by Joe Jeffrey
Think you’ve packed everything except the kitchen sink? Think again and take a peek at our guide to ensuring your holiday runs smoothly
Holiday season has certainly arrived and many of us are preparing to pack our bags, hit the open road and enjoy everything which driving off with our caravan following along behind can offer us – well as much as the temperamental British weather will allow.
It is in the above regard that CaravanTimes presents to you the ultimate caravanning checklist. That’s right; we’ve essentially done all of the hard work for you, so you don’t have to – after all, that’s what holidays are all about, right? So, without further ado, read on caravanners, read on.
Before you go
As with most things, preparation is key. Treat it like a military operation. Well, maybe not – we’d rather you take it less seriously, so do try to enjoy it. But, prior to even stepping foot in your tow vehicle and putting your foot on the pedal, it’s best to make sure your house is in order – literally.
Passports
Obviously an irrelevant item if touring within the UK. However, if you have decided to visit a little further afield, passports are, funnily enough, somewhat imperative. As is next on the list.
Travel Insurance
Again, traveling abroad with no travel insurance is akin to towing your trusty caravan with a car that’s not up to the job – it’s bound to fail. Miserably. It certainly is sod’s law that, when on holiday, if something is to happen to our detriment it usually does when we’ve decided to opt for inadequate insurance – or none! So alleviate any stress and ensure you’re covered for any eventuality.
Pets
It goes without saying that we here at CaravanTimes are obsessed with our pets. If you’re thinking about leaving yours behind, ensure to allow for plenty of time to organise care and company for them prior to departing for the great unknown. Also, remember to leave your contact details with someone responsible for your pets while you’re away as well as your vet’s details.
Home Security
Before leaving, avoid the headache of lying awake at night wondering whether you locked the back door by actually making locking the windows and doors an almost ritualistic experience. Double check all security measures are in place in order to enjoy the most of your time away. Also, as a safety precaution, remember to ensure that all electrical appliances are disconnected from their power source. No one wants to return to a burglarised or burnt down abode – other wise you might just find yourselves spending a lot more time in that caravan of yours than you’d bargained for.
Almost Ready
So that’s indoors sorted. Now how about the car? The car obviously plays an integral part in enabling us to get from A to Z – even more so when relying on it to pull along a valuable chunk of metal as well.
Spare Keys
You know what it’s like. You arrive at your destination to find a pitch, spend a few days enjoying the environment you could easily get used to, leaving your worries behind for the duration. Then it’s time to head back home. If you lose your only set of car keys that’s going to prove somewhat problematic though. Make sure you take a spare set of keys just in case. And, more importantly, make sure you remember where you put them and that they’re stored nice and securely for the duration.
Extending Mirrors et al
Okay, we know it’s second nature and pretty much a given, but we felt we had to mention this. We know you’re obviously going to attach your extending mirrors, but also make sure you remember to take your warning triangle, reflective jackets and your usual lot of accessories, including spare wheel, spare bulbs, torch and first aid kit.
Sat Nav
Remember to take your sat nav. Yes, it does sometimes lead us to a long string of traffic and dead-end country lanes, but it also enables us to do the exact opposite on more occasions than not. Make sure you’ve updated the latest firmware for it and be off with you.
The Caravan
You didn’t think we’d forget your pride and joy did you? It goes without saying that whether you have everything in place as far as your caravan is concerned can either make or break a relaxing trip away.
The Essentials
Make sure your battery is fully functional before setting off. However, if money allows, always take a spare one with you. You never know when it could come in handy. Also, make sure you’ve got spare a spare gas cylinder or gas bottles. Oh, another thing too. We hate to raise the subject, but remember to ensure you have your waste containers, a hose and paper good to go.
Inside the Caravan
So you’ve got everything ready for your trip, and the caravan is securely behind your trusty car. You hit the gas and you’re on the motorway, halfway en-route to your holiday destination, when disaster strikes. You’ve forgotten the carrot peeler. Well, don’t despair – it needn’t happen. Take a look below to see what other essentials are a must.
In the Bedroom
It goes without saying that you need to remember so many items you’re bound to forget something on the odd occasion. However, bed sheets? No. A definite no-no. As are clean bed linen, blankets for those chilly nights, as well as an alarm clock in order to wake up from them.
To the Kitchen
Carrot peeler excluded, the following items will certainly be useful should you wish to survive on your own culinary cuisine for the duration of your break:
- Kettle
- Pots and pans
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Crockery
- Glasses/tumblers
- Cutlery
- Bottle opener
- Scissors
- Kitchen roll
- Secure containers for food items
- Bin bags
- Washing up liquid
- Cleaning products
- Brush, scourer, Washing up bowl
- Anti-bacterial surface wipes
The above may seem rather obvious, but we at CaravanTimes always head off without at least one of these items.
Getting Personal
We won’t spend too much time on this, but remember to take along all of your toiletries and bankcards. If you forget your bankcard and toilet paper after all, you’d better make sure you pitch up by some friendly caravanners.
Oh, and finally, it goes without saying to always remember to take your brolly. With the type of weather the UK decides to throw at us, we’d say it’s perhaps the most important must have on the list.
Wherever you decide to go this year, if you are at all, we at CaravanTimes wish you a safe journey and a great time. And if you’ve got anything extra to add to the list, feel free to insert your comments below. Now where is that carrot peeler?
