Packing light and letting Go: Caravan Life Checklist

 

Packing light isn’t just about saving space—it’s a mindset. It’s about choosing what matters most and letting go of what doesn’t. Every drawer, every cupboard, every corner of a caravan needs to earn its keep. Here’s the checklist that helped me get started—and kept me (mostly) sane.

Essentials:

• ID, driver’s license, vehicle and caravan papers
• Bank cards, some cash
• Medical aid card and basic medical info
• Phone and charger
• Notebook and pen

Caravan Basics:

• Electrical lead and adapters
• Water hose and fittings
• Any water bucket
• Gas bottle
• Fire extinguisher
• Wheel chocks and leveling blocks
• Pegs, mallet, extra guy ropes

Sleeping:

• Bedding (sheets, duvets, pillows)
• Extra blanket
• Hot water bottle
• Earplugs and eye mask (camping neighbors can snore like freight trains)
• Headphones so you don’t bother others 

Kitchen:

• Kettle (the non-negotiable)
• Gas stove or cooker
• Pots and pans (1 of each is enough)
• Cutlery and crockery
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Dishwashing basin and liquid
• Cleaning cloths, drying towel
• Small bin bags
• Food storage containers
• Cooler box or fridge

Bathroom:

• Towels and face cloths
• Basic toiletries
• Toilet paper (never enough)
• Wet wipes
• Solar shower if you’re going off-grid

Clothing:

• Layers (it gets cold fast out there)
• Comfy walking shoes
• Flip flops for showers
• Rain jacket
• Hat and sunglasses

Tools & Bits:

• Basic tool kit (screwdriver, wrench, duct tape)
• Torch and batteries
• Extra fuses
• Zip ties (caravan’s version of a magic wand)
• Power bank
• First aid kit

Comfort & Life Savers:

• Camp chairs and table
• Braai grid and tongs
• Washing line and pegs
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Book or Kindle
• Fairy lights or lantern

And here’s the honest truth: I don’t think this list will ever truly be complete. There will always be some little thing you think of later-a gadget someone else swears by, or that one item you don’t know you needed until you were halfway into nowhere. But that’s the beauty of it all: packing light, learning as you go, and letting go of the need for perfection.

Did something here speak to you?

Leave a comment if you feel moved, or simply sit with me in quiet.

If you’d like to walk this road with me, follow Nomadic Grandmother for new stories.

— x Elsabe