What do you keep permanently stocked in a campervan for weekends?

[FrenchandSaunders]

Just bought our second campervan ... had one when the kids were young and we all loved it. Outgrew it and sold it.

Kids have left home and a similar van came up for sale locally and we bought it on a whim, but I've fallen in love with it. They're taking it to a festival soon, and me and DH have booked a weekend away, so it looks like we're all going to make good use of her.

My question, what do you leave in the van all the time ... so you can just pack a small bag and head off with little fuss if the weather is good. I'm a bit concerned that it's so hot at the moment than any tins etc would be too hot in there or am I overthinking? Toiletries, kitchen stuff all that is ok to leave ... presumably not over winter though?

I leave plates, bowls, cups, glasses...all melamine.

Kettle, frying/saucepans, cutlery, can opener, scissors, wine/bottle opener, matches.

Kitchen foil, paper towel, loo roll, broom, dustpan and brush, a few bin liners, small ones for rubbish black sacks for dirty clothes.
I decant washing up liquid and cleaning fluid into those small travel bottles and leave those in there.

Toilet cleaning fluid and a small box for keeping the few pairs of shoes we use tidy in one place.

I normally add, sharp knifes, a few cooking utensils, dishwasher sponge/cloth and tea towels at time of packing up.

That's great, thank you.

I kept towels, toothpaste, soap, shower gel shampoo toilet rolls etc in shower room of my caravan, toilet chemicals in front locker,
Washing up liquid, kitchen cleaner, tea towels, dish cloths, foil etc in kitchen drawer, tea, coffee, sugar in airtight containers, olive oil, table sauces, salt, pepper, vinegar in top cupboard. Because we were on a seasonal pitch we kept clothes in wardrobes & only transported what had gone home to be washed or at change of seasons, we had a box with wellies, boots etc that lived in the awning.

Everything the other 2 posters mentioned and I do have cans of food, dried pasta, rice.
Table salt goes damp very quickly so I use a grinder

A small amount of rice grains added to the salt stops it from going damp and clumping.

I always do this even at home.

Motorhome here and we never go anywhere at weekends (places are too busy).😆

Practically everything apart from fresh or perishable food is left in it at all times as we use the MoHo all year.
Tins, packets, tea, coffee, spreads (jars), bottles etc. All bedding, clothes, toiletries (including duplicate electric toothbrushes) electrical items, books etc
Basically the MoHo holds a duplicate set off everything so there is no need to take anything out (apart from aforementioned fresh and medication) prior to leaving.

Another one who has everything bar:

• perishable food. I do keep a stock of dried, tins and pre-packaged bits and bobs in there.
• my duvet and pillows, but I do have spare duvet cover, sheet, pillow cases and a blanket in there permanently.
• my toiletries, although I do have a wee bag of toothbrush & paste, shower gel and deoderant, plus some painkillers and antihistimines in there.
• Clothes, but I tend to fling in three bags quickly - one is shoes/boots in Ikea bag, one is waterproofs and hats (always in or next to my rucksack, so pop them in there) and one is a proper bag of clothes.

A few things I do to help:

• I cook and freeze an extra portion in plastic tubs I know fit in the campervan fridge.
• I bought extra charging cable, rechargeable head torch etc for the van.
• I keep the cleaning kit in there permanently as well.

I can arrive home without packing and be leaving in about 30 mins, with usually one supermarket stop to top up on things like milk (big bottle at home does not fit campervan fridge), salad etc if I do not have them in the fridge.

The one warning on keeping things in the van is that as a Scottish dweller, the freezing winter nights can destroy lots so all the cleaning kit, spare food etc is stored in easy to reach baskets, which I pull indoors between about November and March to stop them freezing overnight. Ever seen what -10 for three nights does to a tin of beans?

I forgot - I also have a box of bike tools, pump, spare inner tube etc in the boot alongside my kite...but then I ride bikes and love pulling the kite out on a good beach...

@outdooryone

Although we have electric in our van and keep it plugged in on low all year round last year I started putting in a few of those dehumidifier bags/tubs that you can buy.

I'm really surprised by how quickly they fill up, obviously more so in the winter.

Use ours year round so it’s always ready to go apart from fridge stuff & quick weather check to see if need any other clothes to what’s in there. On return home we always clean it & top stuff up as needed so it’s ready for next time . Love it!

The only thing I add when going away is food and drinks, clothes and shoes.

Everything else stays in there.

I do seem to have a wine fairy that pinches all of the wine though!

Wine

I must have a really dry van as I have never had to use a dehumidifier or similar....
(VW T5.1 but with fixed high roof, no the usual pop top). I do also drive it a few times a week which will help.

I have the same, but whisky. Perhaps they change as you cross the border...

Long life milk!

We keep more or less everything in there, just add fresh food, whatever extra clothes suit the activity expected - festival/party/wild swimming.
Cat litter for overnight wees!
Also pack quick bits like toothbrush/dog treats/water bowl etc.
Getting it down to like 30 minutes prep/pack now, as more and more duplicates live in the van……