Bare essentials for staying at a campsite

[Robert85]

Hi,

I've just bought my first ever campervan, a 2021 California Beach. I haven't got the vehicle yet, it's going to be delivered soon.

I'm trying to work out the essentials that I need for my first night away at a campsite. I've watched some youtube videos and searched by through the threads on here.

My first night or two away will be at a campsite, I don't think I'll be doing any cooking, I'll either be eating out at a local pub or eating prepared food from the cool box. They'll just be two of us.

I haven't done any kind of camping since I was a kid with my parents. The campsites we used to stay in 30 years ago were quite basic and seemed to be on farm land, I was too young to remember much about how they work.

Here's what I think I'm going to need so far from the research that I've done:

- 25m EHU cable, I haven't bought this yet. This one looks good https://toughleads.co.uk/products/16a-230v-premium-vw-california-compatible-hook-up-cable Do I really need 25m? It seems so long.
- Bedding or sleeping bags.
- Dustpan and brush
- Headtorch
- Prepared food and drink in the cool box
- Wet wipes and paper towels
- Bin bags
- Towel and crocs for the shower
- Clothes and toiletries
- Phone charging lead

Am I likely to need level ramps? Do they usually have toilet paper at campsites? Is there anything else I'm missing?

 

[WelshGas]

Hi,

I've just bought my first ever campervan, a 2021 California Beach. I haven't got the vehicle yet, it's going to be delivered soon.

I'm trying to work out the essentials that I need for my first night away at a campsite. I've watched some youtube videos and searched by through the threads on here.

My first night or two away will be at a campsite, I don't think I'll be doing any cooking, I'll either be eating out at a local pub or eating prepared food from the cool box. They'll just be two of us.

I haven't done any kind of camping since I was a kid with my parents. The campsites we used to stay in 30 years ago were quite basic and seemed to be on farm land, I was too young to remember much about how they work.

Here's what I think I'm going to need so far from the research that I've done:

- 25m EHU cable, I haven't bought this yet. This one looks good https://toughleads.co.uk/products/16a-230v-premium-vw-california-compatible-hook-up-cable Do I really need 25m? It seems so long.
- Bedding or sleeping bags.
- Dustpan and brush
- Headtorch
- Prepared food and drink in the cool box
- Wet wipes and paper towels
- Bin bags
- Towel and crocs for the shower
- Clothes and toiletries
- Phone charging lead

Am I likely to need level ramps? Do they usually have toilet paper at campsites? Is there anything else I'm missing?

The EHU lead is 25m as that is the maximum length from the Campsite supply in the UK. But 10 or 15 m is normally sufficient for most pitches.
Level ramps are like Marmite, some use them all the times., others have never used them.
Personally I would have a Camping stove, kettle, 2L bottle of water and mugs to make a hot drink.

 

[Tycho]

Hi,

I've just bought my first ever campervan, a 2021 California Beach. I haven't got the vehicle yet, it's going to be delivered soon.

I'm trying to work out the essentials that I need for my first night away at a campsite. I've watched some youtube videos and searched by through the threads on here.

My first night or two away will be at a campsite, I don't think I'll be doing any cooking, I'll either be eating out at a local pub or eating prepared food from the cool box. They'll just be two of us.

I haven't done any kind of camping since I was a kid with my parents. The campsites we used to stay in 30 years ago were quite basic and seemed to be on farm land, I was too young to remember much about how they work.

Here's what I think I'm going to need so far from the research that I've done:

- 25m EHU cable, I haven't bought this yet. This one looks good https://toughleads.co.uk/products/16a-230v-premium-vw-california-compatible-hook-up-cable Do I really need 25m? It seems so long.
- Bedding or sleeping bags.
- Dustpan and brush
- Headtorch
- Prepared food and drink in the cool box
- Wet wipes and

Just start, you will learn to on the go.

 

[Kayleigh]

Hi,

I've just bought my first ever campervan, a 2021 California Beach. I haven't got the vehicle yet, it's going to be delivered soon.

I'm trying to work out the essentials that I need for my first night away at a campsite. I've watched some youtube videos and searched by through the threads on here.

My first night or two away will be at a campsite, I don't think I'll be doing any cooking, I'll either be eating out at a local pub or eating prepared food from the cool box. They'll just be two of us.

I haven't done any kind of camping since I was a kid with my parents. The campsites we used to stay in 30 years ago were quite basic and seemed to be on farm land, I was too young to remember much about how they work.

Here's what I think I'm going to need so far from the research that I've done:

- 25m EHU cable, I haven't bought this yet. This one looks good https://toughleads.co.uk/products/16a-230v-premium-vw-california-compatible-hook-up-cable Do I really need 25m? It seems so long.
- Bedding or sleeping bags.
- Dustpan and brush
- Headtorch
- Prepared food and drink in the cool box
- Wet wipes and paper towels
- Bin bags
- Towel and crocs for the shower
- Clothes and toiletries
- Phone charging lead

Am I likely to need level ramps? Do they usually have toilet paper at campsites? Is there anything else I'm missing?

Hey congrats on the purchase!

If you plan to do mainly campsites, hookup is a good idea, but as said above 10-15m is fine. Your list looks fine. Stuff you would normally take if camping. Add in some mosquito spray just in case, and sun cream.
Levelling ramps are one of those things I bought and never used. If slightly sloping just keep your head uphill. Probably more useful if both beds are occupied.

Just don’t overbuy new gadgets. Take items you have at home to start with and then you will get a feel for what you will/wont use over time.

Take kettle and tea/coffee making kit. You can then join the Cali Coffee thread that’s doing the rounds LoL.

 

[Californication69]

Pillow & duvet. (Dislike sleep bags, reminds me of camping in france as a small boy on school holiday transfer. Scarred me for life)
Toilet paper (this is for the van porti potti)
(Sensually have loo roll, but do you want to risk it for a biscuit if they didn’t ??)
Amazon body wipes
Ridge monkey
Bacon
Butter
Bread
Tom sauce (or brown if you that way inclined to induce heartburn)
Gas
Drinking water in a canister.
Pepsi max ( or beer)
Ear plugs & eye mask.
Wash bag.
Spare pants if away for more than 4 nights.
Defo crocs. Best thing ever.

 

[Californication69]

Hey congrats on the purchase!

If you plan to do mainly campsites, hookup is a good idea, but as said above 10-15m is fine. Your list looks fine. Stuff you would normally take if camping. Add in some mosquito spray just in case, and sun cream.
Levelling ramps are one of those things I bought and never used. If slightly sloping just keep your head uphill. Probably more useful if both beds are occupied.

Just don’t overbuy new gadgets. Take items you have at home to start with and then you will get a feel for what you will/wont use over time.

Take kettle and tea/coffee making kit. You can then join the Cali Coffee thread that’s doing the rounds LoL.

Skin so soft. Great mossie repellant.