Editor’s Note: This camper van essentials article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue.
Eight years ago, I overstuffed the biggest suitcase I owned and lugged way too much clothing, shoes, and gear to Vienna. I’d landed a journalism fellowship and a portal to Europe and spent much of the coming year exploring, hunting for stories. After the six-week Austrian program ended, I hopped on a short flight to Spain and shipped my suitcase separately to avoid an exorbitant bag fee the airline wanted. It was a cheapskate move, and it cost me. The shipper “lost” my bag and most of what I thought I cared about, including a buttery leather jacket and a pair of Frye boots that, while wildly uncomfortable, were a prized possession. I was crushed.
The loss turned out to be a boon. It changed everything about the way I travel. I resolved to replace what had been pilfered with only the best stuff, being as agnostic as possible to the cost. I bought a fancy new suitcase in Stockholm, a beautiful Irish-made raincoat in Amsterdam, comfortable-but-stylish Camper shoes in Spain. After a lifetime of shopping sale racks at fast fashion stores for $20 sweaters that would pill after the third wear, I made a new commitment to buying clothing and gear that would last a lifetime.
When it came time to outfit my 2018 Ram Promaster, “Chica Van Gogh,” I applied the same logic, albeit with much more room to work with than a couple of suitcases.
There are few spaces as promising and as overwhelming as the interior of an empty camper van. Even at 60 square feet, a fifth the size of a small studio apartment, it feels massive, at least in the typical varieties of vans from makers Ram, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford. But that space gets gobbled up quickly.
Every decision is vital, both in the initial buildout of a camper van and how it’s stocked once that build is complete. How do I cram but not overstuff the most relevant tools, gadgets, cookware, and clothing into the tiny cabinets and onto the minuscule countertops available? In a house, especially with a garage, gear choices are about what works best at the right price. In a van, it has to fit, and it has to be the best.
The exterior is just as important because that’s where hardy gear can come along for the ride, from hitch-mounted bicycle carriers to awnings to roof storage. Because climbing up and down from the roof is a hassle, what lives up there must be reserved for special occasions, such as inflatable kayaks, paddles, and personal flotation devices.
Living out of a camper van appeals to the many vanlife converts because it’s minimalist, forcing these hard choices, requiring us to abandon clutter and quit hoarding habits and only carry what we genuinely need. So before I bought anything for Chica Van Gogh, I researched carefully, consulting mavens and online reviews, and whenever possible, physically examined a thing before committing it to life on the road.
Here are my favorites from the outside in.
Küat Piston Pro X
Industry standbys like Yakima and Thule have been making fine gear for hauling bikes on roofs and trunks and attached to rear hitches for decades. In TK, along came Küat and elevated the game. The Piston Pro X is a work of art, its hydro-pneumatic arms gliding effortlessly from open to snug, its touchless arms attaching to the tires of my beast of a mountain bike, with low-profile integrated LED lights synced with the van’s.
$1,389 | kuat.com
Yakima LoadWarrior
I never saw myself as a basket guy (in deference to lockable roof boxes) until a Yakima rep urged me to try out the LoadWarrior. I was afraid the open-top would feel exposed to theft and weather, but the right arrangement of tarps and locking cam straps have never failed me. The flexibility of basket-style storage is hard to beat, capable of hauling everything from bikes to boats to suitcases.
$499 | yakima.com
Thule HideAway Awning
What’s particularly nice about this awning is it’s lightweight and aerodynamic on the roof when retracted. Getting the crank-operated shade open and closed again requires some patience, and it’s by no means windproof when extended (no awning is), but the spring-loaded tension arms absorb many a gust. Add Thule’s front and side G2 Sun Blockers to turn what is by itself only a nomadic square of shade into a real respite from the heat.
$1,200/10 foot, $130/Sun Blocker G2 | thule.com/en-us
Dometic CFX3 95DZ Dual-zone Cooler
Choosing the correct refrigerator for your requirements is critical. While many a vanlifer or overlander opts for upright dorm-style fridges, I’m married to this cooler style and Dometic’s excellent dual-zone take on it. Having a freezer compartment that actually freezes stuff (to -7°F) is more important than I’d anticipated, especially on searing summer days when ice cubes are the stuff of life and when storing frozen fruit for smoothies. The Dometic stores an impressive 94 liters of fresh and frozen goods.
