What are the essentials for a van trip?

Van life and road trips: the 25 accessories that are absolute must-haves for your van

Discover the 25 useful accessories that are absolute must-haves for your trip in a van. For cooking, sleeping, washing and relaxing: we’ve thought of everything!

The kitchen equipment you need to really enjoy yourself in a van or rooftop tent

The basis of any successful adventure is staying hydrated so you can keep up the pace and enjoy it. So for your road trip, we advise you to take along three basic pieces of gear to stay hydrated.

1. A water bottle: vital for both adventurers and the planet! You can use one in your kitted-out van and during your hikes and treks. If you’re travelling in summer and plan on going on long hikes, take at least two one-litre water bottles per person. To reduce waste, fill your bottles with drinking water found in the villages and towns along your route, rather than decanting water from a plastic bottle.

2. Insulated water bottle: hot drink lovers, don’t forget to bring your insulated water bottle so you can drink your coffee whenever you want or take a tea break during a hike.

3. Mugs: whether on the road or in your hiking backpack, mugs are always practical when you’re travelling in a group!

Cooking utensils

Cooking out in nature is very much part of the van life or road trip experience! Whether you have a kitchen inside your van (or camper van) or not, we advise you to go well-prepared. This will allow you to fully enjoy delicious meals, out in the great outdoors!

1. A cookset: this kitchen accessory comprises several utensils (a frying pan, a saucepan, a colander, cutlery and plate sets, etc.). With a cookset, you can both cook and eat: the essentials are all in. We recommend you take a cookset with you so you can do nearly everything. The bonus? Some very compact formats can be carried in your backpack for an improvised outdoor cooking session during your hiking break.

2. A stove: because although having a cookset is all very well, being able to use it and cook food inside, is even better! And to do this, either your vehicle has a kitchen and a means of cooking inside it, or you need a stove (standard or "wood-fired"). Are you the type to generally spend all of your summer evenings around a barbecue? Our Quechua portable 4-person camping barbecue comes in three modes: traditional barbecue, stove or brazier. A very nifty 3-in-1 accessory to tickle your tastebuds!

3. A multi-function knife: whether for a day-trip, a multi-day expedition or a week-long trek in the mountains, the multi-function knife is the basic utensil every adventurer needs!

4. A coolbag: if you don’t have a refrigerator in your vehicle, but you still want to eat fresh produce from time to time, a coolbag is the essential accessory for your trip. You’re spoilt for choice in terms of equipping yourself: in classic or backpack format to take along your day picnics, with a 10-, 20- or 30-litre capacity... And if what you’re interested in is for your coolbag to keep your food fresh for as long as possible, our 30 L flexible electric Quechua model will allow you to keep it cool for 96 hours.

💡 Handy tip: go shopping regularly to prevent having too much food to store and place it in hermetically-sealed boxes or high-lying storage areas. This will ward off any surprise guests who come to nibble away at your biscuits or other little titbits! Not sure how to go about cooking during your trip? You’ll find all our tips in this article! And don’t forget to take along some rubbish bags so you don’t leave any waste behind.

Some dishwashing equipment

Once the cooking utensils are all dirty, and everyone’s tummy is full, it’s just not possible to skip the dishes! But fear not: doing the washing up on a nomadic adventure is a lot more fun than at home. And to make it as easy and fun as possible, we recommend that you use two specific accessories.

1. A portable jerrycan: useful for storing and using your drinking water, you can also use it for the washing up, or to rinse your clothes or sports equipment too. We advise you to rather go for a soft jerrycan (but one that’s nonetheless sturdy), which can be folded up once empty and can easily be stored in your equipped van.

2. A portable sink: sinks also come in foldable, transportable versions! Highly practical for doing the dishes, laundry or brushing your teeth during a road trip, we advise you to opt for a sink that collects waste water, so that it doesn’t end up being poured out just anywhere out in nature.

All hygiene equipment for vanlife and road trips

Shower essentials

During a van trip, the question of showering comes up regularly. How do you wash and stay clean, while trying to avoid camp sites as far as possible? Here are three little accessories that will allow you to take your showers with ease.

