7 campervan accessories we wouldn’t be without

[Phil Vanlife Runner]

Having spent over 6 months in our 6.1 Ocean van since 2020, I thought I’d take a look around me (we’re at a site in Venice as I write) and share some of the accessories we wouldn’t be without.

Each of these has had to earn its place and we are strict with what makes it into the van for our extended trips each summer, so I can completely recommend each and every one of them.

7 Campervan Accessories We Love

Hope someone finds this useful!

 

[HowieDog]

We have 5 out of 7!

 

[HowieDog]

Sorry 4, we sold the Gybe when we sold the Cali, but it was great.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Having spent over 6 months in our 6.1 Ocean van since 2020, I thought I’d take a look around me (we’re at a site in Venice as I write) and share some of the accessories we wouldn’t be without.

Each of these has had to earn its place and we are strict with what makes it into the van for our extended trips each summer, so I can completely recommend each and every one of them.

7 Campervan Accessories We Love

Hope someone finds this useful!

None of those in our kit bag.

Our 7 essentials are:
Solar panels
Slide out rear tray
Additional kitchen drawers
Porta Potti
Wardrobe shelves
Awning room
Towbar bike rack

 

[andyinluton]

None out of the 7 for us.

Porta Potti
Carpets in the boot & underseat drawer for sound deadening
Brandrup phone holder pocket by the gear selector

We have found the less you have in van the easier it is to live with.

 

[wildslammer22]

None of those in our kit bag.

Our 7 essentials are:
Solar panels
Slide out rear tray
Additional kitchen drawers
Porta Potti
Wardrobe shelves
Awning room
Towbar bike rack

I have 5 of these!

 

[wildslammer22]

Having spent over 6 months in our 6.1 Ocean van since 2020, I thought I’d take a look around me (we’re at a site in Venice as I write) and share some of the accessories we wouldn’t be without.

Each of these has had to earn its place and we are strict with what makes it into the van for our extended trips each summer, so I can completely recommend each and every one of them.

7 Campervan Accessories We Love

Hope someone finds this useful!

Great post. Fellow coffee addict here and I have a small moka pot although my Bellman and Aeropress see more use. Also have Helinox chairs. A small pressure cooker is a good tip.

 

[sidepod]

7 bottle openers.

 

[Phil Vanlife Runner]

We have 5 out of 7!

Ha that’s great, so what would you add to the list HowieDog?

 

[Phil Vanlife Runner]

I have 5 of these!

We have a bike rack and solar panels too

 

[Phil Vanlife Runner]

None out of the 7 for us.

Porta Potti
Carpets in the boot & underseat drawer for sound deadening
Brandrup phone holder pocket by the gear selector

We have found the less you have in van the easier it is to live with.

Like the phone holder pocket idea!

 

[RockinNRollin]

I like the idea of a miniature pressure cooker; I'm a big fan of pressure cooking at home and definitely see the benefit for the van where shorter cooking times and less gas use are going to only be good, my only concern for the van would be the size of it because of the prerequisite "headspace" needed inside a pressure cooker about the food; seem to recall 1/3 full max for pulses and things that expand (pasta perhaps? Never cooked pasta in one) and 1/2 full for things that don't change volume. I shall investigate . . .

 

[Phil Vanlife Runner]

I like the idea of a miniature pressure cooker; I'm a big fan of pressure cooking at home and definitely see the benefit for the van where shorter cooking times and less gas use are going to only be good, my only concern for the van would be the size of it because of the prerequisite "headspace" needed inside a pressure cooker about the food; seem to recall 1/3 full max for pulses and things that expand (pasta perhaps? Never cooked pasta in one) and 1/2 full for things that don't change volume. I shall investigate . . .

We have a 2.5l one which is good for 2 kids/2 adults, I find 3/4 full is ok, just release the pressure slowly to prevent overspills (our WML one has variable pressure release). Catherine Phipps’s book on modern pressure cooking is very good for ideas.

 

[couplands]

None of those in our kit bag.

