a roll top and buckle. It also comes with a waterproof phone case.
Leatherman Signal
Camping Multi-Tool
A lighter weight camping multi-tool with functions designed for through hiking.
Bit Extender
Leatherman Accessory
Transforms a Leatherman into a full screwdriver which is super handy when there’s not much space for tools.
Hiking Pots and Pans
1.3L Aluminium Camping Set
These are incredibly lightweight!. They come with a detachable handle so they can nest and we’ve even used them inside our van.
Head Torch
Portable, Chargeable light
Great in case of power cuts or when it gets dark outside the van.
Osprey Fairview Bag
Women’s Backpack
The female version for our Osprey backpacks. They open as a chest plus have detachable daypacks.
Osprey Farpoint Bag
Men’s Backpack
The male version for our Osprey backpacks. They open as a chest plus have detachable daypacks.
Trekology Hiking Poles
Carbon Fibre Poles
These will save your knees when hiking down a mountain!
Portable BBQ
Outdoor Cooking
Cooking and eating outdoors is what Van Life is about so why not get a portable BBQ.
Fire Starter
Adventure Gear
Enjoy bonfires with friends or a campfire with this fire starter tool.
Tribit Bluetooth Speaker
Portable and Splash Proof
Small and loud Bluetooth speaker with a strap to attach it to bikes, bags or kayaks.
Simploo Toilet
Composting Toilet
Simploo is a great budget composting toilet option. They have a variety of sizes to suit your van!
ROLdoƻr
Retractable Shower Door
This shower door is useful for privacy in the van and it squeezes all the water off as we close it.
Suction Toilet Roll
Suction Cup Holder
We have this one in black and it’s never fallen off the wall, even on the bumpiest roads.
Scrubba
Hand Clothes Washing Bag
If you need to hand wash some clothes effectively then this little bag does the job!
Extendible Rail
Extra Storage
Hanging space is precious in a van and this give us loads of extra room.
Rubber Matting
Stops Rattles
This stuff is amazing! It will stop cutlery, pots and pans and anything else moving around in draw while driving.
Black Overhead Handles
Van DĆ©cor
These are great for overhead cabinets.
Soap Dispenser
350ML Dispenser
This is a great way to prevent soap spilling and gives you extra space in your cupboard.
Round Cupboard Handles
Van DĆ©cor
We used these round door handles for cupboards in the van.
Dji Drone
Camera Equipment
A lightweight drone (249g) that films in 4k video. Who doesn’t want to capture the perfect park up.
Kodak Luma 150 Projector
Pocket Projector
A portable projector is a must for Van Life. Cosy up in the van to watch a film on a rainy day or project outside in the summer.
Kodak Projector Case
Projector Case
Hard shell projector case for a Kodak 150.
Go Pro Hero
Waterproof Action Camera
The perfect action camera for any adventure from or with your van.
Battery Pack
Portable Charger
An essential for travel days when keeping your phone charged is super important.
Instax Mini Printer
Portable Photo Printer
We use this to print our most special memories from our van trips. We hang them in the van as souvenirs of out time travelling.
Instax Mini Printer Film
Film
Film for your printer. I love the polaroid look and style!
12v Cigarette Charger
USB Chargers
This fits perfectly in any van and allows us to charger gadgets and phones while we drive.
Laptop Stand
Office Set Up
While working in the van a laptop stand acts as a second office set up on our dining table.
Office Screen
Office Set Up
If you’re working from a van a big screen is a must.
Bracket For Screen
Office Set Up
To hold up our office screen we used this moveable bracket.
Hi-Vis Jacket
Breakdown Essential
Every person needs one in the vehicle.
Europe Driving Pack
Breakdown Essential
All the things you need to drive in Europe.
Warning Triangle
Breakdown Essential
Unfortunately we have had to use this during a breakdown on a corner. You also need one to drive in many European Countries.
Laptop safe
Van Safety
A place to keep valuables when you may not be in you van.
Key Lock box
Van Safety
We are ex-DHL and our doors automatically lock so for us this is a must-have.
Window Film
Van Safety
To protect the weak spots of your van we recommend this window film.
First Aid Kit
Personal Safety
This is always something you should keep in your van in case of accidents.
Fire Extinguisher
Personal Safety
It goes without saying you need these. These are the smallest we could find.
Van GPS Tracker
Van Security
For security reasons a tracker is always a good idea.
Jump Start Kit
Portable Jump Start Power Bank
Jump start your van quickly if you ever need to on the road. Start a dead battery in seconds!
Air Compressor
12v Tyre Inflator
Control your tyres and drive over any terrain with this air compressor. Or pump up your tyres to the correct PSI.