1. A portable solar-heated shower: for washing outdoors or rinsing your belongings. Leave it to heat up during the day, and you’ll be able to use it by the end of the day. However, don’t forget to take a small ground mat, a bowl to put your feet in and wear flip-flops during your shower. This prevents you from getting knee-deep in mud if you’re in the great outdoors! Some solar-heated showers have been designed so you can use them with whatever set up you find yourself in. This is the case of our 10-litre Quechua camping model, that’s hung from a height or can be used on the ground, whichever suits you best.

2. A portable shower cabin: although it’s a heavenly experience to wash outdoors, above all, we don’t really want others to see us or the wind giving us goosebumps. So to give you some precious alone-time, you can use a shower cabin. And for added compactness and convenience, we’ve developed a 2 Seconds shower cabin model based on the same technology as our famous instant tents. You can also use it as a place to change or to go to the toilet if you’re opting for folding dry toilets (we tell you more about this below).

3. A bowl: this is the multi-purpose utensil you absolutely can’t do without! Your portable bowl can be used to put your feet in while you shower, do the washing up or laundry, to save water. Also, here are our 6 tips on how to do the washing up when camping !

4. Soap: either solid either solid by transporting it in its box; or liquid and multi-functional if you also want to use it to wash your clothing or do the dishes out in the open.

5. Microfibre towels: whether a bath or beach towel version, shower towel for your feet, or to dry your hair, microfibre towels are a must-have. The benefit of this? Even if you take many of them along, they take up little space and dry very quickly! You can also use a small size as a kitchen cloth.

It’s not always easy to find toilets en route or at the place where you park. To avoid having to hold it in for hours or have the hassle of trying to find an isolated spot, we’ve designed foldable dry toilets. Install them near your vehicle, on flat ground or in a camping shower cabin for extra privacy. Prefer going to the toilet "the natural way"? Here are some tips for relieving yourself in the woods.

Getting a good nights’ sleep: how should you configure your van?

Resting well between days of driving and adventure is important for you to get the most out of your trip! So the priority is to build yourself a snug, comfortable little night spot. In terms of its layout, here are three vital items of equipment.

1. A mattress: to ensure it becomes an ally in your restorative nights in an equipped van, rooftop tent or camper van, opt for a thick and comfortable one, like our ULTIMATE DOUBLE COMFORT self-inflating model. But take note: before choosing your mattress, carefully check the space you have available in the vehicle as well as the mattress dimensions. It would be a great pity to realise, too late, that you’re actually not able to sleep inside!

2. A pillow: the basic accessory for all-comfort sleep! If the storage space in your van is limited, choose a compact pillow to gain precious storage centimetres. 

3. A sleeping bag: to get a good nights’ rest inside your equipped van, rooftop tent or camper van, without taking along your bed frame (which would take up way too much space). For this model, it’s up to you to see, depending on the expected temperature on your trip, and your needs. There are one-person models, one-person models that merge to form duos, or double models (as is the case of the Quechua 0° COMFORT DOUBLE sleeping bag).

Van life tables and chairs

A table and chairs: vital van accessories for setting up outside

In a van, rooftop tent or camper van, it would be a pity not to enjoy the outside so you can prepare and enjoy your meals. Even if your van has a kitchen, admit that it’s nicer to eat, relax or read in the sun! Here are our three must-haves in the "outside van accessories" department.

1. A hammock: this is the best option with the least added bulk. You can hang it between two trees and enjoy the freshness of summer nights. Or simply to have a spot (not on the ground) where you can sit and listen to the sounds of nature, while sipping your coffee.

2. Foldable chairs or stools: practical for travelling and sleeping inside your vehicle, they allow you to set up a little nook for eating or playing a game of cards. Looking for some added comfort? Absolutely opt for a folding chair!

3. Foldable camping table: so you have a place to prepare your meals, comfortably enjoy your meals, prepare your itineraries, etc. Your foldable table will prove to be more useful than you think! The folding system makes it easier to store.

The useful little everyday accessories for a road trip in a rooftop tent or van

On any road trip, what often makes the difference is choosing the little accessories for your van or rooftop tent. All too often, the items you don’t necessarily think of at first... are actually those you find the most useful every day! Here’s a non-exhaustive list, to which you can add storage accessories so you feel at home.

