Getting started - what are the essentials?

Hi there,

Due to collect our 2005 Nuevo ES soon. Apart from the stuff that's included as standard (I think), the cupboards are empty.

What suggestions do you have of the essentials and the things that make it great, bearing in mind this is compact motorhome. Probably only be 2-4 of us but could end up with six for a meal possibly. 

Credit card and deep pockets.

For some it is a teapot & kettle. We are happy with a box of wine.

How do you intend using it? Assuming you will be staying on campsites you will need a hookup cable (one should be supplied) and maybe a 13A 3 pin adaptor so that you can plug in to the mains to check things at home. You will also need a water hose and a screw thread to snap on adaptor, although with the number of these I forget to take off the tap I think most taps in the uk are already converted.

Finally we find levelling the van allows us a better sleep and has the advantage of helping the fridge work so some levelling blocks and a spirit level.

Most of all, enjoy the lifestyle it gives you.

Different people have different ideas on what they should or shouldnt take in their vans.
Best thing to do is a search on the subject which I suspect will give you several hours of reading !!!!
There may be a list in the Factsheets sections-(from memory??)

My silver screens were my best buy. Saves pulling the front curtains every night and gives you more privacy. Also they stop condensation on the windscreen on the colder mornings.

This is my personal checklist. There will be items that you personally will not/do not need so ignore them. It may be there are things that will make you say 'oh yes I forget about that'.



MOTORHOME CHECKLIST

Sleeping Bags	Tea & Coffee
Pillows & cases	Sugar & Sweeteners
Chairs	Bread
Mallet	Milk
Torch	Cereal
Lighter/matches	Butter/Marg spread
Water container	Shampoo & Conditioner
Waste water container	Hair Dryer
Gas	Curling Brush / Straighteners Gas & Elec
Toilet Fluid	Soap & Shower gel
Levelling ramps	Shaving gear
Spirit level	Towels (washroom & kitchen)
Water purifying fluid	Flannel
Pump for water filling & filling hoses	Toilet paper
Wash-up liquid	Tissues
Plates/bowls/mugs	Medicines
Wine/beer/spirit glasses	Specs (glasses)
Cutlery	Books
Kitchen Utensils	CD’s
Storage containers (empty)	Mobile phones/chargers
Dustpan & brush	Cameras/batteries/charger
Gas kettle	NT member cards/guide
Electric kettle	Maps
Salt/pepper/oil	Booking confirmation
Pots & pans	Cash & credit/debit cards
Bottle opener/corkscrew	Wine/beer/spirits
Tin opener	Shoes/trainers/boots
Chopping boards	Sunhats/Woolly hats
Grater	Coats/fleeces
Sieve/colander	Sunglasses
Teapot	Sat. Nav.
Toothbrushes / paste	Fridge food
First Aid Kit	Other food
Binoculars	CC and C&CC books
TV	Marmalade
Playing cards	Spare keys
Tool kit	Dish cloths
Instructions folder	Tea towels
Ice cube tray	Clothes – socks, tops, trousers pj’s
Hook-up cable	Bin bags
	Tablets & leads

Let me know if you don't get an AS handbook with the van, I have a spare one.
Al.

Best advice is to keep your wallet in your pocket until you have a genuine need for that "must have" item you see at a show or accessory shop.

It's probably not "must have" at all when you stop and think carefully, and why do you think almost all motorhomers have lofts and garages full of stuff they bought and used twice!!  

Once you are established I would expect most of the items on your list (adapted from Paul's above perhaps) would remain in the van. You then need to establish a second list of those items that are taken out between trips - just so you don't forget to put them back in again.

After a while you won't need a list at all. we never bother any more, and we rarely forget anything. (That's done it!!!! What shall we forget next trip?? )

If you keep your van at home I'd suggest spending a night in it before you go anywhere. Physically going through the experience is the only way to be sure, and I heard of someone who did just that - which was fortunate when they reached for the duvets!!!!!

Did you watch that TV show recently, the programme makers took everything away from the participants, including every stitch of clothing. They had to prioritise from there, an item a day.
Work up from that..
Al.

I forgot my marmalade last weekend.

rose49f wrote:I forgot my marmalade last weekend.

Hells teeth Rose, don't frighten the lad.

That's about as serious as it can get!!! Was it far to go back home and fetch it?

rose49f wrote:I forgot my marmalade last weekend.

We seemed to forget it too often, that's why it had a separate entry on my list.

Coffee for the morning, alcohol for the evening.

