You packed the solar, the fridge, and the propane stove. Good job. But here’s what you probably forgot.
When you’re living in a van—whether full-time or on long stretches—the difference between a good day and a bad day usually comes down to the little things. Not the fancy gear everyone posts about. The real-deal stuff you won’t appreciate until you really, really need it.
Here’s a rundown of the van life essentials most people overlook until they’re out in the middle of nowhere wondering why they feel like idiots.
1. Extra Keys – Hidden and Secure
Seriously. Hide a second van key outside your vehicle, and give another to someone you trust. Nothing kills a trip like locking yourself out 100 miles from a locksmith. Magnets, lockboxes, zip-tied in a crevice—just make it hard to spot but easy for you to get to.
2. Headlamp (Not a Flashlight)
A headlamp means hands-free fixing, walking you pup, or late-night bathroom business. Flashlights are useless when you’re juggling gear or repairs. Get one that’s rechargeable, or better yet, has swappable batteries.
3. Reflectix or Blackout Covers (For All Windows)
Beyond privacy, they keep heat out and cold in—or vice versa depending on the season. They’re cheap, easy to cut, and save you from weird stares or a sunbaked morning.
4. Folding Shovel
Dig a toilet hole, unstuck your tires, flatten ground under your van, or bury waste. A shovel’s a survival tool in disguise. Don’t cheap out on this.
5. Urinating Setup for Emergencies
This applies to all genders. Whether it’s a wide-mouthed bottle, travel urinal, or she-pee funnel—having a pee option in-bottle at 3AM when it’s 20 degrees out? Game changer.
6. Tire Plug Kit + Air Compressor
If you’re counting on roadside assistance out in the boonies, you’ve already lost. A simple tire plug can save your ass. Keep a 12v air compressor too—they’re small, cheap, and can inflate everything from your tires to a damn air mattress.
7. Work Gloves
You’ll need them for firewood, repairs, digging, or grabbing nasty things. Don’t be soft-handed in the backcountry.
8. Leveling Blocks or Wood Planks
Sleeping on an angle sucks. Cooking on an angle sucks. Fridge operation on a tilt? Also sucks. You can get fancy with the leveling blocks, or just throw 2×6 planks in the back.
9. Hand Mirror
No, not for selfies. For checking yourself in weird lighting, cleaning up a wound, or inspecting under your rig if you don’t want to fully crawl under it. Lightweight and more useful than you think.
10. Dedicated Dirty Rag Bin
Things get gross. Grease, mud, bug guts, blood, oil, dog puke—you name it. Keep a stash of cut-up shirts or shop towels and a place to throw them after.
11. USB Battery Packs (More Than One)
One for your phone. One for your lights. One backup just because. Ideally, ones you can charge via your solar when the van’s off.
12. Non-Digital Maps
You’re going to lose service. At some point. And when you do, Google Maps can’t save you. Buy a basic Rand McNally road atlas or USGS topo maps for areas you’re exploring.
13. Shower Alternatives
Even if you don’t smell it, other people will. Keep no-rinse wipes, a spray bottle with Dr. Bronner’s, or a cheap solar shower setup. Wet bandanas work in a pinch.
14. Backup Light Sources
Headlamp died? String lights shorted out? Keep an emergency lantern or LED puck lights around. Light is morale. Don’t sit in the dark like a sad raccoon.
15. Cash
Cards don’t work when the power’s out. Small towns still love cash. And you’ll need quarters for laundromats anyway.
16. A Quality Jump Pack
A quality jump pack is your lifeline when the battery dies miles from help—no waiting, no flagging down strangers, just instant power. Cheap ones fail when it matters most, so invest in one that actually works in cold weather and after months of sitting unused.
Final Thought
Van life ain’t just vibes and sunsets. It’s prepping for weird, messy moments that don’t get shared online. You don’t need more gear—you need the right stuff. And if you’re living lean, every item should earn its place.
Don’t overpack. But don’t underthink. Your future self—somewhere on a dirt road in the middle of the high desert—will thank you.
