How to get the most out of campervan life: Our top tips

When you return home from work in an evening, you expect to enter your house to find the electricity working, the hot water flowing, and the internet switched on. These are, pretty much, the things you take for granted but which would cause issues if they were ‘missing’.

In a similar way, making sure that life in your campervan is comfortable requires a combination of logistical and practical steps in advance. Whether it’s a brand new Bürstner campervan, or a used campervan with a few more miles under its belt, there are things you must do to be ‘set up’ and ready to roll. A few of the most important early things include making sure you’ve paid your insurance and road tax, are filled up with fuel and have fastened your seatbelt once you’re at the wheel. Others include making sure tyres are pumped up correctly and that the windscreen is clean and clear. It may seem trite or obvious to say any of these things as they’re common sense – but imagine campervan life without any of them being ‘correct’!

There’s also plenty of other things you can do when you’re on the road to make sure you get the most out of your mobile home in terms of comfort and homeliness. Let’s take a look…

There’s something to be said for setting off blindly in a particular direction but not really knowing exactly what your destination is. In other words: the open road and sense of freedom that comes with the mystery of ‘winging it’. However, it’s always advisable to have a bit of a plan and a rough idea of where it is you’re headed, to avoid inconvenience and discomfort later on. You really don’t want to arrive at a park or campsite only to find that they won’t accommodate motorhomes and campervans.

If, when you’re setting off, you can narrow down the area you’ll be visiting then you can use guidebooks or go on the internet (preferable, as printed publications can sometimes be out of date) to find available parks which meet your needs. Use the internet in the same way to discover and plan out the landmarks and towns you want to visit or the activities you want to undertake.

Though your vehicle might be considered spacious within the general context of campervan life, the living conditions will definitely be smaller than if you’re at home! So there are always things you can do to make the most of the available space, including clever storage solutions. If you’ve bought a usedcampervan there may already be clever ideas installed by the previous owner, which could be very handy.

For clothes, space saving storage solutions could mean using stacking boxes and baskets in the available space so that you can stay organised and efficient. Similarly, you could use door nets or racks (which hang on the inside of cupboard doors). In the kitchen area you could use a drawer organiser for all of your cutlery and associated knives, can openers etc, plus nesting bowls, stacking plates and collapsible pots and pans to save on space. It’s also possible to buy a collapsible drying rack to save on precious space.

While we’re talking about the kitchen area of your campervan, it’s a good idea to talk about the meals you’ll be enjoying while you’re out on the road. Having a plan for what you’ll be eating is a smart move as it prevents wasting space with ingredients – stored in tins, boxes and packets – which turn out to have been unnecessary.

Draw up a chart or a list, in advance. You might require two square meals per day in addition to your breakfast – lunch and dinner, probably. So work out what those are likely to be and what provisions you will need to take with you. It might be possible to prepare some things in advance and store them in the freezer section (if there is one) of the campervan’s fridge. This would certainly give you a head start when it comes to domestic duties!

Making your campervan comfortable so that it feels like it’s your home is really important for your overall enjoyment. Personal touches to give it the right vibe can include simple things like cushions, throws and a rug. These are items which quickly add a feeling of luxury and comfort, allowing you to relax and feel at home.  Adding plants and family photos is also a great way to bring a little bit of home, and a lot of character, into your campervan. You could also add posters or stencils on the walls. Make it all about you by personalising it ensures it’s no longer a vehicle in which you sometimes live, but a home which also happens to be a vehicle!

Here at Chelston we have a large selection of new and used campervans for sale, and here’s a brief selection of some of our current faves…

• Swift Carrera 132: Based on a Fiat Ducato 2.2 (140) Euro 6D Final, this automatic gearbox model is one of the best Swift campervans available. It’s a strikingly cool Lanzarote grey exterior finish, two berth model, with features and extras including: ABS brakes, alloy wheels, automatic gearbox, cab blinds, central locking, cruise control, daytime running lights, heated mirrors, electric entrance step, exterior shower, external gas point, panoramic roof light, reversing sensors, fridge / freezer, gas hob, oven and grill, Whale heating, solar panel and USB socket. That’s a lot of features for you to enjoy once you’ve made this beauty your very own.
• Bürstner Eliseo Active C 642: Built on a Fiat Ducato chassis with a 2.2 (140) Euro 6D Final, this model is one of the best Bürstner campervans you can get! It’s a two berth vehicle with a pop-top roof available as a cost option, and it features single beds in the rear, a central kitchen area, an all-in-one washroom, a front dinette with two additional travel seats and swivel cab seats to create a cosy social area. Once you’ve made it your own you’ll get maximum pleasure.
• Auto-Trail V-Line 610 Sport: For the adventurers out there, this is one of several Auto-Trail campervans available for 2023.

Once you’ve bought from us we’re very keen for you to make the most of your on the road life – so we hope that you’ll follow some of the campervan tips we’ve come up with for this edition of our blog. These will help you have a fantastic time in the vehicle of your dreams.