Taking a campervan holiday is the perfect way to get close to nature and still be able to enjoy some of the usual creature comforts of home. You get to enjoy the laid back and adventurous atmosphere you might experience at a campsite, but you get to do it with a roof over your head and a proper bed to sleep in.
Whether you are hiring one for a road trip or the proud owner of a campervan yourself, heading out on an adventure where you get to travel around the countryside without having to rough it too much is any adventurer’s idea of the perfect holiday.
A bit of planning before a trip will go a long way in making sure you have the best time possible so we have put together a few tips to help you get your campervan ready before you take it out on your next big adventure.
Service and maintain your campervan
Whether you have hired it or own the campervan make sure that it is in sound mechanical condition and has been regularly serviced as you do not want to find yourself broken down due to avoidable mechanical failure on your road trip.
Go through all the routine checks such as making sure that the spare tyre is pumped up, tyre jack and spanners are present, and the windscreen wipers are working. At least one person on the trip needs to know how to change a tyre should the need arise otherwise you may end up waiting for help for a while if something happens on a long stretch of road out in the middle of nowhere.
Drive carefully to avoid any accidents and ensure that you have comprehensive car insurance that will cover you in the event something unforeseen happens out on the road.
Plot your trip
When you are planning your route remember that even though you have a campervan and can essentially park off anywhere, there are usually rules as to where you can pull over for the night.
More often than not you will have to stay in a campsite designated for campervans but do not think that this will limit your freedom on your trip. Rather it will give you the chance to make friends with other like-minded travellers who are staying over at the campsite.
If you are road tripping during the holiday season campsites can often be very busy or even fully booked so try to make reservations ahead of your trip so that you have somewhere to stay.
Fill your campervan with all the usual camping essentials
Your campervan may not yet be stocked with everything you need to make your trip as comfortable as possible. Draw up a list to check and see that you have essential items such as cutlery and crockery for the kitchen, bedding and towels, as well as chairs and ground sheets for outside that you would ordinarily take camping.
The joy of having a campervan means you can stow all of these items in it permanently and not have to take them out of your home every time you want to spend a weekend away.
If you are hiring a campervan for a few days to take your trip, then ask the company you are hiring it from for their packing list and add your own equipment to it where needed.
Pack smart
You have the space that a campervan has to offer and do not necessarily need to pack all of the usual bulky camping equipment such as a tent or blow up mattress that you would ordinarily take with for a camping weekend away.
Take advantage of the extra space that you have and use every nook and cranny to pack well. Store items such as food, chairs, and your camping table underneath the bed and pack whatever you can into the cupboards available in the campervan. Not only will you have more space but it will feel less cluttered if you do not have to dig out things piled into the boot of your car.
Perhaps the most important thing to fit into your campervan and take with on a trip is a good travel partner. You are going to be in close confines over your trip though so prepare your space well and enjoy the adventure.
by Megan Firth