Packing a motorhome or camper? Want to know what essential motorhome kit you need? Here’s a list of the most important things that every motorhome or campervan should carry with them before they leave for their trip.
Don’t forget to grab your free motorhome departure checklist below to help keep you organised.
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Motorhome Essentials- what do you ACTUALLY need?
I know, I know. You find a motorhome to buy and all of a sudden your wallet is open and you’re buying STUFF.
So. Much. Stuff.
Sometimes, it’s hard to know what the motorhome essentials are and which ones are just… nice to have.
So here’s a list for you. These are the essential things we believe EVERY motorhome and campervan should have asap.
Some of them are important for life in the van. Some are important for safety. We’re not concentrating on travelling abroad- if you’d like to see the 15 essential motorhome accessories you need for Europe- click here
Essential Motorhome Accessories
Hosepipe
You need a hosepipe, in order to fill your water tanks. We highly recommend at least 10-15m in length. Food grade hose is preferable but not essential. There are 3 options when it comes to hoses – a normal hose, a flat hose and the expanding hose.
You’ll also need connectors- I like the Hoselock connector and use brass adaptors for Europe for different size taps. REMEMBER to take the connectors with you!! (I’ve lost so many all over Europe- oops!) And the cap for the water tank is brilliant- just attach your hose and leave until the tank is full.
240v Electric Cable
A long (25m) 240v electric cable is good, but don’t leave it coiled up when in use as it can cause a fire. Spread it out on the ground outside the van.
I store mine in my motorhome storage box, but it can go in an internal locker or the garage if you have one, either rolled up for in a carry case.
You’ll probably also want a splitter (there are a LOT of campsites with not enough sockets!), a 240v wall plug and a European adapter.
Want to know how to pack a motorhome (from scratch?) Here’s a video for you
Gas Bottle
You can have either refillable or exchangeable gas bottles in your motorhome. If you’re staying mostly in the UK, stick to exchangeable (remember to get a spanner for tightening/ loosening the bottles. 30mm is the usual size.) These pigtails (gas hose) with the wheel connection are another option so you won’t need a spanner for every gas bottle change 🙂
Refillable are cheaper if you use them a LOT, but it’s getting harder to find LPG in the UK (it’s easy in Europe, so we highly recommend them then). This is the refillable gas system I use.
Fridge
Talking of gas, if you don’t already have a 3-way fridge, get one. The ability to run on the leisure battery (depending on your set up), 12v (while the engine is running), gas or 240v power is so useful- you won’t regret it. There are options – a fitted fridge or one that is portable, below are some options. It is worth thinking about the installation – will it impact your warranty, so will you need to have one fitted by a certified workshop (this will mainly impact those with purpose built motorhomes / campervans).
3 Way Fridges (No Freezer)
Portable Fridge / Freezer
Another option is a 2 ways fridge – these run off 12v or 240v and these come in a configuration of fridge and or fridge freezer. My friend has this 15L one – she uses as an extra freezer and it sits in her passenger foot-well (this one can also be used as a fridge).
If you prefer the Dometic range – the brand that most motorhomes are equipped with, you can check out their link Dometic Fridge/ Freezers and Dometic Coolers.
Levelling Chocks
You’ll only spend one night at an unholy angle before you agree that levelling chocks are a motorhoming essential.
I highly recommend these Jumbo ones- take up a bit more storage room, but they’re so much more useful than the smaller versions. The storage bag is useful too for when they’re wet and/ or muddy.
Mud Mats
Talking of mud, have you ever been stuck on a muddy pitch or field on a camper holiday? I have… and it was NOT fun.
I don’t think I would have gotten out if it wasn’t for these mud mats. I joked about not really needing them… but boy was I wrong! They are ESSENTIAL motorhome accessories!!
If you’re new to motorhoming, you might be interested in these posts:
Essential Motorhome Safety Kit
If you’ve got gas onboard, you need a carbon monoxide detector. And a smoke alarm. A combined unit is useful. And a fire blanket and extinguisher. After my motorhome fire, I am INSISTENT on these things. I have done a full post on fire extinguishers – check it out here.
