Checklist and Packing List for a Caravan Getaway

Caravan getaway trips are lots of fun but to make the most out of your trip, you have to make sure you got all the right stuff with you. You wouldn’t want to find yourself in a frustrating situation looking for items as you need them and rummaging through your stuff only to realize that you somehow forget to pack them.

We understand that sometimes, packing can be a bore or confusing, if you have no idea what to bring or you got a lot of items in your mind to pack and you don’t know where and how to start. It is important to know what items to remember bringing in your caravan trip and what to leave at home.

The best way to organize your thoughts and remove the drama from packing is to make yourself a caravan packing check list. And making a checklist for a long trip is no easy task, so we took the hassle out of your mind and created you a packing checklist – especially customised for your caravan needs.

Follow the checklist below and be one step closer to your trip!

CARAVAN CHECKLIST

Overall Caravan Condition

• Battery – good condition and charging
• Tyres – good condition and pumped to correct pressure
• Brakes engage and release
• Jockey wheel – raised and secured or stowed away
• Water tank – full
• Gas bottles – turned off and secure, full
• Tow bar wiring and plug/socket – working & clean
• Fire alarm – check and replace the battery if needed
• Fire extinguisher/fire blanket – do you have one?
• Fridge – door securely closes and working
• All drawers and cupboards – close properly & stay closed
• Windows closed
• Toilet – working
• All interior gas and electrics are off
• Lights – work and have spare bulbs and tubes

Levelling & Security Devices

• Caravan hitch lock
• Jockey wheel chock pad
• Handheld UHFs
• Levelling ramps
• Levelling device
• Stabiliser pads
• Wheel chocks

Power & Lighting

• Amphibian adaptor
• Battery charger
• Extension cord (heavy duty 15A)
• Headlamps
• Powerbank
• Rechargeable batteries (9V, AA, AAA)
• Solar panels (blankets vs folding)
• Torches (torch/lantern combo)
• 12V fan (Sirocco)

Towing Your Caravan

• Towing mirrors
• Reversing camera

Caravan Waterworks

• Collapsible bucket
• Drinking water hose (blue)
• Gardening gloves
• Hose fittings (brass)
• Hose joiner
• Inline water filter
• Portable grey water tank
• Storage bag for hose
• Tap key

Kitchen

• Air fryer
• Baking tray
• Bottle opener
• Can opener
• Chopping boards
• Coffee keep cups
• Coffee maker
• Collander (collapsible)
• Cups
• Cutlery set
• Dinnerware
• Dishwashing detergent
• Dish cloths
• Drying rack (roll up)
• Egg flip
• Egg rings (silicone)
• Toaster
• Tongs
• Wine glasses (stemless)
• Wooden spoon
• Grater (container type)
• Insulated travel mugs
• Kettle (collapsible)
• Knives (in sheaths)
• Measuring cups (collapsible or nesting)
• Meat thermometer
• Mixing bowls (collapsible)
• Mixing spoons
• Masher
• Peeler
• Pots and pans (nesting)
• Scissors
• Sifter
• Spatula
• Tea towels

Laundry

• Collapsible laundry tub
• Hanging clothes dryer
• Pegless clothesline (Slide n’ Dry)
• Pegs
• Portable folding clothesline
• Scrubba Washing Bag
• Mini washing machine (or bucket & lid)
• Washing powder / liquid
• Wool wash

Bathroom

• Toilet chemicals
• Toiletries
• Toiletries bags
• Toilet Paper
• Turkish Towels (double as beach towels)

Heating & Cooling

• 12V fan
• Electric blow heater
• Wireless weather station

Caravan Storage Ideas

• 3M hooks
• Knife safe
• Non-slip matting
• Shelf rack or under-shelf hanging basket
• Velcro tape

Cleaning Products

• Bin
• Bleach (unscented)
• Cleaning cloths
• Dustpan and brush
• Garbage bags
• Paper towels
• Hand-held vacuum
• Paper towel holder
• White distilled vinegar

