What essential accessories have you since ditched overboard?

[Lambeth Cali]

We've had to use our levelling ramps nearly every time we've camped so far, and I thought they were going to be a waste of money ...

Yes we used them all the time at the start but now hardly ever. Not completely sure why. Going to different sites? Better at levelling the van? We still carry them.

 

[Wildcamper]

Yes we used them all the time at the start but now hardly ever. Not completely sure why. Going to different sites? Better at levelling the van? We still carry them.

Used to have levelers, always a pain to store and use. Got rid of them, what a relief! Park at all sort of angles but so long as sleeping with head higher than feet then no problem. Am amazed at how much stuff people carry about. "If in doubt chuck it out!"

 

[ThomasHJ]

Used to have levelers, always a pain to store and use. Got rid of them, what a relief! Park at all sort of angles but so long as sleeping with head higher than feet then no problem. Am amazed at how much stuff people carry about. "If in doubt chuck it out!"

I agree with this 100%. Good advice!

 

[BeagleMum]

We've had to use our levelling ramps nearly every time we've camped so far, and I thought they were going to be a waste of money ...

Never needed to use them in over 2+ years of travelling in a Cali.

 

[Anthony1]

I agree with this 100%. Good advice!

We camped for two nights in a New Forest site recently (Holmsley) and the van was at an agle sideways. Had to use ramps or sleeping, cooking would have been awful. The slope was worse than it looks. It is a massive site, with flat bits, slopes, woods etc. We wanted woods, so slopey and away from the masses of crowded caravans. Great site though.

 

[Ladymuck]

Cups and plates would have been sliding everywhere if we hadn't used levellers at the sites we were at no matter how we parked the van (in fact one was Caravan and Motorhome club and we had no choice but to park it the way they instruct)
Also no matter how early we try to arrive we always seem to be the last to get there and set up, not sure why that is but it has probably meant we got the slopiest pitches! Not having levellers would have made the trip unenjoyable.

They are bulky though ..

 

[Anthony1]

I agree with this 100%. Good advice!

Storing them next to the underseat drawer is no problem. Out of the way but not in the way.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Ramps are a marmite thing it seems, some people never use them, others a lot. We've used them often enough (most often on very basic or 'informal' sites eg sloping farmers' fields) for them to have earned their space. They are a bit bulky but don't add much weight.

 

[Anthony1]

Ramps are a marmite thing it seems, some people never use them, others a lot. We've used them often enough (most often on very basic or 'informal' sites eg sloping farmers' fields) for them to have earned their space. They are a bit bulky but don't add much weight.

Agreed. The day I leave them behind is they day I will need them.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Ramps.
Use them all the time on campsites. Never needed off grid…
Bizarre, I know.

Ridgemonkey.
IMO, useless as any sort of pan. Much easier to use a frying or saucepan.
Where the Ridgemonkey does excel, is cooking toasties.
I love them and it’s my go to van food.
Ham, cheese and tomato
Tuna, cheese and sweet corn
Brie and cranberry
Chicken and reggie sauce with peppers
Leftovers and cheese…

 

[Anthony1]

Ramps.
Use them all the time on campsites. Never needed off grid…
Bizarre, I know.

Ridgemonkey.
IMO, useless as any sort of pan. Much easier to use a frying or saucepan.
Where the Ridgemonkey does excel, is cooking toasties.
I love them and it’s my go to van food.
Ham, cheese and tomato
Tuna, cheese and sweet corn
Brie and cranberry
Chicken and reggie sauce with peppers
Leftovers and cheese…

I bought a set of RMs but returned them as my wife (who does all the cooking) was not impressed.

Maybe try again as I love toasties too.

 

[tedgina]

Ramps.
Use them all the time on campsites. Never needed off grid…
Bizarre, I know.

Ridgemonkey.
IMO, useless as any sort of pan. Much easier to use a frying or saucepan.
Where the Ridgemonkey does excel, is cooking toasties.
I love them and it’s my go to van food.
Ham, cheese and tomato
Tuna, cheese and sweet corn
Brie and cranberry
Chicken and reggie sauce with peppers
Leftovers and cheese…

re ridgemonkey very useful piece of kit can cook eggs ,beans and sausages all in the different sections at once and warm rice pudding in the 4 part on one burner and they are easy clean we think they are great

 

[BeagleMum]

re ridgemonkey very useful piece of kit can cook eggs ,beans and sausages all in the different sections at once and warm rice pudding in the 4 part on one burner and they are easy clean we think they are great

We have 3 R M love them, excellent bit of kit.

