No affiliate links, no paid ads - this is a complete and comprehensive list, because we get these questions ALL the time after building 45+ custom camper vans!
In this article, we'll go over the necessary van life essential items you'll need for your trip so you don't have to worry about forgetting anything.
Sure, a lot of these items you can pick up at grocery stores or large outlets on the road, but thinking ahead and making a checklist will ensure there's less surprises and more money saved.
As an added bonus, you might even get ideas for items you never thought to bring!
Van Life Gear: What Do I Need?
Storage Supplies
Perhaps one of the most crucial parts of van life is how you store everything with such limited space.
More specifically, the storage containers you choose to bring are very important and will make a huge difference in your overall experience, as well as help you stay organized.
A few helpful tips:
Pack pots and pans with removable handles. Removable handles allows these bulkier items to fit in smaller spaces.
Use clear plastic bags for food storage instead of containers. Using bags allows you to stack and layer your food and fit more in your travel-size refrigerator or cooler.
Bring collapsible storage bins. You can find a foldable or collapsible container almost anywhere, and it's a good idea to bring extra bins just in case you acquire more stuff on the road.
Some Van Life essential items you don't want to forget:
Storage bins and containers (packing cubes are helpful)
Expandable utensil trays that can fit your camper van drawer
Laundry bags for clean and dirty clothes
Hanging toiletry organizer
Ziploc bags (various sizes)
Extension cords
Water Hose to fill your water tank
Water Filter to attach on the hose (we give these as part of our goodie bag with the van)
Emergency Kit
It's vitally important that you pack a first aid kit, and as a plus, they don't take up much room.
Whether you're new to van life or one of the seasoned van lifers, an emergency can happen at any time and you want to be prepared for any scenario.
Or you might meet people along the way and be able to lend a hand!
Make sure you include essential items such as:
Band-aids (and other bandages)
Tweezers
Gauze
Pain relievers (include any other medication you might need)
Antibiotic Ointment
Bug spray, pepper spray, and bear spray
Whistle
Small flashlight
Emergency blanket
Firestarter
Smaller first aid kit for hiking
Van Life Essentials for Cooking
It can be difficult to create a consistent routine for cooking when traveling.
Your camper van or RV may be equipped with all the supplies you need for cooking, but there are some items you can bring to make your life easier on the road.
These include:
Small propane grill
Propane tanks
Enamel or Yeti mug
Bialetti Mocha (they have induction compatible if needed)
Kitchen must-haves:
Pots and pans (induction compatible if you have an induction stove)
Small refrigerator or cooler
Hot water kettle
Knives (a variety for all types of cooking)
Dish towels (microfiber will dry faster)
Cutting board
Can opener
Bottle and wine opener
Make sure you don't forget the basics too:
Plates, cups, and utensils
Roasting sticks for marshmallows, hot dogs, etc.
Lighter or matches
Drinking water (in case you don't have access to running water)
Trash bags
Cleaning wipes
RV Essentials: Personal Items and Toiletries
Ironically, personal items are the easiest to forget, but also the easiest to find at stores during your RV trip.
So, don't fret if you forget some of these!
Here's your reminder to pack the following:
Shampoo and conditioner
Personal water bottle
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Soap
Feminine products
Hanging toiletry organizer
Towels (microfiber)
Sunscreen
Laundry detergent
Laveo cartridges if you're using the Dry Flush Toilet
Campsuds (we give our clients this all-in-one environmentally conscious soap that's biodegradable so they have more flexibility dumping their gray water)
Outdoor Gear and Equipment for Your RV Trip
What you choose to pack for outdoor gear depends heavily on what activities you like to do.
Whether you're a hiker, backpacker, avid camper, prefer to go off-grid completely, or enjoy a leisure drive to the beach, this list can apply to you!
Outdoor gear packing list:
Headlamp
Lantern
Foldable camping chairs and picnic table.
Picnic blanket
Window covers and blinds (Vanmade Gear is a great brand)
Mosquito zapper or mosquito net
Bug screens for doors
Firewood
Hammock
MaxxTracks to get out of sand
For hikers and backpackers:
Hiking boots
Hiking poles
Backpack
Small tent
Small first aid and blister kit (with tweezers for ticks)
Sleeping bag and sleeping pad
Water filter (Sawyer Squeeze works well)
Clothes: good top and bottom base layer, fleece hoodie, waterproof jacket, Darn Tough socks.
