As I said, the real luxury in vanlife is space. Having lived for almost a year in such a small space the two of us and a dog, I have learned a thing or two.

Having useful storage systems is essential when living (or travelling) in a van. Using every available space to store your belongings needs to be your priority in such a small space.

Here are the storage items we could not live without:

Storage boxes

These had to be the first item on the list. We didn’t build a wardrobe during our van conversion, so we keep all our clothes in these storage boxes under the bed. They save up so much space, keep everything organized and protect our clothes from dust and smell (which accumulate fast in such a small space). Moreover, the clear window on the front makes it so easy to find what you need! These boxes definitely are one of the most useful items we have!

Vacuum bags

A way to effectively save up space is to use the famous “vacuum bag”. We use them to store the winter clothes in summer (and vice versa), as coats and duvets can take up so much space!

I highly suggest you buy good quality bags, as they break easily and you could find yourself spending lots of money to buy them again.

Back Seat Organizer

You will soon realize that there are so many small things you won’t have a place for when living in a van. These things can create mess around, and that’s the last thing you need in a small space. Having a back seat organizer gives you the possibility to store all those things you use frequently, without using much space.

Before jumping on your first trip, it’s important to get ready in case of emergency. Let’s be honest here, van life can be dangerous at times; during our first months living in a van, we saw a van completely destroyed by fire, broken in vans, and talked many people who had their van stolen. And this is not a complete list.

Make sure to not overlook safety and invest in remaining safe while on the road. Most of these items are just common sense, but I listed them anyway.

Obviously, not everything always goes as planned, but you can definitely avoid to be taken aback!

Fire Estinguisher

A fire estinguisher is an essential item when it comes to van life safety. We bought one the day after we had seen the tragedy of the couple next to us that had their van completely destroyed by a fire in the middle of the night. It really was a shock.

Gps Tracker

If you ask to any van lifer, his worse nightmare is his van being stolen.

A GPS tracker can be hidden underneath the seat (that’s what we did) and it’s a small price to pay to have extra security and more peace of mind.

Car Emergency Kit

Unfortunately, breakdowns also happen to van lifers and, depending on where you are, help might not arrive straight away.

It’s always a good idea to keep a car emergency kit with you. This includes a tyre inflator, booster cables, a torch and other essential items for emergency occasions.

First Aid Kit

Hopefully, you will never have to use it, but it’s an essential item to have. Especially if you, like us, often stay in remote places where the nearest hospital is miles and miles away!

Satellite Communicator

This is not essential, but very good to have if you’re planning on exploring remote places.

You really don’t want to stay stuck somewhere with no help and no phone signal. In that case, a satellite communicator will become very handy!

If you’re planning on driving off the beaten path, then you surely your find so many perfect places to camp. And, you will likely spend more time outdoor then in the van!

Once you’ve found a dreamy camping spot, you’ll likely want to have a memorable (and comfortable) experience. Well, this is when these items might come to hand!

Portable Table

Having a tasty lunch outside while admiring a breathtaking view is in any van lifer’s best moments’ list.

A portable table is one of the best things to have for unforgettable outdoor lunches/dinners!

Camping Chairs

I’ve never met a van lifer who didn’t have camping chairs, so this HAS TO be in this list.

What’s the point in driving all the way to the perfect spot if you can’t enjoy it outside?! 🤷‍♀️ 

Headlamp

We actually use these way more than I expected.

Most of the time, especially if you’re staying in the woods like we often do, it’s going to be completely dark outside. You want to make sure you can actually see something, without always relying on your phone’s flashlight!

Hammock

This was one of the best camping gifts from our friends.

Relaxing by the beach on in the woods on my hammock with a few drinks and a book it’s one of my favourite vanlife moments! And if you, like me, are not a fan of insects, I’ve linked for you an hammock with a mosquito net! 🐝

Barbecue Grill

We love having a barbecue on the beach (or in any picturesque spot we find)!

This barbecue is perfect for picnics, it’s foldable and lightweight.

Lantern

A camping light can go a long way in making your camping life easier and comfortable.

In fact, you’ll be glad to have one if you ever find yourself cooking or eating after the sun goes down or enjoying the night outside the van.

Pocket Knife

A Swiss style pocket knife is essential for outdoor survival, and it’s useful in many everyday occasions!

One of the worst things is running out of power while you’re exploring. We’ve experiences all kinds of power issues in the first months of  our van life… and trust me, it’s not nice.

As I said, we never go to camping sites because we prefer to travel on the off beaten path, always. But this means that we can’t charge our batteries, ever. So, renewal energy is our way of survival.

Let’s see the essential items!

Lithium Deep Cycle Battery

Your batteries are an essential component of your off-grid van lifestyle.

A lithium battery is the best you can buy for you van, and they are expected to last a decade or more. Although they are more expensive, they last for longer and weight less.

We do not have them yet as we did all our conversion at very low cost, but we are going to upgrade soon.

Solar Panels

Solar panels definitely are essential for van lifers, as they provide unlimited power source.

Moreover, they are easy to install (especially if you buy the kit – see link). They will really make a difference in your everyday life and you’ll never have to worry about running out of power during your advenures!