 

[Ladymuck]

On camping trip number 5 and this is the 3rd time we've needed the chocks and the van still isn't level. Maybe we are just having a run of slopey pitches

 

[Calimili]

On camping trip number 5 and this is the 3rd time we've needed the chocks and the van still isn't level. Maybe we are just having a run of slopey pitches

View attachment 81293

so far about 60 nights, I think just 4 without needing ramps...

 

[Algor]

On camping trip number 5 and this is the 3rd time we've needed the chocks and the van still isn't level. Maybe we are just having a run of slopey pitches

View attachment 81293

Maybe a bad run! We have had 15 now and not needed the chocks once. I don't strive for a perfect level though, as long as my head is higher than my feet in bed and the pan sits fine on the hob the odd degree or 2 doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Billylou]

So we ditched the Cali and it’s contents. Missing him already but moving onto something else. Had great fun with him, learnt loads, spent a fortune on stuff that the forum said I needed but didn’t and got overly worried when someone on the forum had a problem and thought it would happen to us. However, we had some great advice, loads of great ideas and great people to helps overcome the problems we encountered along the way. Thank you.

 

[66tim99]

So we ditched the Cali and it’s contents. Missing him already but moving onto something else. Had great fun with him, learnt loads, spent a fortune on stuff that the forum said I needed but didn’t and got overly worried when someone on the forum had a problem and thought it would happen to us. However, we had some great advice, loads of great ideas and great people to helps overcome the problems we encountered along the way. Thank you.

Good to hear, but interested in your decision to move on. What are are you moving on to?

 

[Billylou]

Good to hear, but interested in your decision to move on. What are are you moving on to?

We gave it a good go for 2 years but the lack of space and constant shuffling of stuff became tiresome and impacted on our enjoyment. We never wanted an awning as we might as well just have bought a tent and saved £60k. So we‘ve got a 5.4m Fiat based Panel Van Conversion coming with a toilet, transverse bed and sufficient space and storage to be comfortable. If we were to just spend weekends away we would have kept the Cali, however we plan to be away a lot longer.

 

[ThomasHJ]

So we ditched the Cali and it’s contents. Missing him already but moving onto something else. Had great fun with him, learnt loads, spent a fortune on stuff that the forum said I needed but didn’t and got overly worried when someone on the forum had a problem and thought it would happen to us. However, we had some great advice, loads of great ideas and great people to helps overcome the problems we encountered along the way. Thank you.

I don't think the Cali itself counts as an accessory ;-)

 

[soulstyledevon]

Update.

Ive had to add the Thule Tie Down Kit back in.
Hadn’t used it in a long time, so out it went.

This week, we pitched up and we had some strong gusts. Even though the weather was half decent and needed sun shade.
Anyway, the caravan next door had a set in his van from his old converted van. I had them off him, for a few beers.

 

[Dottie]

Ramps.
Use them all the time on campsites. Never needed off grid…
Bizarre, I know.

Ridgemonkey.
IMO, useless as any sort of pan. Much easier to use a frying or saucepan.
Where the Ridgemonkey does excel, is cooking toasties.
I love them and it’s my go to van food.
Ham, cheese and tomato
Tuna, cheese and sweet corn
Brie and cranberry
Chicken and reggie sauce with peppers
Leftovers and cheese…

I’m looking to ditch my ridge monkey….

I can cook bacon in a pan with a guard, and/or outside
so, having read through many a post, toasties seem to be the main other use of it and, so far, I’ve not longed for a toastie……..ok, I’ll take it for a last whirl and see if toasties change my van life…!

but I’ve cut down on bread consumption……….

 

[flying banana]

I’m looking to ditch my ridge monkey….

I can cook bacon in a pan with a guard, and/or outside
so, having read through many a post, toasties seem to be the main other use of it and, so far, I’ve not longed for a toastie……..ok, I’ll take it for a last whirl and see if toasties change my van life…!

but I’ve cut down on bread consumption……….

you can do chips in it

 

[Anthony1]

you can do chips in it

My wife and I had a competition, I made a toastie in the Ridgemonkey, she did it is a frying pan - both about the same. She cooks, so she gets what she wants re equipment, so the Ridgemonkey is out.

 

[BeagleMum]

I’m looking to ditch my ridge monkey….

I can cook bacon in a pan with a guard, and/or outside
so, having read through many a post, toasties seem to be the main other use of it and, so far, I’ve not longed for a toastie……..ok, I’ll take it for a last whirl and see if toasties change my van life…!

but I’ve cut down on bread consumption……….

We don’t do toasties but use the R M for most things not just bacon. Regulars are chicken, salmon, new potatoes, meatballs and much more. It’s our ‘go to’ van utensil.