Our 7 essentials are:
Solar panels
Slide out rear tray
Additional kitchen drawers
Porta Potti
Wardrobe shelves
Awning room
Towbar bike rack

Same as you, we have none of the original 7. We keep it minimal...we were tenters for years and have zero desire to carry awnings around now we have the Cali.

We have 5 from your list, just missing awning room and solar. Will fit solar soon. (Also looking to fit solar/batteries to the house but that's another story.).

 

[Simon Morris Carpenter]

Having spent over 6 months in our 6.1 Ocean van since 2020, I thought I’d take a look around me (we’re at a site in Venice as I write) and share some of the accessories we wouldn’t be without.

Each of these has had to earn its place and we are strict with what makes it into the van for our extended trips each summer, so I can completely recommend each and every one of them.

7 Campervan Accessories We Love

Hope someone finds this useful!

What solar panels do you recommend?

 

[NessL]

What solar panels do you recommend?

@Roger Donoghue of Solar Camper Solutions

 

[nigpdreadingfc]

What solar panels do you recommend?

Roger's work

 

[Anthony1]

Having spent over 6 months in our 6.1 Ocean van since 2020, I thought I’d take a look around me (we’re at a site in Venice as I write) and share some of the accessories we wouldn’t be without.

Each of these has had to earn its place and we are strict with what makes it into the van for our extended trips each summer, so I can completely recommend each and every one of them.

7 Campervan Accessories We Love

Hope someone finds this useful!

After many years of Californian camping, we have none of those. Each to their own I guess.

 

[Phil Vanlife Runner]

After many years of Californian camping, we have none of those. Each to their own I guess.

Indeed!

 

[Devaprem]

Morsels - the chairs looking interesting. I especially like the fact that they fit into the chair compartment instead of the original VW ones. Which model are they? They look like the 'Tactical Sunset' ones - https://helinox.eu/collections/all-chairs/products/sunset-chair-home-hdb?variant=46761930654033.

 

[Corradobrit]

Morsels - the chairs looking interesting. I especially like the fact that they fit into the chair compartment instead of the original VW ones. Which model are they? They look like the 'Tactical Sunset' ones - https://helinox.eu/collections/all-chairs/products/sunset-chair-home-hdb?variant=46761930654033.

I'm actually going to check out some Helinox chairs now. Can't decide if I prefer the lower Chair Two or the taller Sunset design. I want a comfortable functional headrest too. The new HDB 1200 denier canvas is probably the line I will get once I decide on the model.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I'm actually going to check out some Helinox chairs now. Can't decide if I prefer the lower Chair Two or the taller Sunset design. I want a comfortable functional headrest too. The new HDB 1200 denier canvas is probably the line I will get once I decide on the model.

I just bought Helinox Sunset Tactical with both the Helinox foam/air headset and the Helinox mesh soft ground base as extras. Pretty expensive all together but a great piece of kit if you can live with the cost:

 

[Jenny H]

Great post - I have none of the 7 but don’t take whole family ! And don’t like awnings as love nothing better than lying in the bottom bed gazing out at the night sky or the trees & birds & views!
My top essentials would be -
Porta Potti
Duvalay mattress
Ridgemonkey toaster
Outdoor revolution windbreak
Lumify USB fairy lights
Isotop
Alcohol & snacks!!

 

[Jenny H]

I just bought Helinox Sunset Tactical with both the Helinox foam/air headset and the Helinox mesh soft ground base as extras. Pretty expensive all together but a great piece of kit if you can live with the cost:

View attachment 112488

Is it comfortable to sit in?
I have the Lafuma pop ups

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Is it comfortable to sit in?
I have the Lafuma pop ups

Yes, seems good though I have not put it to extended use yet. Not a sit at table chair (as for example the OEM chairs in the tailgate) but good for reading , watching or snoozing. Tiny when folded, can carry in my bike bag for example (ditto haversack) or would fit between the OEM chairs in the tailgate. Very light too. Just expensive. Some of the Helinox are a bit leary on colours, the tactical are more to my taste.

Can't comment on Lafuma as a comparison.