CAMPER VAN VIRGIN ... help- what equipment to bring?? URGENT!

[noonar]

we have just bought a 1991 vw camper from ebay. we are v excited but have only 2 days to prepare for our first 3 night camping trip WITH DDS AGED 4 AND 6.

we have fridge, sink and cooker on board but would like to know what else to take equipment wise. can anyone give me a little list off essentials please? (pref stuff i can buy at argos!)

TIA XXX

[noonar]

'of essentials'

[noonar]

oh, and where can i buy a bucket with lid?? i dont think we'll buy a porter potty just yet.

[peasholme]

Well, we are only a few months ahead of you so we are still learning. Got ours in May. We had a lot of camping stuff which just went in the van, but have tried to make sure we have some basics which stay in there: tin openers, cutlery, decent knife, kettle, bottle opener, milk pan, frying pan, basic crockery, towels and tea towels etc... I think some very organised people probably have systems for these things! So far we seem to spend upwards of three hourse ferrying our belongings from flat to van...!
I think the only way to do it is to learn from experience. If you mess it up, there's always a chip shop!
Good luck! Where are you going?

[peasholme]

I think pound shops have buckets with lids...we use it as the bin and save spare carriers in there to line it.
Our van came complete with chemical toilet but we have taken it out...the space is much better used by food and wine, in my experience!

[noonar]

thanks, peaseholme. we are going to hayling island. 4 families are going together so i'm hoping there'll be more organised than us!

[noonar]

is it much warmer in a camper van than a tent at night? am thinking summer duvets or sleeping bags for the dds...

[filthymindedvixen]

not aqxtually warmewr, just gives that illusion. Duvets are nice and you have space for them Take hot water bottle as it is so much easier to heat up water. Babywipes are also bloosy useful. We had box with plates, chiopping board, cutlery, cups , washing up liquid, kitchen roll etc in which stayed in van at all times.

I miss our van so much.

[noonar]

thanks filthy. think their duvets might not be warm enough. am getting together a box of things to stay in the van. space seems v limited tho, as there is no boot when the bed is out. what to do with all the stuff?!

[Surfermum]

Oh cool! Dh converts vans into campers and luckily there is one ready for us to use for our fortnight's holiday in Cornwall next week. We're not sleeping in it this time, but will use it for day trips.

We're going to put in one of those picnic rucksacks with plates, cups, cutlery, BOTTLE OPENER, plus things already mentioned.

[filthymindedvixen]

we have a bongo now and I am seriously suffering from lack of permanent storage space...

Is it at all possible for you to take a small awning to fee up space in van at nighttime? We have a mahoosive awning - it make such a difference!

[filthymindedvixen]

free not fee...

[noonar]

surfermum, do you find it too cramped sleeping in the van then?

filthy, i dont really get how the awnings work. will have to google..

[Surfermum]

To be honest, it's a new business and we haven't yet tried sleeping in a van! And the one we have only sleeps 2. But we also tend to take a lot of clobber when we go away.

[filthymindedvixen]

ok, they kind of clamp (or suction) onto the gutter-rail whiuch runs along the side door.

We have a venice easy camp which also has a sleeping compartment so boys used to sleep in van and we splept in awning.

[noonar]

well, we're going for 3 nights only this time, so will see how we go. will investigate getting an awning for longer trips.

have just looked at a few awning pics. they do seem to completely obscure the camper, which is a shame. my neighbour has one and said it makes the van v dark.

[noonar]

thats a good description filthy. maybe i need to look into it more.