You probably want to spend time caravanning in the holidays or weekend with your family or friends. Maybe doing some remote off road camping, fishing, RVing, or just hitting the road with the caravan across Australia. To get the most out of the adventure, having the correct caravanning gear or RV accessories helps save time and makes life easier.
So what accessories do I need for a caravan to get going?
Caravan Accessories List
Here are some common, but important items to have.
(We have another longer list, further down the page.)
1. Towing Mirrors
2. Portable Generator
3. Outdoor Furniture
4. First Aid Kit
5. Wheel Chocks and Levelling Ramps
6. Kitchen Accessories
7. Awnings and Annexes
8. Reversing Camera
9. Fire Extinguisher
10. Portable Fans and Heaters
Find out where to purchase them at Where To Buy Caravan Accessories In Australia
Additional stores for caravan and V parts can be found at – Caravan Parts Suppliers | Australian Stores
1. Towing Mirrors
Safety should be the priority whenever you are out there having fun. Towing a caravan can be tricky, especially when you travel on a highway or a road with sharp bends. You do not want to be moving when you cannot see the sides of your caravan. You might not see an oncoming vehicle which might lead to an accident.
Therefore consider having towing mirrors whenever you are towing the caravan. Towing mirrors will make it easier for you to change lanes and make turns without the fear of hitting a car. The towing mirrors come in various sizes. So, consider choosing one that suits the design and type of your caravan.
2. Invertor Caravan Generator
Some appliances like a microwave, your personal gadgets, a fan, to mention a few, require power to run. You may need to have a flexible power source, and the portable generator does precisely works well. It will ensure that you can carry your source of power with you to avoid inconveniences whenever power is needed.
If you go free camping, away from the parks, it is good to have a portable invertor generator to run the appliances or re charge the batteries. While a solar panel might charge some items, a generator for the caravan is handy for energy hungry appliances.
For a list of quiet invertor generators for camping and caravanning, click on – What Is The Quietest Generator For Camping In Australia?
3. Outdoor Furniture
One of the best things about exploring around Oz is spending time outside and enjoying nature.
When you are out camping, you might want to have your lunch while seated outside, enjoying the breeze, or having a brewsky. Imagine if the sun is out there shining and you wish to have your lunch, but there is nowhere to sit?
Therefore, you should consider having some outdoor furniture when you are out with the caravan to have fun. Carry with you a portable table you can use to place things like food, drinks, or even your camera. It would be best to carry a relaxing chair that will make you comfortable whenever you chill outside.
Check out camping stores like Anaconda, Aussie Disposals, Tentworld, Wild Earth camping gear and BCF for some camping chairs on sale.
4. First Aid Kit
Caravanning may come with its share of accidents, especially if you want to go off grid and off road camping out in the woods. Someone in your party might have an accident or even get a minor burn, and maybe help is far. It will put you in a bad situation if there isn’t a first aid kit nearby that you will use to carry out the first aid. Therefore, you need to have this vital kit in your caravan to curb any emergencies that may happen.
You also need to ensure that your first aid kit is well equipped and has the most necessities. It is also better to have one of you is trained on using the equipment to carry out the first aid when the need arises.
5. Wheel Chocks and Levelling Ramps
Packing your caravan on hilly ground can be a bit tricky. It would help if you had wheel chocks to prevent accidental movements, thereby providing additional safety. If you do not have some chocks, you might come back only to find your caravan down the slope.
For you to be comfortable while sleeping, you need to have levelling ramps. Having levelling ramps will ensure that your caravan is stable, giving you the best comfort.
Levelling ramps will also ensure that your drinks are sturdy on your table. And your kitchen drinks and accessories are not sliding away or toppling over.
6. Kitchen Accessories
Most prefer to cook whenever they are out in a campervan instead of buying food. It is cheaper to cook, and also, you get to spend time bonding and sharing and showing off your culinary skills. So, you need to have essential kitchen accessories in your caravan and ensure that everything is put in place for easier access whenever a meal is required.
Some of these accessories include a small fridge, cooking pans, and a gas cooker. While choosing these appliances, you need to consider the space in your caravan and the compactness of these items. It would be best if you went for the things that are a little bit lighter and occupy minimal space. Also, pick out items that have multiple uses to reduce the number of these kitchen appliances.
