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What clever modifications or upgrades have you made to your caravan?

I’m always interested in seeing what other caravanners have done to improve comfort, convenience, or tech on board. Big jobs or small tweaks — it all counts.

For example, I’ve just replaced the old cigarette‑lighter style 12V sockets in my van and fitted modern USB charging points instead. It’s a simple upgrade, but it’s already made life easier.

I’d love to hear what others have done, such as:

  • Upgrading the radio to DAB or Bluetooth
  • Adding Wi‑Fi or a 4G/5G system
  • Improving taps, pumps, or plumbing
  • Carpet or flooring upgrades
  • Extra USB or 12V sockets
  • Lighting changes (LED strips, dimmers, spotlights)
  • Storage mods, shelving, hooks, organisers
  • Heating or ventilation tweaks
  • Security improvements
  • Any DIY fixes you’re proud of
What have you changed, why did you do it, and would you recommend it to others? Photos are always welcome.
 
Every new Caravan we buy before it’s first ever used,I change shower to a thermostatic controlled valve
Present Caravan fridge thermostat controlled fan
Factory fitted Aircon
 
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I added a motor mover bypass switch, so that I could park van up at home, due to space restrictions the mains plug and MM switch being on the off side was impossible to access so added key switch to nearside, allowing mains to be plugged in before final positioning using motor mover, then plug van into mains.
 
I'm not technical so I've added things I can do. So a set of coat hooks to the back of the bathroom door. Two shelves in the kitchen area to keep cups when we set up. Another shelf at the end of the bed for an illuminated clock.
 
A couple of extra shelves in an overhead locker. Small fan to assist fridge cooling in hot weather. Removed sliding bedroom door which kept falling off, and installed a flexible curtain combined with waist height dig guard; saved weight too. Installed external tv and sat point. Replaced el cheapo rear skylight with quality Heki type. Removed Alko wheel carrier.
 
I added a motor mover bypass switch, so that I could park van up at home, due to space restrictions the mains plug and MM switch being on the off side was impossible to access so added key switch to nearside, allowing mains to be plugged in before final positioning using motor mover, then plug van into mains.
This is one i have in mind, i have the same issue, i thought of a remote switch, save wiring.
 
A couple of extra shelves in an overhead locker. Small fan to assist fridge cooling in hot weather. Removed sliding bedroom door which kept falling off, and installed a flexible curtain combined with waist height dig guard; saved weight too. Installed external tv and sat point. Replaced el cheapo rear skylight with quality Heki type. Removed Alko wheel carrier.
I manufactures=ed my own cooling kit from internet parts, worked well.
 
Removed the AlKo spare wheel carrier, and changed the shower head to a Camel one, otherwise nothing else, because it is a Coachman.

Helmet on, incoming. 🤔
Why did you remove the carrier? I have thought about adding as spare wheel carrier as spare wheel is in under bed storage which i could better use for other things?
 
Like Billy said it’s safer not having to remove the wheel when abroad. Plus it’s not easy to remove the wheel as if the van has a puncture you may have difficulty pulling the carrier out without having to lift the caravan and trying to do it when jacked is inherently risky. So I save payload and maintenance by removing the carrier. I carried the wheel just inside the door where it didn’t move at all. On site it went under the caravan chained to the chassis and hidden from view with awning.
 
Hi, both valid points on the carrier, We have a twinner and to lift that at the side of a road would be impossible, let alone, caravans dont come with lifting gear. spare is there for recovery team ( Green Flag ) so am going to live with wheel inside van and think about an alloy replacement for the steel wheel depending on weights? Nice debate peep's.
 
Hi, both valid points on the carrier, We have a twinner and to lift that at the side of a road would be impossible, let alone, caravans dont come with lifting gear. spare is there for recovery team ( Green Flag ) so am going to live with wheel inside van and think about an alloy replacement for the steel wheel depending on weights? Nice debate peep's.
How much weight difference is there between an alloy and the OEM steel wheel? Why go for an alloy?