The latest product on the market is the Fire Safety Stick, I have done a post which includes this product and you can see a video of the product here – in action!
Other Essential Safety Kit includes:
Spare bulb kit and fuses, First Aid Kit, Warning Triangle, basic toolkit, and a head torch.
This roadside emergency kit contains most of those things, plus extras.
Whilst we’re on the subject, don’t forget security. We fitted a motorhome door lock for additional peace of mind, as well as several other motorhome security ideas.
Tyre Repair Kit
I don’t like to think about it, but sometimes things go wrong. Often, it involves a flat tyre. Many motorhomes do NOT have a spare tyre- they have a tyre repair kit. Make sure it’s a heavy duty system suitable for large vehicles – do check that the kits are applicable for your own vehicle.
Sat Nav
You NEED a proper sat nav in a motorhome. No question about it. It’s too big a vehicle to mess around with.
Motorhome Essentials- Wing-Mirror Protectors
These are one of the best things you will ever buy. Trust me- worth every penny. There are long arm and short arm versions- be sure to buy the correct one for your motorhome or camper.
Essential Motorhome accessories for living
Once you start using your motorhome, there are several things you’ll need, even just for one night. If you’re living in your van, you’ll need even more 🙂
Toilet Paper & Toilet chemicals
You do NOT need expensive ‘motorhome’ toilet paper. In fact, the cheapest stuff you can find in the supermarket is PERFECT- anything which dissolves quickly.
But I DO recommend toilet chemicals. I’ve tried a lot of different types, including detergent tabs, which were ok but didn’t stop the smell.
I now use a product called Solbio organic toilet fluid, which is natural and doesn’t contain harmful chemicals- and it smells delicious (yes, seriously!) It’s also safe to be disposed of in septic tanks or fosse, meaning we have more options to dispose of our toilet responsibly.
To freshen up the toilet bowl after use – these products are great! Zoflora is great to use not only in the toilet bowl, but also down your drains and grey water tank!
If you need to freshen up the toilet cassette – these products are great and I would advise to clean your cassette regularly to keep it free from “grime” (but this will depend how much you use your van)
Bedding & Mattress Topper
Decent motorhome bedding is essential. I’m not a fan of sleeping bags, preferring proper duvets and pillows. A mattress topper is also essential if you want a good night’s sleep. Almost all toppers are made for “normal” beds – so if you have a french bed in your van, then your best option is buy a foam topper where you can cut to to shape. Or you can get made for purpose toppers but these can be expensive!
Cleaning
If you spend much time in the motorhome, it’s going to need cleaning. I have tried several different brands of 12v vacuum cleaner and conclude that Dyson is worth every penny. Get the one with a 12v charging option. You’ll also want a small dustpan and brush to get in the corners.
You can get more tips on how to clean the outside of your motorhome here
Cooking
Here are some great alternates to cooking if you run out of gas or there is power cut your campsite. There are two great options; alcohol cooker and gas cooker.
These are great way to keep food or drink hot / cold whether you’re off grid or out on a walk. When you’re cooking via gas, these are great way to minimize using your gas to reheat water or food.
Essential Motorhome Accessories- Plates and Cutlery
You have a LOAD of options here. I have melamine, which are tough and can stand being dropped by accident. I love both of these, but Amazon have LOADS of options. Same for cutlery and motorhome mugs.
(Also, you DON’T need to buy huge amounts- just enough for one each. Guests or people you might want to invite for coffee can bring their own mugs/ plates.)
Other Essential Motorhome Accessories
A couple of random tips for you. Change as many interior lights to LED as you can- your battery power will thank you- especially if you want to go wild camping with your motorhome.
Also, make sure to buy a way to charge your phone/ ipad using the 12v sockets at the front.
Watch a video of the essential motorhome accessories (plus a few random ones!)
Watch the video of me and Mr WB discussing our opinions on what we feel are the most important essential motorhome accessories (and what we disagree with each other about!)
If you’re new to motorhomes, you might find these posts useful:
Alternatively, these guides might answer all your questions (and more!)
Last update on 2025-12-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
