Caravan Checklist: Essential Packing List and Pre Travel Checks

Going on a caravan holiday is a great way to see this wide brown land. But before hitting the open road on your family holidays, it's important to make sure you have everything you need. As they say, failing to plan is planning to fail.

To help you out, we've put together the ultimate caravan packing list! In this guide, we'll cover all the essential items you need to pack to ensure a safe and enjoyable caravanning trip. Plus, we'll also cover some important pre-travel checks to make sure your caravan is in good condition before setting off.

So, whether you're a first-time caravanner or a tried-and-true road warrior, read on for our top tips on what to pack for your caravanning holiday.

Caravan travel packing essentials

First things first, let's take a look at the essential items you'll need to pack for your caravan trip:

• A comprehensive toolkit including all the basics like a screwdriver, hammer, pliers, etc. This will help ensure you can fix any minor problems including vehicle repairs that may crop up while on the road.
• A jerry can or two for carrying extra water. You never know when you might need it, plus it's always good to have a backup in case your caravan water tanks run dry.
• A set of good quality jumper cables (for obvious reasons)
• An emergency kit including things like a first-aid kit, flashlight, and spare batteries.
• A map of the area you'll be travelling in (just in case your GPS fails)
• A spare tyre (or two) and a tyre pump. You don't want to be stranded by the side of the road with a flat! Oh, and don't forget to check that the spare wheel you're bringing along is actually in good condition.
• A fire extinguisher is always a good idea, just in case.
• If you're travelling into remote areas, a satellite phone is essential in the event you need to alert emergency services.

These are just the basics – but it's always better to err on the side of caution when packing for a caravan trip. Of course, you will need to pack all your own items as per usual, like clothes, food, and camping gear.

Camping trip gear to add to your caravan travel packing essentials

Yes, the benefit of a caravan is that it mitigates the need to rough it. However, you will still need to pack some camping basics like:

• A tent (just in case)
• Sleeping bags and pillows
• Camping chairs and a table
• Cooking gear including a stove, pots, pans, plates, utensils, etc.
• An esky or cooler for food storage
• Food and drinks! Don't forget the all-important marshmallows for toasting over the campfire. On that note, check out this tasty 'smores recipe
• Clothes and footwear for all weather conditions – remember, it can get cold at night even in summer.

Now that we've covered the basics, let's move on to some pre-travel checks you should make before hitting the road.

Now that you've got your travel packing list sorted, let's take a look at some important pre-travel checks:

• Before setting off on any journey, it's important to give your caravan a thorough once-over to make sure everything is in good working order. This includes checking the tyres (including the spare), brakes, and lights.
• Give your vehicle a thorough inspection, including checking the oil, water, tyre pressure, brake fluid, and radiator.
• It's also a good idea to check your wheel bearings. How do you do this? - We hear you ask. Well, it's actually quite simple. Just jack up each wheel in turn and give the tyre a spin. If it spins smoothly, then your bearings are fine. If not, then they may need to be replaced.
• Check the caravan's weight and weight distribution, A caravan tow ball weight scale can help you understand if you're under your legal tow ball weight
• Another important pre-travel check is to make sure your gas bottles are full. The Bottlecheck app lets you test the levels of your gas bottles remotely and syncs the information to your phone. This means no more having to pick up the bottle to guestimate! And no more running out of gas in the middle of cooking!

Now that you know what caravan essentials to bring with you on your next caravanning holiday, it's time to think about what you'll be staying in and ensuring this is fit for purpose.

Now might just be the perfect time to invest in that new caravan awning you've had your eye on. These are a great way to add some extra space and storage to your living space, with the added benefit of privacy. And whilst most privacy screens available on the market are complicated and time-consuming to set up, the ones from CaravanMods are anything but. Within seconds, you can have your awning up and be enjoying the great outdoors in complete privacy. Check out our full range of Caravan Awning Accessories here

Or, what about a new caravan cover to keep your pride and joy protected from the elements when you're not using it?

CaravanMods has a great range of caravan and camper trailer covers to suit all budgets and needs. So, whether you're looking for something to keep your caravan clean and dust-free or you want to add some extra space and storage, CaravanMods has got you covered.

Now that you've secured a bit more space and privacy and are keeping your caravan in top nick with a new cover, it's time to start thinking about what else you might need to make your caravanning trip a success. And our thoughts instantly go to none other than ingress and egress, of course! In other words, getting in and out of your caravan.

This might not seem like such a big deal, but if you've got young children in tow, then it's definitely something to think about. The last thing you want is to be struggling to get your caravan door open with a crying child in your arms. So, what can you do to make this process a little easier? We recommend investing in a set of caravan steps. These will make life much easier.

That's it! Now you know everything you need to pack for your caravanning trip and what pre-travel checks to make before setting off. So, what are you waiting for? Get packing and after that, happy caravanning!