$1,400 | dometic.com
Nomad Grill and Smoker
Despite its compact size, I didn’t imagine taking the Nomad on many road trips. I have a tiny but perfectly adequate portable butane grill, and this suitcase of a charcoal grill and smoker felt like a luxury. But time and time again, I find myself making space for it—and it’s 28 pounds. The case folds open to reveal two heavy-duty diecast cook boxes and up to 425 inches of grilling space. You can use whatever fuel you want inside; I typically mix charcoal and wood scraps.
$649 | nomadgrills.com
Caraway Cookware Set
“You have Caraway pots in your van?” was my friend’s reaction when I gave him a tour. Indeed, this ceramic cookware set is a bougie camping option. But it’s really a perfect camper van accessory, from the non-toxic coating to its willingness to sit atop any stove (including my induction burner.) The ceramic coating is the most reliably nonstick of any pot or pan I’ve ever owned, and after most cooking sessions, it can be wiped clean with a paper towel, which saves precious water. Available in a rainbow of colors.
$395 | carawayhome.com
Snow Peak Baja Burner
My build is all battery-powered, so when I’m cheffing it up inside, I use a toaster oven or an induction cooktop. But the batteries don’t last forever, and a compact fuel stove as a backup is a must. This liquid-injection, single-burner stove is a beautiful combination of form and function, like everything this Japanese company makes. The inverted fuel position means a powerful, consistent injection of fuel in any weather. The burner drops nicely into Snow Peak’s Iron Grill Table or can stand free with the attached legs.
$180 | snowpeak.com
Covercraft Seat Covers
I never thought I’d find myself extolling the virtues of a set of seat covers. But vanlife does funny things to a person, and these rugged, comely covers are worth crowing about. They come with separate pieces to fit snugly over arms and headrests, and there’s a rear pocket to stow maps and magazines. Somehow, they’re as comfortable as they are durable, too.
$154 | covercraft.com
Rumpl Merino Softwool Blanket
On chilly fall mornings, staying warm is imperative, and any number of Rumpl’s synthetic- and down-filled blankets will do the trick. But a worthwhile extravagance is this merino blanket, a blend of responsibly sourced Australian merino and organic cotton. Not only does it add panache to a style-conscious traveler’s interior, but it’s also luscious and soft—not plasticky and noisy like so many sleeping bag-style blankets are. And it doesn’t itch, not even a little, in comparison to rougher wool alternatives.
$380 | rumpl.com
VanEssential Window Coverings
There are window coverings, and there are window coverings. The first ones I tried from another brand were constantly sagging back out of place and required all kinds of fussing to get them positioned, which meant I often didn’t use them to avoid the hassle. These perfect renditions from Colorado-based VanEssentials are a breeze, thanks to a custom fit with my windows and hidden magnets that snap to the metal in the van’s window frames. They’re on in a jiffy and off to fold and stow just as easily.
$60+ | vanessential.com
Rux Essentials Kit
Storage is everything in a camper van. While mine has plenty of drawers and cabinets, it’s the matryoshka doll solutions that make organizing gear truly effective and fun. Rux’s essentials kit is smart and sleek, from the 70-liter collapsible and waterproof gear box to the 25-liter bag that can either slide inside it (or be used as a separate tote) to the 3-liter stash pocket that I often use as a dopp kit.
$393 | ruxlife.com
Radius Outfitters Gear
Everything Radius makes is impressive. My favorites are the heavy-duty tool roll, which stores my meager collection of screwdrivers and Allen wrenches nicely and tucks under the passenger seat perfectly, and the Gear Box 5500, which I use for stuff that doesn’t fit into drawers and cabinets and to lug in and out of hotels when I am in want of a splurge. And the trash tube, laundry bag, and dish drying bag are all items I’d now never leave home without.
$249/gear box 5500, $128/tool roll, $89-$129/assorted bags| radiusoutfitters.com
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