Bought a campervan! Best purchases and things you can't live without?

[Faircastle]

No actual reason to start this thread, I'm just excited and wanted to share.

DH and I rented a campervan in the February half term and enjoyed the experience (despite the weather).

We've now bought a 2020 VW transporter 6.1 which has been converted into a campervan.
We are driving her to the camping & caravanning show today to look at awnings and accessories.

I want to only carry what we need, but also do want to be reasonably comfortable. We are both experienced campers.

First proper trip booked for the Easter holidays.

Do you have any tips, best purchases, or things you couldn't live without?

I had a free standing tunnel tent as an ‘awning’ for my camper. Was massive and meant loads of elbow room for cooking and we were always the hub for entertaining if camping in a group. Also could drive away and leave the tent.

Once woke up to find a friend arriving late had pitched their pop up tent inside our awning!

Otherwise I’d recommend keeping your van stocked with an overnight bag, tea making kit and instant noodles/breakfast biscuits as the freedom to be spontaneous is the best bit! I am much more likely to go on a hike or day trip in all weathers if there’s a hot drink and change of clothes guaranteed.

We bought a Vango drive away awning for our VW campervan. It was second hand though. It's been great. Join Dubbed Out VW community on Facebook. You won't look back.

My top tip is not to buy too much! We have a VW Ocean (no kitchen) and one of our joys is arriving at a site, popping the roof and opening the beers. It's lovely. Various friends have complicated set ups with extra tents, awnings, outdoor kitchens etc and it takes them forever to set up. This can really rake the edge off if you're just going somewhere for the weekend.
So buy carefully!

Thank you for the replies and tips.

We managed not to buy too much at the NEC today: an awning and a thermal windscreen cover.

I have a VW beach (no kitchen) but my Best Buys have been the camping fridge to keep my beers cold, my camping gas stove, veber portable bbq and vango drive away awning (2nd hand) we’ve had our van for 5 years and pre-Covid have been all over Europe in it and lately the UK. Longest trip we’ve done is 3 weeks so you need an awning (imo) when there’s 4 of you (and dog)

I love my home comforts, so there’s a bit of packing and organising involved but we’ve got it down to a fine art now and its just the best holiday. Enjoy op!

Levelling ramps: do I really need these? They would take up a lot of space. We will be staying on campsites, not wild/stealth camping.

Yes you will need levelling ramps or you’ll find yourself sliding off the beds verrrry gradually

Another reason for ramps is that the fridge may not work if it's not level

We've a small motorhome rather than a camper, but some things are the same for both.

Levelling ramps are generally essential (you only need a pair, get a set of simple 'wedge' type ones rather than the bulky quatros). Very few campsite pitches are level. Wild/stealth camping are the occasions you're least likely to use them (because you're trying to be discreet).

External screen covers are very useful - keeping the heat in for winter and the sun out in summer.

A top tip rather than a thing, but try and find a way of charging as many of your devices as possible via either USB or 12V. With a bit of research you can find a solution for most devices - phones, cameras, tablets, laptops, etc. The fewer mains voltage things you have, the better - the ideal number is none. I try and charge up devices during the day when the solar panels are generating, so we start the evening with full batteries on anything we're going to be using.

Check you recovery covers the camper
Leveling ramps
Medicines
Money just incase
Only take the bare minimum we all take too much stuff, personally I cant be bothered with an awning as its another thing to set up and pack away. Most of the stuff on sale is of limited value and is just designed to part you with your money but has little practical use.

@DogInATent please can you share a link to the levelling ramps you mean? The only ones I've seen are the Fiamma type ones which are huge. The van has all-terrain type tyres (24cm wide).

Exciting times!

If you intend to cook then a Ridgemonkey pan is really useful. There are 3 different ones. They are most famous for making toasties in, but you can do all sorts with them. Make sure you get a newer model with the detachable handles for easier storage.

There are a lot of amazing campervan groups on Facebook, but I'd really recommend the Women with Campervans group and Campervans Overnight Parking. Instagram is also worth a visit for inspiration using hashtags like #vanlife #campervan. Searching for vans like yours on there will also bring up some useful info. Same with Pinterest.

If you have a carpeted ceiling then upholstery twist pins are amazing for attaching things to it.

Build up what you need slowly. I went through a phase of buying every gadget going. I emptied everything out last winter and only half of it is going back in.

I'd also recommend an awning. Invaluable extra space if it's chucking it down.

I agree to keeping a basic level of food/ clothes in there so you can set off with very little prep.

We love our camper. The trick is to make sure it's permanently stocked with your basic essentials (including things like tea bags, herbs, oil for cooking etc), so when you go away you only need to stick clothes and food in. That way you will use it more for spur of the moment trips.

We recently bought a mokka pot for ours - love sitting in the camper having a morning espresso made on the stove!

