What do we really need?

[CuriousGeorge]

Hi all,

I'm looking to get into caravanning pretty soon, currently I'm just doing a bit of research on what is right for me as a user. I'm getting on well at the minute, but there is one thing that has been bugging me.

Looking round various caravans, it seems to me that there are a few items which don't really need to be there? For example, I can't see myself using the plethora of cupboard space which seems to be standard on most caravans on the market currently.

Is there anyone out there who wants to share their expereince with a newbie on this? Do you use all the cupboards? Out of interest, are there any other things in the caravan which you dont really use/could do without?

Thanks

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Hi George, welcome to the Forum.

You will always need cupboard space. Most people say there is never enough.

Internal - clothes, pots, pans, plates, cutlery, food (cans, packets, boxes, condiments, etc), storage containers, drink, wine, entertainment (cards, CDs, games), bedding, tool kit, etc

External - gas, spare wheel, waste container, water container, piping, filler hose, etc

Car - chairs, awning, wind breaks, more drinks, etc

I'll leave other people to fill in the etcs.

 

[Mel]

Hi. At home there are lots of surfaces where stuff can be left and not be in the way. In a van you need to maximise surfaces, so you end up stowing stuff to keep clutter at a minimum. You will find plenty of reasons to use all the cupboard space that you can get. Good question though.
mel

 

[Surfer]

Hi. At home there are lots of surfaces where stuff can be left and not be in the way. In a van you need to maximise surfaces, so you end up stowing stuff to keep clutter at a minimum. You will find plenty of reasons to use all the cupboard space that you can get. Good question though.
mel

In the front of the caravan we have a six large cupboards of which we only use about 2 1/2 and the rest are mainly empty. We would prefer more wardrobe or clothes space. Every time you travel you would need to unpack the upper cupboards to help prevent snaking!

 

[emmerson]

George, you need to speak to my wife! She thinks that there isn't enough cupboard space in the whole world!
Believe me, given time, you will fill all the space in your caravan, no matter how big it is.

 

[otherclive]

Our van has lots of upper cupboards most of which are empty when travelling but on arrival the stuff comes out of the car or lower van lockers and the higher level cupboards start to fill up. They are invaluable for helping keep us tidy.

 

[MichaelE]

I have an electric Heki GRRRRR!!!! what an utter waste of time and money "oh it saves so much time using the remote" NOT a real gimick and i told Elddis so?
The outside shower too , disconnected that.
Never have enough cupboard space as it helps spreading the weight around.

 

[Martin24]

Every bit of available storage space is used in our van and we wouldn't consider a van with a "sun roof" because of the loss of the two front cupboards. What we have always done is remove the microwave as this gives us an extra cupboard in the kitchen.

 

[RayS]

If you have too much cupboard space and not enough wardrobe space you adjust your clothing accordingly. Knitwear will fold easliy and not crease too badly if folded properly. Underwear, socks and the like are best kept in bags when clean and transferred to the laundry basket under the bed when not. At the end of a European trip they can be used to prevent wine bottles clinking.

There is NEVER too much cupboard space. If there appears to be, it is because it is the wrong shape or in the wrong place.
What you need to do is to be tidy and PUT THINGS AWAY rather than just ' down' on the first available surface. And, how many pairs of shoes do you actually need to take ?

(There, didn't I do well to take all that down at dictation speed ?)

 

[Mel]

I agree Ray. OH is sick of hearing me say "Stow as you go". Can.t bear clutter in the van. What bugs me is where to store the dirty laundry. In my last van I had a laundry basket in the shower cubicle(used on site showers). But this van has a bijou wet room and you step through the shower to get to the loo.
mel

 

[otherclive]

Our dirty laundry just goes in a black bag in the bottom of the wardrobe which if its not washed when away then tends to go under the bed locker. It's the ironing board that we have a problem stowing........!!!

