Part No.3         What we take.

​So we will chat about what to take and to consider carrying while traveling this is a guide only so use it to get an idea, of what your needs are as we are all different
Most things you learn from mistakes or others people are reading other people’s adventures and see what they are using or have and copy that, which is fine but you run the risk of overloading your van or not using the item and in the end giving it away, and I have been guilty of this. 
 Just remember if you plan to fit up a van to travel, the key thing is to look for things that have more that one purpose only take for the number of people going in your party

The kitchen is the first place you have to be careful of due to the weight of items here, so for this exercise, we are a couple


​Now if you are planning to move into a van and have left yourself a time or are waiting for that new van a few things you can do in the weeks before you get it.


​Start by reducing the house kitchen down to what you plan to take by this I mean put into a single cupboard things you are taking and then only use those things, and see if you use them or not.

 This will train you to use less and see what you really need because in a house you can be lazy and have every tool you need in a van you have to limit that so start doing it in the house and as you go you may remove stuff from your use the only cupboard or add to it.
Now taking grandmas fine china is going to hurt more than likely it will break, and that colossal mixmaster is a must, fine but does it fit in the van cupboard and how often do you really use it. these are the things you need to consider 
Below a list of essential  stuff, now not a required list but an idea of things to consider taking, now you may go I need this or that, by all means, carry it if you use it more than it sits doing nothing 
INSIDE VAN STUFF

A 4 Person cutlery set is plenty,

Cups and wine glasses two of each

Saucepans one large, one small one med. Fry Pan

Casserole dish  if you have an oven

Pizza tray

Roast pan x 2

A cake pan or two and a cookie tray or use the pizza tray and if you are a cook a muffin tray.

Make sure they fit in the oven as van ovens are a lot smaller than household ones in most cases

Now plates and cups for four is plenty

Plus the Bar A Q tools of course

A few plastic containers now a few not a dozen

Maybe a  dip dish and such items

OUTSIDE STUFF

A full annex if you have one

Weber q baby for two is plenty

2x tables small ones

Gas stove

Sat dish if you need it

Poles etc. few is always needed

2x chairs, best you can as no more lounge chairs

Fishing lines if you are into this

Extra gas bottle for stove 

Awning 

Clothesline

Tools see below.

Leads and solar lights, great to have 

Buckets x 3 

​2 x water hoses, you will be surprised 

Drain hoses for van

​Matting for the floor of the awning


Now if you don’t have an oven a standard glass top electric fry pan, even if you do well worth the space it takes, does roasts cakes etc or stews and does bacon and eggs in one item. No fry pan required but is handy.


Now we have a Dream Pot it does a lot of work and is one of those multi-purpose tools because it has two pots in the thing which can replace those two saucepans, and if you get the steamer for the dream pot now, you have it all.


It also helps keep things hot or cold while cooking meals 

Now our van is set up to carry

So we are packing for two remember, you will find that if you invite other travelers, they will bring their plate, glass, etc.


So the best plan is if you are not sure don’t take it as there are shops out there and you can get at later time.


Now the interesting ones

·         Coffee machines
·         Breadmakers
·         Vacuum Sealers
·          
Why do you need them remember you are travelling, unless you just can’t do without that coffee machine and use it every day, don’t or it be a dead weight same as the other items, best way to work this out if you used them in the house every day or two ok,
otherwise no. And that goes with anything you plan to take if you are not using it every day, you will not suddenly start and if you read somewhere that someone does, remember it’s your van, and you don’t have to be a sheep and waste money following them.

Towels are one I see a lot of 4 is enough how many houses have a dozen or more everybody does, but in a van 4 is plenty and that goes for sheets, etc. max of 4 sets, 2 is great, space people remember space.


And don’t fall for, I have plenty of cupboard space it will be ok, you see space is not the issue weight is, less is best because it will eat up your space quicker, no point having nine pairs of shoes and only ever wear three pairs.

That says 2 kg of weight you have ten items, and it will eat up over 20kg, and when you can only put into a van 200kg at most, it’s a lot.

Work it out with the kitchen stuff I put on the list above and with some essential food items there is 30 to 40 kg.

Now with the cloths cold food and drinks, bathroom stuff and sundry's bingo we are running to the edge, and then add that coffee machine and coffee, bread machine and special bread mixes we are overweight.

So weight is not a friend if you wish to offend HIM, he will hurt you in the pocket, by the extra fuel and wear and tear pulling around stuff that you are getting dust all over.

So hope this helps you plan your life in the van and for those who have done it are just nodding your head as you have gone through all this and can understand.
Till next time enjoy your travels or prepping ​

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