Caravan Checklist: Essential Packing List and Pre Travel Checks
It feels like there are a million things to do and pack before you take off on a road trip adventure in the caravan. When you are packing everything from the tongs to the toothbrush, the job can take days (or a couple of very late nights) depending on how late you have left it.
Take the pressure off by getting organised early and have a packing list you can check off as you go. Anything you can do in advance will make the job a little less stressful and help get you on the road earlier.
What to Pack for your Caravan Road Trip
You will probably find you take slightly different things on each trip depending on the location and duration, but there are plenty of items that go with you every trip. Keep a list of these essentials to ensure you don’t leave home without them. It is a good idea to write a list of the main meals you are going to eat while you are away. This allows you to buy some of the dry goods in advance and reduces the chance of taking food items you won’t use.
Caravan Checklist
Your caravan is a tight living space so only take what you need. Before packing anything, think if there is a smaller, lighter version. To save yourself time each trip, leave what you can in the caravan and have a list of things to keep in the caravan so you know what’s there. After you have finished packing, double check you have locked every drawer and cupboard door to stop the contents flying out while you are travelling.- Check fire alarm, replace the battery if needed
- Fire extinguisher/fire blanket
- Dishwashing detergent, plug, sponges, tea towels
- BBQ wipes, car or canvas cleaners, big sponge, old towel
- Soap, wipes, hand sanitiser, hand towel, tissues
- Mini vacuum or brush/pan set
- Mats for inside and outside the caravan
- Container for holding shoes
- Small table if you like to prepare meals outside the van
- Folding chairs
- Small bin & bin liners
- Bags for shopping & carrying clothes
- Large bag for dirty clothes, pegs and washing powder, clothesline
- Cards, board games, reading material, pens
- Camera
- Sporting equipment
- Fishing gear
- Umbrella, wet weather gear, sun protection, hats
- Chargers for any devices you take
- Torches, firelighters
- Toaster and kettle
- Toiletries & bath towels
- Extension cord/s for car fridge & caravan on a powered site
- Kitchen utensils including tongs, egg flip, potato peeler, chopping boards
Car Checklist
It’s tempting to pack as much as you can into the caravan and leave the car space for passengers, but there is nothing worse than realising you can’t access something while you’re travelling because you’ve packed it in the caravan, not the car. Here is an explanation for items to carry in the car- GPS – the Hema HX-1 Navigator provides on and off-road navigation with topographic maps and thousands of points of interest to see along the way.
- EPIRB – if you are leaving the road and exploring some remote areas, an EPIRB will ensure emergency services can find you
- First aid kit – keep it in the car rather than the caravan, so you always have it with you after unhitching.
- Baby wipes - can be used on everything from kids’ sticky fingers to cleaning up after changing a tyre.
- Rubbish bags - small rubbish bags for food wrappers and receipts that float around the car.
- Device charger – if the kids are using an iPad in the car, plug it in.
- Rubber backed rug – if you need to get under the car or van to change a tyre, you will need something to kneel on rather than the hot/wet bitumen.
- Gaffer Tape – it comes in handy if something breaks and you need to hold it together.
- Rag/Old Towel –protect your hands if you need to open the bonnet or for when the kids spill their drink.
- Tools – Keep a few basic tools handy if your toolbox isn’t easily accessible from the caravan.
- Snacks – enough said if you have kids!
Tool Checklist
The tools you take depends on the type of road trip you are doing. If you aren’t leaving the bitumen and you’re staying in well-equipped caravan parks, you won’t need as many tools as an off-road trip in the middle of nowhere with limited passing traffic.- Electrical tape
- Spare fan belt and radiator hoses
- Hammer and rubber mallet
- Spanner set
- Screwdrivers
- Tyre pressure gauge
- Puncture repair kit
- Socket set
- Mini spirit level to check the van is level
- Scissors
- Stanley knife
- Tie cables
Spares Checklist
If you can’t rely on a shop being down the road for part of your trip, you will need to come prepared with some spares.- Batteries for torch, lamp, fire alarm, camera etc
- Camera memory cards
- Tyre/s for car
- Tyre/s for caravan
- Fuses
Pre Travel Checklist
Here are some suggestions to help get organised early, so you aren’t trying to do it all in the last few days.More than One Week Out
- Cancel the newspapers at home
- Organise for your mail to be collected or held
- Test all the stations on your garden’s reticulation
- Ask a neighbour to put out your bin
- Last catch-ups with friends and family
- Book the car in for a service if it’s due
- Check the conditions of your tyres and the spare
- Fill up the gas bottle from the caravan, if needed
- Check your wardrobe in case you need to buy any clothes
- Research your location and book any tours
- If you are taking bikes, check tyres and spare parts
- Decide on the route you will take and buy your road maps and guidebooks
One Week To Go
- Vacuum pack and freeze the meat
- Purchase all your dry pantry items
- Give a family member a house key in case of an emergency
- Clean caravan of any cobwebs and dust
- Move linen into caravan and make beds
- Pack dry ingredients and drinks into van
- Start packing clothes you won’t wear again before going
Day Before You Go
- Move any indoor plants outside if needed
- Ask a neighbour to put out your bin
- Fill the car with fuel
- Fill the caravan water tanks
- Purchase fresh foods you are taking
- Move any kitchen utensils you need into the caravan
- Finish washing and packing the clothes
- Organise snacks/meals for the first day of the trip to avoid cooking
- Turn on the caravan fridge and then pack food in
- Plug in the car fridge and move into the car
- Charge batteries
On the Morning You Go
The night before, write yourself a short list of everything you need to take with you in the morning (or print out the lists in this article with your own bullet points added) . I’ve learnt the hard way that it’s always doing one final check.- Pack the last of your toiletries
- Pack your pillows
- Empty the last items from the fridge
- Turn off any electrical appliances at the wall
- Empty any indoor bins
- Check you locked all doors and windows
- Pump up the tyres on the car and caravan after you leave home
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Posted on: Aug 3, 2018
Comments
Michele
Feb 1, 2023Don’t tell neighbours or anyone your going away this leads to house break-ins
Michele