Knowing what to pack in your motorhome before heading off on a long-haul trip can be tricky. So often we find ourselves questioning, do I need this, how about that. As the scout’s motto states, the ‘always come prepared’ mantra is one that many of us tend to treat as gospel.
But, here’s the question: do we have to? Are some of us guilty of over-packing for our trip? Are there items that are better left in the homestead? Well, yes. There are.
So, how do you know what to take and what to leave behind? Well, for anyone who’s about to hit the road and are unsure of what they need to populate their motorhome, we’re here to help. Here’s a list of a few items that are better left at home.
Gourmet Food
At home, you may be a whizz in the kitchen, but on the road, what’s the likelihood that you’ll have the time, space of equipment to cook duck a l’orange or, beef wellington or baked Alaska? We’d wager that it’s pretty slim.
Concentrate on packing food that’s simple and easy to prepare. Bringing a toaster is fine but carrying a full spice rack or cappuccino machine with you may not be the best idea!A few pots and pans will surely come in handy, as will a handful of knives and forks, but do you really need to bring your bread maker with you?
The same idea is true when shopping. It’s good to stock up on burgers, sausages and eggs, but making a homemade Mediterranean lasagne from scratch or roast chicken dinner may not be prudent! Stock up on tinned food, such as tuna for salads and sandwiches. Tinned peaches, pears of apricots are also a good idea. Stick to one rule: if it takes more than 20 minutes to prepare, or requires exceptional culinary prowess, it’s probably worth ruling out.
Service and Maintenance
As much as we respect the can-do spirit of independently servicing motorhomes, you don’t have to lug around a complete toolbox and every conceivable replacement engine and bodywork part when you take to the road.
Sure, bringing a spare tire and a portable toolkit is probably a good idea, but bringing every single socket wrench you have in your garage? Not really necessary.
Whilst we’re on the topic of service and maintenance, always make sure that your motorhome has completed an up to date service, especially before embarking on a prolonged cross-country jaunt. Some as simple as not checking the oil can cause havoc and ruin your holiday – no one wants to call out the AA in the middle of the M1 just because they’ve failed to properly ensure their motorhome’s servicing is up to date!
As a rule, before setting off, ask yourself, am I going to need this? If the answer’s not an immediate,‘yes’ then leave it at home. The more you bring with you, the less space you’ll have for other necessities, like food, clothing and blankets!
Additional Vehicular Storage
Whereas we don’t begrudge someone for travelling with an auxiliary trailer hitched to the back of their motorhome, it’s important to ask yourself if you really need its contents?
Now, we’re not saying that you should deliberately leave necessities at home, just that storage trailers can occasionally be more of a nuisance than a Godsend. Remember, the heavier the motorhome, the less fuel-efficient its likely to be.
Why can this be a problem? It can significantly impact your speed, needlessly adding time onto the length of your trip. What if you’ve arranged to attend an event at a specific date and time? An auxiliary trailer could slow you down – and you may miss it!
Now, one the other hand, if you have a full motorhome, using an auxiliary trailer can prove to be a safer option to store your belongings. The choice is really up to you. Plan your journey carefully and if you don’t absolutely need an auxiliary trailer. Don’t use one.
So, there it is, three suggestions on what you can afford to leave behind when travelling in your motorhome. Still unsure, why not ask our advice. We’d be happy to help!
