How to Prepare for Your Next Campervan Trip

RV, motorhome, campervan or caravan? This kind of vehicle is very fashionable! To ensure your first family campervan road trip goes well, this article will offer some practical advice. Because this kind of expedition should not be taken lightly.

Whether you have your vehicle or you rent one, it is best to be prepared for this adventure in advance. Winging it can be fun, but you should take all the necessary measures to avoid inconvenience when you are on the road.

Discover our 5 Tips for Preparing for Your Campervan Trip

1. What to take on your campervan trip

When you prepare for your campervan trip, you must make a list of essential things to take with you. You will need equipment to sleep, drink, and eat, but also to relax. Remember to take your clothes according to the season as well as the necessary documents for you, your companions, and even your vehicle. Do not forget to make some checks on your vehicle before departure: gas, water, electricity, and fuel.

Another important point regarding packing is carrying the right documents. You have to ensure that you are carrying all the papers you need for the trip. These documents will include but not be limited to your driving license, Passport(for international travels), both campervan and health insurance papers, etc

Here are a few essentials that will come in handy on your campervan trip:

• A pocket knife. Also take a kitchen knife.
• A lighter. Consider taking a stove lighter as well. These have a longer neck which can help you light campfires/firepits.
• A flashlight and emergency glow sticks, in case you run out of batteries.
• Bug spray.
• Sunscreen.
• Castile soap or an antibacterial handwash.
• A compass. Even with car GPS and smartphones, nothing can beat the classic compass in times of trouble.
• A first aid kit. Make sure it also has all emergency medication like paracetamol, antihistamines, inhaler, etc.
• An extra blanket as you never know how cold it might get.
• A thermal flask.
• Rubbing alcohol and a sanitizer spray.
• Lip balm and moisturizer. These are essentials for cold weather.
• Canned food or dry food. Having extra food is always a necessity.
• Hot packs.
• Smartphone necessities like charger, USB cable, power bank, earphones(and their charger if applicable), etc.
• Flares. You never know when and where you might need help and flares can help you get attention.
• Batteries.
• Electrolyte drinks or powders.

👉 Our tip: Do not worry if you forget something; you can find it on the route or ask a traveler campervan neighbor. Always carry a spare set of keys as finding a car locksmith on the road can be difficult!

2. Prepare or improvise your campervan itinerary

Prepare or improvise? This is a big topic of debate among campervan travelers: Should you plan every step in advance or just go where the wind takes you? It all depends. This is first of all a personal choice. However, if it is your first adventure and you do not want to miss anything on the road, a little bit of planning will not go to waste! You can also use tools that will make your travel life easier: GPS (Waze, Google Maps), radars (Coyote), WC (Flush)…

Remember that the more you research about your possible destination, the more you can get out of your trip. Knowledge about the area will ensure that you don’t miss out on the sights and the specialities of a specific place.

So, whether you want to be spontaneous or want to plan the entire trip, a little research will help you figure out both. Even if you want to visit some places on a whim, you have to know they exist in the first place to actually go there. So, one simply cannot emphasize enough on the importance of road trip research!

👉 Our tip: there are a lot of websites, blogs, and mobile applications that can help you to prepare or improvise your next campervan trip.

3. Which destination to choose for your next campervan trip

Whether in winter, autumn, or spring, going on a campervan trip promises you great discoveries and surprises! You can bring your skis and hit the slopes, take a breath of fresh air in the countryside, or even enjoy the seaside in peace. Each season has its pros and cons; it is up to you! Whether you choose to visit your own country or go abroad to discover new cultures and traditions, each place has its treasures and secrets.

Remember that the essentials you need will depend heavily on the climate of the place you go. For example, if you are going somewhere cold, you will need protective clothing, thermal flasks and other winter necessities. If you go somewhere hot, you will need protection from the sun and humidity. Things you might need can include raincoats, umbrellas, sunscreen, etc.

👉 Our tip: for the lazy travelers and for those who have no destination idea.

4. Where and how to park in your next campervan trip

Before going on a campervan adventure, it is better to anticipate the day and night stops of your next destination. To avoid any problems on the road, we recommend you prepare your itinerary in advance. In this way, you can have a list of all the good locations for motorhome, caravan, or van. Check out caramaps.com for all the necessary information on motorhome travel.

Today, there are a lot of options for parking too. So you can pick them depending on your desires and budget.

👉 Our tip: if you want, you can always have good campervan places at your fingertips, so no more worries.

5. Safety measures and making sure your campervan is mechanically ready for the trip

Before you go off on your trip, ensure that your campervan is functioning well. Check the tires and see if the tire pressure is right. Check the headlights and breaklights, if any is malfunctioning get it fixed or replaced. Thoroughly check the brake and gear, change oils if you need to.

Make sure all the filters are clean, especially the AC filters. Check the ignition and make sure every connection is on point. A poor functioning van will ruin the trip.

If it breaks down mid journey, you might have trouble finding mechanics, or worse, get stranded in the middle of nowhere. So, make sure your campervan is well maintained and functioning well.

👉 Our tip: Get your campervan thoroughly checked by a professional. An experienced mechanic will know what tests to run to make sure your van is running properly. By visiting a mechanic, you can avoid any accidents, breakdowns, etc, while on the trip.

If you want more ideas about how to prepare for your next campervan trip, just have a look at this blog post about the perfect campervan trip on nationalgeographic.com.

To Sum Up

These tips can ensure that you get through the trip without facing severe problems. Also, you can check out a few online sites that will help you select and compare your requirements. If you have some experienced tips of your own, do not hesitate to share, as your tips can help others make the most of their roadtrip. We hope now you can prepare for your next campervan trip without any problem.