Which accessory / extra can't you travel without??

Good comfortable chairs to sit around the campfire

Hi Michelle A1.
One item you must get is a Jaffle Iron. They are so much fun. You can
cook with them on the coals or on a gas stove.
Have fun. Brian.

Michelle - My Victorinox Swiss Army, "Hunter" pocketknife, with the sharpest blade around, and the multitude of tools!

1. Large blade
2. Small blade
3. Can opener with small screwdriver
4. Corkscrew
5. Reamer & punch
6. Wood saw
7. Key ring
8. Toothpick
9. Tweezers
10. Multi-purpose hook
11. Cap lifter with big screwdriver
12. Wire stripper
13. Scissors

You know how they ask, what is the one tool you could take to survive on a desert island? Well, it's this knife!

Cheers - Ron.

Michelle,
There are a few 'Must Haves' that are always in my van
1. Sunscreen and sun hats for all
2. Adequate First Aid kit
3. Small tool kit
(Phillips and flat blade screwdrivers, hammer, 8" shifting spanner, pliers, an assortment of metal and wood screws and nuts and bolts, assorted pop rivets and a rivet gun if your van has pop rivets)
4. Cork screw/bottle opener.

and the Extra's
1. Red and White wines
2. Beer
3. Port (for warmth and/or medicinal purposes)
4. Scotch or Bourbon (your choice)
5. Drinks for the kids.

Remember with the extras you only need enough to last to the next replenishment point.

Remember that buying food, fuel and drinks in the smaller towns may help that town to be there next time you come that way

Disco.

i made up a timber ramp that is used to run the camper up on uneven ground,to make the fridge work well.
Also always take cast iron camp oven.

Easy. A card game called Uno.

Michelle,

Along with the other suggestions that have already been made, a suitable vehicle to tow the camper van.

Also a bit of training on how to tow the camper.


Wayne

Hi Michelle

The best thing we bought is our Hill Billy hot plate , frying pan billy holder for the fire

Richard

Thanks everyone!

I already have most of what you all have reccomended although I may need to purchase a few more drinks! Also love the thought of a jaffle iron so will be getting one of those. It came with a toolbox I will need to go through it and check what's missing though. And yes we defiantly will be taking UNO!! My kids love it (and secretly so do I).

What do people recommend for storage in the annexe? As there really isn't much in the van.

Thanks again!

Good camera or video to record the trip, small laptop to keep in touch with the family and save the photo images and research places of interest for the next region of travel.

John

Believe it or not but I can NOT live without a decent soap dispenser!

Perfect for the kitchen for dishwashing liquids and soaps and ideal for the bathroom.

No more rattling, spilling or bottles getting in the way and taking up space.

http://www.caravanandrvworld.com.au/CatalogueRetrieve.aspx?ProductID=5992667&A=SearchResult&SearchID=6561973&ObjectID=5992667&ObjectType=27

C&RVW

Hi Michelle, i travel with 3 kids and my tip is not what i can't live without it's more the fact of "try and keep it simple". You don't want to go away and spend hours unpacking everything. Take the necessities and keep it basic. Not sure of the age of your kids but if they are young, you will find that one of you will be looking out for the kids whilst the other is setting up and you don't want this process taking too long.

Also a few wet weather activities for the kids. Mine are 8, 5 and nearly 2 and i always have some crafty activities stashed away and also a colouring in pack with activity books, scissors etc.

Most important is get out and have some fun. :)

Firstly never leave without your self of humour.
We had a camp cupboard. It packs away when travelling.
See here
http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/search-results.aspx?keywords=camp+cupboards+5+shelf
Very useful when camped in the one spot for a few days. Helps the kids keep the annexe clean. Can be used for clothes, food, toys or whatever.

Josh

Something I found very handy with children is some cheap 2way radios. The kids carry one in their pocket when they leave camp and you can check on them easily.
I get the cheaper ($30 ish dollar) ones so it doesn't mater if they get lost or end up going for a swim.

My vote, Michelle, goes for a large rubbish bag slung off the spare wheel to carry wet/dirty cloths.

...and a cloths line to hang out wet stuff, with a few wire "s" hooks" to hang stuff on (cups, fuel/fluro lights, etc.) when we're camped for more than a day or so at the same spot.

George_M

My vote, Michelle, goes for a large rubbish bag slung off the spare wheel to carry wet/dirty cloths.

...and a cloths line to hang out wet stuff, with a few wire "s" hooks" to hang stuff on (cups, fuel/fluro lights, etc.) when we're camped for more than a day or so at the same spot.

George_M

We purchased a second hand hardly used Cobb cooker. They are just fantastic for roasts and really cheap to run 9 heat beads and u are done!! john ps best buy. Also, a waeco freezer,fridge is a must unless u have a very large refidgerator. Portable toiler and shower we camp bush a lot johno

I will also go for the canvas bag on the spare wheel for rubbish as a necessity. Keeps all the smelly, runny rubbish stuff out of the car/camper and gives you no excuse for littering.

we 2 adults n 3 kids ..........
1) dvd players and a good selection of dvds, we found it good to buy the 4wd dvds relevent to where we were going to and the kids loved it, they looked for things they saw on the dvd,s and when playing them later talked about where we had been .... Birdsville, Big Red, Camerons corner, Silverton ect ....
2) quality camera, buy the best you can afford (and understand) as you will come accross some things youi may NEVER see again and with your kids you will never be able to "capture" that moment ever again ......
3) GOOD GPS ..... with mapping for off road and citys, we have oziexplorer and noticed the caves accross the nullabour, we followed the "track" as on the map (GPS) and found the caves, they were NOT sign posted so we would never have seen them, kids were awed as were we .....

Interestingly we have been shedding gear as we refine or travels, we simply cart far to much around, everybody is different but overpacking is very common and the most fun we have had is short notice and quick packing ..

Cheers and good luck and dont be afraid to travel long distance to see good stuff, we did around 11,000klms in five weeks with the kids from the gulf where we live, yes lucky, to big red to nsw silverton nullabour to wa albany to perth to kal accross the guts to the rock to alice and up to home ....