Outside Your Caravan

• Barbeque
• Camping chairs
• Combination bike locks
• Folding fire pit
• Folding table
• Ground sheet
• Hats
• Insect repellent
• Matches or lighter
• Mosquito coils
• Mosquito head nets
• Picnic rug
• Sunscreen

Caravan Toolkit

• Breaker bar
• Cable ties
• Duct tape
• Hydraulic jack
• Screwdriver set
• Socket set
• Spanners (8-19mm)
• Tow ball spanner
• Tyre sealant in a can
• Wheel bearings
• Wheel brace (if different than your car)
• Compressor
• Cordless Drill
• Fuses
• Hammer
• Measuring tape
• Multi-grips
• Multi-meter
• Pliers
• Ratchet straps
• Rope
• Side cutters
• Silicon and caulking gun
• Superglue
• Tap washers
• Test light
• Tyre repair kit
• Tyre pressure monitor
• Wire strippers/crimpers

First Aid Kit – Emergency

• Heavy duty crepe bandages (5cm, 10cm and 15cm, min. of 2x each)
• Snake bite bandage
• Tourniquet
• Sterile water
• Face shield
• Trauma shears
• Gloves

First Aid Kit – Non-Emergency

• Antihistamines (kids & adults)
• Anti-inflammatories
• Anti-fungal cream or powder
• Bandaids (different shapes & sizes)
• Betadine
• Burn cream
• Cling wrap
• Crepe bandages
• Gastro-Stop
• Hydrolite
• Instant cold packs
• Instant heat packs
• Lozenges (Anitcol & Soothers)
• Micropore tape
• Splinter probes
• Notebook and Pen
• Opsite wound dressing
• Pain relief medications (kids & adults)
• Rigid strapping tape
• SAM splint
• Scissors
• Sunburn cream
• Super glue
• Stingose
• Thermal blanket
• Triangular bandages
• Tweezers

Entertainment & Photography

• 12V television
• Digital compact camera
• Drone
• GoPro
• iPads
• Kindle
• Laptop

Kids Toys

• Duplo or LEGO
• Bikes
• Board games
• Body boards
• Helmets
• Scooters
• Snorkeling gear
• Toy cars and trucks

Caravanning With Small Kids

• Baby/toddler carrier
• Baby monitor
• Formula dispenser
• Night light
• Portable travel cot
• Pram

PRE-TRAVEL CHECKLIST

More Than One Week Out

• Cancel the newspapers at home
• Organise for your mail to be collected or held
• Test all the stations on your garden’s reticulation
• Ask a neighbour to put out your bin
• Last catch-ups with friends and family
• Book the car in for a service if it’s due
• Check the conditions of your tyres & the spare
• Check your wardrobe in case you need to buy & clothes
• Research your location & book any tours
• If you are taking bikes, check tyres & spare parts
• Decide on the route & buy your road maps & guidebooks

One Week To Go

• Vacuum pack and freeze the meat
• Purchase all your dry pantry items
• Give a family member a house key in case of an emergency
• Clean caravan of any cobwebs and dust
• Move linen into caravan and make beds
• Pack dry ingredients and drinks into van
• Start packing clothes you won’t wear again before going

One Day Before You Go

• Move any indoor plants outside if needed
• Ask a neighbour to put out your bin
• Fill the car with fuel
• Fill the caravan water tanks
• Purchase fresh foods you are taking
• Move any kitchen utensils you need into the caravan
• Finish washing and packing the clothes
• Organise meals for the first day of the trip to avoid cooking
• Turn on the caravan fridge and then pack food in
• Plug in the car fridge and move into the car
• Charge batteries

On The Morning You Go

• Pack the last of your toiletries
• Pack your pillows
• Empty the last items from the fridge
• Turn off any electrical appliances at the wall
• Empty any indoor bins
• Check you locked all doors and windows
• Pump up the tyres on the car and caravan after you leave home

If you think of something else to bring, jot it down on the list. Customize your list and use it for future references. Click HERE to download a pdf copy of the checklist.

Put your list somewhere you will remember it or somewhere the family can see it. Happy packing