Top 12 Essential Caravan Accessories

What do you need to buy when you get a caravan? This is NOT a compilation of random stuff that will make good commission from Amazon, but a real guide to what has been essential to me in a lifetime of caravanning.
Of the 13 accessories listed, (12 plus a bonus for EV drivers) I bought 10 of them out of my own pocket. Three of them were gifted (as mentioned in the video) but this does not affect my thoughts about them. This video is self-financed and is NOT sponsored.
The majority of the products should be found in your local caravan dealership or camping supplies shop. Websites and useful information are as follows:
AQUAROLL & WASTEMASTER
www.aquaroll.com/
WATER CONTAINER BAGS / COVERS
bags4everything.co.uk/
MILENCO PRODUCTS
www.milenco.com/
GASLOW DIRECT FILL
www.gaslowdirect.com/
PORTABLE STAINLESS STEEL WATER CONTAINER
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096LWR3D9...
RUSTIC WOOD CREATIONS (EV CHARGING SIGN)
www.rusticwoodcreations.co.uk/
If you REALLY REALLY have to use Amazon, I'd be massively grateful if you could access the site through the link to the water bottle above, as I'll then earn a very modest commission at no extra cost to you, which goes towards helping make more videos: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096LWR3D9...
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[@gregchapman5556]

I don’t own a caravan or a motor home. I watch your videos because they are fun 😊.

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks Greg! 'Fun' aka making a fool of myself ;)

[@andrewohone]

Ditto!

[@mloistianto87]

Same here!

[@leonienolan511]

yep 😊

[@gerrymcivor374]

Always reset your torque wrench to zero before storing it, this helps to maintain accuracy. Most torque wrenches use a spring as part of the mechanism which loses strength if kept under tension.

[@GaetanHobby]

Thank you very much Andrew 👍 I am à fan of milenco too , i do have the wheel locker and the grand avero convex mirrors. Take care and see you soon🇨🇵

[@maggietaylor9475]

Brilliant video, Andrew, and you modelled the items really well! Thank you very much x

[@andrewjditton]

Glad you liked it!

[@maggietaylor9475]

@@andrewjditton I always do! Your videos are an oasis of calm in a crazy, busy world.

[@susanbinks8868]

Hi Andrew, loved this Video, Some Essential Items to have! Well Modelled!! Love your sense of Humour on Showing these!!! Lovely seeing You & Dougal as Always, Thank You for Sharing, Lots & Lots of Love to You, Dougal & Ted 💖💖💖💜💜💜 XXXX

[@catherine1910]

I wasn’t going to watch this because I no longer have my caravan but I’m glad I did - very funny, and I hope the people in the black car enjoyed your water container dance! I’d add a thermal cover for the water container if caravanning in cold weather plus a hot water bottle or two!

[@karenkouns577]

Always enjoy your content and co-star. Thanks for sharing!

[@ahillvfr]

Great advice Andrew 👍 shame no Ted this week 🐾🐾

[@anneshirley1748]

Hi Andrew! What a really useful video showing all the basic items you need for a caravan! I really enjoyed this plus you showing the items like the young ladies on a prize winning show! Would have looked even better if you'd worn one of those costumes that they wear too!! Complete with fishnet stockings! Great response after you pinned that comment last week! What a jerk!! People think it's a fashionable thing now to be a nob on SM! Notice how he never replied after everyone gave him what for!! Well said to all of them, a couple of them especially, they were very amusing and to the point! I hope he thinks twice before doing it again! Your life, your dogs and your business! What a numpty! Take care until next time, thank you for posting, you're still the best!! Sending love and hugs! xxx 😘🥰🐶🐕

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks Anne! Hmm, I think me in a leotard would be classed as a Video Nasty! And yes, I know I open myself up putting aspects of my life on my channel, but I still have boundaries, which fortunately 99% of people understand and respect. xx

[@pageant1fd]

I have a motorhome and water tap adapters , long hose and reel plus a short 2mtr length hose too. Someone mentioned a head torch as well 👍 . Thanks for sharing.

[@tonysutton6559]

I'll endorse that but my short hose is 5m. Most of the time I can get away with using that instead of unreeling the long 25m hose.

