Caravan Accessories Required When Travelling Australia

The variety of options when it comes to caravanning and camping accessories these days is truly astonishing. From gadgets that squeal when your tyres are getting low to good old-fashioned hand tools that have stood the test of time - we have room in our hearts for them all. Keeping things simple is the key to not overloading your vehicle and spending more time setting up than you do kicking back and enjoying your time away from it all.

There is no way that we could make a complete list of all the accessories you would need for your adventures around Australia and it’s such a personal subject anyway that we would never presume to have all the answers. This is simply a collection of some of our favourite, most useful items that we wanted to share. 

Safety is always our number one priority and there are a few ‘must-have’ items that we feel will protect you and your loved ones from harm. Not only that, but they will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on things you enjoy, something that’s virtually priceless in itself. At RV Parts Express if there’s one thing we believe camping and caravanning should be all about then it’s relaxing!

1 - Fire safety blanket/extinguisher.

First and foremost, it’s essential to be able to quickly and effectively put out any fires that should start. We all know how quickly flames can get out of hand and in the confined space of an RV time is of the essence if a fire breaks out. A fire blanket is one simple piece of equipment that can literally save lives. We hope you’ll never need to use it, but if you do then it just pulls right out of its pouch easily and can be used to smother cooking and clothing fires quickly and efficiently. As far as we’re concerned this piece of equipment is non-negotiable, as is a fire extinguisher. They should always go hand in hand together so we’re counting them as one in this list. 

2 - Smoke alarm. 

No modern home should be without a decent smoke alarm and that goes the same for any RV or caravan. We particularly like the smoke alarm with the hush feature because it requires no wiring, complies with Australian standards, and automatically resets itself once the smoke has cleared away (usually from burnt toast of course). The alarm uses an ionisation sensing chamber and, for added safety, light beams to sense smoke. At 85 dB you certainly won’t be sleeping through it if it goes off!

3 - Gas detector.

It is equally important to be alerted should there be any leakage of combustible or toxic gas. We like this 12V gas detector that can be easily installed on the walls of RVs and caravans. It detects any leakages and triggers an audio and visual alarm when action is required. Another simple device that is worth its weight in gold should it ever come into use. 

4 - Caravan Awning

Given the harsh Australian climate, it is essential to ensure that you have an awning suitable for your caravan or RV. A caravan awning can not only help to protect your caravan but it can also provide a sheltered space for you and your family to avoid the warm Australian sun. RV Parts have a number of different brands and sizes for you to choose from.

5 - Towball cover

Like us, are you sick of constantly banging your shins on exposed towballs? Why not protect your legs and keep your towball clean at the same time with the Ark 2-in-1 shin protector and towball cover? No more bruised shins, it’s as simple as that!

6 - Folding step.

This Camco Folding Step is one of the first items we pack. A simple, well-executed design is a wonderful thing and this step takes up almost no space and is super useful in all kinds of situations. A non-slip surface on the top and a built-in handle so that it snaps shut as you pick it up finish the job nicely.

7 - Cable and hose starter kit.

Technically this isn’t just one item, but it’s such a great bit of kit that we’ve added it anyway and you get all these useful things in one go! This essential starter kit has all those cables and hoses that you’re going to need in one place. You can focus on picking out the fun stuff knowing that you’ve got everything from corrugated black flexible waste hoses to electric cable carriers and wheel levellers covered. 

8 - Fridge-freezer.

Right to the top of the range we go with this suggestion. The amazing RVX 75-litre fridge-freezer keeps all your food and drinks cold and fresh through even the hottest Australian summers. Do you prefer them to be frozen so you can also enjoy an ice cream after a hard day’s outdoor action? That’s no problem for the RVX 75, as a convenient LED display and push-button control system make the accurate adjustment and monitoring of temperature effortless. It can be used at home just as effectively when not travelling and even comes with reinforced corners and its own travel cover.

9 - RV sunscreen

It’s extremely helpful to lower the ambient temperature around the fridge area of your RV if possible, allowing it to perform better on scorching days. The Coast Fridge Sunscreen scores impressive test results from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. It lowers the temperature by several degrees and also protects against 90% of ultraviolet rays. It also provides a handy place to stand to get some respite from the beating sun if you’re outside for extended periods too. It is extremely durable and tough, easy to install, and comes with all the guy ropes and pegs you’ll need. 

