Serious question for the seasoned motorhomers 👀

[Moped]

A screwdriver appropriate for the screws within your van.

A habitation door floor mat.

Low wattage 800w kettle and toaster for those 6amp hook up sites common in Europe. In addition to a whistling gas hob kettle of course.

For continental travel a 2 pin to Euro plug hook up adaptor and plug in earth tester.

A 9ltr watering can for topping up fresh water.

Bucket and sponge for cleaning bodywork generally.

 

[Martin P]

A Window vac is good for clearing condensation from the inside of the windscreen in the morning.

A tin of Davids P40 for repairing side skirts and trims
A tyre pressure guage.

 

[marchie]

Small roll of carpet protection film, can be used to cover over cracked or broken windows or skylights.
Short length of flexible plastic coated curtain wire with a small strong magnet fastened/taped to one end. Very handy for retrieving metal object dropped in awkward places.
Emergency windscreen repair kit to fix small chips.
Selection of hose clips with hex/screw drive.

Or, as we refer to your list when in Spain, Eric, 'The Chinese Shop'. All of these items available for pennies/€, plus lots more, including bungee cords and scrapers at 1€ each to remove previously applied sealant, mastic et al.
We also carry a wallpaper seam sealer and some copydex for any veneer covering that begins to lift, especially the 1/2 round trim for the bathroom door

Steve

 

[trevskoda]

Some weard folk on here.

 

[marchie]

A screwdriver appropriate for the screws within your van.

A habitation door floor mat.

Low wattage 800w kettle and toaster for those 6amp hook up sites common in Europe. In addition to a whistling gas hob kettle of course.

For continental travel a 2 pin to Euro plug hook up adaptor and plug in earth tester.

A 9ltr watering can for topping up fresh water.

Bucket and sponge for cleaning bodywork generally.

No washing of vehicles allowed on Aires - unless you're German, Dutch or French when you can block the Services with impunity ... One hose on the cassette tap for washing the van, 2nd hose on the freshwater tap to the tank for the Fraulein/Madame to take a 20 minute shower whilst the queue of vehicles for the services blocks all other Vans from exiting their pitch (Moncofa & Los Alcazares Aires really bad for this)

Steve

 

[marchie]

Some weard folk on here.

Think yourself lucky, Trev. If you were on the mainland, you might end up parked next to us ...

Steve

 

[trevskoda]

Think yourself lucky, Trev. If you were on the mainland, you might end up parked next to us ...

Steve

I can sniff free food out miles away.

 

[Boris7]

Some weard folk on here.

That’s the pot calling the kettle black

 

[ProDave]

On the subject of water, people not used to camping (same goes for first time on a boat as well) just don't understand you don't leave a tap running while you clean your teeth etc. You very quickly have to learn to cherish each and every drop of it.

And definitely keep a smaller container so you have some drinking water when the main tank runs out.

 

[Fazerloz]

A shower head with an off valve on it. You save loads of water when using one.

 

[Tim120]

Carrying on from bucket and sponge....
One of those extendable windscreen cleaners.... sponge one side, squeegee the other....

 

[barryd]

12v chargers for laptops or a 300w portable pure sine wave inverter for stuff like electric tooth brushes, fast phone chargers etc.

 

[Mick H]

I’m putting together a VIP welcome pack to go with new motorhomes, specifically aimed at first-time owners, and I’d really love to lean on the collective wisdom of people who’ve been there, learned the hard way, and bought the gadgets

So imagine this scenario:

A friend of yours has just bought their first-ever motorhome. They’re excited… but also blissfully unaware of all the little things you only realise you need after your first few trips.

If they were offered a welcome pack as part of the deal, what would you absolutely suggest including?

I’m thinking things like:

• Arctic blue hookup cable
• Levelling ramps/wheel chocks
• Toilet chemicals
• A little spirit level for the dash
• Water filler aids/hose fittings
• Plug adaptors, extension leads, etc.

But I’m especially interested in the stuff people don’t immediately think of — those £5–£20 items that turn out to be absolute lifesavers.

So:

• What are your favourite motorhome gadgets you wouldn’t be without?
• What would you tell any new motorhomer to buy before their first trip?
• Is there anything you only discovered after a few “learning experiences” that you now consider essential?

No idea is too small or too obvious — if it’s useful, it’s useful.

I’m trying to build a genuinely helpful VIP pack rather than a box of random tat, so your real-world experience is gold here

Fire away

The first advice that I would give, is to get the van weighed, in camping trim, with all passengers on board. You need this important info, before you can determine how much extra weight can be carried,
Much of what has already been shown, on peoples list, is down to personal lifestyle. For example, We've never carried levelling ramps, or spirit levels etc, because we've never needed them. It's so easy to buy stuff that is hardly ever used, and eats into your payload, consuming extra fuel, and increasing braking distances etc. Give serious thought, to adding anything extra. Do you really need it ?

 

[n brown]

12' or more towrope
often when stuck on mud or wet grass , a bit of help from even a small car can get you started

 

[Robmac]

Small tool kit.

Torque wrench.

 

[Boris7]

Small tool kit.

Suggestion or admission Rob

 

[marchie]

Small tool kit.

Torque wrench.

Elaine often says that I find it too much of a wrench to stop talking, so she wanders off and leaves me to it ...

Steve

 

[r4dent]

The pack should include a list of hints
a) I always recommend people spend the first couple of nights in their own drive just in case something goes wrong.
If not possible stay somewhere within an affordable Taxi ride home.

b) Make check lists

c) Don't pitch on grass at the bottom of a hill.


As far as things to take
a) 12v Phone charger