One of the most fun things about owning a caravan is having everything that you need on board with you – no matter where (or when) you go, you have everything you need to make your tours comfortable and enjoyable.
At least, that’s the theory – the reality is that there is an overwhelming amount of kit available out there, and sometimes it’s hard to work out what the best caravan accessories are necessary to pack, and what can be left behind when you’re loading a caravan.
I’ve been the editor of Practical Caravan since 2019, and with the summer season on its way, I thought I’d share five accessories that I always carry when I go on tour – and best of all, each one costs less than £10.
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Autoglym Fast Glass cleaner
It’s this time of year – when the sun is (hopefully) shining – that any smears, bug residue, sap and other marks on your towcar’s windscreen become very noticeable. Once you’ve seen them, it’s hard to ignore – so Autoglym’s Fast Glass is a must-carry, in my opinion. Simply spray it onto your windscreen and then wipe off with a microfibre cloth for a clear view out again.
That’s not all you can use it on – it’s gentle enough to be used on various surfaces in your van, including mirrors and acrylic/plastic windows. I’ve used many Autoglym products over the years, and I’ve always found them to represent excellent value for money and make cleaning a caravan.
Beldray Collapsible Dish Drainer
I have this exact drainer, and I use it numerous times a day when I’m away.
It’s made of solid plastic and silicone and has loads of room for pots, plates and more – I really like the separate sections, which helps keep everything neat and tidy. The vents in the bottom mean that you’ll need a separate drip tray, but as a result the unit dries out very quickly, ready for you to pack away in a locker. Best of all, it collapses down, and so saves lots of caravan storage space when it’s not needed.
Blukar Rechargeable Head Torch
We’ve all been there – needing to change a gas bottle or tighten up an awning guy rope in the middle of the night. It’s not easy to set to work while holding a light source – which is why I’d always recommend packing a headtorch, such as this one from Blukar.
Not only does it have six different lighting modes (including red and white settings), it also offers touch-free operation – simply wave your hand in front of it to switch it on or off. The light unit itself is adjustable, so you can clearly illuminate what you’re trying to see, and (perhaps best of all) it’s fully rechargeable via USB-C lead and has a 30-hour battery life.
Heavyweight cable storage bag
It’s only relatively recently that I discovered the practicalities of using a cable storage bag – since buying one I’ve been grateful for it every time that I’ve had to access my electric hook-up lead.
Not only does it help keep the interior of your caravan clean when packing away a wet, muddy lead, but it also means that it’s less likely to become tangled while in storage, saving you time untangling it when you next need its services.
This particular example from Amazon is a heavyweight version (a lightweight model is available, too), and promises to be waterproof – it also has two compartments inside, and a two-way zip.
Check the latest price on Amazon now.
BOGI Microfibre Travel Towel
Microfibre towels are brilliant in the compact confines of a caravan – they take up less space than traditional alternatives, dry faster, weigh less and are much more absorbent, too. I have a number of them and would never go back to a regular towel now.
I like the look of this BOGI towel that I found on Amazon. It’s a reasonable size, at 100x50cm, and is made of soft microfibre in a variety of colours. I also like the fact that it comes with a handy bag that features a useful carabiner – ideal for hanging up in your washroom, or in the site showers – and the small bag would be useful for storing other small items when you’re on the beach, too.
Check the latest price on Amazon now.
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