A Look at the Essential Van Equipment for Every Road Trip

Although over 11 million U.S. households now own an RV, many families have to look for other options for road trips. Taking a road trip in a campervan or another type of van can be a great alternative.
A long American road trip can be a lot of fun, but it can be a lot more enjoyable if you prepare well in advance. There are a few essentials that you’ll want to bring on your van trip to ensure that you and your family or friends are comfortable.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the essential van equipment you need for every road trip.
Heating and Cooling Equipment
The first essential you’ll want to bring on a van trip is anything you need to stay at the right temperature.
Whether you’re taking a summer road trip or venturing out during a colder month, you should be mindful of how cold or warm your van gets at night. It can be a good idea to have a thermometer with you to check the temperature.
You’ll also want to consider bringing along a strong fan in the warmer months while you may want to bring a portable heater to use when it gets cold. You’ll also want to be sure that you have enough blankets and jackets to stay warm while on the road.
Kitchen Supplies
When preparing meals on your trip, you can keep things simple or make things a little more complex. At the very least you’ll want to bring some van essentials for the kitchen such as plates, cups, and silverware.
Depending on your setup, you might also want to consider bringing some appliances that can help during your trip. This could include a coffee maker or a portable 2-burner stove so that you can cook some meals when you’re parked in your van.
There are plenty of great appliances that you can get for a van kitchen, so carefully consider what you’d like to have with you before heading out.
Water Bottle
Even if you have some cups in your van’s kitchen, it can still be a great idea to bring a reusable stainless steel water bottle along as well.
A water bottle can be convenient to have with you when driving to a destination. It can also be useful to have when walking around a small town or taking a hike.
It’s important to stay hydrated when out on a road trip, so be sure to keep your water bottle filled up and use it regularly.
Flashlights
Whether you’re sleeping in your van at night or you’re facing car trouble late in the day, it can be helpful to have a flashlight around. Having at least one heavy-duty flashlight in your vehicle at all times can save you from a lot of trouble if you need to check your engine at night or you need to find something in the dark.
A flashlight can be a useful tool to have with you for a variety of different purposes when you’re on the road, so make sure that you bring at least one along.
Pocket Knife
Another handy tool to bring with you on your van trip is a pocket knife.
A pocket knife with a variety of different tools on it can be useful for many different things. It can help when making a campfire or when doing some cooking.
A pocket knife is compact and you’ll get a lot of useful functionality all in one place, so it can be worth having on the road with you. While it may be helpful to bring a larger toolset along as well, simply having a pocket knife with you can help a lot.
Entertainment Options
Even if you’ll be exploring a lot of interesting landmarks and destinations during your road trip and having the time of your life, you should be prepared for a little downtime. Be sure to bring some entertainment options along so you can fight off those moments of boredom when they come.
You’ll of course want to have your smartphone and charger with you. You should be sure to download some podcasts or prepare some music before you leave.
If you’ll be staying overnight in your van, you might also want to consider bringing along board games, cards, or a laptop to keep you entertained.
Chairs and Tables
Although you’ll be spending a lot of time inside your campervan when taking a road trip, you should plan to spend some time outside as well. No matter where you’ve set your van up to stay for a while, it can be helpful to have some chairs and tables with you.
Bringing some foldable chairs and tables can allow you to have lunch and dinner outside. They can help you enjoy the tranquility if you find yourself around peaceful natural scenery.
There are plenty of options out there, so make sure that you get some compact chairs and a table that won’t take up too much space in your van.
Bathroom Essentials
There are some great adventure vans for sale that are already well-equipped for camping. However, if you have a more basic van setup, be sure to think carefully about how you’ll handle all of your bathroom needs.
Bringing an outdoor shower along can be well worth it and can help you stay clean even if you’re spending days or weeks on the road.
Bringing a camping toilet is also essential if you want to stay comfortable when living in a van. Fortunately, there are many affordable camping toilets out there so you’ll be able to find one that’s suitable for your needs.
Bringing the Right Van Equipment on Your Trip
If you want to have a smooth and stress-free time when on a road trip, be sure to get the right van equipment. Bringing heating and cooling equipment, kitchen essentials, a pocket knife, and a flashlight will be well worth it.
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