Campervan Conundrums

The summer holidays are very nearly here and for many people that means only one thing, packing up the campervan and heading out on the road for a few weeks of freedom! Whether you’re boarding the ferry in Dover and heading over to Calais and the French countryside beyond, taking your van over to the Emerald Isle for the famous Ring of Kerry along Ireland’s west coast, or just seeing where you and the campervan end up, then you’re in for a treat. A campervan is one of the best ways to see an area on a budget. But if you’re new to the campervan lark, we’ve got the ultimate guide to packing up your campervan for an epic adventure!

1) Clothes

When it comes to what to pack in your campervan, what to leave out becomes just as important as what to leave in! But one thing you’re definitely going to need is clothes. Forget anything that creases easily or is too delicate as you might not have anything as glamorous as a wardrobe in your van. If you do, the best use of space is often shelving so you can fold clothes and stack them, meaning you can stash more. If you do have room for hanging space, add a small rail like this 1 m Hanging Rail then use the thinnest hangers you can find like these Black Non-Slip Plastic Hangers. Remember, you’ll probably be washing clothes at campsites and hanging them to dry, so don’t forget the washing line!

2) Food

Yes, you’ll no doubt be feasting on fresh baguettes and croissants from the boulangerie but it’s also a good idea to stock up on essentials like rice, pasta and soup. Now, the last thing you want is your tins of beans hurtling out of cupboards as you take on a tricky bend in Boulogne, so pack your food essentials in Clear Storage Boxes with Lids. You’ll also be buying in food as you travel, so a couple of extra storage boxes will help you to keep food fresh and secured as you travel. The great thing is that they easily stack so you can gain maximum capacity while space-saving in your van. Take food bag clips, they are a great idea for items like rice, otherwise you’ll end up finding grains for years to come!

3) Utensils

There’s nothing like pitching up on your site, grabbing the fold-out tables and chairs, and eating your dinner out under the stars. So, you’re going to need some stuff to cook with. We love the idea of being creative with a Suspended Chrome Tube Hanging Rail. Hang it in the kitchen space and add some Urbaboxx S Hooks creating the perfect home for a couple of pans and a spatula or two! For anything that needs to be clipped closed, attach a Chrome Single Non-Slip Clip Hanger, we can see our teabags hanging from these already!

4) Personal items

Cramming a family and their possessions into a single campervan is always going to be a challenge. Chances are though, that all those ‘essentials’ will be forgotten before that first château can even be glimpsed in the distance. Give everyone a single storage bag and ask them to pack it with the personal things they (supposedly) just can’t do without. So books, iPod, toys, a pack of cards, sleepmask, earplugs…basically anything that is going to help them and you enjoy a holiday cohabiting so closely together. Then these genius bags can be stored under seats or beds in the van.

5) Bathroom bits

Now if you’ve ever been in a campervan bathroom, they are bijou to say the least! As with every other area of your van you’ve got to be clever with the space. If you’re lucky enough to have cupboards, you can kit them out with mini storage boxes which can also be stacked without the lids. A small storage box is ideal for fiddly items, so for make-up, dental floss, safety pins, needle and thread, and a campervan bathroom storage must have are some Clothes Hangers. Hang on a hook on the bathroom door for towels, shower gels, dressing gowns and more!

So, with the van storage sorted, the open road beckons. We’re seeing mornings with a brew looking out onto the wild Atlantic Ocean, nights in your cosy cabin bed, but most of all the thrill of travelling on your own terms. Enjoy!

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