Posted: 26 October 2015 8:58 PM Subject: What to pack?
Just joined
Posts: 4
Hi
We are very very new to motorhomes.. having bought our first one yesterday! we are experienced campers however.
What can people recommend to stock up the motorhome? It is a 5 berth so has a reasonable amount of storage but also aware that everyday items such as clothing needs to be taken in to consideration.
We are planning on using our motorhome very frequently - as many weekends as we can even if staying fairly local therefore certain items can stay in it.
Do you have any suggestions or useful tips? We are going to kitting it out from scratch.
What food/ cooking essentials do you keep in yours?
Posted: 26 October 2015 9:38 PM Subject: RE: What to pack?
Forum master
Posts: 4279 Location: NE Lincolnshire - M/H - 2012 Adria Sport S572SL
Hello Sarah & welcome to the forum & the world of motorhomes.
There are so many possibilities & a lot down to individual preferences & style of use.
Will you mainly use facility sites, basic sites, wild-camp ? Will you normally use Electric Hook-up ?
Are you aware of your available payload is, as everything added adds weight. Some like to keep a spreadsheet record of "van" equipment for a) insurance purposes should the worst thing happen, b) to monitor weights against payload
Some of your camping equipment will be suitable.
Start with the kitchen requirements, Kettle (low wattage) for EHU. Eating utensils & plates/bowls/cups, etc.
Bedding what type ? Does the van have a fixed bed where majority of bedding can be transported or do you need locker space. ?
Entertainment for evenings or bad weather - TV, Tablet/Laptop.
Toolkit
Food - store cupboard items with long shelf life, can be left in the motorhome, but fresh food add at commencing each trip.
Toiletries & Towels.
Hobby equipment.
We prefer the above (except TV, Tablet & Cameras) are permanently in the van ready for a quick get-away if an opportunity arises.
Cyclists ? Do you have a cycle-rack or large "garage"
Two hook up cables and an assortment of connectors plus a polarity tester
Length of hose plus an assortment of connectors
Two lengths of drain hose
Set of jump leads
Milenco triple ramps and wheel chocks
Small tool box plus fuses, tapes, ties, clips, string, WD40 etc
Wheel lock
Two fire extinguishers - one inside, one in the boot
Fold up bucket
Folding drying rack, pegs
Two folding chairs
Two folding foot stools
Outdoor mat for placing at door
Extendable pole and cleaning head for windscreen cleaning
Outside gas BBQ
Warning triangle
Tow rope
Water container and funnel
Guy ropes and pegs for awning plus mallet
Van cleaning gear
Small 12v Hoover
Extra 2kw fan heater
Large brolly
Campsite place marker
Two folding crates to take some of the above
Large plastic tray to take wet, dirty boots
Dishes, mugs, glasses & cutlery for 4
Set place mats
Set of 5 pans
Pan rest
Set of kitchen tools (lots)
Set of 4 knives
Electric toaster
Chopping board
Set plastic bowls
Plastic containers
Two oven dishes
Metal oven tray
Set 3 tins for tea/coffee/biscuits
Kettle
Kitchen rolls
Toilet rolls
Cleaning sprays & cloths
Small brush & pan
Dish drying rack
Tea towels
Some plastic boxes to take a lot of the above on shelves in cupboard
Some 'emergency' tinned food
Slippers
Dirty washing bag
Two single beds sets of Duvalay toppers in fitted sheets, duvet and two pillows
Spare blanket
Hair dryer
Games
Videos
Various charging cables
Clock
Two small rucksacks
Towels
Small bathmat to take to shower block (great for stepping onto to get dried/changed)
Boot tray at door to step onto with wet shoes
Our clothes for the trip (not much)
Food & drinks for the trip (lots)
Must have missed a few things
My God - no wonder the van is right on the weight limit!!
Posted: 27 October 2015 3:08 PM Subject: RE: What to pack?
