20 Caravan Essentials You Need Before Your First Trip

Buying a caravan can be one of the most rewarding experiences but also one of the most stressful. You have to learn about caravans, research what you want, set a budget, shop around and finally, make a purchase. And you still don't get to use it! Before that can happen, you need to learn some DIY skills, memorise a bunch of specialist terms, and figure out what you actually want to do with your new caravan.

With so much to think about, the last thing you want is to spend even more time wondering what you need to put inside, outside and all around your caravan in order to make life on the road more comfortable. So, to help take a load off your plate, we've decided to come up with our list of the 20 caravan essentials you need before your first trip. Just save the page, read along and shop with us to simplify the start of your next great life adventure!

1) Sirocco 12v Fans

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By far the caravan accessory that is most requested by new owners, Sirocco fans are known throughout the industry for their dependability and performance. Made in Canada, Sirocco 12v fans are loaded with features that will make life more comfortable on the road, including three speeds and four timer settings so you can keep your caravan cool all day long. With a gimballed head to allow for full airflow throughout your caravan, Sirocco fans should be one of the first purchases you make as a new owner.

2) Towing Mirrors

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If you own a caravan then you're going to need to tow a caravan, and towing mirrors are essential in order to do so safely. Towing mirrors are just regular wing mirrors with a longer arm to allow you to see the full length of your caravan with ease. Towing mirrors attach to your existing wing mirrors and can be adjusted to suit vehicles of any size, no matter what they're towing. There are several manufacturers of towing mirrors on the market but the best by far is Milenco and Dometic.

3) Caravan Air Conditioners

The unfortunate reality of caravanning in Australia is that fans aren't always going to cut it on the hottest days. When that's the case, you need a caravan air conditioner to keep you cool. There are several different options available, including rooftop air conditioners, under-bunk air conditioners, and even portable air conditioners. Your choice will ultimately depend on your caravan, budget and needs, but take it from us, you don't want to find yourself exploring the Far North without one!

4) Reversing Cameras

For new owners, reversing a caravan can be both stressful and hazardous - so why not make it easier for yourself? With a reversing camera, you can get a full, clear view of what's behind you, making the whole process much safer and letting you back up your caravan with confidence and ease. At Shop RV Parts, we stock both Dometic and Sphere reversing cameras, so you can choose the option that's right for you.

5) Portable Fridges

While some larger luxury caravans have built-in kitchens, many new owners probably aren't starting their caravan journey with one of these models. As such, if you want to get away for anything more than a couple of nights, you'll need a portable fridge to keep your food fresh and your drinks cold. Luckily, portable fridges are hugely popular with the camping and 4WD community in addition to caravanners, so there is a wide range of options to choose from.

Whether you want a small 20L fridge to hold some milk and a bottle of wine or a 100L model that can fit a week's worth of groceries, you'll be able to find it. At Shop RV Parts, we stock a number of portable fridges from leading brands including Dometic, myCOOLMAN and Brass Monkey.

6) Caravan Awnings

Unless you plan to spend all day inside your caravan, at a certain point you're going to want to relax outside, and for that, you'll need an awning. There are several different types of awnings available, including rollout, box and inflatable awnings (for more information on each, you can read our buying guide here) but they are all designed to give you shade and help you expand your living space beyond the full walls of a caravan. So if you dream of sitting out with a cool breeze blowing and a book in your hand, make sure you get an awning.

7) Camping Chairs

Of course, in order to sit out and enjoy that cool breeze, you'll need something to actually sit on. Camping chairs (and, depending on your planned lifestyle, other camping furniture) are a portable, lightweight way to give yourself somewhere to unwind that isn't inside your caravan. There are a number of brands available depending on what you're looking for, but the best, in our opinion, are Navigator, Oztent and Dometic.

8) Solar Panels

If you plan to make caravanning a regular or even permanent part of your life (i.e. you plan to live on the road and travel full-time) then solar panels are an absolute necessity. Although you can get by without them by staying in caravan parks, there's no better feeling than having the independence to get off the grid and spend a few days in the bush with nobody else around.

Many caravans now come pre-fitted with solar panels for precisely this reason, but if yours doesn't then it should be a priority to install them. Don't worry, it won't cost you an arm and a leg: thanks to rapidly decreasing costs and the fact that life in a caravan doesn't require a lot of power, you can get roof-mounted solar panels for just a few hundred dollars.

9) Battery Management Systems

With solar panels, you're going to need batteries, and if you have batteries then it's only sensible to get a battery management system to keep everything organised. Modern battery management systems act as the brains for your whole electrical setup and have built-in battery chargers and various charging modes, as well as a range of safety features to keep you and your caravan safe. Many battery management systems can also be connected to a wider ecosystem of monitors and sensors so that you know at a glance exactly what is happening with your batteries.