One of those little sock dryer hanger things is also super useful. And hooks - lots of hooks.

@Orangesarenottheonlyfruit

My top tip is not to buy too much! We have a VW Ocean (no kitchen) and one of our joys is arriving at a site, popping the roof and opening the beers. It's lovely. Various friends have complicated set ups with extra tents, awnings, outdoor kitchens etc and it takes them forever to set up. This can really rake the edge off if you're just going somewhere for the weekend. So buy carefully!

Agree with this. We have a very simple set up and no awning, and I love the ease of it.

[quote Faircastle]@DogInATent please can you share a link to the levelling ramps you mean? The only ones I've seen are the Fiamma type ones which are huge. The van has all-terrain type tyres (24cm wide).[/quote]
This style:
shop.caravanclub.co.uk/product/1990155/fiamma-magnum-level-levelling-ramps-pair

By all means see how you get on without them. But 80% of pitches we've had so far were not level enough to be comfortable without them.

Another tip, which might seem contradictory. Don't obsess about weight - life's too short to eat off melamine crockery - but know you're weight. Don't trust what the book/manual says. Get the van kitted out, and go get an accurate on-the-road weight from a public weighbridge.

We have a VW California, we had 2 types of awning, we went all out and bought the Vango air beam and used it twice, nightmare to put up and put away, also heavy. Our favourite awning is the one where the sides attach to the roll out awning creating a little room (not to sleep in). A large rubber type mat (like the matting from a play park, this can be stored flat in the boot, but with a doormat on top keeps the inside of the van cleaner. Hooks I bought butcher type hooks to create hanging where ever you need. If I think of anything else I will pop back, enjoy your camper, we’ve had 6 great years with our DC but sadly they’ve grown, and we’re thinking of selling☹️

Also remember whatever you take has to be put back in so try to minimise, also don’t stress too much about getting it right, where stuff goes etc, after half a dozen trips you will get it sussed. Yes to levelling blocks, the slightest incline will affect your sleep, we didn’t have at first but quickly purchased them!

We've had our camper since 2017 and have never bothered to buy levelling blocks. We've camped all over the UK and EU, both in and out of campsites, and have never failed to find a level enough pitch to be comfortable.

Duvalay matress topper - here

One of these hanging storage things for the drivers seat, we always try and put important bits like phones and keys in the same place every time so we always know where they are - it’s amazing how many nooks and crannies the van key might have been put down in resulting in a panicked search when you can’t immediately find it! we have this one

Cadac safari chef, because cooking a big fry up in your van makes it stink for days. Cadac

Headrest hooks for hanging coats, bags, etc.

Levelling blocks. We’ve needed them 95% of the time.

Other than that I agree with travelling light, we’re quite minimal, we get on site, swivel the front seats, pop the roof, open the wine, and we are done!

Work out how you like to use the camper
(Which will probably end up being a series of uses)

Long camping sessions in one spot
Long travelling sessions
A weekend
Impulsive trips
A day out

For a basic day out you have a refuge in which you can make comfortable seating & the ability to cook

For shorter trips you want an easy setup that gives you somewhere to sit, cook, eat and sleep - all with ease & comfortably

For long trips in one spot it can be worth the effort to set everything up, spread out and have ‘maximum’ comfort - ideally beds that don’t need to be packed and set up again to get use of the space in the day

From these you can build your facilities that you will actually use.
If you can stow everything without have to search past everything else to get one item then you can leave it loaded and also don’t have to unload to sit
If you aren’t able to stow it all but are taking extra for setting up outdoor seating that’s fine, but if you arrive in the dark in a rainy night then you’re stuck unloading when you could be sat inside dry

A ‘custom’ fitted awning gives a neat finish and no gap from the door, but a gazebo, stand-alone awning tent can be put up independently.

‘Extras’ such as a shower tent, toilet etc give you flexibility (though you have to deal with it afterwards)
When on a site with facilities you can use theirs, but in the middle of the night might like the convenience of a basic toilet with cat litter (preferably out in a mini tent)

You can use ‘camping’ cutlery etc, but a cheap set of cutlery feels better to use

A Brit Stop book which lets you stay overnight at pubs and other places around the country.
A silver water purifier that goes in the water tank to keep the water fresh.

Oh and have fun exploring. Membership to English Heritage, CADW, National Trust etc will help you get the most out of your travels

Our best buys have been :
Collapsible washing up bowl , preferably with a handle ..and collapsible pans , weve also just bought a collapsable kettle .
Cutlery roll ..
(Always use campsite washing up facilities not your van sink. )
Cadac
Elastic bungee washing lines
2 stackable Storage boxes with lids for things like shoes wellies, coats ..

Folding Electric bikes

This is the bowl Quite simply indepensible