Power Inverter

This is essential to charge certain accessories (laptops etc.) and to use some appliances while you’re in the van.

In short, it allows you to charge anything you plug into a wall, therefore it can be hard to live without one!

Portable Power Bank

A portable power bank is very useful to have backup power, especially when you’re adventuring outdoor.

A solar powered power bank is a great alternative if you’re not ready to spend all those money on solar panels yet!

Bluetooth Speaker

One of our favourite items!

It’s lightweight, it charges very fast, puts out a great audio and it’s also a lamp.

All these features make it perfect for outdoor usage!

Car Charger

A car charger is very useful to charge phones, laptops and everything else you might need while driving, without absorbing power from your batteries.

We use it all the time!

Charging Cables

Charging cables are essential if you want to use your car charger, and they are also very useful to bring with you – you can never know, you might find places where you can charge your phone!

Battery Charger

I am SO GLAD we bought this, as it actually saved us once. Our car battery was completely dead, all the mechanics were far away and we didn’t have a start jumper yet. So, we took the car battery, went to a close shop with our battery charger and asked if we could charge the battery a bit. This allowed us to turn on the van and drive to a mechanic the next day!

This charger also gives you the reader of the batteries; that way you can see if they are running out of charge!

One of the things we love most about visiting a new country, is shopping local and cooking our food. Moreover, we don’t love eating out all the time – we like cooking our own food at a nice camping spot.

If you’re on a tight budget during your travels, you might do the same – eating out every day can be REALLY expensive!

So, let’s see what are the essential items in a kitchen van!

Gas Stove

A gas stove is an essential item in any vanlifer’s kitchen.

We opted for this black glass cooker, as it was very nice and easy to install. It’s just like the one you find at home, and it doesn’t take so much space!

Tableware and Cooking Set

This camping cooking set includes everything you need and it is suitable for two people.

Each item is lightweight, doesn’t take too much space and it doesn’t break easily!

Insulated Thermos

You might find yourself on very long trips, so it’s a good idea to have coffee or tea in a thermos to keep it cold or hot.

You’ll be so thankful for it while driving for hours!

Coffee Maker

Well, as an Italian I can say that no kitchen is complete without a coffee maker. It’s essential to survive on the road!

We actually use this French press, and we love it!

Cutting Board

I must admit, we made the mistake of not buying one as soon as we moved in the van. Cooking without a proper cutting board was almost impossible!

After a few months we (finally) bought this cutting board – it’s flexible, lightweight, and can be stored almost everywhere!

Spice Rack

If you like spices and herbs (is there someone who doesn’t?!) it’s a good idea to buy a wall mounted spice rack – it can save up a lot of space and keep everything organized and on hand!

Water Storage

Let’s not forget a way to store water! Water tanks to keep fresh water and at least one water tank for waste are essential to keep you going – the last thing you want is to finish your water while you’re in a remote place.

Food Hammocks

Food hammocks have become very popular between vanlifers – they look so nice and save up space!

We use them to store fruit and vegetables, and they are great!

Although we met many people living in a van full time without a toilet, they were all regretting it. A shower room and a toilet add a lot of comfortable when living on the road!

I am still convinced that our portable toilet is one of the best things we’ve ever bought for the van.

Let’s jump to the essential bathroom items!

Portable Toilet

The first essential item in your bathroom must be a portable toilet.

You will be so grateful you bought one when travelling off the grid, trust me!

Portable Shower

Although we built a shower room, we opted for a portable shower: it’s rechargable and it can be taken outside the van!

When we visit hot places, we love to shower outside – it makes less fuss, it’s easier and faster!

Bathroom Cabinet

I love this mirrored bathroom cabinet! It is just the right size, it doesn’t take so much space and it is perfect to store all your lotions and perfumes. Plus, you can’t have a bathroom without a mirror, am I right?!

Products Storage

Have you thought about where you are going to store all your shower products? In our case, the cabinet wasn’t enough, so we bought these hanging baskets. They are great to save space and keep your things organized!

Most of these items are not really “essentials”, but they will definitely make your life easier. We use most of these things daily, and I could not live full-time in the van without them!

Let’s have a look:

Skylight

Cooking in such a small space without a skylight could be one of the worst things you could do in the van – the heat stays on the ceiling, while the smell will never go away.

A skylight can help to prevent moist, mould and keep the place clean, while making your living space brighter!

Cooler/Heater

Although you did a proper job insulating you van, there will be times when it will be freezing cold or incredibly hot – it’s inevitable.

A portable climate cube helped us a lot during these situations. We survived to a very cold Scottish winter and to a melting Italian summer, so I guess it did his job!

Mosquito Net

Did I say I am not a fan of insects? I know, it’s not common for a nature lover. However, if there’s a way to keep them out of my living space – I am definitely adopting it.

Our mosquito nets are essential for me – they avoided huge monsters to come in several times!

Large Umbrella

When we were vanlifeing through Sicily, during a very hot summer, we were so glad we had bought an outside umbrella to keep us shaded from the 40°+ degrees!

Although it might not seem useful now, trust me, you don’t want to be outside the van eating or relaxing while the sun is roasting you properly.

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