In addition to all the security items and associated costs there is also a large amount of items that are considered essential for the day to day needs of travelling in your motorhome. Before we collected our motorhome we did a fair bit of research into what others considered to be essential items. What we found was that there was definitely a common list of items and then there are the essential items specific to the owner’s needs and requirements.
From the start we think it is important to bear in mind that there definitely is a list of essential items needed by everyone, but you must not confuse this with items that would simply be ‘good-to-have-just-in-case’. The reason for mentioning this is that the good-to-have-just-in-case items are invariably rarely used or indeed ever needed. And secondly these items are taking up valuable storage space and only adding to your all-important payload of your motorhome.
So, let’s start by taking a look at the essential items on virtually everybody’s list:
Fire Extinguisher, Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide Monitor, Fire Blanket and First Aid Kit
We have grouped these items together as they are invariably all spoken about and catered for in the same breath. These are the minimum essentials for your personal van safety and wellbeing as opposed to van security.
Electrical Hook Up (240V)
In our opinion it is important to purchase a long hook-up cable. We have found that the distance between hook-up points and our motorhome vary enormously. A cable of around 25m should be more than enough.
It is important to point out that by having a long power cable you must ensure that the extra length it is not left coiled up. We spread it all out then through the excess length under the motorhome. We have ours rolled up on a reel. Being an engineer we have it rolled up on a plastic welding wire reel. It is then placed inside another bag similar to the one we use for our water hosepipes.
We have, more than once, found it necessary to have to share the main hook-up point. This means one of you needs a mains splitter. Rather than rely on the other person having one it is best to have your own. It may only be need once a flood but it becomes essential when needed.
Most storage sites do not offer any electrical hook-up facilities. Therefore it is necessary every couple of weeks or so to top up the batteries (engine and leisure). Some do this by having plenty of solar power available, but the motorhome batteries are still likely to require a good long run or charging up through the winter storage.
We simply collect our motorhome from storage and bring it home. Here we can put it on our and hook-it up for the day. To do this you will need a short hook-up adaptor cable. On one end a domestic (UK) 240v wall plug and on the other a plug socket that fits into your main motorhome hook up lead.
Hosepipes
A must have for filling up your main clean water tank. We highly recommend two lengths one approx 3m long and the other 12m long; these can be both made from a single 15m length of hose. Depending upon location and task to be carried out, it is best to have both length options at hand. Food grade hose is preferable but not essential (blue in colour).
We prefer a ‘proper’ hosepipe to a flat hose, but a flat hose is a lot easier to store. Personally, I hate the flat hosepipes with a passion. For me a carefully stored proper hosepipe is the way to go. The flat hosepipes sound a great idea, and to many they are, but for me they are not what you expect. We have however provided images of both designs.
Regardless of which hosepipe you select, we advise that it is stored in its own ‘bag’, especially the non-flat hosepipes as they simply end up a twisted mess in your locker space. The bag will also help to keep the hosepipe clean as it is the hosepipe for your clean water. We also use this type of bag for our electric hook up cables.
A lot of people simply push their hosepipe directly into the bore of the filler pipe leading to your water tank. In theory this is fine but there is also the possibility of you adding dirt or other contaminants into your fresh water tank. To ensure that you keep your fresh water as clean as possible we suggesting using a specific adaptor called a HEOSolution adaptor.
Hosepipe Connectors and Adaptors
A selection of water hose connectors we feel should be part of the essential list of items. Hosepipes, water pipes, fittings, taps have a number of different connection options. We there recommend you carry a small selection of connectors and adaptors to cover all your bases as you move from location to location. When purchasing these we also recommend you look at metallic, usually brass, as these are far more durable than the plastic options, though they are a little more expensive.
Levelling Chocks
Prior to purchasing our motorhome, more specifically our first overnight stay, I always thought that these were not essential items… how wrong I was.
Despite best efforts the majority of site pitches are not level. After just a single night sleeping on a pitch that was not level did we quickly realise their importance and why they appeared on everyone’s essential items list.
We now use the Fiamma levellers and chocks.
Mud Mats
Oh yes… definitely essential! We found out very quickly that motorhomes do not like the slightest amount of moisture on grass, and certainly not wet, soft ground. We spent an afternoon tearing up a CL site ground trying to get on to a grass pitch that we thought looked ok. The giveaway that this was possibly not the case was that there were no other vehicles in the field!?
Tyre Repair Kit
Another of those items that we first thought not to be essential. We quickly changed our view when we had an occasion for the low tyre pressure warning light came on. On this occasion the tyre only need pumping up. But it made us think, what if we had had a puncture? We do have a spare, hung underneath the motorhome, how very convenient… not!
The simple kit shown would be a great alternative for the repair of simple punctures. Thus preventing the need to grovel under the motorhome to free up the spare and/or not have to call for breakdown assistance.
Roadside Emergency Kit
No one wants to really consider breaking down but sadly this does happen and the longer you have your motorhome the more likely it is that at some stage it will happen to you. In some countries there are legal requirements that stipulate exactly what you must have… or be fined! Here in the UK, it is more advisable but it’s not a bad idea to try and have the breakdown kit required for overseas as a minimum.
Sat Nav
Currently we are still finding our way around with the likes of Google Maps. This said we know that in the not too distant future we will need to invest in a sat nav that is specifically tailored to the needs of motorhome travel.
As we get more used to driving it around and becoming more adventurous, it will be necessary to have a sat nav that stops us getting stuck in narrow lanes or under bridges!
They are not a cheap item but neither is your motorhome, bite the bullet and invest!
Tool Kit
With regards to tools you have to face up to the fact that you will never have enough tools to fix and cover all eventualities. The purpose of the tool kit in our eyes is one that is capable of fixing and repairing the smaller more routine events of motorhome living.
The other thing is that if you try and cover for all eventualities then the sheer weight of your tool kit will seriously hamper your overall payload weight. Your tool kit should ideally be contained in a light weight tool box or a strong bag i.e. avoid all the metal tool boxes.
You may want to add a power tool such as a drill with a selection of drill bits to your tool kit. You do not need to purchase anything like an expensive DeWalt or a Makita. For general purpose tasks I am a fan of the Parkeside range of power tool, often found in the centre aisle bins at Lidl! Also consider the Bauker and Mac Allister power tool ranges.
Wing Mirror Protectors
We purchased a set of these when we collected our motorhome. They have already paid for themselves by saving the expenses of having to buy new wing mirrors on two separate occasions. In the early days of driving the motorhome it is easy to forget how much the wing mirrors stick out.
We have hit a wall and a tree already, thankfully not too hard, but had we not had the protectors on I am pretty sure we would have had to replace at least one of the wing mirrors. They are well worth the money, highly recommended, and definitely essential. We purchased the Milenco protectors.
External Blackout/Thermal Windscreen Blinds
Without doubt the best essential item we have purchased. Not only does it ensure total blackout at night time but more importantly it totally removed condensation on the inside of the windscreen. Initially we purchased a window vac to literally vac up the condensation from all the windows each morning.
We had read many mixed reviews about how effective such items are with regards to blackout and removal of condensation but our experience is that they are perfect on both accounts. Our advice is not to buy internal blinds with the hope of achieving the same thing.
We can only speak of our own experiences and understand this may actually be not the same assessment by others. A fantastic, highly successful purchase.
Not Essential, But Really Good To Have...
- Spare bulb kit
- Selection of cleaning and toilet chemicals
- Small hand held vacuum cleaner
- Dustpan & brush
- USB/battery charging station
- A safe
