UKC

Not the legalities, but the personal: what did you forget or not take that you've added to your kit-list and vice versa, the 'I'll definitely use that....' thing that was never unpacked or constantly moved to get it out of the way?

In reply to Ardo:

My wife and I spent 6 months around Europe in a van.

We should have taken some camping chairs for sitting outside

We should have left loads of stuff we took. Too many clothes, camping gear, kitchen bits and bobs. 

Take the stuff you need, a few bits you want and not much more.

In reply to Ardo:

Drop the number of clothes, just the pair or two that you're wearing and another set that you're washing and drying.  12 weeks is no different to 1.

And stick with tech cloths, avoiding cotton products as they take too long to dry.

Work out what you're doing most and take only the most versatile rope/s for all your activities.

Get yourself a Hofner Shorty guitar for when you're not in the hills!

In reply to Ardo:

One thing I highly recommend which is often overlooked is a ‘breathable’ groundsheet. It’s a place to sit outside the van without dragging mud/sand/grass into the van every time you pop back in. The breathable bit means it doesn’t kill the grass if you’re there for a while and if it rains, the water passes through it. 

In reply to BruceM:

Very true, you will have to wash clothes so no need to pack too many spares. Worth thinking about colours so you can mix/match all your tops/bottoms to get some variety to your wardrobe. Also take something a little smarter so you can dress up to go out (maybe just one nice tee). 

Don't skimp on warm clothes, thermals are small to pack and a godsend as pj's if its colder than expected.

Hairdryer (and eu plug adaptor) - nothing worse on a cold night than long wet hair and a down sleeping bag. 

In reply to Ardo:

A camping gas stove so you can cook outside.

To my surprise baby wipes are really useful when you do not have access to a shower.

I aasume you are aware of different gas cylinder systems in UK/ Europe? If not gen up.

In reply to Darron:

I've found them very useful for those unexpected intimate moments  even if they don't taste particularly  very good.

In reply to Deviant:

Second vote for camping stove.  Possibly you wont be able to buy the gas cylinders you need in Europe. Or a bbq.

Less clothes. 

Some travel games

comfortable chairs

something to keep the bugs out. 

Washing up bowl. 

Dont forget log Book and Insurance papers. 

In reply to Šljiva:

I always fry outside so always have a little stove for that and something you can use as a windbreak as the breeze comes under the car unlike a tent.

In reply to Jenny C:

Not a problem for me. :-D

In reply to Ardo:

I'll add to the point about the ground mat and suggest just a normal mat to stand on/clean feet that is rubber backed that you can put on the floor outside your van. Believe me Its well worth it.

In reply to Ardo:

I agree with the camping stove or similar, I have just bought one of these for our van, i got jealous of watching people BBQ in the sun, cheap now too....

https://www.bbqworld.co.uk/cadac/cadac-safari-chef-2-lite-bbq-plancha-low-p...

Generally everything else that goes in get used on our trips, i have got ruthless with packing over the years.

In reply to Raskye:

Best thing we ever bought for our van. Always seems dry and keeps you getting sand, grit, grass etc into the van. You can get a really decent 6*4m one on Amazon for about £30. 

Not something we forgot but lots of outdoor lights is a must. Various. Either fixed or rechargable. Lots of options depending on where you are and if you are cooking outside.

And a waterproof table cloth is nice for the table when eating. The French would not eat without one. And the Dutch do the same but always have a vase of flowers on it which is nice. 

In reply to Ardo:

Good point re mat outside van door. We use those plastic mats that ‘jigsaw’ together. Four of those and a coconut mat on top.

In reply to Ardo:

Euro specific- Vignettes. Easy to forget and can be bought in advance usually. Just bought had to buy 3 lots! Gas and water fill adaptors. There's a few odd campsites that have old style 2 pin hook up too. 

1 week of clothes, laundry powder, 20m of cord for washing line, pegs. Cord comes in handy for all sorts. 

Ditched the time consuming gazebo for a simple tarp canopy. 

In reply to Dark-Cloud:

Can't agree with this enough.  Spent a couple of weeks in France recently with the camper and the Cadac Safari 2 got some serious use. Heats well, and the lid allows it to be used like an oven of sorts.  Absolutely love it.

Took two regulators - one which fits to the camping save type cylinders and one which fits to the standard camper van propane cylinder.  Gives flexibility and resilience without carrying loads of extra cylinders and allows for a bit of "picnic" use away from the van.

The van carries two propane cylinders anyway, so no shortage of Cadac gas.

In reply to Šljiva:

Agreed.  The V5 came in handy for us when we needed some emergency repairs at a dealer in France.

It is the first thing the mechanic asked for (or the closest to the French equivalent).

In reply to Ardo:

Also, a mosquito net to go across the inside of the sliding door and a bug zapper

In reply to Cheese Monkey:

Currently cobbling together a canopy from a discarded tent, but the bug net is one thing I've considered parting with cash for.

A bbq, for me, would be something that got packed and driven around without being used in anger.

In reply to Ardo:

We bought one from Ikea in Italy somewhere for not much money and fitted it with some cord. 

In reply to Ardo:

Gas, plenty of it if it is calor as you can't get it in Europe, or at least be prepared to buy an EU regulator and a matching gas bottle!! Other than that, take less of everything!!! 

In reply to KevinJ:

I’ve been asked for it twice on the Austrian / German Border. Schengen isn’t really a thing at the moment! 

In reply to Ardo:

Hi, we take the VW van to the Alps most years and as others have said, just don't take too much in terms of clothing and stuff, after all if you feel the need for a mug, chopping board or fresh pants, there are supermarkets everywhere at equal prices to home! The less you have got in the van, the better. I think the main thing to think about is climbing /specialist gear which might be more difficult to track down. I had to laugh about the post with tables and chairs....I always refused to do this for years as I thought that it is unnecessary and so old skool, but I have to say now a chair is quite nice Maybe I have reached a certain age

In reply to Šljiva:

Just drove across 8 EU countries with only one border stop into Romania, which is permanent for now. Where did you cross Austria/Germany? Never seen a hard border there

In reply to Cheese Monkey: As you take the A10  Salzburg - Munich.   Have been stopped SLO - AT as well but not this year.  

In reply to Ardo:

Jonnys,lube fanny mags