Owner guides
Motorhome necessities: 30 essential camping items
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You’ve just bought your own motorhome and you’re buzzing to get on the road. We get it! But just wait one second and double-check that you’ve got all your motorhome necessities. You don’t want to get to your destination and discover that you’ve left the essentials behind!
This article lists all the necessities that a motorhome should have on board. Not only will they help to keep your trip stress-free, but they’ll also make your motorhome more appealing to people wanting to hire it through Camplify - a great way to earn a return on the money you spend.
30 motorhome necessities to make van life easy
Campsite necessities
Fresh water hose and fittings
You’ll use your fresh water hose to fill up your motorhome's fresh water tanks. Make sure the hose is rated as food-grade, as this is the water you’ll be drinking, cooking and washing with. A length of 10-20m should ensure that you don’t have trouble getting water from the camp tap to your motorhome.
Don’t forget the fittings either. You’ll need an adapter on either end of the hose so that it can be attached to both the tap and the filler on the motorhome's freshwater tank.
2. Wastewater hose and fittings
The wastewater hose is used to empty the grey and black water tanks into the campsite dump point. Measure the diameter of the connector on your waste tanks in order to work out which diameter of hose is suitable for your motorhome. A length of 1-3m should be suitable for most campsites.
Again, make sure you have the necessary fittings. At a minimum, that includes a connector on both ends of the hose (one for connecting to the motorhome and the other for connecting to the dump point).
3. Disposable gloves
Wear a set of disposable gloves whenever you empty or clean the grey or black waste water tanks on your motorhome. A small price to pay for maintaining your cleanliness and health.
4. 240v power lead
Use a 240v power lead to connect your motorhome to the mains power at your campsite. A length of 10-15m is suitable for most powered sites. When not in use, wrap the cable up and stow it away. However, when in use, unwrap and spread out the entire cable to prevent overheating.
5. Gas bottle and fittings
Most motorhome owners in New Zealand prefer exchangeable LPG bottles over refillable bottles because it is easier and faster to exchange bottles at the nearest petrol station. However, exchangeable bottles do tend to be larger and weigh more.
Make sure that you always turn the gas bottle off when it’s not in use and store it in a dedicated cupboard in your motorhome when travelling. We recommend installing a gas bottle holder or cradle to prevent the bottle from rolling around.
You will also need to invest in a regulator and hose.
6. Levelling chocks
Levelling chocks allow you to level out your motorhome when camping on an uneven campsite. This prevents things from rolling around and saves you from sleeping on an angle all night. Larger chocks tend to do a better job than smaller chocks. However, don’t forget that you will have to store them somewhere (preferably in the motorhome's rear garage compartment).
7. Mud mats
A set of mud mats will help you get your motorhome out of a wet and muddy field when bogged. The mats help your tyres to get traction, rather than spinning on the mud. They may not seem like a necessity at first glance, but just wait till the day your motorhome is bogged (and trust me, that day will eventually come).
8. Folding chairs and table
Invest in an affordable but sturdy set of folding chairs and table for outdoor dining and entertaining. Because half the fun of owning a motorhome is the time you get to spend outside!
9. Clothesline wire with pegs
Not every campsite or holiday park you visit will have a laundry with working dryers. In these situations, it’s handy to have a cheap clothesline wire that you can tie between two trees. Just don’t forget to also grab some pegs as well.
Motorhome safety necessities
10. Fire blanket or extinguisher
This is one of the motorhome necessities you absolutely can’t forget to include. Should a fire break out onboard your motorhome, you need to act quickly to extinguish the flames with a fire blanket or extinguisher. Keep them somewhere that is easily accessible in the kitchen.
11. Smoke and carbon monoxide detector
If you use gas in your motorhome, you must install a carbon monoxide alarm to keep you and your passengers safe from gas leaks. It’s also wise to install a smoke alarm. These days, you can buy combined alarms that detect both monoxide and smoke.
12. First aid kit
Hopefully, your motorhome holidays will be trouble-free. However, it’s necessary to keep a first aid kit on board just in case. Most kits include almost everything you need in a medical emergency, such as plasters, bandages, dressings, saline solution, safety pins, alcohol wipes and gloves.
Motorhome repair necessities
13. Spare bulbs and fuses
You never know when you might experience a blown fuse or a bulb whilst holidaying in your motorhome. That’s why most owners carry spare fuses and bulbs so that they can quickly and easily fix minor electrical faults when they arise.
If you’re experiencing an issue that renders your motorhome undriveable, don’t forget that Camplify provides hirers with free 24/7 nationwide AA Roadside breakdown assistance, should they need help.
14** . **** Basic toolkit**
Often on road trips, you’ll find yourself in need of a screwdriver or a hex key to fix something like a loose screw on a camping chair. Instead of driving to the nearest town to buy a tool every time you need one, keep a basic toolkit in the glovebox or a drawer.