[@Karen-bm3rj]

Now, that's an interesting modelling style 😅

[@andrewjditton]

Is there anything I missed out that you find to be essential? Please leave a comment and let other people know! And in case you are wondering, most of this was filmed in December 2022 before Ted arrived on the scene :)

[@renerensenbrink3410]

Thx Andrew, rgds from our Tervs Fenna and Loki to Dougal and Ted. Oh and 👍 regarding the video

[@susanbaldwin9050]

Brilliant Andrew 🤩 the heater!!!! 🙏🏻

[@andreabalderstone4272]

This is brilliant timing as we collect our first caravan this week 🎉 Thanks Andrew you are a star 😁

[@mrgari189]

If you are new to caravaning - binge fest The Trudgian youtube channel - great information for beginners. I learnt a great deal from that channel

[@MYJ61]

Andrew, you are not right in the head!! LOL! I love your sense of humor!

[@Jungheinrick]

Another good video AD, you need to do one for us motorhomists now 😀

[@BagEndGarden]

I’ve gone over to the dark side and now have a campervan but in my towing days one of the best investments I ever made was the LocknLevel airbag. As a solo traveller it made getting the van level an absolute doddle and I wish I had bought it sooner. It is still in use in the campervan, but that’s a whole ‘nother story 😂😂

[@lindafielding6733]

Think you may have missed your vocation as a mime artiste! Love your performance

[@philbrown9398]

Great video thanks. Your modelling of the items took me back to 80s game shows!

[@andrewjditton]

Then my work here is done :)

[@RHJ-29-6]

And the winner is……. The Aquaroll and Wastemaster bags. Yeah👏👏👏👏👏

[@carolynhaywood7701]

Hi Andrew, thanks for the tip of the water bottle. I do sterilise my camper van water system but let’s face it you can never be too careful. Love to Dougal and Ted too.❤️❤️❤️

[@BellasBigAdventures]

Fun and practical all at once 😀👍🏻 pats for the boys Sue x

[@yaminthegrey]

Hari OM Excellent! Really, there is little in life that cannot be helped by having a handy pail! 😃 YAM xx

[@andrewjditton]

Absolutely!!

[@martinkitchin6204]

Thanks Andrew for video and your 'transparency' I use an electric fan heater instead of caravan's Truma heating as it is gas only. Unfortunately it's rattly than castanets and it's heat is dryer than the Sahara ! Your tiny oil filled radiator seems a better bet so ... thanks ! 🤗

[@martinkitchin6204]

Got one in Asda (of all places !) 🙄

[@jimdevlin2138]

3.00 to 3.10, the look on dougals face says " what is this idiot up to now ?", but joking aside a great and informative video, cheers Andrew.

[@janetwhincup5784]

Very helpful. Your displaying of the items was superb.

[@Taffyappleify]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant - you are fantastic, you really make my day!

[@clivetucker176]

Can't argue with any of those suggestions Andrew. Nice video as ever.

[@suewelburn2084]

I’ve never seen dougal looking so nonplussed as he did in this video!!

[@lotabob]

Just made the decision to purchase a caravan. Very helpful.

[@nigglemoth]

Enjoyed the video but did wonder what that car arriving thought of you modelling the rolling water carrier so beautifully :). Loved the tip for the stainless steel water bottle, I have ordered one as ideal for use in my Bongo rather than those squishy plastic ones I worry I will drop and will burst over the van floor.

[@mpersad]

What an entertaining and informative video! Thank you Andrew, great video as per!

[@andrewjditton]

Glad you enjoyed it Mark!

[@colinknight2892]

I’d add a watering can for filling toilet flush tank with a separate bottle to pre mix flush additive,great vid as usual.

[@commuterbranchline8132]

Your not wrong about the essentials, I own, or have iterations of 9 of your 10 suggested products. Aqua rolls and waste masters will probably out last us all! I’d add an led head torch to the list and look to get a charging sign to go with the Tesla. Cheers!

[@ChristopherGray-yf1tj]

loving the vids happy camping

[@olivethrush7450]

Oh Andrew, How could you? No wonder Dougal did not smile. Surely he is the number one indispensable accessory? Every caravan should have one! Loved the modelling but don't give up the day job.

[@ColsPinballMods]

Thanks for this Andrew I’ve now made my list ready to collect my newly bought Van as soon as I can find a Towbar for my EV6. 😢 We went for a Swift Sprite Alpine 4 due to the unique layout that we found the most practical for our needs. 🙏 Oh dropped you a few Coffees for all your hard work that is truly appreciated 🙏 again.