If it’s a non OEM alloy buy a quality make as some aftermarket ones may not be strong enough to take the impacts from potholes. Caravan suspension isn’t as forgiving as a cars suspension.
 
I changed the Dometic toilet to a Thetford. Too many problems with the Dometic and spares prices are though the roof. Very pleased with the outcome.
 
I've added a control system that allows me to remotely control and/or read Solar, battery state, mains power and heating. Also added larger solar panel, a 1300W inverter, a LifePo4 battery and changed the battery charger to Victron.
 
I've added a control system that allows me to remotely control and/or read Solar, battery state, mains power and heating. Also added larger solar panel, a 1300W inverter, a LifePo4 battery and changed the battery charger to Victron.
I've added a control system that allows me to remotely control and/or read Solar, battery state, mains power and heating. Also added larger solar panel, a 1300W inverter, a LifePo4 battery and changed the battery charger to Victron.
Is that an off the shelf piece of kit?
 
Is that an off the shelf piece of kit?
Yes and no.
All my charging kit is Victron and they make a unit called a Cerbo GX that talks to all* Victron kit (once configured) and to a MiFi allowing connection to the internet. It can also control relays for the heating etc.
Being a cheapskate I put the Victron software on a Raspberry Pi ( under half the price) and added various Sonoff switches for the control of the heating etc.
I'm afraid there is no box that you can just install and make it happen, the Cerbo is about the nearest you will get.


* There are some bits it doesn't talk to such as the IP22 charger but most it does.
 
I am an inverate tinkerer! Having changed from a caravan (loads of mods to that) to a Panel van conversion, so far all of the below..........

Rear suspension airbags installed (not as difficult as I envisaged)
120w Solar panel plus controller
External BBQ point.
Head up speedo display MPH/KPH (Fiat Ducato ones are just about invisible at the best of times)
Wireless reversing camera.
Dash cam with permanent (ign controlled) feed.
Permanent feed for sat Nav
Fridge fan (essential in my view)
Additional USB charging points (4)
Lots of interior lights changed to, or augmented with, LED units.
Roof light over bathroom removed, dismantled and thoroughly cleaned (huge visible difference) Likewise rooflight/fan over the kitchen
Additional shelves in bathroom along with....
Holders for electric toothbrushes
PIR light in the bathroom for nighttime visits
TV bracket (removable)
TV aerial completely rewired (old cable broken where it entered the aerial body)
Internal cupboarr shelving all rearranged.
Easily removable access panel to all the electrics (everything behind a panel in the wardrobe thats a nightmare to remove, hence the additional hatch.
Rear bike rack bolted to door
TPMS along with some decent wheel trims (original Fiat ones were dire)
Black trim (bumpers etc) returned to black from dull grey.
A couple of 3D printed cup holders that can be used whilst in bed (I got a pals son to do the printing once I had found the right file format for his printer)

Going forward I am looking at...
Fitting a Volts/Amps/Wattage consumption meter. I fitted one of those on the caravan, it was interesting to see how much we actually used and it might prove useful if/when campsite supplies become fully metered.
Cruise control (maybe)
Possibly a roof box, still a bit undecided on that, I will see how we get on next month when we are away for 5 weeks (diesel supply situation permitting of course)

Like I said, I love tinkering so I am sure I will think of further "improvements"
 
