Tailoring your campervan, motorhome, or RV with the right accessories is crucial for a comfortable journey.
As full-time road trippers, we’ve discovered essential gadgets that make a big difference on the road. During our year of campervanning through 32 European countries, we encountered and solved many issues with practical solutions.
We also overland in Africa in our Bush Camper and travel Western Australia in our 4×4 with a rooftop tent using many of these same accessories. These gadgets are versatile, fitting motorhomes, camper trailers, and caravans alike.
Below, we share our top picks for campervan gadgets that enhance your travels and solve annoying problems.
Let’s dive in and find the perfect campervan accessories and best motorhome gadgets.
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Head over here for a bonanza of gifts just perfect for those who love the van life.
What Accessories Do I Need For My Campervan, Motorhome, or Camper?
Once you have your motorhome or campervan, consider the necessary accessories and equipment. To be honest, there will always be some little gadget that will take your fancy and that you could really see working in your campervan or motorhome.
Having the right accessories can:
- Increase Comfort: Ensure you have a cosy and efficient living space.
- Enhance Safety: Keep you prepared for emergencies and road challenges.
- Save Space: Maximize your limited storage with smart, compact solutions.
- Improve Convenience: Make daily tasks easier and your journey smoother.
Our Top Three Picks We Wouldn’t Be Without
1. Solar Cell (Renogy 12V Monocrystalline)
Keeps your battery topped up using solar energy, essential for off-grid adventures.
2. Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
Monitors real-time tyre pressure, providing peace of mind and enhancing safety on the road.
3. Second Battery (12V 120AH SuperBatt)
Ensures you always have a reliable power source, especially when wild camping without access to electricity. Check Price on Amazon
Motorhome and Campervan Accessories Lists:
Browse or jump ahead using the links below:
- Essential Gadgets for Campervans (ones that we use and have found indispensable)
- Space Saving Gadgets for Campervans
- Useful Campervan Gadgets (ones that aren’t necessarily essential but some that we find are super handy),
- 12V Campervan and Motorhome Accessories
- Van Tool Kit Essentials: Gadgets, Bits and Bobs
ESSENTIAL CAMPERVAN GADGETS AND ACCESSORIES
Discover our top campervan must have gadgets that make a significant difference on the road. These essential accessories ensure a safe, comfortable, and hassle-free travel experience.
1. Second Battery
Fit a high-capacity auxiliary battery or even two. When wild camping without electricity, 12V batteries will be your go-to power supply. AGM/Gel-type batteries are popular as they are well-priced, maintenance-free, and tolerate deeper charging.
2. Solar Cell
Charging the auxiliary battery is possible when the campervan engine is running, but when the engine is off, an alternative means must be found.
The charging source may be mains electricity (if available), or if you’re bush and wild camping, a solar cell will keep your auxiliary battery topped up.
Solar cells can be either mounted or portable. This is one of those great gadgets for campervans that we just couldn’t do without.
3. Dual Battery Isolator
Voltage Sensitive Relay Rating Smart Car Charger Automatic Battery Disconnect Switch for Truck RV ATV UTV Boat, 2 Years Warranty
The isolator performs an essential task: it isolates the starting battery at a certain minimum voltage, ensuring it always retains sufficient voltage to start the engine.
4. Levelling Blocks
Our motorhome in Europe had a set of levelling blocks that didn’t have these tiers and it was a pain in the behind!
I’d needed my wife, Shelley, to stand outside the vehicle to shout out when I had driven close to the top of the blocks, where I then quickly tried to apply the foot and handbrake simultaneously before the campervan slid back down the blocks.
Therefore, go tiered blocks every time!
5. Vehicle Jack
Lifting Stand Carry Case For Car, Van, Campervan
The campervan may or may not come with a vehicle jack.
The jack’s load rating should be a minimum equal to or exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), which is the vehicle’s weight plus the maximum allowable payload.
A bottle jack comes in various load capacities and is compact enough for easy storage.
6. First Aid Kit
Premium Waterproof Compact Trauma Medical Kits for Any Emergencies, Ideal for Home, Office, Car, Travel, Outdoor, Camping, Hiking, Boating (Red)
You don’t want to use this often – but having it there could be a lifesaver in an accident. We always have a weel stocked one on board.
7. Fresh Water Hose
Although plastic hoses are cheap (the option we chose), if you are concerned about saving space then you should consider a collapsible fresh water hose.