10) Gas Level Monitors

Except for the rare occasions when you feel like cooking outside on an open fire, most of your meals are going to be cooked with gas bottles, and for that, you'll need a gas level monitor. You might think you can get away with a shake and a tap to tell you how full your gas bottle is, but there's nothing worse than running out when you're in the bush.

If you live in the city, it's easy to take for granted how available LPG is, but once you hit the open road you'll be surprised at just how few and far between refilling spots can be. For how inexpensive a gas level monitor is, it makes sense to get one to avoid the stress of a bottle running out with no way to replace it.

11) Diesel Heaters

While Australia is mostly known as a land of extreme heat, there are many parts of the country, especially in the outback, where you'll find yourself in need of a heater come nighttime. There are several options for heating your caravan but the most efficient and most popular is a caravan diesel heater. In addition to being quiet and cheap to run, caravan diesel heaters use a fuel source that is readily available throughout the country and won't drain your batteries in an attempt to keep warm.

Here at Shop RV Parts, we stock only the best diesel heaters from leading brands Truma and Eberspacher, manufacturers of the 'Mercedes Benz' of diesel heaters.

12) First Aid Kits

Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst is a saying that should live in every owner's head. Try as you might, there are going to be times on the road when everything goes wrong, and in those moments you'll always wish for whatever you don't have.

One of the most dangerous aspects of travelling in Australia is its immense size and the remoteness of many locations. In such places, minor injuries or illnesses can quickly become serious, which is why it pays to always have a well-stocked and up-to-date first aid kit with you at all times. As well as your standard painkillers and band-aids, make sure to include a number of bandages and heavier dressings, along with tourniquets and disinfectants - you never know what you might need.

13) Fire Extinguishers

If you're going to buy any piece of safety equipment first, make sure it's a fire extinguisher. While it is rare to have a fire in your caravan, the combination of complex electronics and onboard gas stoves and other fuels means you don't want to leave home without one. Try and get the largest size you can carry: although the weight might seem like a burden, you don't want to risk losing your car and caravan because you only bought a pocket-sized fire extinguisher.

14) Wheel Levelling Ramps

As nice as it would be to always have level ground beneath your wheels, not even caravan parks can promise an even surface every day of the year. When you find yourself on a wonky site, wheel levelling ramps become indispensable and will keep you from falling out of bed at night. The best part is that they're inexpensive, indestructible and take up barely any room onboard. Unless you enjoying living life on a lean, pick up a set before you take your first trip.

15) Dash Cameras

Insurance companies are famously difficult to deal with and if something should happen to your caravan or tow vehicle, you don't want to be fighting with them when it comes time to get a payout. Whether it is other drivers or the open road, installing a dash camera or two will give you peace of mind and extra protection in the event that you should have an accident during your travels.

16) Caravan Steps

You know that feeling of falling you get when you're drifting off to sleep? That's what you'll be living with every time you leave your caravan if you don't have a step. While some high-end caravans will have automatic, built-in steps, most will just have a perilous (well, kind of) drop outside the door. We stock several different styles of steps, from simple plastic steps that you can store in a cupboard and stick outside once you set up camp, to folding steps that stow neatly underneath the chassis when you're on the move.

17) Bike Racks

If you only plan to use your caravan for short trips then you might not see the need to bring your bikes along, but for longer getaways or full-time life on the road, there are few better additions to your caravan. Whether you're looking for a low-cost way of getting around town, are sick of driving or just want to explore on two wheels instead of four, bringing your bike along adds a whole new dimension to your travels - but to do so, you'll need a bike rack.

18) Recovery Kits

'Hope for the best and prepare for the worst' is a motto that every caravan owner should live by, and try as you might to be careful, accidents are inevitable when you spend enough time on the road. Whether you find yourself stuck in an outback ditch or bogged in a particularly damp campsite, a recovery kit will allow you to get your caravan (and if you're really unlucky, your car) out of a sticky situation and back to doing what you love.

19) Privacy Screens

In addition to giving you extra cover from prying eyes, privacy screens are great for expanding your living space and gaining some extra protection from the elements when you're outdoors. Highly versatile and taking only moments to set up, privacy screens are perfect in every situation from a crowded campground to an open outback plain and are a must for every caravan owner, no matter where your travels take you.

20) Shovels

As well as a standard selection of tools, every caravan owner should travel with a shovel, and should never underestimate the many ways in which it can come in handy. From freeing a trapped wheel, digging a fire pit or excavating a temporary toilet, the humble shovel is an essential companion that will prove its worth all around the campsite or caravan park.

Stocked Up On The Essentials? Browse The Rest Of Our Range

Now that you've got the basics down, it's time to think about what else your caravan needs to feel complete. Whether it's LED lighting strips, a camping table, cover or cookware, we have it all. With thousands of products on our website and more being added every day, check out the rest of our range to find those final pieces of the puzzle.