Clothing and Bedding
An easy way to save space is to check the weather where you're going - especially how cold it will get at night.
This will ensure that you don't overpack on bulky blankets that you may not need.
If you're going somewhere that will be cold, you can be smart about the type of gear you pack like a sleeping bag that has thermal lining.
The essentials:
Warm/cold clothes depending on where you're going
Undergarments
Wool socks
Swimsuit
Sunglasses
Hat
Warm blankets for when it gets cold at night
Pillows
Mattress
Guest mattress (LunoLife)
Entertainment for Rainy Van Life Days
Chances are you'll have some down time when traveling, so make sure to bring some fun items too!
Something really fun to do is have an outdoor movie night - set up some camping chairs, a projector, and kick back and relax with some popcorn.
Fun items to bring:
Books
Board games
A deck of cards
Art supplies (water color sets can pack small. One of our clients gave us one of her drawings. She had books of sketches and water color pieces)
More Van Life Essential Items
Electronics Related
Make sure you pack the following:
Extra chargers and charging battery
Surge protector
Wi-Fi hotspot
Jumper cables
Extension cords
Solar panels
Airtag for keeping track of your items (like your keys)
Portable bluetooth speaker
Documents and Important Information
A few things you may not have thought of is bringing important documents, especially if you keep them locked away in a secure place at home.
You never know when you will need a copy of your medical records, your passport, etc.
Of course, you can include any pertinent information you think is necessary, but here's a list to get you started:
Driver's license
Debit and credit cards
Extra cash (in case you stop somewhere that doesn't accept cards)
Medical and car insurance cards
Tools and Gadgets
Even though you can't plan for something to break, you can prepare by having the necessary tools to fix it.
Bring the following:
Basic tool kit (hammer, wrench, screwdriver, etc.)
Pocket knife or multi-tool
Duct tape
Scissors
Small sewing kit
Telescoping ladder (to clean solar panels)
Optional:
Cordless drill
Tape measure
Electrical tape
Jump start kit
Extra fuses
Miscellaneous
Some items don't fit into the other categories, but are equally as important.
These include:
Air compressor
Compact fire extinguisher
Sewer hose if you have a blackwater tank
Van Life Packing List for Pets
We have done a full guide on how to Van Life with Dogs, so feel free to head down that rabbit hole. Although bringing your pet along adds a new set of challenges, there's also an extra level of adventure and fun too!
Similarly to how you pack all the necessary items for you, your pet has their own packing list as well.
Every pet is different with what they require for travel, but minimally you will need the following:
Food
Water and food bowl (use collapsible ones to save space)
Leash/harness
Poop bags
Toys
Vet/vaccination records
Medications or supplements
Van Life Items That Are Helpful, But Not Necessary
Hey! If at this point you still have space in your van, then why not tack on a few extra items to make your day easier?
Some of these include:
Portable shower
Portable fire pit
Firewood
Portable space heater or fan
Brooklyn Campervans' got you covered with the Van Life Essentials
Here's a little plug: our campervans are fully self-sustainable and equipped with top tier van life technology, built-in appliances, and climate control.
Our 12v Starlink integration allows for a true Smart Home where you can remotely monitor cameras, security, battery levels, temperature, and so on.
The idea is that with a robust battery system and no black water you never need to be at an RV park or camp site again. Home is where you park it.
Your only limitation would be food and water (which you have a 40 gallon capacity).
A lot of our clients call beautiful landscapes their backyard. When they're done exploring or remotely working after 1-2 weeks, they simply refill on groceries and water and then continue.
We supply the essentials, and the customer brings what they need to enjoy the outdoors. If you're curious about what we build, check out the Sprinter camper vans for sale available.
Additional Tips for Van Life Essentials
Understandably, you may feel overwhelmed with how much you need to pack, but don't worry!
Even if you forget some RV essentials, you will still have a wonderful time!
Here are some helpful tips to help with the stress of packing for van life:
If you feel like you can't pack extra items (such as a blanket, food, etc.) because of lack of space, then you can always stop at a store along the way.
Take note of the items you use on a daily basis. For example, don't bring a blender you never utilize because you might want to make smoothies. Chances are it will just waste space and sit there unused.
Don't Forget to Have Fun!
Van life isn't just about the destination, it's about the memories you make along the way.
Now that you're fully prepared and checked all the items off the packing list, you're ready for the RV adventure of a lifetime!
