Hi just to ask what would you all recommend must haves for first short outing in new van as don’t want to rush and buy stuff we don’t need……. I’m thinking we will want to take two bikes but don’t know whether to get tow bar fitted for bikes or bike rack?? Any advice welcome Also if getting towbar fitted do I get it done from a vw dealer?? Another question on air awning would want a small one if there are recommendations for or against plz?? There will be just us so 2 people Do I buy sleeping bag to fold up rather than bedding?? So many questions I know but first time vw owners
the following are always in my kitchen cupboard, so we are ready to go.
Cups, plates, cutlery, small wooden spoon, small spatula, bottle opener/corkscrew, small opinel knife, two small handleless pans and a frying pan, all share one clip on handle (Trangia pans would work). Small scissors for those annoying packets that won’t tear open.
Tea towel, cellulose sponge, tiny bottle of washing up liquid (60ml or so!). Teabags (and milk/sugar if you need them). My DH takes ground coffee and a wee stovetop espresso maker. Small plastic chopping board fits on top of drawer and means it can be used as a makeshift shelf. A couple of Kabuto ramen noodle cups for a quick meal! Sachets of ketchup (extras from a certain burger place my kids like). Collapsible silicone kettle, fits under the glass top between the two gas rings when not in use. I happen to like toast, and the cheap aluminium metal toaster you put on the gas ring lives in a ziplock bag so it doesn’t make a mess. I find its fine as long as you keep a close eye on it and turn the toast when needed.
my kids do water sports, a tailgate tent means they can change wetsuits and get dried without dripping all over the van interior. I don’t always keep it in the van though, just when we are headed to the harbour!
I have also got into the habit of keeping a towel for each of us in the back wardrobe under the tailgate. Again, something we don’t need to pack if we leave on a whim.
we have hookup cable and side window blinds in the drawer under the bed, and I keep a pair of slip-on shoes in there (for easy on/off in case of nighttime loo trips). Also a dog lead and tie-out cable (not recommended for spouses or errant teenagers, just for the dog). UNO and travel scrabble are in the overhead locker, along with inflatable/compact travel pillows. Sleeping bags x4 in the main wardrobe. We each take a packing cube with our clothes, they live on top of the bed when it is folded away.
extra usb charging things for 12v sockets are invaluable. There are three of those that run off the leisure battery. One is in a cup holder that is almost totally inaccessible under the bench, so I got one that has a sort of extension lead for that socket.
collapsible car bin and a roll of bags, used all the time for containing mess. Wet wipes and tissues in the glovebox. Hand sanitizer in the drivers door pocket, disposable masks under the drivers seat.
I use the VW/Thule bike rack that came with my van, it has a learning curve but is much easier to set up than the tow bar mounted one on our last car.
Things I bought but never use:
hose for filling the water tank. I bought a five litre water carrier with a jerrycan type spout instead, I can fill the tank five litres at a time and know how much I have onboard. The hose just made a mess, spraying everywhere at the tap end and it still took forever. Also you never know if it’s clean, really. It’s easy to sterilise a jerrycan with Milton.
Shower with usb rechargeable pump that you use by immersing in a container of warm water. Never used. Can’t imagine I will need to now things are opening up again, but never say never. Might still come in useful for showering off lake water while our sailing club showers are out of use. Or cleaning a mucky dog, when she has rolled in something unmentionable.
Toilet tent. I do use the portapotti 365 occasionally for night time wees, men needn’t bother I guess. It fits between the fully extended bed and the drivers seat. Never used for no 2’s as I’m the one who has to empty it.
I have hardly used the fiamma awning. It’s too windy in Scotland most of the time, and when the sun comes out I don’t want shade! Have also not used the Thule Residence it came with, I should probably sell it.
levelling ramps: I actually didn’t even buy any. Never needed them either. I don’t even have a levelling bubble, rebel that I am. Just try to park as level as I can and live with it.