Motorhome packing list
Levelling ramps, a hook-up cable, a water hose and a kitchen that does not rattle: the list for a holiday in a motorhome or campervan, from the vehicle to the plates.
Motorhome
0 of 77 packed · 7 sections
77still to go
0 of 15 packed · 15 to go
0 of 15 packed · 15 to go
0 of 11 packed · 11 to go
0 of 12 packed · 12 to go
0 of 10 packed · 10 to go
0 of 9 packed · 9 to go
0 of 5 packed · 5 to go
Combine it with a second list
A trip is often more than one list. Add a second one: matching sections are folded together and nothing appears twice.
The vehicle’s kit: power, water, gas
In a motorhome you pack for the vehicle itself first. On campsites power usually comes from a blue CEE socket, so a hook-up cable with a CEE plug, a cable reel and an adapter to an ordinary socket belong in the rear storage. If you unwind the cable reel fully, it will not overheat.
You fill up with fresh water using a hose and a few different connectors, and where no tap fits, a watering can helps. Before you leave, check how full the gas bottle is and whether the toilet needs chemicals. With a rented vehicle, the rental company explains at handover what is on board and how it works. Ask there before you pack things twice.
A kitchen and storage that do not rattle
The kitchen in a motorhome is small and it travels with you. Melamine or plastic plates do not break, and non-slip mats in the cupboards keep plates and glasses in place. Food boxes that stack inside each other save space and keep supplies dry. Spices, coffee and tea go in a basket of their own, so you are not searching every evening.
Everything needs a fixed place. Whatever could fly when you brake belongs in a cupboard or a box. Stow heavy things low and close to the axle, light things higher up. That way the vehicle drives more calmly, and after arrival everything is quickly unpacked.
Weight and documents
Motorhomes carry less payload than many people think. Water in the tank, gas, bikes on the rack and every person all count. So set off with little fresh water and fill up when you arrive. The maximum permitted weight is in the vehicle registration document, and whether your licence covers it is something to check before the trip.
The document folder holds your licence, the vehicle registration document and, for a rented vehicle, the rental agreement. Many countries require a vignette or a toll box. Which rules apply to tolls, low-emission zones and overnight stays outside campsites differs from country to country. Check them beforehand for every country on your route.
What people forget in a motorhome
Often missing are levelling ramps for a sloping pitch, pads for the stabiliser legs on soft ground and work gloves for the toilet cassette and the waste water. A dustpan and brush keep sand and crumbs out of the small living space, and a washing line dries towels and swimwear. High-visibility vests for everyone on board and the warning triangle belong in the vehicle anyway.
If you travel with children or park up by the sea, combine the template with holiday with kids or beach holiday, and with before leaving for the home you leave behind. Matching sections are folded together and nothing appears twice.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment do you need in a motorhome?
Besides bedding, plates and clothes, mainly things for the vehicle: levelling ramps so you stand straight, a hook-up cable with the right plug and adapter, a water hose for filling up, gas and toilet chemicals. In a rented vehicle some of that is often already on board. Ask the rental company what is included and pack only the rest.
How is packing for a motorhome different from camping in a tent?
With a tent you pack your bed and your kitchen yourself, while a motorhome brings both along. In return the technology comes in: power, fresh water, waste water, gas and the toilet. So the motorhome list is less about tent and sleeping mat and more about cables, hoses, ramps and storage. For the tent there is the separate camping template.
How heavy can a loaded motorhome be?
Every motorhome has a maximum permitted weight, which is stated in the vehicle documents. Many vehicles reach it sooner than expected, because water, gas, bikes and passengers all count. If in doubt, weigh the loaded vehicle once on a public weighbridge. Which licence lets you drive which weight is something to check beforehand with the licensing authority or the rental company.
What do people forget on their first motorhome holiday?
Often missing are an adapter from the hook-up cable to the socket at the pitch, levelling ramps for a sloping spot and work gloves for emptying the toilet cassette. Non-slip mats for plates and supplies are also missed on the first drive, when the cupboards start to rattle. A watering can helps when the water hose does not fit a tap.
How it works
“Start with this list” opens the template – once you have signed in with your email address.
Add more templates, such as “Before leaving” for the water, the heating and the plants. Nothing appears twice.
Create the list, tick it off, archive it after the trip – and pack it again next time.
Good to know
- Can I change the list?
- Yes. Your list is yours: add, rename, move and delete items. The template stays as it is.
- Does it cost anything?
- No. No subscription, no ads. All you need is an email address, no password.