The wonderful thing about roadtripping in your motorhome or campervan is that in a very real sense, you never actually leave home! So it stands to reason that you want your rolling home to be as comfortable as your bricks & mortar home - more so if you're heading off for a long trip or even going full time in your camper! As with all my recommended products if you buy through my links below I will receive a small commission which in no way affects your purchase price. Amongst all the drama and sometimes stress of getting ready to hit the road there's also the fun of kitting out your new home too. Here are four of my absolute must haves to start you off:
Water Filtration System - The British Berkefeld
Given the age of dear old Eileen, we don't use the onboard 'fresh' water tank for drinking water even though I add purification tablets whenever I fill up. In most European countries you can happily drink the local water and we used a 10L refillable plastic jerry can originally. However, in places like Morocco it's simply not advisable to drink the water straight off and in some cases it's just not potable as it's too salty. As a result after ten weeks on the road we were horrified by the amount of bottled water we were buying AND by the volume of plastic waste we saw around us. I resolved to find a better system and discovered the British Berkefeld. This attractive stainless steel gravity water filtration system uses ceramic super sterasyl filters to remove sediment, rust and particles, some bacteria, chlorine and some chemicals. I added a stainless steel spigot to ensure against any annoying leaks! This unit provides enough fresh water for two people per day, it's stylish and portable - these days it goes between Eileen and my narrowboat Midnight Blue. Buy one of these great units and it's win/win for fresh, safe drinking water for you and a reduction in single use plastic that helps save our planet - what's not to like!
As you probably already know, space is at a premium regardless if you're in a classic small camper or a more generously proportioned motorhome. The Tefal Ingenio range of pots and pans with a detachable handle make the most of your cupboard space without compromising on quality. Mine have been the mainstay of my kitchen, they're so well travelled now but still look great and perform as well as the day I first bought them. They are also great to use on the Cadac BBQ we never leave home without!
Tefal Ingenio Cookware
Al Fresco BBQ on The Go!
The CADAC Safari Chef 2 was, I'll be honest, a last minute purchase the day we boarded the ferry. I had been harbouring a not so secret lust for this bit of kit but couldn't quite persuade myself I should buy it. Well! Thank goodness self indulgence prevailed as this has to be one of my favourite #VanLife accessories. Lightweight at 5kg, it packs into it's own little carry bag and offers a variety of versatile cooking options. Do burgers and steaks on the griddle, use the flat plate for fish, pizza or pancakes even, pop on the lid to create an oven (we did a whole roast chicken once!) or flip it and it becomes a wok! Or use none of these and just put a pan or frying pan onto the hob. We've had some fabulous meals in amazing places with new found friends on this little BBQ with a big heart - certainly beats slaving over the hob inside on a warm evening!