Van life continues to grow in popularity, with thousands of people every year choosing to hit the road and explore in these innovative vehicles. But as many quickly learn, living in a campervan isn’t as easy as it might seem and presents unique challenges for newbies. Luckily, there are tons of great campervan accessories to make life a bit easier and more comfortable, and we have tested many of them.
Read on as we explore 10 of the best campervan accessories.
How Is a Campervan Different Than a Motorhome?
The primary difference between a campervan and a motorhome is the amount of space and the lifestyle its residents can enjoy. Don’t get us wrong – both styles are far more compact than a typical home or apartment.
But campervans are typically the size of a large van instead of the bus-sized vehicles that motorhomes resemble. This means van lifers may not have amenities like a typical shower. They’ll likely need to deal with a small kitchen and spaces that serve several purposes.
While living in a motorhome can be similar to living in a tiny house, campervans require a different lifestyle altogether. Therefore, it’s vital to make the most of every inch and only take along items you’ll need.
On the plus side, campervans are more maneuverable than traditional motorhomes, meaning they can often go where bigger RVs can’t. They’ll also require significantly less fuel to keep going than the gas-guzzling behemoths of the motorhome world.
How Can I Make My Van More Homey?
Making your campervan feel more like home is vital to transforming it into a space you can live in for a while on the road. Focus on small but meaningful ways to show your personality. That could be a favorite personal item, a particular color scheme, or stickers or magnets. A variety of accessories can also help make your favorite parts of your life easier and homier.
Qualities of Good Campervan Accessories
Good campervan accessories will meet several requirements that make them perfect for compact, on-the-road lifestyles. It may go without saying, but portability is the most important. If it can’t travel with you, it simply won’t work.
Smaller or collapsible items are best to avoid cluttering your living space and limited storage. Many folks don’t think of weight, but lightweight items can help improve gas mileage and prevent trouble from an overloaded rig. Finally, they need to be easy to set up and store, as you’ll likely be doing these things frequently while traveling.
10 Best Campervan Accessories
So which campervan accessories are must-haves for those new to van life and eager to hit the road? Here are our picks for the ten best and most valuable.
1. Portable Outdoor Shower
Sure, plenty of campgrounds have showers available. But a portable outdoor shower is perfect for those true boondocking moments or whenever you need a quick clean. Most models require no electricity, heating the water to a comfortable temperature in a few hours of direct sunlight.
By hanging the bag above you, the combination of gravity and the shower’s specially-designed features produces the pressure you need to get clean. It’s an affordable, long-lasting item that also stows away easily in the tight space of a campervan.
2. Insulated Window Coverings
Many of us have sat in a closed vehicle with the air conditioning off in the summer or the heat off in the winter and felt how quickly it became uncomfortable. Unfortunately, many vehicles aren’t the best insulated, meaning it can be hard to keep the elements out even with the help of heating and cooling devices.
Insulated window coverings help keep things comfortable while also providing privacy for you when you’re inside. Many models like these attach via magnets or other quick mechanisms that make putting them up or taking them down a matter of seconds.
- Designed for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van Camper conversions van...
- Made with Durable UV Resistant Polyester, Powerful Rare earth...
- Sold in Pairs (Left and Right front Doors) Only. Grab Handle...
3. Moonshade Portable Awning
When dealing with close quarters like a campervan, it’s vital to make the outdoor area around your vehicle a comfortable part of your living space as well. This Moonshade portable awning does precisely that. It attaches to the roof of your vehicle, which means it only requires two legs to provide a 9-foot by 7-foot covered area up to 8 feet tall.
This can shelter several people from the hot midday sun and unpleasant rain, or even provide a reflective surface for lantern light after dark. Best of all, it weighs just 8 pounds and is roughly the size of a yoga mat when stored.
- LIGHTWEIGHT & PORTABLE: Heavy-duty, but not heavy. The MoonShade...
- DURABILE & PROTECT: Made of durable water-resistant polyester...
- VERSATILE & MULTIPURPOSE: The MoonShade vehicle awning was...
Pro Tip: Install one of these 5 Best Camper Van Awnings for Your Van Build.
4. Safe
Unfortunately, life on the road can have some downsides too. Car break-ins are all too common, especially for camper vans, where thieves might believe they can find expensive electronics or other items.
A small safe like this is one of the best campervan accessories to protect your valuables. Most thieves don’t have the time, skill, or inclination to try to break into a safe, preferring to grab easier targets instead. Even outside of the potential for theft, a safe can be a valuable central storage spot for important documents or other items.
When you need them, you’ll always know where they are, safe and secure.
- Small safe is ideal for use as a travel safe or personal safe for...
- Secure small safe to a fixed object with cable; Portable safe is...
- Set your own four-digit combination portable safe; Ear...
5. The Stanley Camp Pour Over Set
Those who live in a campervan will sacrifice all sorts of comforts of home, but a delicious, steaming hot cup of coffee shouldn’t be one of them. Traditional drip coffeemakers draw a surprising amount of power, making them a poor choice for the limited electrical systems of most vans.