When we got our first campervan, we basically went away for a weekend with what we thought we might need to 'test' out the van and get a feel for it.

It soon becomes evident the things you personally feel you 'need' and the items you can forget as you don't use them.

Pick a campsite near a town and it's easy to pick up any essentials then too. Have fun and enjoy finding out what you need to take for your lifestyle.

Forget all the faff about hoses, connectors and adaptors.
The best advice I ever had was to use a watering can for filling.
Simples!

nuevoboy wrote:Forget all the faff about hoses, connectors and adaptors.
The best advice I ever had was to use a watering can for filling.
Simples!

Can't argue with that.

We haven't carried a hose for ages!

But what about on site?

Taking a watering can with you takes up a huge amount of room. A coiled length of hose is neglible and far easier to whack on the standpipe and fill up than repeated fills with a watering can. If anything, I think the 'faff' is actually increased that way.

Not really Noggin. You would usually have to move the van to reach a standpipe, and if it's up on chocks with the awning out, that's faff!

We reckon combining with a pee and a shower each keeps us going perfectly, assuming we both remember to take the can with us when we go to the ablutions!

I never take my hose with me, fill up at home and use watering can when away, doesn`t take up that much room.

When I first started, with  the van essentials, I made a list and ticked off as they were loaded into van, then another list, for "house wares " pots /pans cutlery etc.

Then a list for clothes, shoes, etc.  towels toiletries,  kitchen / toilet rolls. medicines

Another for food, dry and then fridge stuff. fresh water containers, wine, beer,

Sat Nav. Maps, Cameras, binoculars, laptop, phone, chargers, power pack, spare batteries,  mobile modem, with sim card, books, site books, instructions for all appliances,

Tool kit, screw drivers I have mine in a tool roll, gaffer tape, WD40, spare fuses, bulbs, screws assorted, cable ties assorted, double sided auto tape, anything else in case of, torch and batteries. note pad & pens, to write anything forgotten or shopping list.

If you have a dog, bedding, food, bowls, extra long leads, grooming kit, medicines, in case of stings etc.

Outside chairs, windbreak, awning carpet, outside table.

Above all else relax and enjoy, not the end of the world if something has been forgotten.

I  keep everything in my van all the time, , apart from fresh food, clothes, .water is kept in the van ,

Water can filling not much use with a Truma (or Whale) fill system. 2005 probably a Truma?

We learnt the art of minimalism when we used to tour Europe on a motorbike. It was tough, but if it didn't fit in 2 panniers and a top box we did without it..
When we had out first small camper van it seemed vast, so the stuff we took grew.
When we later moved on to the Nuevo the amount of things we carried increased proportionately..
The problems arise when you start to downsize again..
Oh, I don't carry a watering can either, a short hose when there's tap nearby and a domestic downspout end in the filler and a 15 litre water container if away from a tap.
The water container then carries our fresh drinking water when on the move.
Al.

PLOUGHLIN wrote:Water can filling not much use with a Truma (or Whale) fill system. 2005 probably a Truma?

No its a straight-forward filler whether by hose or watering can. We use a 25 ltr  wheeled water container (which travels in the washroom) and then a submersible pump to transfer to tank, and  is then stored under van on site. I've hardly ever come across a site where I can get the van near enough to a tap to use a hose, although I do carry a 5metre and a 1 metre hose for when the site tap doesn't have a hose on it. The Nuevo ES is pretty tight on storage, so a watering can would just be in the way but I can see the logic of getting a can full each time you go to the shower or the bins.

bikeralw wrote:Let me know if you don't get an AS handbook with the van, I have a spare one.
Al.

Will check that when we collect it and let you know if not, thanks Al.

bikeralw wrote:Did you watch that TV show recently, the programme makers took everything away from the participants, including every stitch of clothing. They had to prioritise from there, an item a day.
Work up from that..
Al.

We might get some funny looks when we stroll into the local DA buck naked as it's not a naturist camp!

Gromit wrote:

rose49f wrote:I forgot my marmalade last weekend.

Hells teeth Rose, don't frighten the lad.

That's about as serious as it can get!!! Was it far to go back home and fetch it?

 I'll have to remember to pack that then Rose. By the way, Gromit, I'm not a lad.

We are in a very similar situation, picking up our 2008 Nuevo EK today and only have some equipment from our camping days, so been careful not to carry every thing except the kitchen sink and the weight you can add to the motorhome.

We'll have to compare notes Brumloz.