10 awesome VW Campervan accessories

Offering travel freedom and a home away from home, VW campervans hold a fond place in many holidaymakers’ hearts. These 10 VW campervan accessories will help to make your travels as convenient and comfortable as possible so you can focus on having an amazing road trip adventure.

Solar panel battery charger

Using a solar panel to charge you battery can work out to be a cost-efficient means of obtaining electricity during your travels. There’s no need to connect to the electricity supply at your campsite, just simply utilise the power of the sun to charge your appliances. Solar panels vary in price depending on their output so it’s a good idea to work out how much power you use on an average trip and purchase a solar panel that will meet your needs.

Duvalay

If cosy, comfortable nights without having to mess about setting up a bed sounds good, then you may want to invest in a Duvalay. The Duvalay is essentially a combination of a memory foam base with an attached duvet. The Duvalay can be rolled up like a sleeping bag, though it is a bit more bulky and not a cheap purchase, coming in at between £100 and £150 depending on the thickness you opt for. However, the added comfort is worth the price!

Thermo mats

Whether it’s staying cool during hot summer days or keeping the heat in during cooler periods, thermo mats are all-round handy accessories to have in your campervan. Thermo mat sets range from around £40 to £80 depending on how many are in the set.

Grip mats

There’s nothing like being all packed and ready to set off on a new day of adventuring and then discovering your campervan has sunk into the ground overnight and can’t get any grip. Alternatively perhaps you’ll need to drive over a particularly muddy road or track and the van ends up getting stuck. Grip mats are a simple and effective means of providing something for the wheels to grab so you can get on with your adventure. You can buy them for less than £10 and store them easily in the campervan for when they’re needed.

Spirit level and leveller chocks

There’ll come a time in your travels where you have no choice but to park your van at an angle. To avoid an uncomfortable night of tilted sleeping or having to grab items that start sliding off shelves and surfaces, pick up some leveller chocks and a spirit level so you can ensure your campervan is even. Although prices can vary, a pair of leveller chocks are generally between £15 and £25 depending on the quality and you can pick up a spirit level for less than £5.

Food and beverage cooling

You’ll need somewhere cool to store your food and beverages. There are a number of small fridges and coolers to choose from that will do the job. Thermoelectric coolers, compressor fridges and absorption fridges each cool the contents in different ways and vary in price. Thermoelectric coolers are around the £50 mark, while fridges range from around £150 to £500.

Portable shower

If there’s a handy public shower, stream or lake near to where you’re staying, you can use these for washing but sometimes you’ll find yourself in locations with no accessible shower options. In such circumstances, you may appreciate a portable shower. There are several different kinds with different prices to choose from. The simplest option is a solar shower which costs less than £10. Essentially, water heats up in a bag that has been hung up in the sun and there is a tap at the bottom to provide controlled water release for showering. Another option is a shower that uses a power source, such as a 12-volt portable shower that plugs into the campervan’s power socket or another suitable source of power. You can pick these up for around £20.

Triple socket adaptor

Easy to plug into the cigarette lighter socket, a triple socket adaptor allows you to charge three devices at once. You can also get ones that include an additional USB socket. These adaptors are very handy for charging electronics such as sat navs, mobile phones and other devices that are in line with the power output of the adaptor.

Portable gas cooker

Simple to use and very compact, a portable gas cooker is an easy way to cook without needing matches or hooking up to power sources. You’ll find a range of sizes to choose from, but a single ring cooker that uses a concealed gas canister will set you back about £10.

Seat covers

Campervan travelling can get a tad mucky at times, whether it’s the muddy dog diving onto the seats, sticky kids scrambling on them or food being dropped. Seat covers can help to protect your campervan seats during your trip and are easily washed when you get home. Basic covers are around £20 but can go up to around £200. The price really depends on whatever will suit your needs and preferences.

No need to miss out if you don’t have a campervan

The accessories above can make your campervan touring a terrific adventure rather than an uncomfortable inconvenience. Even if you don’t have a van of your own, you can still share the campervan love with some great themed accessories such as a fun VW campervan tent, campervan wash bags or campervan lamps which will make you a very happy camper indeed.