After reviewing caravans on and off for over three decades, I have reached the conclusion that there is a whole world of difference between packing and packing well.
When I first realised just what this job would entail, I must admit I went madly rushing around trying to get my hands on absolutely anything I thought might make living in a caravan (albeit usually only for a couple of days) that much more like home.
And home, unfortunately, is where an awful lot of these products now stay, taking up space in my cellar, having been taken out for perhaps just a couple of trips and then discarded, because I soon realised that I did not really need them.
Nowadays I am much more circumspect about what I’m loading a caravan with. And that applies whether I am kitting out a caravan for a couple of nights for a quick review, or for a much longer tour taking up several weeks.
There are, however, still some items I think are pretty much essential. And you can find a good selection of them, sometimes at heavily discounted prices, on this Amazon Prime Day.
Here follows my choice of the best.
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Philips Table Fan Series 2000 – was £54.99 now £34.20 (save 38%)
Caravan interiors, and especially rear bedrooms, can often get very hot on summer nights. But with the British weather being what it is, you would be very foolish to fork out on an air conditioning system, unless you really think you will be spending a lot of time touring near the Med. A simple low wattage fan with good circulation like this one should be all you need to keep yourself cool. And it’s quiet too – capable of operating at just 23 decibels, a soft sound that should, if anything, lull you off to the land of nod in no time.
Really Useful Plastic Storage Box Bonus Pack – was £43.79 now £36 (save 18%)
Storage boxes are always a good idea, unless you like making endless trips to and from your house when you are packing the van or unpacking. These sturdy boxes, designed by a Yorkshire company, should keep everything tidy, in its place, and easy to reach.
Soundcore Anker Boom 2 Plus Outdoor Speaker was £199.99 now £142.49 (save 29%)
Yes, many modern caravans now come with sound systems included. But aren’t you possibly going to want the music to continue when you are outside – either in your awning or away at a picnic? A portable Bluetooth speaker with a good battery life (20 hours), a fast charging time (three hours from zero to fully charged) and great sound should really enhance your day. I should know, because I take a Soundcore speaker with me on my travels myself. But if you really want the technical bits, then just know that this comes with a 140W booming bass, dual 50W woofers and 20W tweeters.
Jaques of London Luxury Boules Set was £55.99 now £44.64 (save 20%)
The last but one time I went touring France, the retired couple in the motorhome next to me on one of the caravan parks I stayed in spent the entire evening playing boules. I have rarely seen a scene of such contentment. When you think about it, boules is an ideal game to play on a campsite. All you need is a bit of your hard standing, or even just level patch of glass, and you can have hours of fun. There’s no heavy exertion needed, and that glass of sauvignon blanc is always just an arm’s stretch away. You don’t need much equipment either: this set from trusted brand Jaques should more than suffice.
Crocs Unisex Adult Classic Slide V2 Sandal was £29.99 now £18.24 (save 39%)
I don’t care what a fashionista might say – Crocs are the ideal footwear to take with you on a trip. I take mine every time I go, and have used them in all weathers, including snow. (In fact, they are quite good for a quick dash across the snow-covered grass to the toilet block.) They are very easy to flip off too , when you come back into the van (especially ones like these that don’t come with any back strap, although conventional Crocs are available too), so you don’t have to worry about making a mess. And as they are incredibly lightweight and malleable, they can be crammed in anywhere for storage. OK, they might not offer foot protection for a long hike, but for day to day wear they are fine. And yes, they are made of plastic, which perhaps isn’t very eco-friendly, but they are likely to last a lifetime (I have had my current pair for at least a decade) so you should only rarely have to worry about how to dispose of them. Plastic makes them easy to wash too, while they dry in next to no time.
Campingaz Camp Bistro Stove was £44.99 now £34.19 (save 24%)
You will almost certainly have a perfectly adequate hob in your caravan. But sometimes, especially if you are eating out under the stars, it can be nice to have a little stove to warm things up quickly nearby, without the hassle of putting a barbecue together. This little device, which weighs just 2kg and uses its own Campingaz cartridge (widely available throughout Europe) should do the trick nicely, and present you with that griddled steak in no time.
Zero In Citronella Pillar Candle was £5.49 now £4.49 (save 18%)
Speaking of eating outdoors, a perfectly timed and cooked al fresco meal can indeed be one of the highlights of your holiday – but it could also be completely ruined by an invasion of biting or stinging insects. Citronella candles are designed to keep the vast majority of these critters at bay. And while some of them look like they wouldn’t be out of place on the set of Gladiator 2, these Zero In models can be place neatly on your table, where they also provide a nice gentle light, and of course a pleasant smell. They burn for 30 hours too, which should be more than enough for you.
Maypole 230V 10A Mains Roller Power Unit was £58.95 now £50.11 (save 15%)
Some modern caravans now come with their own external mains socket, but only some. And many on the used market still do not have that luxury. In any case, you might find you need more than one power supply outside. This mains powered unit plugs into a hook up in just the same way as the hook-up cable on your van. It is splashproof, and comes with a built in RCD and circuit breaker, so you can use the three sockets on it with peace of mind. Best of all, the 15m cable it comes with can be rolled neatly away inside.
Ecoflow Portable Power Station River 3 was £239 now £159 (save 33%)
A separate power station can seem like a good idea for when you want to live off-grid or just need that little bit of extra wattage. The trouble is, many power stations on the market are heavy, noisy, and take up a lot of room. The River 3 has been specially designed to fit into smaller areas, weighs just 3.55kg, and makes no more than 30dB of noise even up close. But it can power 90% of your must-have appliances with 300W of power, and, thanks to X-Boost technology, can even power 600W heating devices. It can be charged from zero to 100% in an hour without causing battery damage, and supports solar, car, and generator charging. Best of all, nab it this Amazon Prime Day and you shouldn’t have to worry so much about the other factor that can put people off power stations – the price.
Dog Days Out was £20, now £12.82 (save 36%)
I am not a dog owner, but having been working for Practical Caravan for the best part of a decade now, I know how important keeping your four-legged friend content on a tour can be. And while you will find plenty of dog-related articles within the pages of Practical Caravan itself, it can be handy to have everything you need to know all in one place. Which is what this book purports to offer. It has 365 suggestions for places to go where those with a wet nose and a wagging tail are definitely the key focus. Everything from stunning beaches that are great to play fetch on, to country houses where canines are certainly not banished. It’s beautifully photographed, too, and includes maps and useful information such as local bye-laws about where and when you can allow your dog off the leash.
ROKA Canfield Roll Top Backpack was £85.95 (for size L) now £72.20 (save 15%)
ROKA backpacks are one of my new discoveries. They come in a vast range of jolly colours, are incredibly well made, and don’t involve a lot of faff doing them up or undoing them. You can use this model either as a small daypack or as a normal carrying bag, making it perfect for a quick trip to the local market. It’s casual and lo-fi appearance shouldn’t mark you out as an obvious tourist.
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