My wife loves the Ninja blender for those fruit smoothies in the road.
Remember to pack the herbs and spices for the BBQs.
7. Awnings and Annexes
Awnings and annexes are an extension of your caravan space. They provide shade, privacy and a breath of fresh air.
You would probably want to spend some time out of the caravan in the fresh air, without worrying about the weather. These two items are what you need to achieve this. They protect you from the sun and rain giving you the comfort you need.
(The ‘awning’ is the roof bit that extends. An ‘annex’ is the wall part.)
If you want a free open place to relax for you and your companions, you should consider having awnings and annexes. They come in handy while you are camping and when you want to take a break from the travel.
Additionally a spare tarp is always handy to have as well. Remember the ropes and tent pegs to help set up the annex and tarps. For some information on cheap but good tarps, check out the article on Bunnings Camping Gear.
8. Reversing Camera
You might find it hard to reverse your caravan because it is not easy to see the back of your caravan or RV. You may be forced to let one of your companions alight and show you the direction, which might not always be accurate. It would be best if you had a pair of reversing cameras fitted to your caravan.
Reversing cameras will give you access to a back view of your camper van, enabling you to reverse quickly and more accurately.
9. Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher is one item that you should never forget to carry with you whenever you are caravanning. A fire may break out anytime, for example, while you are cooking.
Such fires are pretty risky because of the appliances in the caravan. It would be best if you had a fire extinguisher with you to put out the fire.
Having a fire extinguisher is a safety precaution that should never be overlooked. (Always check the gas bottle connectors for leaks and make sure the cooking gear is in good order.)
10. Portable Fans and Heaters
Sometimes, the weather might be unpredictable when you are out there enjoying yourself with the caravan.
You would not wish, for example, the summer heat at the Queensland coast or beach to make you uncomfortable. Or the cold Tassie winter with some freezing weather that would freeze you out. Comfort should be among your priorities while spending time with your friends. And you don’t want to be uncomfortable when you are out to have fun.
Therefore, it is wise for you to carry a fan, preferably the portable 12V fan, to cool you out during high temperatures. Having a heater is also necessary since temperatures fall during the night. With this, you would be able to make a stopover anywhere and camp wherever you want.
Other Must Have Caravan Accessories
Here is a list of some other caravanning gear that is useful to have. (We might do an in-depth caravan checklist in future articles. But this post is a very useful list.)
- Portable steps
- Jockey wheel
- Extension lead and power board
- Outdoor flooring mat
- Maps and log book
- Camping, travelling and caravanning apps
- Tool kit
- Jerry can
- Dust buster vacuum cleaner
- Phone charger and spare leads
- Flashlight – For more info, click on Torches for Camping
- Levelling device
- Caravan washing machine
- Spare blankets
- Fire lighting, fuel and kindling
- Trailer lock
- Can opener and wine bottle opener
- Outside lights and lantern
- UHF radio and handheld radio
- BBQ gear and utensils
- Gas bottles (Checked and full)
- 12 Volt Smart TV
- Wi-Fi extender
- Portable solar panel
- Smoke alarm
- Bike rack
- Portable clothesline or cord and pegs
- Fishing gear
- Off road recovery gear
- Shovel
- Tyre pressure gauge
- Air compressor
- Stubby holders (Well maybe not a caravan item, but it is essential.)
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Laundry bag
- Spare towels
- Broom and dust pan
- Spare tyre
- Buckets
- Portable fire pit
Conclusion
Going out in a caravan or RV is an exciting and unique experience to be on the road. Whether you are staying at a caravan park in Victoria like Geelong, or at a Merimbula caravan park in NSW. However, you need to have some caravan accessories with you to make sure you have a great experience.
Remember to get the RV or caravan insurance sorted out before you hit the road.
Most people would want to travel with some accessories and gear that would serve them well for the trip. Making your caravan experience comfortable and convenient on your day out should be one of your priorities. For this reason, having the best caravan accessories should do is crucial in ensuring that your caravan is well taken care of to avoid any caravan-related inconveniences in the process.
So, the next time you are travelling around our great land to have some fun in the caravan, don’t forget to carry the accessories with you!