That’s what makes this Stanley Camp Pour Over set so valuable. Travelers can heat their water however they choose, whether they use a hot plate, gas burner, or other methods, and make an excellent cup of coffee simply by pouring it slowly over the grinds placed in the included reusable filter. In just minutes, the coffee is ready.
The set is stainless steel, which makes it easy to clean after use and durable for a lifetime of caffeine boosts.
- BEST BREW EVERY TIME: Refresh your coffee experience with Stanley...
- STAINLESS STEEL FILTERS: The stainless steel design is stylish...
- EASY TO USE: Pour the desired amount of coffee into the filter,...
6. Collapsible, Rechargeable Lantern
Let there be light! This collapsible lantern is one of the quickest ways to light up your interior space or outdoor area. Just fold out the less than 6-ounce lantern and enjoy between 15 and 65 lumens of light on various settings.
Keep it closed, and you can use it as a mini flashlight. You’ll also never find yourself without enough juice to provide some light, as it can charge via USB and a hand crank when typical power isn’t available. It’s also a power bank for your phone or other devices in emergencies.
- 【360° Lighting Coverage】Adopts 6+1 high-intensity LED chips,...
- 【Lightweight & Portable】Collapsible design, as small as a...
- 【Durable & Waterproof】Made of high quality ABS material,...
7. Light Weight Camping Chair
We mentioned earlier about making the outdoors comfortable to expand your living space. This is a must-have on that front. These efficiently designed chairs weigh less than 3 pounds but can support up to 400! They quickly assemble to provide ergonomic support, perfect for quiet mornings outdoors or long evenings around the campfire.
Breathable mesh sides also help keep you cool no matter how hot it gets. With two chairs included in this affordable set, it’s one of those campervan accessories that can transform your outdoor experience.
Pro Tip: Kick back and relax in one of these 10 Comfiest Camping Chairs for Relaxing Outdoors.
- ★The THIRD GENERATION CAMP CHAIR of MOON LENCE: The best small...
- AIRCRAFT GRADE ALUMINUM: Our chairs, made of 7075 aluminum alloy,...
- NEW RIPSTOP CHAIR COVER: These multi-use chairs, are made of 900D...
8. Portable Power Station with Solar Kit
Not every spot you’ll camp each night will have access to electric hookups. But a portable power station can help provide a more typical experience, no matter where you are. You can charge this power station with a 1,000-watt-hour capacity via a traditional outlet, a standard 12V car charger, or even a solar panel.
That latter option is especially convenient, as it can keep your power station fully juiced with just six hours of direct sunlight daily. In addition to 12V and USB charging ports, this power station also includes a 1500-watt inverter, providing the AC electricity needed to run appliances like TVs, fridges, and more.
- Full Solar Charge in 1.8 Hours: With an AC input up to 800W, the...
- Lighter, smaller, always enjoyable: The Explorer 1000 Pro...
- All-Round Safety: Pure sine wave inverter delivers stable power...
9. Rear Door Bug Screen
Popping open the back doors of your campervan to take in a beautiful view or get some fresh air is an excellent perk of the lifestyle, but not when doing so lets in a cloud of mosquitos and other obnoxious insects.
These easy-to-install magnetic screens keep out even the tiniest bugs while maintaining visibility and ventilation for people inside. Convenient zippers make opening and closing easy.
- [NO INSTALLATION REQUIRED]- Just unpack your new magnetic fly...
- [VANLIFE ESSENTIAL]- One of van life must haves and easy-to-go...
- [UNIVERSAL SIZING]- Designed to be compatible with MERCEDES...
10. Car Seat Organizer
Organization is key in small spaces, and it doesn’t get much smaller than the back of a campervan. Thankfully, campervan accessories like this car seat organizer do wonders to keep things in their place.
They hang conveniently over the back of the driver or passenger’s seat, with pockets designed to fit drinks, books, an umbrella, pens and pencils, and other items. There’s even a spot to hold 10-inch tablets for easy viewing. These organizers are also machine-washable and water-resistant, making them perfect for even the messiest, roughest travels.
- Upgraded Pockets: 7pcs Pockets+1pc Tablet Pocket】7pcs Mesh...
- 【Upgraded Size: L: 24inch * W:16inch】New Version Car...
- 【Upgraded Material: Environmental Friendly】 The Transparent...
Outfit Your Campervan with Accessories to Make Travel Easier
Living life on the road can be challenging, to be sure. But with the right campervan accessories, things can be a whole lot simpler and more comfortable. These affordable items take up relatively little space but provide incredible value.
Add them to your campervan and enjoy the immediate difference these additions can make for all travelers.
What are your go to #VanLife accessories? Tell us in the comments!
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Treehugger
Monday 6th of March 2023
My best campervan accessory is a plastic squeeze bottle. I use it as a ladies BIDET. Fresh as a daisy. Check out saveatreewhenyoupee.com