Get Your Van Checked
It’s a must to get your van mechanically checked out before you leave. The number of posts I’ve seen about this (admittedly, sometimes these things are out of our hands), yet nothing is going to work unless you’ve had your van serviced. How can you expect a vehicle to carry you and all your stuff from place to place, stopping, pitching up, starting again, without some form of checking? And in addition to the professional checks, ensure that you do your own before you leave each site or at least every couple of days:
Water check
Tyre pressure check
Oil – if you haven’t had a service for a while or if it’s due one.
I open the bonnet, walk around the van, and just check everything before I leave.
Have a Plan and Do Your Research
Booking way ahead isn’t for me, but knowing roughly where you are going is necessary. Not only for loved ones who will worry, but so that you can organise your time.
Just because I do not book ahead, it doesn’t mean I haven’t scrutinised as many sites as possible in the area on my list – see my blog https://vanessapinnington.com/choosing-your-campsite/ Ticking them off as musts or maybes or just outright no chance, means you’ve trawled through already and everything is simpler moving forward.
Know Your Budget
Not to dismiss the lovely eateries out there as I do enjoy a meal out, but sometimes I get caught up in this fantasy that I can afford to eat out regularly. Even the fast-food outlets on the motorway, when you stop for that desperately needed pee, can put a dent in the money you had put by.
Occasionally I’ll ‘eat out’, but it’s not always for me. Socially, I struggle, and more importantly I just cannot afford to do that. There’s a sense of pride when you’ve managed to produce a lovely meal yourself in your van, even a quick pitta for your lunch.
Pub stopovers are a way of staying somewhere and eating out, as the eating out part is how you pay the owners back. I’ve done a couple of these and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Ensuring that you have enough money for the essentials like fuel is necessary, otherwise you’ll end up going nowhere!
Take Only What You Need
It’s difficult if it’s your first time out. In my blog https://vanessapinnington.com/van-checklist-essentials/ there is a comprehensive list of items which I personally deem as essential. Remember, this is a personal thing, yet just reading a list of sorts will prompt you to organise yourself so that you are more prepared.
Keep Yourself Safe
I suppose this is mostly directed towards people who, like me, are ‘going it alone’, but everyone needs to be safe wherever they decide to pitch up or park up. Just be aware. Reading reviews is an important part of the prep, but there are times when we feel uncomfortable so do not dismiss those feelings – trust your intuition. If it doesn’t feel right, move on. You may lose money on your booking (this is where a small deposit is great but not everyone offers them), but isn’t it better to be secure?
Entertainment
Books – or other forms of entertainment……card games, tablet (check how you’ll charge it up, if on EHU, great, otherwise an inverter). I love a book to read, an actual physical, hard copy, book. It makes sense to me, but you’ll say that’s because I write. Have something to occupy yourself on those rainy days. There will be plenty! You may not always have access to electricity OR take yourself off on a bus locally. See the websites on my blog https://vanessapinnington.com/van-checklist-essentials/ (exploring and getting around).
Emergencies
This covers a multitude of events which could be something catching fire, getting stuck in a field, losing your keys, the list is endless……. If you’re by yourself, you’re more likely to panic. You need a contingency plan. Sites must follow rules. There will be a fire extinguisher somewhere on the field, always a good idea to locate it when you arrive. There will always be an emergency number to call – the owner’s mobile number should be on your booking or on a door – the toilet/shower block OR simply ask when you arrive if you haven’t seen it. Things happen which are out of our control. Forking out for someone to break into your van when your keys have gone missing is something you may not have planned for. ALWAYS check your pockets before you leave the van, to walk to the toilet/shower block or if you’re heading out for a walk.
Breakdown
If the van breaks down, what will you do? Do you have a breakdown service available to you? Is there someone you know who lives close by and could come and help?
You may have chosen an area because you wanted to catch up with someone – I’m doing that right now. Can they come and rescue you? Making regular payments to a breakdown service is much cheaper, and you feel more secure, than paying through the nose for one-off problems. Mine is part of my bank account, along with my mobile phone insurance and travel insurance if abroad. You may think it’s not worth it, yet if you’re caught out, it can prove very expensive.
Stay in Touch
And last but certainly NOT least, keep in contact with people. Just a quick message every morning telling them where you are or where you’re heading to will put them at ease.
