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I hope yopu have good weather but if you don't and have to pack up 'wet', I find some satrong large bin bags are good for ptting stuff in so as not to get inside of car /van filthy. Also use pieces of plastic sheeting( quite cheap and can be cut to size).

 My latest innovation in the cheapskates range  (for the same purpose) are those blue plastic shopping bags from Ikea which cost about 50p.

They are just the right size for water thing, parts of awning, ( which we always pack in bits to make more managable), ground sheet .I also used one over the hich over the winter,kept in place with a donger.

Iam sure people look askance at us when we turn up with all these blue plastic bundle to it saves hours of cleaning up.Oh yeah those collaspible plastic boxes are really useful for pegs and stuff and they also fit into thiose Ikea bags.

All this learnt through bitter experiences of camping with trailer tent and coming home with piles of wet canvas.

Hope this is useful.You probably guessed that I hate to spend good money on so- called camping accessories!

Happy camping SiobhanK

We keep some cheap towels and a duplicate set of toiletries etc in our van- also a couple of old fleeces and flipflops to cover all eventualities- saves time packing or  forgetting essentials like a toothbrush.

If you are taking a portable TV, you might want to think about its connectivity. 

For example, some sites have a TV booster system connection on the EHU post, if the local reception is poor,  for which you will need a long co-ax cable with fittings on each end.

Likewise, if you are using an exteranl aerial (e.g. a status aerial), what cable/connectors might you need for the back of the TV set.

Second duct tape, comes in very handy.

Small size toiletries (shower gel etc), you would be surprised how often you can pick up unused toiletry items in charity shops. You can also buy small size toothpaste etc at Boots and Superdrug. Get some cheap wash bags and keep them in the van.

you need a first Aid kit.

Margaret

Wow - that has all been really helpful for me!!!  From my experience I would say that paper and penil (or equivalent is really helpul for those things you will forget) also unless you have plenty of cupboards a hook or something like that to keep keys and valuables safe and easy to find.

Have a lovely time

Kim xx 

Hiya

NUMBER PLATE

No-one has mentioned number plate!!!!  And don't forget double sided sticky pads to stick the thing onto the van!!!!

Ellie x

Oh yes, done that more than once!    OH once managed to drive all the way to our seasonal pitch on the west coast (we're at 20 miles from Edinburgh) to find he had no keys so just had to walk the dogs then persuade them back into the car for the return journey - you can imagine how impressed all three of them were!  Serves them right for going off enjoying themselves whilst I was stuck at work! 

When it was my turn to forget the keys, I was lucky and had only gotten as far as the Fort (shopping centre on the M8) so it was a quick detour off the motorway, turn around and back on in the opposite direction.  Dogs in the boot sitting up and peering at me in the mirror with that "what are you doing?" look on their faces!  Not amused to find themselves heading home again but thankfully it's only at half an hour away, not the 3 hour wasted journey OH had!  Much happier dogs once we were again heading in the right direction.

Now I leave my caravan keys in the cubby box in my car - I won't get to the 'van without the car so, as long as I have that, I'll also have the keys!