Heading out on your first road trip in your brand new motorhome or borrowing a friend or family member’s motorhome? If you want to make your trip run as smoothly as possible, you may want to invest in some essential motorhome accessories.
There are so many motorhome accessories on the market that it’s difficult to know what you actually need and what you can probably leave at home. You’ll soon discover that having the right kit makes all the difference, so without further ado, here are the 10 essential motorhome accessories you need for your next trip!
1. Carbon monoxide alarm
One of the most essential motorhome accessories you could invest in is a carbon monoxide alarm. Unlike many of the other accessories on the list, this one could literally save you and your family or friend’s lives. If you’ve got gas onboard your motorhome, you don’t want to be setting off without one of these!
Many motorhomes come with a carbon monoxide monitor fitted but many people do not test them. So either make sure your monitor works or invest in one, and press the test button each time before you head out on your road trip. It’s also worth having a spare set of batteries in your motorhome in case your monitor runs out of battery on the road.
2. Thermal screens or blinds
There are many different types of internal and external screens and blinds you can buy for your motorhome to keep the light out and to maintain some privacy. Internal thermal screens are great at keeping the heat in during the winter months and keeping the heat from the sun out during the summer months. Thermal screens are also great at reducing issues with condensation build-up early in the morning!
3. Hosepipe
You’ll need a hosepipe in your motorhome in order to fill your on-board water tanks! It’s worth getting one that is at least 10-15m in length to make your life easier. While proper traditional hoses tend to be better, flat hoses are a lot easier to store which is good as space is limited in your motorhome! Make sure it’s food-grade too if you plan on drinking the water in the tank.
4. Levelling ramps and grip mats
Investing in a levelling ramp and a grip mat may just get you out of some very sticky situations. While ideally on your road trip you will stick to parking on road and hardstanding pitches, sometimes you just can’t avoid grass pitches. Naturally, though, grass pitches come hand in hand with getting stuck in the mud! So if you do plan on pitching on grass, you’ll want to make sure you have some kit to help you out if you do get stuck.
Grip mats are one of the most essential motorhome accessories as they will help you out when your wheels begin spinning on wet grass. While you may still need the help of another vehicle to tow you out if you are on very soft and wet ground, a grip mat may be able to help you get going again.
A levelling ramp is also a very worthy investment as it’ll help keep your motorhome level. If your vehicle is off-level, it can cause issues with your fridge and drainage system. Plus, having a level motorhome also allows for a better night’s sleep!
5. Fire blanket and extinguisher
Very obvious but very important, these essential motorhome accessories need to be on-board your vehicle. Better safe than sorry! You can buy extinguishers that are specially made for motorhomes which are smaller than standard extinguishers, making them easy to store and transport.
Make sure you buy a water mist extinguisher instead of a traditional powder extinguisher because powder ones should not be used in confined spaces, as the powder can be inhaled and your visibility severely affected. It can also damage the interior of your motorhome too. A water mist extinguisher, on the other hand, is completely safe to use in confined spaces.
6. Tyre repair kit
A tyre repair kit is so essential! While we’d hope that your road trip goes smoothly, sometimes things do go wrong. And if you get a flat tyre, you want to be prepared, as many motorhomes do not have a spare tyre. Make sure when you buy your kit that it’s a heavy-duty system suitable for large vehicles. We’d advise buying a pre-made kit in a portable case which is really easy to use and won’t take up much space in your motorhome.
7. Wing mirror protectors
Wing mirror protectors are one of the most essential motorhome accessories you can buy for your home on wheels. Worth every penny, they are manufactured to fit perfectly over the mirror housing to protect against accidental damage when on the road or when parked up overnight.
They’ll protect your mirrors from everything from branches to car park scrapes, saving you money on costly repairs in the long run! You can buy them in both long arm and short arm versions so make sure you buy the correct one for your motorhome.
8. Back-up electric fan heater
Your motorhome will already have some sort of heating system within it. However, if you plan on travelling during winter and you know the temperature is going to seriously drop, it’s always worth having a backup source of heat in the form of an electric fan heater with multiple heat output settings. You cannot rely on using your gas stove as a backup form of heat because it is a huge carbon monoxide risk.
9. Mobile Wi-Fi
This one is less essential but if you’re on the road for a longer period of time, you’ll probably want more than just the very intermittent 3G on your smartphone. A Mobile Wi-Fi device will contain all you need to create a mobile Wi–Fi hotspot in your motorhome that gives you a far stronger signal than what you’ll already have on your smartphone.
This will come in handy for everything from booking campsites and using online maps, to staying in touch with family and friends. You can even use one to stream films if you fancy a movie night in your motorhome!
10. A cassette awning
So the last accessory on this list of essential motorhome accessories is more of a nice-to-have! But we’ve all got to treat ourselves every now and again, right? An awning will be your motorhome’s new best friend. Helping to protect you from both searing UV rays (if we’re lucky to get those in the UK) and downpours of rain, an awning is great for those times when you pitch and want to relax outside.
Many motorhomes already have them fitted but if yours doesn’t, they can be retro-fitted by most dealers. And the best part is that they come in so many different styles and sizes so there is bound to be one to perfectly fit your motorhome! They don’t impede on your storage space either and easily wind out, either manually or electrically, so they are a no-brainer really.
Where does Jaunt come in?
No matter where you’re heading on your road trip, Jaunt can help you on your way. At Jaunt, we’re all about adventures and creating memories that last a lifetime. A motorhome is a great way to experience those epic road trips and fun with family and friends.
However, we know that not everyone owns their own motorhome or can insure it for a whole year. So, that’s why we offer short-term motorhome insurance at Jaunt. That way, you can borrow a friend or family member’s motorhome and get insured from an hour, up to 30 days. With Jaunt, the cover is comprehensive, and if you were to have an accident, the Jaunt policy won’t affect the no claims discount of you or the motorhome owner. Win, win.
