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Campervan Essentials

Your Guide to Campervan Essentials and Accessories

Whether you're gearing up for your first road trip or looking to upgrade your setup, having the right campervan essentials is a must. From practical tools to Van Life accessories, the right gear can transform your experience on the road. In this guide, we’ve created a list of the best essential items for campervans, along with some must-have campervan accessories that we love and use while living full time in our van.

Why Do You Need the Right Campervan Essentials?

Packing for van life is more complicated than just throwing your belongings into your vehicle… I mean they won’t all fit! You need to ensure you have everything you need for cooking, sleeping, staying organised, and handling emergencies on the road. By investing in high-quality campervan accessories like kitchen gadgets, tiny home storage solutions, and solar-powered devices, you’ll maximise space, comfort, and convenience during your travels.

What Makes These Campervan Accessories a Must-Have?

Whether you're driving a compact camper or a fully kitted-out Sprinter campervan, choosing versatile and durable items is key. We’ve included a mix of universal campervan essentials and specialised accessories for campervans to suit all types of travellers.

 

Living in a van is extremely exciting and gives you freedom like no other lifestyle, however the space is small so anything you decide to take with you needs to earn its place. Here we share our top campervan essentials, adventure gadgets and other items we take with us in our van. 

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Explore campervan kitchenware, bathroom must-haves and little extras that make our van feel like home. We also share what we pack to make sure we are safe while taking our home on adventures around the UK and mainland Europe.

 

Below we share our essentials list which comprises of our top campervan accessories, Happy Shopping!

ESSENTIALS

5G Motorhome Wifi

5G Motorhome Wifi

Antenna and SIM

A cheaper alternative to Starlink which is great if you don't rely on fast connection.

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black 3 hob gas stove, oven and grill

Thetford Hob and Oven

12v Hob, Oven and Grill Cooker

Having an oven in a van is a luxury and one we loved. The smell of fresh bread is unbeaten

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Yellow window cover on van

Window Covers

Insulated, Blackout Blinds

Home made window covers which are perfect for any build. Follow the link and find out how to make your own.

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Nomad Wifi

Starlink

Satellite Dish and Router

Starlink is a game changer. We could connect anywhere which made nomadic life a lot easier.

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Hose

Extendible Hose

Small, Compact Hose

An extendible hose is useful when you can't get close to fill up taps.

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solar trickle charger

Solar Trickle Charger

Electrical

A must have for any van build. This will keep your vans batteries charged when you're not driving it as much as you should!

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yellow window hoover

Karcher Window Vac

Condensation Hoover

Helps clear inevitable condensation inside your van quickly and efficiently. We use it everyday in the van!

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Bug Screen

Bug Screen

Side Door and Back Door Screen

In hot climates keeping out bugs can get annoying so this magnetic bug screen works a treat. (Rear and Side Door)

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Electric Charging Cable

Electric Charging Cable

To Plug Into Shore Power

If you need to charge your van at campsites or with shore power then you need a charging cable.

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silver fridge

Isotherm Cruise Fridge 85L

85L 12v Compressor Fridge

85L is a great size for a van build. This one was large enough for us to keep a weeks worth of food, plus it has a small freezer.

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Lagun Swivel Mount

Lagun Swivel Mount

Mount for a Table

If you need a table that can freely move the Lagun Swivel mount is lightweight and durable.

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silver Leatherman multi-tool with tools pulled out

Leatherman Multi-Tool

Leatherman Wave+

Our Leatherman fixes pretty much anything broken in the van plus we use it for camping.

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KITCHEN

three tubes for filtering water

Water Filter

3 Stage Water Filter System

Filter water from your fresh tank for safe drinking water.

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Grey Waste Cleaner

Grey Waste Cleaner

Cleaning

Cleaning waste water tanks is super important, we use this cleaner from Thetford.

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nesting pots and pans with detachable handle

Nesting Pots and Pans

With Removable Handle

We didn't take all the pans from this set as they are heavy, however they nest nicely and are durable.

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Yeti Mug

Yeti Mug

Insulated Travel Mug

A Van Life staple.

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blue speckled enamel plates

Plates and Bowls

Enamel Tableware

These are the most beautiful plates and bonus they won't smash as they are made of enamel

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Omina Oven

Omina Oven

Portable Oven For a Gas Stove

If you don't have an oven in your van you can always use an omnia.

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black dustpan with wooden brush

Metal Dustpan and Brush

Cleaning

This a must for Van Life. We are always sweeping the van, plus this is plastic free!

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SLEEPING

Panda Mattress topper

Panda Mattress Topper

Lightweight Mattress

We don't have a fixed bed so we put this topper over our sofa cushions to create a comfy bed at night.

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Cab Curtain

Cab Curtain

Insulated, Blackout Curtain

We opted for a insulated, blackout curtain held up by hooks to separate our cab and it works perfectly.

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Cab Curtain Hooks

Cab Curtain Hooks

Hooks For Cab Curtain

Not only did these hold up our curtain they acted as extra storage for coats and bags.

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ADVENTURE

water shoes with toggle

Wet Shoes

Lightweight Water Shoes

Great for wild swims, beaches and kayaking. They have a proper sole and stay tight to your feet.

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silver hiking pots with a detachable handle

Hiking Pots and Pans

1.3L Aluminium Camping Set

These are incredibly lightweight!. They come with a detachable handle so they can nest and we've even used them inside our van.