15. Torches
Not only do torches come in handy if you need to dig around under the hood of your motorhome, but they’re also a necessity for finding your way around your campsite at nighttime.
Motorhome navigation necessities
16. Phone holder on the dashboard
Instead of satellite navigation systems (i.e. GPS), most motorhome owners now use their phones and apps for guidance. However, it is illegal to hold your phone in your hand whilst driving. A much better option is to buy a phone holder that can be stuck to the dashboard of your motorhome and hold your smartphone in place whilst displaying maps.
Motorhome kitchen necessities
17. Fridge
This is one of the more obvious motorhome necessities! Chances are that your motorhome came with a fridge already installed. If it didn’t, however, you should invest in a fridge that can run off both 12v (battery) and 24v (mains) power.
If it comes with a freezer compartment, that’s a bonus. Your road trip and diet will be a lot more enjoyable if you can carry foods that need to be kept refrigerated.
18. Dustpan and broom
Keep a dustpan and broom in your motorhome for cleaning up spills and mess on the floor. A telescopic brush handle is preferable, as it is easier to store away.
19. Bin and bin bags
It’s necessary to have at least one bin inside your motorhome's kitchen cupboard (and maybe another smaller bin in the bathroom). Keep your bin bags tidy by storing them inside an older container (e.g. an empty wet wipes tube).
20. Plates, cups and cutlery
Keep a cheap set of plates, bowls, cups and cutlery in your motorhome's kitchen cupboards. Don’t spend a lot of money on fine china, as this stuff is almost guaranteed to break at some stage. Some people even prefer to use paper plates and cups, which saves on washing but is not very waste friendly.
21. Cooking utensils
When it comes time to cook meals in your motorhome, you're going to need the essential cooking utensils: a set of knives, spatula, tongs, scissors, peeler and collapsible colander. Without these necessities, you’ll likely be restricted to a diet of 2-minute noodles.
22. Pots and pans
It’s necessary to have at least one pot and one pan onboard your motorhome. Beyond cooking your meals, a pot is also useful for boiling water if you don’t want to take a kettle. Just remember, after cooking with your pan, wipe out the leftover fat with a piece of paper towel instead of washing it down the sink (bound to clog your grey water tank).
23. Chopping board
You’re going to want a solid chopping board for preparing your fresh fruit, veggies and meat. Preferably, it will have a handle that allows you to hang it on the wall and save bench space when not in use.
24. Grill or stove
Again, it’s likely that your motorhome will already have a pre-installed grill or stovetop. If it doesn’t, however, you should invest in a single or double burner stove that can be placed on the kitchen countertop or used outside.
25. Kettle
Some motorhome owners boil their water in a pot on the stove. However, if you want to save time, invest in a 12v electrical kettle or a stovetop kettle. Some of them are even collapsible, so you can save storage space.
26. Paper towel and holder
Always keep at least one or two rolls of paper towel on board so that you can clean up spills in a hurry. Consider investing in a towel rack that you can stick on the wall. This keeps the roll out of the way and makes for easy access.
Motorhome bathroom necessities
27. Toilet paper
Just like paper towel in the kitchen, toilet paper is one of the less glamorous but more important motorhome necessities. We recommend also buying a vertical roll dispenser to store your spare rolls, although this is not a necessity.
28. Cleaning products
The bathroom cupboard is a good place to store your cleaning products, which should include toilet cleaner, all-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner. You should also invest in some greywater tank cleaning detergent and treatment products, for keeping your wastewater tanks clean, odour-free and clog-free.
29. Toiletry holders
Whilst storing your toiletries in the empty bathroom cabinet is fine, you’ll likely find that it’s a shambles after a long day of driving. To keep everything in order, buy some small plastic storage bins or organisers to hold your toiletries in place.
Motorhome bedroom necessities
30. Pillows, sheets and blankets
It’s a good idea to buy a set of bed linen and pillows that are just the right size for the bed in your motorhome. That way, you won’t be sleeping in sheets and blankets that are too small or overly baggy. Plus, linen makes your posting more attractive to potential hirers if you rent out your motorhome through Camplify!
Boost rental appeal with all the motorhome necessities
When you invest in the above motorhome necessities (plus a few extra touches!), you’re making sure it has all the essentials for an easy and comfortable van life adventure. In other words, you can increase the chances of holidaymakers wanting to hire your motorhome, and in turn, earn a return on your investment with Camplify!
Why Camplify?
Each year, many Kiwis earn up to $10,000 by hiring out their motorhome through Camplify. By doing so, they quickly generate a long-term passive income stream. And the best part is, Camplify takes care of many of the expenses involved in hiring out your vehicle, including:
Comprehensive hire insurance.
24/7 nationwide AA Roadside breakdown cover for hirers.
Dedicated customer support.
If you’re interested in earning a return on your investment, you can calculate how much income you could generate each year by using our earnings calculator.