I’d probably stick to using a plastic hose for the greywater as it is easy to run some disinfectant down the hose to disinfect it and remove any smell.
8. Deadlocks on Side Entry Doors
This deadlock system can be mounted on either a sliding door or a normal hinged door. This deadlock system is mounted externally on the vehicle and is not only effective but a visible deterrent to would-be thieves.
Campervan owners that we spoke to that had this installation said that they had never had a break-in.
9. Headlamp Beam Deflectors
These stickers are placed over the headlights themselves and are useful in stopping the headlight beam spread from dazzling oncoming drivers when driving your campervan/motorhome in a country that uses the opposite side of the road to what the vehicle is fitted for.
A left-hand drive vehicle will have a different beam spread from that of a right-hand drive vehicle.
Another consideration is if you find yourself in a night-time vehicle accident, then it’s possible that your insurance cover may not cover you.
10. Heavy Duty 15/20 amp Surge Protector
This multi-socket electrical reel has integrated surge protection.
A few times we had voltage surges after connecting to mains power at a campsite and it was the breaker in the electrical reel that tripped, keeping the vehicle completely isolated.
SPACE SAVING GADGETS FOR CAMPERVANS
When space is at a premium you are going to value space saving gadgets for campervans and motorhomes. These are a few that we have that collapse down freeing up more storage space.
11. Collapsible Space-Saving Sink
There are some really great options for space-saving in a campervan and a couple of great ideas we use are the collapsible bucket and portable sink.
The ones we use collapse down to about 50mm or 2 inches in height, making them easy to tuck away into a small space.
12. Collapsible Bucket
Compact Design, Easy to Clean, Ideal for Indoor and Outdoor Use, Grey, 31.5 x 31.5 x 25 cm
13. Kitchen Space Saving Gadgets
Here are a few space-saving gadgets we use while camping to ensure every bit of valued space is used carefully.
USEFUL CAMPERVAN GADGETS
14. Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
I have these on both my 4×4 in Africa and in Australia.
The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is designed to read the real-time pressure of all tyres simultaneously and transmit this data to a monitoring system. The tyre pressures are displayed in a standalone unit that can be mounted inside the car.
The monitoring system can also be configured to sound low-pressure and temperature alarms. If a sensor fails, the unit will alarm. We use external sensors in our vehicles, and it gives us great peace of mind.
Pressure sensors can be of 2 types: an internal or an external type fitting on the tyre valve. When considering external sensors, look at the sensor units that have replaceable batteries and are waterproof and dustproof. If you tow a trailer, you can also fit extra sensors to those tyres.
15. Dash Magnets for Phones and Tablets
360° Rotatable Sticky Magnetic Car Mounts Dashboard Phone Stand Cradle for iPhone 14 13 12 11 Pro Max X XS XR 8 7 6 Samsung Huawei Sony
We have these in both our 4×4 campers. The mount is stuck to the dash using an adhesive pad on the unit’s base, leaving the magnet to hold a phone or tablet.
Generally, these units have a flexible stem allowing the angle of the magnet to be adjusted for better visibility of the iPhone or tablet.
16. Jack Stands
The jack stand has an adjustable height and is used to support a vehicle that is already jacked up.
If there is any possibility that you may need to get underneath the vehicle when using either a portable jack, then placing an appropriately rated jack stand under the axle will act as an additional safety measure should the jack fail.
We have a couple of 3-ton-rated ones ourselves.
17. Locking Wheel Nuts
M14 x 1,5, Radius seat, Shaft Length 26,7 mm, Overall Length 46,7 mm, Hex Size 17mm, Key Diameter 28,6 mm
These wheel bolts protect your wheels against theft. The normal methods of removing the wheels nuts with a socket will not work as a special ‘keyed head’ is needed for the removal of these security bolts.
One security bolt is fitted to each wheel with all other bolts kept as standard. Remember to keep the security ‘keyed head’ in the glove box in case you need to change a tyre!
18. In-Line Water Filter
This is for the motorhomers. This unit does not require mounting and connects in-line between the water supply and the water tank via hoses. Depending on the unit you choose, the filter will reduce sediment and bacteria and improve the water’s taste.
19. Portable Filtered Water Container
We use a Lifesaver jerrycan with a filter that is rated for 10,000 litres of water filtration. It’s so good that even the military use it. There are a few different Lifesaver-filtered container options available.
20. Wifi Extender/ Router
Getting out to the back-of-beyond is great but losing the wifi signal is not. A wifi extender/router will boost that weak wifi signal and act as a personal hotspot for all your devices ensuring that you stay connected.
