Caravanning is one of my favorite forms of travel. I will never forget when we did the ‘big lap’ of Australia in our ‘pop-up’ campervan – we often commented about how we never wanted the adventure to end. I loved how, after a day exploring the outback, we would set up our cosy home-away-from-home and have everything we needed. I never took those luxuries for granted (especially my coffee machine in the middle of the desert), and typing this from my home office makes me long for that trip…I’m sure you know the feeling!
Here are my basic caravan packing hacks for your next break…
1. LISTS and more lists
We have our trusty list on the wall of our back shed that we use every time we head away with our pop-up. We add to it whenever we come up with a new idea to make our adventures even more enjoyable.
2. Have a set of everything for your caravan, so only food and clothes need packing each time
This applies to kitchen utensils and equipment, cleaning supplies, bedding, towels, a first aid kit, games, and camping furniture/equipment. Remember to clean it all when you get back from each trip so it is waiting and ready to go on your next one.
3. Keep a full set of toiletries stored in the van
Never run out of anything on the road, including toilet paper!
4. Have a dirty clothes bag that can go from van to house or van to laundromat
It always makes caravanning trips that much easier when clean clothes are separated from dirty clothes.
5. Always ensure the van is thoroughly cleaned upon your return and ready to go for the next trip
The last thing you want to do is spend a day cleaning your van when you are trying to go away on holiday.
6. Take all of your herbs and spices in little Tic Tac containers
They take up much less room than regular spice jars, and you can keep them in the caravan for future trips.
7. Buy a hanging shoe rack
Use it in your van for storing all kinds of things, such as cleaning rags, barbecue tools, sauces, bug spray, etc.
8. Pack baking paper
Use it on the camp stove and barbecue to ensure cleaning up is a breeze.
9. Finally, here are some tips to ensure your caravan holiday is a successful one each time:
- Keep a well-equipped tool box, including a mallet, screwdrivers, spanners, fuses, etc.
- Keep a good quality hose bag for sullage and a drinking water hose.
- Always have citronella burners or candles on hand.
- Have cleaning cloths available to clean dirty gear, such as hoses, before packing.
- Ensure your fridge is stored with the door locked in the open position to allow air in and to stop mould between trips.
- Carry LED head torches for setting up camp in the dark.
- Carry two small walkie talkies, which are great to assist with reversing the van into a tight spot.
Elaine Beveridge says
January 30, 2016 at 10:22 amAny tips you haven’t heard Greg Herbert ?
Greg Herbert says
January 30, 2016 at 10:18 pmGot most of them covered. We don’t take herbs and spices so no need for tictacs!
Dianne Kaye Trimper says
January 31, 2016 at 3:12 amWhere are you off to for Easter Greg – or is it too close to baby time! This is a great post!!
Greg Herbert says
January 31, 2016 at 7:00 amToo close – finished with the van until after baby arrives.
Steve Mason says
January 30, 2016 at 10:38 amSoon to buy a caravan for Jade. An old one for her to design and me to help her renovate.
These tips are golden.
Thanks
Places We Go says
January 31, 2016 at 8:55 amYou are welcome
Steve!! Love it out on the road it’s just the best – Jen ??
Steve Mason says
January 31, 2016 at 9:08 amGenuinely some great ideas here I wouldn’t have considered.
Can’t wait. This time next year, open road!!
Deb says
February 6, 2016 at 3:38 pmGreat Tips! Thank you. Here are a couple have picked up along the way.
1. Always have a packet of fly-wire repairer. Small pieces of adhesive fly-wire, easily attached with a hair dryer to any small tear or split. Available from hardware stores
2. Spare cupboard door handle. Nothing worse than weeks of have a cupboard door catch broken and contents \’flying\’ out each time you travel, or loosing
Emma De Fry says
February 16, 2016 at 5:21 amGreat tips Deb! We didn’t think of those 🙂
Louise says
February 21, 2016 at 4:22 pmWe are new to travel after just retiring 6 months ago. Not sure where to head for first. Any ideas on a short trip first?
Lillian Schaeffer says
April 2, 2016 at 8:49 amThese are some great tips, and I appreciate your advice to create a packing list to make your caravan trip easier. My husband and I recently purchased a caravan, and we want to take our family on a trip this summer. I want to make sure we have everything we need, so we’ll definitely compile a packing list that we can use in the future as well. Thanks for the great post!
Jasmine Milne says
July 28, 2016 at 2:58 pmDear Jen & Clint, Congratulations and welcome to your new baby boy … how wonderful! We watch plenty of travel shows – we are very part-time caravanners (sadly still working FT!). We enjoy Places We Go more than ANY of the other travel shows … we can feel Jen and Clint’s passion for the ‘Places you go to’.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Kind Regards
Jasmine
Lock N Store says
July 19, 2018 at 11:59 amHi, thanks for this amazing post! My parents recently purchased a caravan, and we want to take our family on a trip this summer. I want to make sure we have everything we need, so we’ll definitely compile a packing list that we can use in the future as well. Thanks for sharing this, it has been a great help!