 

[Raywood]

The amount of cupboard space you need depends on how many of you there are and how light you can travel. At one time there were two of us and three daughters in the caravan. That meant a lot of clothes, towels and personal items and every inch of the 14 foot caravan was packed. Now there are only two of us and having learned what we really needed when we had no spare room we have been able to go away for over three weeks without filling everywhere and that was with enough of everything to last out without using any on site laundry. It all depends on numbers and the abilty to know what you actualy need as we learned with four of us in a 10 foot caravan initially.

 

[Dustydog]

You can never have too much space

Apart from the usual things already mentioned, there are tools, sky boxes, cameras , telephones ,drugs (prescribed) , magazines PCv, CC mags , books an array of cooking ingredients , dogs things, membership packs of CC , NT etc plus the volumes of caravan instructions.

And like a good Woosie Knight of ours a step ladder, crow bar, sledge hammer, axe and an electronic satellite finder.

All the creature comforts of home

 

[Sproket]

You can never have too much space

And like a good Woosie Knight of ours a step ladder, crow bar, sledge hammer, axe and an electronic satellite finder.

All the creature comforts of home

& I Just need to find a dish washer to fit into one of the spare cupboards in our tardis ....

 

[Gafferbill]

And like a good Woosie Knight of ours a step ladder, crow bar, sledge hammer, axe and an electronic satellite finder.

.........you forgot to mention an Arc Welder

I am sure I saw tell tell flashes one dark night at Rivendale during a bit of secret maintenance!

 

[anotherDavid]

There is never enough cupboard space. We go away for 3 months in the spring and have to take clothes for for all seasons. Apart from clothes there is linen, food, crocks cooking utensils, bedding for different weather and of course books toys TV etc etc Even with a large van and only 2 of us we still end up with crates of stuff in the car.
David

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

And like a good Woosie Knight of ours a step ladder, crow bar, sledge hammer, axe and an electronic satellite finder.

you forgot the suit of armour (plastic mack, hi vis vest, nose clip,and helmet) for empyting the loo

and of course the Lance (to carry the cassette with) at a safe distance.

 

[Parksy]

And like a good Woosie Knight of ours a step ladder, crow bar, sledge hammer, axe and an electronic satellite finder.

you forgot the suit of armour (plastic mack, hi vis vest, nose clip,and helmet) for empyting the loo

and of course the Lance (to carry the cassette with) at a safe distance.

The Woosie Knight in question has no need of a plastic mac, when I saw him trecking toward the Foaming Pit of Evil Stynkes with his loo cassette in a rain shower he was better protected against the wet weather than your average trawlerman

Outside access to under seat lockers and under fixed bed storage is handy for storing lightweight folding chairs, windbreaks etc; without having to tramp through the inside of the caravan to get to them.

 

[Gozza]

In 35 years caravanning I've never known a 'van that had enough flat space to put things on, or enough cupboards for the things that wouldn't fit onto flat spaces!
To your original question - plan a couple of short weekend breaks close to somewhere that has a few shops, just in case. Take with you only those things you definitely think you'll need (a couple of suggestions below). On those short trips, be careful to make a note every time you say "I wish we'd brought a..."
The rest of your caravanning career you'll have great fun buying, making, tracking down at boot sales etc, the things that will make your caravanning experience what YOU want it to be!
Suggestions for the "Essentials" list are:
Crockery, cutlery, kettle, cooking equipment (appropriate to the sort of cooking you expect to do: My luxury item is an egg poacher, that may not appeal to you!). Washing up liquid, sponge or dishcloth, tea towels
Enough provisions to make tea, coffee and breakfast, and any other meals you intend to self cater.
Fresh water carrier, waste water storage (a bucket will do if you're prepared to keep emptying it!)
Prescription medication and your favourite over-the-counter painkillers. A basic first aid kit...at least some plasters. If you have small people, DON'T FORGET THE CALPOL!!!!!
Personal wash kit and towel(s)
Bedding or sleeping bag(s)
Basic tools - what you carry depends on what you feel competent to use and the level of repair work you're happy to do while away.
You'll soon want to add to this list - my caravan is full to bursting with books, boards games, CDs, chairs for sitting outside, but i don't begrudge them their space in the weight allowance because of the family fun they provide. Oh, and my egg poacher of course!