[@andrewjditton]

Many thanks for that! And congrats on the Sprite Alpine 4 - I seriously DO NOT understand why this layout is not more popular in other ranges as it's spot on. Fingers crossed for your towbar soon, it really is an achilles heel for EV6/Ioniq5 owners. I ended up negotiating mine in as part of the deal with the car. No tow bar, no car. It worked for me ;)

[@robertclarke7711]

Very informative article thanks 👍 👏

[@hywel3143]

Great list, Andrew! I set the torque before setting out on every trip by slightly loosening first and then smoothly applying the torque. This way I avoid gradually over-torquing the wheel nuts. I think a "nice to have" list based on your extensive experience would also be great - a Piezo spark igniter for those gas hobs like mine which do not include spark ignition would be high on my own list...

[@fabioremondini]

Wonderful video!

[@heyholetstow]

Love the demonstrations of all the items 😂😂😂

[@andrewjditton]

Anthea Redfern has nothing on me ;@)

[@raymondblack8380]

Hi Andrew thanks for list as we will soon be on the road with our new caravan. I think by those moves the cat 🐈 walk calls😂 As a retired gas engineer please don’t forget your carbon monoxide detector/smoke alarms Great vid keep them coming Cheers Ray 👍

[@darrenwilson8042]

can I just say the yellow Megane Coupe was such a cool cool car PS Dougal is getting old and may be a bit confused now but even he watched you with the aqua roll and wastemaster and wonder what the heck was going on lol

[@paoloallen]

Hi Andrew.....hope you're well? Loved the video and couldn't agree more with all of your suggestions and comments......we can't wait to get back to our van at our seasonal pitch.... counting the days believe me lol cheers Paolo and Rog aka 'The Camp Caravanners'

[@sharongagne7413]

Blahahahah. Well done Mr. D. Very funny and I really liked the video. Really thought video was well thought out. Enjoy the refreshing honesty you give with your videos. Dougal following you around was very sweet. Keep up such great work. Liebe and Sharon on the Rock in Newfoundland Canada.

[@mrgari189]

Loved the video. Has anyone mentioned you are getting more eccentric these days? Glad you had fun doing the vid. Torque wrenchs are often sold in Lidl/Aldi for £20, B&M do some relatively cheap collapsible buckets and bowls. Top accessory for me as a solo camper is a very expensive one - motormover.

[@peterhoniball1475]

Great video we had a good laugh as you showed off each item priceless. We agree with your list and wouldn’t be without our LocknLevel

[@berniebne8243]

Milenco make great kit. Replaced the original mirrors, having broken one, with Milenco a vast improvement.

[@krippleinacaravanxxx707]

Fabulous!

[@th30clay18]

having a "Dougal" should be number one on the list.....

[@joesrvhome]

He never smiles!

[@stephenmacnaughton9741]

Excellent video as always. Saved me sending you a whole bunch of questions too 😁 I don't know if you are planning an update video on your 304 now that you have had it for a season but it would be interesting to know how well it's working for you and if you've made any "adjustments "

[@christinee3126]

I have a collapsible bucket from Halfords - saves space. I also have a 500w oil filled radiator - the delonghi one, which is squat and wider at the base, so is very stable, especially with dogs moving around. Bit more expensive than some but worth it.

[@thebigshedart]

It looked like No.6 was going to be "a dog" 😁🐶 But I guess that goes without saying 😉😊

[@viktorklisursky2515]

Thank you for the video Andrew! I would add a watering can for caravans with internal water tanks, like mine. It's convenient to get few liters for 1-2 nights and not having to unfold the hose.

[@andrewjditton]

That's a great idea!

[@marthakjolsrud2660]

Oh Andrew, you've neglected the #1, most important and essential acessory - Dougal, LOL.

[@koksy]

Ooo you had an ABI adventurer! I had one brand new in 1997, brought it at the Earls Court show. Cost £4865 I seem to remember! Would love to see more photos of your old vans.

[@stephenmatthews9378]

Andrew, do not just retorque your wheels without slackening them first. If you keep re torquing they become tighter evert time, then if you get a puncture you will not get the wheel off👍

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Stephen, thanks for the tip!

[@trevormiddleton]

