After living on the road full-time for over a year, we can’t emphasize enough that every inch of space needs to be maximized and every item needs to earn its spot. Having the right (or wrong) gear can truly make or break your day. From van mishaps in the backcountry to sunrise coffee on the coast, these are the 12 essential items we always carry in our van — plus one bonus item that adds just the right touch of ambiance to camp life.
All of these things are a must to keep us powered, organized, fed, safe, and sane.
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Let us know if you have any must-haves to add in the comments below!
1. Bluetti Elite 100 v2 Portable Power Station
Power is everything when you live on the road, and the Bluetti Elite 100 v2 has been our off-grid MVP. It handles our satellite connection, laptops, induction cooktop, camera gear, and everything in between — without us constantly monitoring the battery. The recharge options are super flexible too: solar, shore power, or even the vehicle’s alternator. We love knowing we can set up camp anywhere and still keep everything charged without draining the van battery.
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2. MaxTrax Traction Boards
We never thought we’d need these… until we did. The MaxTrax Traction Boards have saved us from sand, snow, mud, and embarrassment more times than we care to admit. They mount easily, weigh next to nothing, and don’t require a tow strap or a friendly stranger to pull you out. When you’re exploring remote areas — which, let’s be honest, we always are — having your own recovery gear is non-negotiable.
Bonus points: We often use these to level our van by placing them under the tire(s) in uneven terrain.
3. Electric Water Kettle
If you love coffee or tea as much as we do, a simple Electric Water Kettle is a must. It heats water fast, doesn’t use as much power as boiling on induction, and means no waiting around half-asleep in the morning. It’s also perfect for quick meals like oatmeal, ramen, or instant soups when cooking isn’t in the cards. Not to mention, this aesthetic is a vibe.
4. MorrFlate Quad Tire Inflation & Deflation Kit
We air down often for sand, rocky trails, and washboard roads, and the MorrFlate system makes the whole process painless. Instead of squatting by each tire with a stick or a gauge, we hook up all four tires and inflate or deflate evenly from our onboard air compressor. It saves time, saves our knees, and lets us get back on the road (or trail) faster.
5. Foldable Stool
This might seem too simple to be essential, but trust us — our foldable stool gets used multiple times a day. It’s main purpose is as a footrest for the passenger (Emily) when driving long days, but doubles as a seat, side table, or step stool. It weighs almost nothing and we can’t imagine not having it in the van.
6. Roam Rooftop Storage Boxes
External storage has been a game-changer for seasonal and bulky gear. Our Roam rooftop boxes hold golf clubs, a chainsaw, winter clothes, and recovery tools. Moving less-used items out of the living space has made our van and garage feel bigger without sacrificing what we carry.
7. TemboTusk Skottle Grill
We love cooking outside, and the TemboTusk Skottle makes it fun and easy. It packs down small, runs off propane, and cooks everything from tacos to stir fry to popcorn (yes, popcorn!). Plus, clean-up is quick — just scrape, wipe, and stash.
8. Multi-Colored Clothing Packing Cubes
Living in a tiny space means your clothes either stay organized or take over your life. These Tripped Travel Gear Packing Cubes keep everything sorted and make it easy to identify what we need without digging through a stuffed cabinet. Not to mention, they have some very cool designs, including National Parks. Each type of clothing has it’s own color, so we can pick out tops, pants, socks, etc. super easy based on the color of the packing cube.
9. Thermacell Mosquito Repeller
Mosquitos don’t care how beautiful camp is — they will find you. After two summers in the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Alaska, we can say that our Thermacell Mosquito Repeller works like magic. It has made evenings around the fire (or just getting in and out of the van) so much more enjoyable. No spraying yourself constantly with weird chemicals that don’t work — just quiet, invisible relief.
10. Rumpl Blankets
We’re not exaggerating when we say our Rumpl blankets go everywhere with us — the bed, the beach, camp chairs, naps, and dog snuggles. They’re warm, packable, durable, and somehow always smell better than everything else in the van. If you get a little dirt on them, no worries. It brushes right off.
Bonus points: they come in all sorts of patterns/colors and make great gifts for the camper (or adventure pup) in your life.
11. Milwaukee Toolbox
Organization is survival in van life, and our Milwaukee toolbox keeps all of our tools, impact guns, zipties, tape, and random “just in case” items in one rugged, portable system. It’s stackable, lockable, and strong enough to sit or stand on. When something breaks (and something always does), we know exactly where everything is.
12. Induction Stovetop
We love cooking inside the van, and our induction stovetop is perfect for one-pot meals. It’s safe, fast, and super efficient. We can also plug it in to our Bluetti to save the van battery. When we’re done with it, it simply stows away inside one of our drawers and is out of sight.
Bonus Item: Solar Camp String Lights
This might be the least “essential” item on the list — but a set of string lights adds so much joy to camp life that we had to include it. Our solar string lights brighten up camp, add ambience, and give us a little glow without using any battery power. They are weather resistant, can be charged by solar or USB-C, and roll back up nice and neat when you’re not using them. No more tangled copper wires and instant coziness.
Final Thoughts
We’ve learned over time that the best gear isn’t about having more stuff — it’s about having the right stuff. These 12 essentials (and our bonus lights) aren’t gimmicks or gear we’re “trying out.” They’ve earned their place through breakdowns, beach camps, freezing nights, muddy trails, and everyday life on the road.
If you’re building out a van, gearing up for full-time travel, or upgrading your setup, these are the things we’d buy again and again.
Got questions about any of the gear or want us to do a deep-dive on one item? Just let us know — we’ve probably got a story, a hack, or a lesson learned the hard way.
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