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two trekking poles and case

Trekology Hiking Poles

Carbon Fibre Poles

These will save your knees when hiking down a mountain!

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blue dry bag and waterproof phone case

Ultra Dry Bag

10L Waterproof Bag

10L dry bag with a roll top and buckle. It also comes with a waterproof phone case.

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Head Torch

Head Torch

Portable, Chargeable light

Great in case of power cuts or when it gets dark outside the van.

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Portable BBQ

Portable BBQ

Outdoor Cooking

Cooking and eating outdoors is what Van Life is about so why not get a portable BBQ.

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Leatherman Signal

Leatherman Signal

Camping Multi-Tool

A lighter weight camping multi-tool with functions designed for through hiking.

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large backpack

Osprey Fairview Bag

Women's Backpack

The female version for our Osprey backpacks. They open as a chest plus have detachable daypacks.

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Fire Starter

Fire Starter

Adventure Gear

Enjoy bonfires with friends or a campfire with this fire starter tool.

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Bit Extender

Bit Extender

Leatherman Accessory

Transforms a Leatherman into a full screwdriver which is super handy when there's not much space for tools.

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large backpack

Osprey Farpoint Bag

Men's Backpack

The male version for our Osprey backpacks. They open as a chest plus have detachable daypacks.

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speaker

Tribit Bluetooth Speaker

Portable and Splash Proof

Small and loud Bluetooth speaker with a strap to attach it to bikes, bags or kayaks.

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BATHROOM

white composting toilet

Simploo Toilet

Composting Toilet

Simploo is a great budget composting toilet option. They have a variety of sizes to suit your van!

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bathroom door that slides across

ROLdoûr

Retractable Shower Door

This shower door is useful for privacy in the van and it squeezes all the water off as we close it.

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silver toilet roll with suction cup

Suction Toilet Roll

Suction Cup Holder

We have this one in black and it's never fallen off the wall, even on the bumpiest roads.

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Scrubba

Scrubba

Hand Clothes Washing Bag

If you need to hand wash some clothes effectively then this little bag does the job!

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ORGANISATION

Extendible Rail

Extendible Rail

Extra Storage

Hanging space is precious in a van and this give us loads of extra room.

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Round Cupboard Handles

Round Cupboard Handles

Van Décor

We used these round door handles for cupboards in the van.

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Black rubber matting

Rubber Matting

Stops Rattles

This stuff is amazing! It will stop cutlery, pots and pans and anything else moving around in draw while driving.

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Black Overhead Handles

Black Overhead Handles

Cabinet Handles

These are great for overhead cabinets.

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Soap Dispenser

Soap Dispenser

350ML Dispenser

This is a great way to prevent soap spilling and gives you extra space in your cupboard.

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TECHNOLOGY

drone and drone controller

Dji Drone

Camera Equipment

A lightweight drone (249g) that films in 4k video. Who doesn't want to capture the perfect park up.

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battery pack

Battery Pack

Portable Charger

An essential for travel days when keeping your phone charged is super important.

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Laptop Stand

Laptop Stand

Office Set Up

While working in the van a laptop stand acts as a second office set up on our dining table.

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Small projector

Kodak Luma 150 Projector

Pocket Projector

A portable projector is a must for Van Life. Cosy up in the van to watch a film on a rainy day or project outside in the summer.

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mini polaroid printer

Instax Mini Printer

Portable Photo Printer

We use this to print our most special memories from our van trips. We hang them in the van as souvenirs of out time travelling.

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Office Screen

Office Screen

Work Set Up

If you're working from a van a big screen is a must.

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Hard Shell projector case

Kodak Projector Case

Projector Case

Hard shell projector case for a Kodak 150.

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film box

Instax Mini Printer Film

Film

Film for your printer. I love the polaroid look and style!

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Bracket For Screen

Bracket For Screen

Work Set Up

To hold up our office screen we used this moveable bracket.

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Go pro with screen on the front

Go Pro Hero

Waterproof Action Camera

The perfect action camera for any adventure from or with your van.

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Two USB chargers for a cigarette lighter in a car

12v Cigarette Charger

USB Chargers

This fits perfectly in a Sprinter and allows us to charger gadgets and phones while we drive.

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SAFETY

Hi-Vis jacket
Hi-Vis Jacket

Breakdown Essential

Every person needs one in the vehicle. Don't do what I did and select 2 thinking i'd get 2. That was the hi-vis rating!

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Key Lock box
Key Lock box

Van safety

We are ex-DHl and our doors automatically lock so for us this is a must-have.

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Van Tracker
Van Tracker

Van Security

For security reasons a tracker is always a good idea.

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Europe Driving Pack
Europe Driving Pack

Breakdown Essential

All the things you need to drive in Europe

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Window Film
Window Film

Van safety

To protect the weak spots of your van we recommend this window film.

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Warning Triangle
Warning Triangle

Breakdown Essential

Unfortunatley we have had to use this during a breakdown on a corner. You also need one to drive in many European Countries.

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First Aid Kit
First Aid Kit

Personal Safety

This is always something you should keep in your van in case of accidents.

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Laptop safe
Laptop safe

Van safety

A place to keep valuables when you may not be in you van.

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Fire extinguisher
Fire extinguisher

Personal Safety

It goes without saying you need these. These are the smallest we could find.

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