Don’t forget your chargers and batteries at home! For small mobile phone-type devices, we recommend a solar-powered charger or a standard charger to use in your vehicle. For equipment that needs more charging power, like a PC or drone batteries, there’s nothing like a power transformer. It can be powered by a cigarette-lighter socket and have a standard socket you can use to plug in your devices. And of course we advise you to have at least one external battery with you for any emergencies.

We don’t always think of this, but it’s absolutely vital to equip yourself with torches! So whether you choose a hand-held torch or headlamp, your torch will prove to be very useful for doing some tidying up at the end of the evening or for going to the toilets in the dark. For evening meals, we advise you to take along a rechargeable string of lights so you can enjoy 360° lighting with rustic charm.

Road/IGN maps and a compass for orientation

We know you can replace all of these accessories with a smartphone. And several apps can give you some hiking ideas and help you to find your way to keep you on track, like the Decathlon Outdoor app. But if you’re a real fan of those good old-fashioned road trips, like those from your parents’ era, climb aboard with a road map! Also, there’s no guarantee you’ll have network signal or a connection everywhere you go, especially in the mountains. Rather plan ahead and take an IGN map to find your way when on a hike. Looking for a bit of a challenge? Take along a compass and set yourself the challenge of using it to guide you on your excursions.

Dustpan and brush

We don’t always think to take off our shoes before getting into a fitted out van or camper van. The inside can get dirty quickly. To do a spot of housework, remember to take along some utensils like a bucket and broom, short-handled brush, mop, sponge or scourer.

A book, e-reader, or deck of cards

They may seem optional, but games are essential for any road-travel experience. So whether your setting off solo, as a couple or family, don’t forget to take along with you something to do in your free time, and offer you a bit of relaxation, between explorations out in nature. Did you forget to bring along your Mölkky set to play as a group? We can suggest three alternatives to make with your water bottles!

Option: additional accessories to extend your space

If the main purpose of your van, camper or caravan trip is to be able to sleep inside the vehicle, you also have the option to add sleeping bags or maintain a large living space. You can, for example, add a rooftop tent to your van. Our Van Tent 500 has been designed to offer you more comfort and beds on road trips.

Do you need some extra beds in your van, but you don’t want to/can’t have a tent to go on top of your vehicle? Set off with a standard tent then. The Quechua 2 Seconds Easy tent folds out and back in again in no time, so you can swiftly get back on the road.

What are the essentials for a van trip?

Treat yourself to a large living space, by adding an attachable canopy to your van. For example, our Van Connect Arpenaz Fresh model offers enough space for six in the living area. Don’t feel like taking it down and storing it every time you move your vehicle? This canopy detaches easily so it can stay in place if you’re going out for the day. And it can also be used as additional storage space.

FAQs : we answer all of your questions on van life

How do you prepare for a van roadtrip?

We met up with Benjamin Lafoux, a fan of van life since forever, and designer of Quechua rooftop tents. Micro-adventure or world tour? What are the benefits of this activity? Is this type of "trip" for everyone? And how can it be managed with kids in tow? Find the answers in this episode recorded for the “Conseil Sport” podcast.

What is the average price of a fitted van?

It all depends on the choices you make: the prices will be much higher if you spoil yourself with a pre-fitted, new and ready-to-use vehicle. In this case, you can estimate an average purchase price of around €60,000. If you’d rather buy a used van to fit it out yourself, the price range will be a lot lower, but highly variable, depending on the make and model of the vehicle. Whatever the case, it represents a significant cost, with a certain budget to anticipate.

Choosing the proper accessories for your van or rooftop tent can transform your road trip into a memorable experience out in nature and on the road! Whether it’s used for cooking, sleeping, or keeping clean, every item of equipment mentioned in this article makes your trip more convenient. Don’t forget about the little accessories which allow you to make your everyday travel life more comfortable, wherever you may be with your vehicle. What’s more, some of this equipment could also be used in future for van life in addition to your tented expeditions and hikes. If you love open spaces and outdoor adventures, these little investments specially designed for van life can be used in other environments, too!

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