Location: Wirral - 2013 Hymer BClass 504 130bhp
Difficult to know where to start! I suppose you need to understand what your loading margin is. Have a read at this if you haven't already. You must not overload the motorhome. Travel as light as you can.
We started by taking what we thought we would need, adding things we found we needed and leaving things at home that we didn't need. As you are an experienced camper, most of this is common sense.
You will need two propane gas bottles (red), 2 x 6kg is usually enough; a 25m long hook up cable; someway of putting water in your fresh water tank such as a large 10l+ container [ours is 25l but is heavy to carry] or a food grade hose [some say it doesn't have to be food grade] and appropriate hose/tap adaptors to deliver water from a tap into the water tank. Toilet rolls and any fluids necessary for the toilet. That's the basics.
Then a kettle, enough mugs and cutlery for the inhabitants plus say 2 guests [there are only two of use so we have enough for 4]; we use a double skillet and pan with two steamers; plus whatever cookery tools you need for what you are going to cook. Some of our accessories are collapsible silicon such as bowl for sink.
Duvets or sleeping bags with pillows - we leave ours in but ensure they are ventilated from time to time and we keep the damp away - duvalays are an expensive but well-regarded solution. Don't forget washing up liquids, powers, cleaners [take care what you use as some domestic cleaners are too strong], dishcloths, cleaning cloths, and tea towels. We use a few 27 year old nappies! Most people forget a tin opener or bottle opener! We carry a few cork mats for standing hot pans etc.
Tinned foods are useful with long sell by dates but are heavy. Try dry packet goods if you can keep them dry and they are edible.
A simple tool kit including a spanner or monkey wrench to change over gas bottles, a few screwdrivers including an electrical one, cable ties and gaffer tape. I've always carried windscreen cleaner. Sewing threads and needles plus scissors. Torch.
Clothes and anything you need to pursue your hobbies in the van. Kindles are useful. Charger for phones.
Posted: 27 October 2015 7:43 PM Subject: RE: What to pack?
Epic contributor
Posts: 1135 Location: The Lot
Take as little as you can on your first trip, and experience will tell you what you might need as your experience grows.
Try to keep it as light as possible, weight is really critical in these vans, and the bigger the van, the greater the potential problem.
Above all, just love it.
AGD
What we always take far too much of is clothes.
Not long back from 2 months abroad, and I reckon we used about a third of all the clothes we took.
We keep forgetting that if we're away for any longer than a couple of weeks, we'll need to find laundry facilities for 2 reasons;
1) You don't want any more than 2 weeks of pants and socks stored inside the van and
2) There will be things you only take one or two of but wear a lot.
We're guilty of thinking, if there's space left, fill it up!
Reminds me, must get to a weighbridge sometime.
Posted: 28 October 2015 8:32 PM Subject: RE: What to pack?
Lord of the posts
Posts: 5852 Location: West Sussex: Hymer B678 Dynamic Line, 150hp Auto
candapack - 2015-10-28 5:28 PM
What we always take far too much of is clothes.
Not long back from 2 months abroad, and I reckon we used about a third of all the clothes we took.
We keep forgetting that if we're away for any longer than a couple of weeks, we'll need to find laundry facilities for 2 reasons;
1) You don't want any more than 2 weeks of pants and socks stored inside the van and
2) There will be things you only take one or two of but wear a lot.
We're guilty of thinking, if there's space left, fill it up!
Reminds me, must get to a weighbridge sometime.
Yep, just back from 7 weeks away wore less than 25% of the clothes we took, do it every time.
Posted: 28 October 2015 8:33 PM Subject: RE: What to pack?
Legendary contributor
Posts: 9441
MrBiscuits - 2015-10-26 8:58 PM
Hi
We are very very new to motorhomes.. having bought our first one yesterday! we are experienced campers however.
Thanks
Sarah
As experienced campers you will already know about most things that you NEED to take.
The trouble with vans is, the bigger they are, the more stuff you are likely to carry - so, as has been said - start with as little as possible and add bits and pieces as needed.