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From the top - it is now nigh impossible to get a car radio so that a fitted unit can be replaced. As many cars - especially EV - have changed to an' Infotainment' unit (how I hate that name!) that is functionally part of the vehicle computer system and includes a radio (albeit FM and DAB only) the market for car radios has all but disappeared.
In our last two caravans (2 berth) we have only fitted the carpet between the front seats. For the remainder of the floor we have put down (pre-used) dark grey rubber-backed matting that you often walk onto when you enter an office block or (some) shops. It is usually branded Initial, and we got ours from an outfit on line called Splendid Pets - they call them 'Dirt Trapper' mats. The good bit is that they can be washed in a machine, they are warm under your feet, easily vacced, and you don't have to worry about muck on the carpet.
Most vans have a plate that houses a 12V 'cigarette lighter' socket with a TV aerial socket in one corner. I either replace the socket with a screw-on F-type (as used on satellite kit) or replace the complete plate so that it has two sockets. The F-type on the plate is actually a double ended socket held in by a spring washer and nut which means whichever route is chosen dis and re connection is simple and quick. The benefit is that F-types give better and more secure connection and will better withstand free cable tension between the socket and TV. Notice that most modern vans now use aerial amps that have native F-type sockets for the same reason. The double socket also gives the option of installing another external connection where a pillar signal or a satellite dish can be directly fed in to the TV leaving the fitted aerial amp to be used for radio - if you have one.
Finally our latest caravan does not have a radio but comes with a Bluetooth connected amplified speaker so that you can play music etc through it from your phone/tablet/laptop. This gives you the option of either feeding the speaker unit by cable with headphone audio from the TV socket (if it has one) bringing the source nearer the listener, or by fitting a low latency* Bluetooth transmitter to the TV. If the speaker does not have a cable connection and you prefer that method just get a speaker that does have a cable socket. I got one (Anker) from a Cash Converters for £10 and it works a treat.
*Low latency means such as Bluetooth V5 which has almost no delay on the audio and you thus gives almost zero transfer delay such that the sound and picture stay in sync. Cable connection does not suffer latency.
 
From the top - it is now nigh impossible to get a car radio so that a fitted unit can be replaced. As many cars - especially EV - have changed to an' Infotainment' unit (how I hate that name!) that is functionally part of the vehicle computer system and includes a radio (albeit FM and DAB only) the market for car radios has all but disappeared.
In our last two caravans (2 berth) we have only fitted the carpet between the front seats. For the remainder of the floor we have put down (pre-used) dark grey rubber-backed matting that you often walk onto when you enter an office block or (some) shops. It is usually branded Initial, and we got ours from an outfit on line called Splendid Pets - they call them 'Dirt Trapper' mats. The good bit is that they can be washed in a machine, they are warm under your feet, easily vacced, and you don't have to worry about muck on the carpet.
Most vans have a plate that houses a 12V 'cigarette lighter' socket with a TV aerial socket in one corner. I either replace the socket with a screw-on F-type (as used on satellite kit) or replace the complete plate so that it has two sockets. The F-type on the plate is actually a double ended socket held in by a spring washer and nut which means whichever route is chosen dis and re connection is simple and quick. The benefit is that F-types give better and more secure connection and will better withstand free cable tension between the socket and TV. Notice that most modern vans now use aerial amps that have native F-type sockets for the same reason. The double socket also gives the option of installing another external connection where a pillar signal or a satellite dish can be directly fed in to the TV leaving the fitted aerial amp to be used for radio - if you have one.
Finally our latest caravan does not have a radio but comes with a Bluetooth connected amplified speaker so that you can play music etc through it from your phone/tablet/laptop. This gives you the option of either feeding the speaker unit by cable with headphone audio from the TV socket (if it has one) bringing the source nearer the listener, or by fitting a low latency* Bluetooth transmitter to the TV. If the speaker does not have a cable connection and you prefer that method just get a speaker that does have a cable socket. I got one (Anker) from a Cash Converters for £10 and it works a treat.
*Low latency means such as Bluetooth V5 which has almost no delay on the audio and you thus gives almost zero transfer delay such that the sound and picture stay in sync. Cable connection does not suffer latency.
Quite a comprehensive array of changes. I agree with the connector changes — I’ve done this in most of the caravans I’ve owned, as I found the original connector very prone to snapping a lug, leaving them worse than useless.I ran an Ethernet system in my last caravan to supply the two TVs with cable internet access, which is faster than Wi‑Fi.Radios — yes, I am looking at what I can upgrade or change it to, to be able to play the TV audio through it.
 

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