10 - Portable camp kitchen. 

At RV Parts Express we absolutely love the 100% Australian designed Kookabox portable camp kitchen and its great range of equipment for such a compact, lightweight unit. It has everything from pots and pans and the gas cooker itself to dual-action BBQ tools that double up as vegetable peelers and nutcrackers. It has built-in lighting (that doubles as a detachable torch if required) for cooking after dark and a safety-conscious cutoff switch that kills the gas if the lid is closed. As the tagline says it is 'the only complete portable camp kitchen you'll ever need!’ At RV Parts Express we tend to agree.

11 - Collapsible dish drainer.

Once the feasting is over and it’s time to clear up we found the Coast collapsible dish drainer to be very convenient and practical. It has a removable cutlery rack, secures your plates and cups nicely and is perfect for RV kitchens. Once you’re done just collapse it back to its 55mm state and it stores away easily. No mess, no fuss.

12 - Aluminium luggage basket

Given the size and scope of Australia, it is going to be essential that you can pack as much as you can into your RV so that you can stay on the road for longer. That is what makes the aluminium luggage basket an essential accessory for your RV. This basket will allow you to store additional luggage outside of your RV, which in turn will free up more space inside your caravan.

13 - Bluetooth speaker.

If you’re like us then you’re going to want to listen to some music while you’re cooking up a storm. We couldn’t be more impressed with the Sphere outdoor waterproof Bluetooth speaker. The sound is genuinely impressive for a smallish unit, with plenty of bass frequency and superior tonal clarity. It is weatherproof and resistant to UV rays, has 20 watts of audio power and comes with a built-in light. Not only that but it emits a frequency that repels our personal number-one enemy - mosquitoes! It mounts easily to your RV or caravan and actually gives off a nice overall ambience in your choice of white or amber light.

14 - Solar panels.

We like to make the most of everything that mother nature has given us and here in Australia we certainly can’t complain about a lack of sun. It makes sense to power some of your gadgets and systems using solar power and it is an investment that will pay for itself many times over in the long run. The team at RV Parts Express prefer the Coast to Coast solar panels that ensure more light is absorbed in all weather conditions due to their silicon nitride anti-reflective coating.

15 - Bicycle carry cover.

As keen cyclists, we want to be able to travel with our bicycles when taking out the RV or caravan. For protection during travel, we opted for the Fiamma bike cover for 2 bikes that comes with a lock to deter thieves and is made from reinforced polyester material. 

16 - Exterior security lock. 

When it comes to adding an extra layer of security for your RV or caravan itself, we love the solid aluminium Fiamma Security 31 Handle. It locks right across the main door to make casual invasion all but impossible and also doubles as a convenient grab handle when unlocked to help get up and down the steps comfortably.

17 - Anti-theft wheel clamp. 

It’s very important to prevent your vehicle from being moved while you’re off enjoying the great outdoors. There can be no surer way than by using a hardened high-tensile steel Nemesis wheel clamp. It is resistant to cutting and drilling, virtually impervious to picking and cannot be gas-frozen and smashed. In short, if you clamp your wheel with one of these while you’re away then your vehicle is going nowhere without your say so. 

18 - Vehicle-reversing camera system.

We’ve all been in situations with our RVs and caravans where we would dearly love a better view of what’s behind us. We’re happy to say that we found a motorhome reversing camera system that provides video, audio, and night-vision capabilities. This has been an absolute revelation when it comes to manoeuvring our large vehicles and one that we would never go travelling without. A sun-shielded screen can be suction mounted in your preferred location and the camera itself is fully waterproof. 

19 - RV Antenna

An RV antenna is an essential accessory for your caravan as this is what is going to allow you to have tv reception in the more remote areas of the country. A TV antenna will give you additional channels which will allow you to enjoy your travels even more.

20 - Fishing Lines

If you are an avid explorer and outdoors kind of person, then one accessory that will prove to be invaluable will be one of our fishing lines. If you are a keen fisherman then it is going to be important to ensure that you have adequate fishing lines to last throughout your whole RV trip.

Check out the huge range of other accessories and products available at RV Parts Express today, or get in touch with one of our team members with any questions or comments using the online contact form. Alternatively, call 02 9645 7666 and speak to one of our friendly staff members; they will be only too pleased to help you with all your RV and camping enquiries.