Preparing Your Recreational Vehicle for Travel: Essential Items for Your Journey on the Open Road
When embarking on your motorhome adventure, whether it's your first attempt or an upgrade to a new vehicle, it's crucial to equip your home on wheels with appropriate essentials to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
The items you choose to fill your motorhome will substantially impact your stay, whether you decide to park at one of the UK's finest motorhome sites or prefer a secluded off-grid location.
For those upgrading an existing vehicle, chances are you already possess the fundamental items required for a satisfactory journey. In the case of a larger motorhome, space management will not be an issue. However, downsizing to a smaller vehicle necessitates a discerning approach to packing, ensuring all essentials fit comfortably within.
Newcomers to motorhome living must consider the items they'll need for their inaugural tour, planning ahead to ensure everything is ready for packing.
Most motorhome owners maintain the basics within their vehicle permanently, adding day-to-day items like clothing and perishable goods only when the tour commences. When it comes to kitting out a motorhome for the first time, I begin by assessing the available cupboard space and dispersing plastic storage boxes accordingly. These boxes are then assigned specific roles based on their dimensions and location within the vehicle.
Complementing these practical items are accessories that add convenience and enjoyment to your campsite experience, such as the best motorhome awning.
Choosing Bedding for a Comfortable Sleep
Selecting the best bedding for a campervan can significantly improve your sleeping experience during your travels. Whether you opt for a sleeping bag, duvet, or a domestic-style bed-making set is typically influenced by personal preferences and the available space. Though a storage box may not be necessary, bedding can be adapted in shape, allowing for easier storage.
A space-saving tip I particularly appreciate is storing a couple of pillows inside large or custom-made cushion covers. This makes it possible to use them both day and night, reducing the need for valuable cupboard space. Additional bedding can be stored in the overcab or the underbed lockers.
Equipping the Kitchen
Accessing a hot cup of tea after pitching up is important, making a suitable motorhome kettle an essential addition to your packing list. Consider choosing a kettle and pans that can be nested inside one another for space efficiency, and keep them organized in a large plastic storage box.
When selecting motorhome crockery, meltamine remains a popular choice due to its durability. However, I prefer thin white glass crockery, such as Corelle or the Ikea equivalent. Despite being relatively heavy, these plates stack away compactly, providing a hygienic and stain-resistant method of eating on tour. A bespoke crockery cupboard can help minimize space required, as well as reducing rattling and chipping. Cutlery can usually be safely stored in a cutlery tray within a drawer, but using or making a tool roll can minimize rattling.
A small kettle and toaster can be fitted into any remaining spaces within the kitchen, while a small water carrier for drinking water supplies is recommended, especially for owners who prefer to reserve the tank water for washing purposes. Storing oil, vinegar, and washing-up liquids in a small plastic container can help keep them upright, reducing the likelihood of leaking, and provide additional space for 3-in-One oil, WD-40, and a small bottle of methylated spirits.
Preparing for Meals
Perishable goods should not be stored in the fridge until the last minute. Meat can be placed in the freezer compartment as traveling, as this space is often underutilized. Tinned goods should be stored low down, and I recommend fitting them in a suitable plastic box, allowing you to reach into them like a drawer.
Packing Your Tool Kit
The contents of your motorhome tool kit mainly depend on your DIY ability and the available storage space. I recommend packing a small multimeter, a set of screwdrivers, a small hacksaw, spanners, and pliers. Other useful items include cable ties in various sizes, connector blocks, and fuses, as well as a container for miscellaneous screws, washers, nuts, and bolts. Old wire coat hangers can perform a variety of emergency tasks, while duct tape and strong plastic rubble sacks can come in handy for temporary repairs.
Preparing for Arrival
Upon arrival at your campsite, items needed for pitching include levelling ramps (our guide to the best motorhome levelling ramps can help you find the right pair for you), electrical cables and connectors, an aerial cable, water hoses and water carriers. Smaller vehicles may find these bulky to fit in; consider using the space beneath the rear of the motorhome if storage is available. Consider stowing a full-length mains cable on a reel, along with a half-length one folded, as these can usually fit into a door pocket.
Consider the storage of folding camping chairs and tables, ensuring easy access while keeping them out of the way when not in use. One possibility is fastening them with straps behind the rear seat backrests if space allows.
Medical Equipment
Keep your medical kit separate from your first-aid kit. Find a suitable small box for storing tablets, medications, and other essentials, such as sticking plasters, elastic bandages, nail-clippers, tweezers, and small scissors.
Leisure Accessories
Secure cameras, laptops, books, and personal belongings in a safe location, while accessories like binoculars can be fitted into remaining spaces, door pockets, or underseat compartments. I recommend taking paper, envelopes, and stamps as well; they can come in handy. Be sure to take a small sewing kit too, for any potential emergency repairs.
Have you been contemplating watching television during your tour but aren't sure about the right device? We can help, as we address the question "Can you use a normal TV in a motorhome?"
Driving Accessories
If you plan to take your motorhome to Europe, ensure you have high-vis jackets readily accessible before leaving the vehicle. Don't forget to store your warning triangles and first-aid kit in similarly accessible locations.
Smaller items, such as maps, guides, spare glasses, and sunglasses, can typically be stored in the door pockets. Larger map-books can be stored flat, possibly on the floor of the Luton roof or similar.
Many vehicles come equipped with full-sized spare wheels under the rear, but if not, consider adding a spare wheel, or at least the tyre, to prevent being stranded in Europe with an irreparable wheel on a bank holiday. These can be stored in a bedding locker, garage, or attached to the rear doors; just ensure your payload is not exceeded.
After kitting out your motorhome, you’ll be ready to choose your touring destination. If you need some inspiration, our guide to the best UK road trips offers a wealth of ideas and information.
1) When upgrading an existing motorhome, one should consider space management for a smaller vehicle, ensuring all essentials fit comfortably within.2) For those new to motorhome living, planning ahead for the inaugural tour is crucial to ensure everything is ready for packing.3) Complementing practical items in a motorhome are accessories that add convenience and enjoyment, such as the best motorhome awning.4) Choosing the best bedding for a campervan can significantly improve one's sleeping experience during travels, with options including sleeping bags, duvets, or a domestic-style bed-making set.5) A space-saving tip for bedding is storing a couple of pillows inside large or custom-made cushion covers, making them usable day and night.6) Accessing a hot cup of tea after pitching up is important, making a suitable motorhome kettle an essential addition to the packing list.7) When equipping the kitchen, it is recommended to select a kettle and pans that can be nested inside one another for space efficiency, and keep them organized in a large plastic storage box.8) Upon arrival at your campsite, items needed for pitching include levelling ramps, electrical cables and connectors, an aerial cable, water hoses and water carriers.9) If planning to take your motorhome to Europe, ensure you have high-vis jackets readily accessible before leaving the vehicle and store your warning triangles and first-aid kit in similarly accessible locations.