21. Portable Clothes Hanger
3 Meters Hanging Space | Indoor/Outdoor Dryer | Foldable and Adjustable Hooks | Rustproof Coating - 2 Pack
At some stage, you’ll need to hand wash some clothes which is no issue but finding somewhere to hang the wet items may be challenging.
Some campsites are strict and do not allow clotheslines to be erected so having a drying rack to hang over a campervan window then becomes a super handy item.
22. Remoska Electric Cooker
All-in-One Countertop Energy Saving 400W, Non-Stick, Portable & Easy Clean. Cook, Bake, Grill, Roast
The latest buzzword in the world of useful gadgets for campervans and motorhomes is the Remoska. It’s an all-in-one electric cooker with a viewing window and is available in two sizes with the standard being 2 litres and the larger 4 litres. The standard size is good for couples.
A useful addition to this little gem is the Remoska cookbook.
12V CAMPERVAN ACCESSORIES
Here are a few of our favourite 12V accessories for campervans and campers. These gadgets ensure you stay powered up and prepared, making your travels more comfortable and efficient.
23. Kindle (charges with 12v)
With a 6.8" display and adjustable warm light | With ads | Black
Our Kindles are essentials while travelling. They can be fully charged in 2.5 hours with just 9 volts.
24. Rearview Camera
4 Pin 2x Waterproof 18LEDs Night Vision Reverse Rear View Camera with 15M Aviation Cable +12-24V 7" TFT LCD Car Monitor for Large Truck/Bus/RV/Trailer/Tractor/camper
These units come in wireless and wired versions. The lenses have varying fields of view (60 to 170 degrees) and can focus close to the rear of the vehicle or further away, depending on the model.
25. 12V Cigarette Lighter Splitter
USB C 12V Car Charger Adapter 2 Socket Type C Multi 12 Volt Power Outlet 24V DC 80W with LED Voltmeter Switch 6.3A Dual USB Port for Mobile Cell Phone GPS Dash Cam
If you need more than 1 USB port in your vehicle, then using a 12V cigarette lighter splitter is just the trick. There are a few options: whether you need 2 or 3 USB ports and one or two 12V sockets.
26. Portable 12V Air Compressor
Air compressors can be powered from the campervan 12V battery or via the cigarette 12V socket. Be sure to check how long a compressor can operate before it must stop to cool.
A couple of important factors to keep in mind are that there is an adequate length of hose to reach the rear wheels and a digital pressure readout.
27. Portable 12V/18 V Drill
A 12V drill is a great handyman’s tool and often comes with a set of different types a size of screw heads.
TOOL KIT ESSENTIALS: GADGETS, BITS AND BOBS
Most road repairs are likely temporary fixes that keep you going until you can have a professional sort the issue. In this case, you won’t need a diverse range of tools, but you’ll certainly need something.
28. Handy Toolkit
Campervan & Motorhome Gadgets and Accessories… That’s a Wrap
Campervanning and motorhoming are definitely fun ways to travel. Accessorising your campervan/motorhome with useful and practical gadgets for campervans not only makes it personal but also makes the whole experience a lot more enjoyable and stress-free.
I hope you have an opportunity to use these campervan gadgets and accessories and if not, then at least it’s food for thought.
Thanks for reading, and happy camping!
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Read more:
- Europe: Campervanning in Europe
- Campervan / Motorhome Tips: The Best Motorhome Tips for Beginners
- Road trip Inspiration: Road trip Quotes and Images to Inspire Your Next Adventure
- Road Trip Tips: 17 Fantastic Road Trip Tips For Couples
Planning Your Travels?
These are the travel resources we recommend and use when planning our trips.
- 🚘 Car Hire: We use DiscoverCars.com
- Motorhome/Campervan Rental: We highly recommend the Motorhome Republic
- 🪪 Order your International Driver’s Licence online here
- 🛏 Book Accommodation: We use Booking.com to find accommodation that suits our budget
- 🐶 Pet Sitting/Pet Sitters: Check Out TrustedHousesitters here (Use our Discount code: LIFEJOURNEY25 for 25% off. )
- Activities and Experiences: Get Your Guide and Viator
- Travel Insurance: Safetywing or World Nomads
- 🥾 Travel Gear and Accessories: Check out our top picks here — Lifejourney4two page on Amazon
For a more thorough list, visit our Travel Resources page here.
