Motorhome Essentials You Need To Pack

Packing for a motorhome holiday isn’t quite the same as packing for an all-inclusive and you might be surprised at what you might need. So, if you’re about to hire or kit out your own and want some top tips for travelling in a motorhome, here’s our essential motorhome packing list.

 

What accessories do you need for a motorhome?

Motorhome essentials will depend on your destination, activities, and how long you’re planning to be away for. As well as packing your motorhome necessities you should check local laws in the countries you’re visiting – for example, if you’re heading to the mountains winter tyres and snow chains might be compulsory. And if you’re travelling to Europe after 1 January 2021, you’ll need to make sure you have the right paperwork.

If you’re hiring a motorhome, it may already have a number of necessities – such as cutlery, plates, utensils, mugs and glasses. Some will also come equipped with a TV or DVD player, electrical hook-up cable and cleaning basics like a dustpan and brush. You can also expect a full, refillable LPG bottle, as well as safety equipment such as a warning triangle, smoke alarm and fire extinguisher.

Of course, if you own your motorhome, it’s unlikely to come with any day to day necessities and you’ll need to organise these yourself. With that in mind, our guide to essentials for your motorhome assumes you’ll have these very basic items but here’s what else we couldn’t live without:

• Bottle stopper – hired motorhomes might already include one, but it’s not always guaranteed, if not, then it’s a good idea to have a selection of your own. If you’re partial to some fizz, bear in mind that Champagne bottle necks can be different widths to standard wine bottles so you may need a specific Champagne stopper. Another essential is a portable wine aerator (because not all wines are created equal). They don’t take up much room and some of the truly portable aerators can be attached to the bottle like a stopper. Plus – don’t forget the corkscrew.

 

• Plastic containers – having a selection of different sized boxes with lids will not only help you store leftovers and reduce waste, keeping loose items boxed in your fridge will stop them from rolling around too much.

 

• Reusable bags – handy not just for shopping but for keeping mucky boots in too. Another tip is to have a reusable cotton drawstring bag for bread, especially if you’re buying fresh from a bakery, they’re also great for storing fruit and veg.

 

• Wipes, cloths, sponge and kitchen cleaner – probably not the most exciting things you’ll ever pack for a holiday, but they are essential. Even in hired motorhomes, there’s typically never enough provided, particularly if you’re cleaning up after a family.

 

• Picnic bag – not strictly an absolute must have but there’s nothing worse than going on a long walk and not having a suitable bag to keep your lunch cool. Picnic bags have come a long way since the days of hefty boxes and there are plenty of rucksack versions that are comfortable to carry and have space to store a blanket.

 

• Bin bags – small bin bags are the most versatile and those with drawstrings can double up as recycling bags so you can keep your plastic, card and glass separately before you get to a recycling point. They’re also handy as dirty laundry bags.

 

• Colander or strainer – never underestimate how much of a motorhome must have this really is (or for any self-catering holiday). Easily stored and stacked with bowls and pans or if you’re very space conscious, opt for a collapsible version instead.

 

• Torch – aim to have at least one and the more powerful, the better. Don’t forget to stock up on extra batteries too.

 

• Inverter or other power source – this is essentially a portable battery that you can plug electrical items into, like a hairdryer. You’ll need to research what’s best for your needs but as a general guide, the more watts your inverter has, the more appliances you can power. If you’re heading well off the beaten track, then a generator could also be a wise investment.

 

• Travel adapter – chances are, you’ll have your own appliances but it’s always a good idea to have at least one adapter handy.

 

• Chargers, USB cables – if you’ve got lots of devices that need charging, it’s best to have spares as you never know when the opportunity to fully re-charge will come up.

 

• Washing liquid for clothes – instead of decanting washing liquid from home into a smaller bottle, you can buy travel wash instead, it’s often more concentrated so a little goes a long way.

 

• Clothes dryer – great for clothes and tea towels they come in all shapes and sizes from mini whirligigs to pegless lines and bungee cords you can hook to tree branches.

 

• Entertainment – even if you’re holidaying in summer, you can’t always be sure of the weather. Cards and small board games can be stored easily while downloading programmes and movies before you leave home means you can also enjoy a night in front of the telly. If you don’t already have an e-book device like a Kindle or Kobo, then they’re worth a look so you never have to worry about limiting the number of books you take.

 

• Stationary – pens, pencils, sticky tape, super glue, scissors, and paper are definitely some of our motorhome essentials particularly on longer journeys.

 

• Wi-fi booster – you can buy portable wi-fi hotspots so you can connect more than one device – perfect if everyone has their own tablet or laptop.

 

• Earplugs – it’s surprising how noisy nature can be so unless you literally do want to wake up at the crack of dawn, don’t forget these motorhome necessities. It’s also worth taking an eye mask, even if you have blackout blinds.

 

• Bathrobe – very useful if you’re at a site with a walk to the bathroom. Also, communal facilities vary, some are simply not practical to get changed in.

 

• Hanging toiletry bag – makes good use of space inside your motorhome, plus, they’re handy if you’re using communal campsite facilities.

 

• First aid kit – keeping one in your motorhome could be a legal requirement depending on where you go, so check before you head off. You can buy readymade packs or make sure you’ve got the necessary items including plasters, sterile wipes, bandages, tweezers, and safety pins.

 

• Microfibre towels – regular towels take up precious space, so these are absolute motorhome essentials.

 

• Packing cubes – ideal for storing clean clothes, these are a great way to keep belongings neat while maximising space. Particularly useful for smaller items that are easily lost like socks and underwear.

 

• Extra sleeping bags – you never know how cold it’s likely to get at night so it’s worth packing spares. Sleeping bags are a good choice as they roll up small and can be opened up and used as a blanket instead.

 

• Solar lights – powered up during the day, these are pretty and practical come the evening and can be used inside or out.

 

• Maps – always pack a paper map of the places you’ll be visiting even if you’re using a sat-nav or app. If you’ve got a good GPS or phone signal you might not ever need it but it’s a wise precaution just in case.

 

Tips on how to pack a motorhome

Packing a motorhome is largely down to common sense – heavier items should be stored low down while things you need every day should be easy to get to.

After a few trips, you’ll soon identify the spaces and cupboards that suit certain things better than others so a lot will come down to trial and error so don’t get too hung up about getting it right the first time (chances are you’ll rearrange things all the time, anyway).

 

Check your motorhome is adequately insured

While gadgets and gizmos might make life on the road easier, it’s crucial not to forget about your motorhome itself which is why it’s vital to have motorhome insurance you can trust.

At Comfort Insurance, we’re passionate about the service we deliver, and as motorhome enthusiasts ourselves, we appreciate just how important it is to look after what you have. Together, with our partners at Aviva, we’re proud to offer you an unrivalled choice of policies – it’s why our customers rate our service as ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot.

 

 

With policies from just £200* you can start your Comfort Insurance quote online now or speak to a friendly and knowledgeable member of the team on 0208 9840 666.

 

*Over 10* of our Aviva Motorhome policyholders paid this amount or less for their annual premium between 1^st January 2019 and 31^st July 2019.