Top 20 Essential Camping Accessories

Many clients who are new to campervan life ask us what essential camping accessories might they need for their first trip – so here goes!

So when we were deciding what we should stock in our brand new Sussex Campervans shop, we used our own campervan experiences – as well as ideas from our ever-growing family of owners of Sussex Campervans – to put together a wish list of practical items you may need or desire. We’d been asking campervan owners for their tips and tricks as part of the research for our new book, Camper Van Life – and it made us realise that all that shared experience is really valuable to newcomers. So here it is – our checklist of the top 20 essential camping accessories.

Top 20 essential camping accessories

(Available from the Sussex Campervans shop)

1. Whistling kettle or silicone folding kettle
2. Collapsible Washing Up Bowl
3. Folding saucepan and 3-Section Frying Pan
4. Folding Toaster
5. Cutlery set and cutlery tray
6. Melamine tableware - plates, bowls and mugs
7. Tea towels and cooking equipment
8. Non-slip mat and folding storage boxes
9. Side Step
10. Folding camping chairs (we love the Kampa Tub chairs)
11. Collapsible bucket
12. Toilet chemicals – blue for the pan, pink for the flush, dissolving toilet roll pack
13. Flexible filler tube (to fill water container from sites with less accessible taps)
14. Satnav and road atlas
15. Hook up cable
16. Rechargeable lamp (we love the YourLite Bluetooth Speaker and Lantern)
17. Levelling wheel chocks
18. Steering lock / wheel clamps
19. Dustpan, brush and cleaning wipes
20. Duvalay (or other bedding)

Desirable extras

• Travelpod Air Awning (driveaway awning) and rubber mallet
• Portable Gas BBQ and gas hose connector
• Sweep II lightweight broom
• Camper Van Life, by Daniel and Rebekah Lopez-Ferreiro, paperback book from the Sussex Campervans shop when you visit, or Kindle online.

Personal kit

Plus of course you’ll need your washbags, towels, shoes and clothes. Flip-flops are handy for campsite shower blocks, and lightweight quick-drying clothes that you can wash as you go are perfect for long tours in hot countries! Bobbie, who drives her VW Caledonia to southern Europe or beyond every winter, shares her top campervan packing tips in another blog.

I hope this gives you plenty of ideas to get you started. There are other items available in the shop to tempt you – when you visit Sussex Campervans – but these are our top 20 essential camping accessories.