The great simplicity about taking your caravan on a holiday comes through the ease of packing.  At the furthest extreme, you might even be able to leave your caravan fully packed up with a whole stock of kitchenware, clothes and toiletries; all you need for a holiday without having to pack up at all.  Even if you need to stock up with a few bits and bobs before you go, it’s still possible to leave a large amount in the caravan when it’s not in use.

The great annoyance about taking your caravan on holiday is that, once at the campsite, you will invariably find yourself missing certain items.  Frustratingly, whilst many campsites sell various necessities, you can often find yourself far away from towns which would sell what you need.

Working out the essential selection of items to take with you in your caravan is an important process.  If you intend to leave your caravan stocked while not in use, this can make sure that you have happy holidays for many years to come, and avoid ever having to worry about ‘forgetting your toothbrush’.

So what are some of those essential items that you may well miss off your list when stocking up the caravan?

- Take along a good set of tools, repair kits and replacement parts for any breakables.  Whether your caravan is new or old, something is bound to go wrong at some point, and you will regret not packing these essentials if you find yourself unable to make urgent repairs.  Duck Tape is fantastic for quick, cosmetic repairs.  Obviously, all serious damage needs to be properly inspected and repaired by a professional, but having a ‘mechanical first response’ kit can be a huge help.

- A torch, and spare batteries.  Electrical failures or necessary night time excursions are bound to crop up at some point.  Make sure your torch is working, and keep it in an easy-to-find location (because you’ll probably need to find it in the dark.)

- Stock up on toiletries.  You’ll always need things like toothpaste, deodorants and soaps, and you’ll be annoyed if you run out.  It’s much easier to keep a full stock inside the caravan, rather than having to transfer everything each holiday.

- Kitchen utensils can be bought in full sets from many supermarkets and large stores.  Stocking up on a full set of crockery, cutlery and utensils makes sure that you know exactly what’s there, and you’ll be free to cook in comfort.

- Use some storage boxes.  Get stackable ones so that you can keep them with minimal impact on the space of the caravan.  Boxes are handy for keeping everything clean and dry, taking food out on day trips, or even storing muddy clothes to keep them from messing up the interior.

- Dust-Buster mini vacuum cleaners are a great addition to any caravan.  They take up minimal space, but allow you to clean the entire caravan quickly and easily.  They are hand-help, and even allow you to reach tricky confined areas.

A well-stocked caravan makes for a simple and enjoyable holiday.  Whilst it may cost a bit to fill up the caravan to start with, it will save you time, money and aggravation in the future.  Of course, a fully-stocked caravan is one you want to keep safe and protected.  Make sure that you’ve got Caravan Insurance to keep your caravan protected.