Is it just me, or was there a definite air of 'Bullseye' or 'Sale of the Century' about that one?! Now let's have a look at what you could've won… I'm a sucker for a physical map of an area: I'll always try to get hold of the OS Explorer or Landranger map of an area I'm going to visit. Oh, and a Trucker's Road Atlas is a sine qua non for me: either the Phillips Navigator or the AA Truckers'. Yes, print could be regarded as passé, and potentially out of date by the time it's published, but for an overview of an area, and advance warning of potential height and width restrictions I think it still takes some beating. Oh, and rubber mats for the cab: they’re great for sticking under the wheels to get extra traction on boggy grass pitches, and you can rinse them off afterwards. A pitch marker’s great for motorhomers too, if you’re not using a drive-off awning (or even if you are). It certainly saves a lot of hassle. Some decent, high-strength paracord can come in handy for loads of uses, from an improvised clothes line to temporary lashing, to guyrope extensions. I’ve even used it (looped multiple times) for towing short distances in an emergency. Oh, and tools to fit anything that’s likely to need tightening or checking: spark plugs, gas regulators, pipe fittings, and so on: you’ll have your own list. Better to do a temporary fix on site than drive until you find a garage or dealership. Oh, and I’m never without my (now rather battered) Swiss Army Knife or a multi tool, just in case, plus - finally! - a small sewing kit.

[@leonienolan511]

Iv yet to buy off Amazon ,, we should support local and not billionaires 😊, thank you for that point Andrew ❤

[@sandrabebbington4422]

Why isn't Dougal modelling the items 😉😁😁

[@colinmew7139]

Hi Andrew I fully agree with all your items but I use re fillable gas cylinders but use Safefill weight wise I found them lighter and more easy to fill as you have them plumbed in and have to take your caravan to station I just take cylinder as I would exchange I know so can you but think yours is more difficult to do. Just a thought. I am surprised nobody has pinched your caravan sign butter in caravan window.

[@AlexJacksonSmith]

Cool.

[@tonysutton6559]

My favourite accessories for the camper are our two dogs. My wife's favourite is a hot water bottle (or two). I always make sure that we have two flasks, one for coffee in the cab/out walking and another to fill when the kettle is boiled so we have hot water on demand without turning the gas on during a journey.

[@ilkyway5854]

Am I right that you also do not use the watersystem of your caravan for drinking water? We don’t either but I always feel it is a bit stupid that we don’t. Do you have a video on this already? If so, would you mind pointing it out to me? If not, maybe there is a topic for the future? Great video as always!

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks! No, I've not yet done a video about water systems. Good idea!

[@ilkyway5854]

@@andrewjditton I would love that. ☺️

[@chrisdykes9268]

Hi Andrew Loved the video Can I ask what model the oil filled radiator is and supplier Cheers

[@hakansalihoglu]

Hello, I am planning to camp with a caravan on a minus 30 degree winter day. Do you think that a 2500 W oil generator is enough to heat the caravan? I plan to buy 2 of them and put them at equal distances from the caravan in the form of 1250 W. Additionally, do you think an oil radiator will heat the tent outside the caravan in winter?

[@totaltouring829]

Very interesting video on personal preferences sure and simple. I’ve always noticed you never use awnings . I wonder why…. 🧐

[@andrewjditton]

Mostly as I'm never on a site long enough to warrant the time in putting it up and taking it down!

[@davidmbell]

Someone on a FaceCloth group said testing the torque every time you use the van increases the torque slightly every time? I guess as long as you just let it click on exactly the same amount you check every time then this shouldn’t happen? As there’s usually a small range of torque settings?

[@andrewjditton]

I agree with you - isn't that what a torque wrench does??

[@caravaningincarathevan467]

Now Andrew i have a question..... As a solo tower like myself how do you make sure the passenger side towing mirror is in the right place?? I struggle so much getting it right that I often drive with a big blind spot on the off side. Any tips in a vlog would be very helpful. Xx nessa xx

[@andrewjditton]

Hi Nessa, it's a question of lining up the rig in a straight line, being stationary, opening the passenger window, and leaning over. It can take 4 or 5 wiggles to get it right, after which normally only one or two. You need to get it right for when traffic is joining your carriageway on the left side. It's a faff, but so many things are when you're solo! Better than not doing anything at all though ;)

[@ianedwards6981]

What beach is the video taken at?

[@lyn1337]

I had a second break-in within 6 months in Gothenburg. :( Are you still happy with your EV 6? Noticed any battery degradation from towing?

[@andrewjditton]

Do please check out my newsletter EV touring (link in description) for more detailed info on the EV. Cheers!

[@lyn1337]

@@andrewjditton Thanks!

[@leonienolan511]

Dont think we can refill gas in Ireland 🤔

[@AndiSchlitterCardog]

🙋‍♂️👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🐾🐾

[@Bruczoun]

hi, i am more interested in your front cover for your caravan, that is more than bottles or cables, if you dont mind, please focus on that. thank you.

[@andrewjditton]

Worry not! Video about it is due to come out next weekend.

[@bjarnepost5913]

HABBY New Yeer 🐶🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇩🇰xpost Bjarne Lolland Denmark