These are the bits of kit that nobody will be posting about on their Instagram but I promise will make your van life much easier! Think mundane, unsexy but definitely useful in those oh sh*t we need a so-and-so moments! We have collated our “Oh Shit Kit” over a number of years and if it wasn’t useful it would not be in our van! Everything in here has to earn its place and if it doesn’t get used regularly, it will not be living in Vanny Cradock with us!
The Hosepipe
When we first decided to live in a campervan, Dan decided to do countless hours of research into hose-pipe connections. Whilst I was contemplating my life choices in marrying someone who got excited about hosepipes…he was actually sourcing the one thing that has saved our bacon on a weekly basis!
We are now the proud owners of a 50ft expandable hosepipe and a selection of connectors that will fit every type of tap from here to Timbuktu. I am reliably informed that the linked connector will cover you for the UK, most of France and Italy. You may also need a male to male connector for some places in France.
If this makes as much sense to you as it did to me, drop us a message and I will put you in touch with our resident hosepipe expert.
The Awning
If you have a wind out awning on your van, this is one product we thought we didn’t need but trust me it is an awning game changer.
If you have ever seen one of these wind out awning canopies in the wind, you will know the risk of them blowing over the top of your van is real.
We bought a universal storm strap kit which was a bit cheaper but you can also get Thule or Fiamma branded ones if you want.
Whilst I still wouldn’t leave the awning out unattended, I now don’t have to have a minor meltdown every time there is a gust of wind.
The Power Bank
The age old debate about power set ups in vans continues. We didn’t build our van, so we got what we were given: 200w solar panel, 95ah AGM battery and no inverter.
We don’t use much power at all as our van has a compressor fridge, LED lights and a gas hob, but we do need to be able to power our laptops if we are not on hook-up.
We chose the Jackery Explorer 500 V2. This gives us enough power to charge both of our laptops for 3-4 days (as modelled by our very cute assistant, Winston.) There are so many power bank options on the market and you WILL drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what brand, size and configuration works for you or if you would be better off upgrading your van’s power set up altogether.
Take your time, think about what you actually need, how long you need to use them for and what time of year you will be using your van. This should steer you into making the right decision!
The Tyre Kit
You would think that spending £60K+ on a campervan would mean it comes with all of the mod cons…like a spare wheel? Nope!
Every vehicle you buy now seems to come with a pump and a can of foam instead. In theory…GREAT less weight, no need to remove the wheel roadside, just squirt in the foam, pump it up and away you go….
HOWEVER…when you have a blow out on the side of an Italian motorway in the blaring summer sun and your tyre has no side walls left…that little tin can and a pump aren’t much use!
We have fitted an underslung spare wheel bracket which was easier than putting together IKEA flat pack. The bolt holes are already in place. Whilst this is not an everyday essential, if your tyre goes, you will be eternally grateful you made this modification.
The Gas
You can guarantee the day you run out of gas, you’ll be in the middle of nowhere, with no shower, no electricity and, most importantly, no means of making a brew!!
We have always carried a small camping stove with the cans of butane for exactly this reason. We also have a fold up bucket and a rechargeable shower so that we can boil the kettle and have a wash.
The camping stove is also perfect for cooking anything with onions to prevent the smell lingering inside your van!
Do we really need all this stuff?
Living in a van means everything has to earn its space. We have lived full time in a campervan since March 2025 and these are the things that have genuinely saved our asses!
Vanlife is an absolute joy when things are going well, but if you are unprepared when things go wrong, it can start to feel very stressful. Having an “Oh Shit Kit” can really change how you manage in these trying situations. We also carry a small tool kit with screw drivers, spanners, ratchets, spare fuses and sealant so we can fix minor issues on the road.
Have you ever had a vanlife breakdown or sticky situation that was saved by a random £5 tool? Tell us your funniest or closest-call van disaster stories in the comments below!
Once you have nailed the essential, check out the kitchen gadgets that will make cooking in your van feel less like culinary Tetris in a shoebox!
This article contains affiliate links, and whilst we may earn a small commission for recommending products that we genuinely use, there is no additional cost to you.
Boring Essentials FAQs
What essential tools should every campervan owner carry?
Every campervan owner should have an “Oh Shit Kit” to get them out of a pickle. A small toolkit, a selection of 12v fuses, spare bulbs and sealant. We would also seriously consider a spare wheel, as this was one of the most stressful things that happened to us in our campervan.
How do you fill your water when all of the taps have different hose connections?
The easiest way to fill a campervan water tank at different campsites or public taps is by carrying a universal tap connector kit. Campsites across the UK and Europe use different thread sizes (typically 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch), and some taps lack threads entirely. Carrying a set of screw-on adaptors alongside a push-on rubber connector ensures you can hook up your hosepipe anywhere without losing water to leaks.
What do you do if a fuse blows whilst you’re on the road?
If an appliance, water pump, or 12V USB socket stops working, check your campervan leisure battery fuse box first. Always carry an assorted set of standard blade fuses (ranging from 5A to 30A) and a cheap multimeter or circuit tester. Swapping a blown fuse takes less than a minute and saves you from paying for unnecessary auto-electrician callouts while travelling.
How do you secure a wind-out awning in windy weather?
To prevent wind damage to a campervan or motorhome awning, always anchor the legs securely using heavy-duty awning storm straps and heavy-duty ground pegs rather than relying solely on the standard lightweight pegs provided. For hard ground or gravel pitches, carrying screw-in tent pegs or coach screws with a cordless drill adapter provides a solid anchor that keeps the awning legs locked in place during sudden gusts.
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