First trip in the van!

[72WayTooCool]

We've recently bought a VW T5 and we are going on our first trip next weekend. I think I've thought of most things that we'll need; awning, bedding, mattress topper, camping stove, camping chairs, windbreak, crockery and cutlery, cooking implements and pans, camping loo, food and plenty of wine. What else do we need? The site we are going to has EHU, a small shop and is near the beach.

We live in Cornwall so have hundreds of campsites within an hour or so of home, although we definitely want to go further afield too. It's just me and DH, the DC are adults now, so we are looking forward to plenty of weekends away in the van.

[PaulaSmith1]

We always put in a small pop up tent just so we can throw stuff in for storage so we have more room to move around the van.

Corkscrew
Sharp knife
Bottle opener
Tin opener
Bog roll (just in case)
Sun cream (just in case)
First aid kit (just in case)

[bestbeforedateexpired]

Sounds like you've got it covered! Best to start off with the minimum and work out if you need anything else rather than having to ditch stuff.
Happy travels!

[72WayTooCool]

I've just packed my clothes for the weekend. Usually I'm a maxi packer, but I've managed to get all my clobber into two medium packing cubes. I'm quite impressed with myself. We've just had a video tutorial with my serious van nerd brother on how to the electrics working so just got to get some food and plenty of wine- and we're ready for the off on Friday.

[ruthieness]

I sugest you first drive round the block and if possible over a few speed bumps
then check if anything is crashing around in cupboards!

[thistimelastweek]

I have no advice I just have van envy.
It's got to be fab.

[SpecialchildSupermum]

Our kids are grown up now so we’ve moved onto a campervan this year. Only done 3 - 2 night camps but we love it and I’m
Sure you will too! I think you’ve covered everything in your list. For ease, when we are away if we want to eat out for a main meal we have it in the daytime (pub meals etc) then in the evening we have cheese and wine, crusty bread and pate, fruit and nuts. Saves on washing up but also we don’t have to pack away just to drive to have dinner in the evening. Oh, and take flip flops for the showers. Citronella candles for sitting out late, a portable fire pit is lovely, blankets for chilling outside, fairy lights to pretty up your rig enjoy xxx

[parrotonmyshoulder]

Van will be great with just two of you! We have turfed our dc out into awning and pup tent now. Sounds like you have everything you need!

[parrotonmyshoulder]

We have a good morning routine for making coffee/ putting beds away. You’ll work something out.

[bestbeforedateexpired]

@72WayTooCool How did your trip go?

[72WayTooCool]

It was great! We were blessed with perfect weather and the site was lovely - huge pitch and considering it was bank holiday weekend, actually pretty quiet. We only made one rookie error. We didn't anticipate slopes - the pitch was ever so slightly downhill so we did find we woke up halfway down the bed each night. We have bought levellers for next time!

Not sure if we'll get another proper camping trip in now before winter, but are aiming for a night or two away without the awning if we can.

[bestbeforedateexpired]

Ah, that's really good to hear. Yep, we thought we could get away without levellers the first time too. The other thing we were really pleased to get were some side panels that quickly attach to the wind-out awning. An absolute game-changer for us. We can put the panels up in 5 minutes and bung stuff out of the way. They are taken down in 5 minutes too and take up minimal space in the van and make a huge difference.

[72WayTooCool]

bestbeforedateexpired Side panels sound great. The van came with an awning which is just a roof, not a wind out though. We didn't use it when we went but if we could get side panels that would be great for quicker trips.