Must have accessories

As well as the accessories I hope it's put your mind at ease knowing that experienced caravanners still make basic errors..... apparently.

I was struggling to realise why my car & caravan wouldn't go backwards the other day enroute to our site. We'd found ourselves in a situation where I'd to reverse 50yds back along the road (thanks to COMAND sat-nav) and the car just wouldn't move!! If you open the driver's door with it in Drive, it'll automatically engage Park but sometimes it'll also apply the electric parking brake ... I've yet to work out why/when. Frustration at being in the situation with cars & a MH behind me, I'd not noticed the parking brake being on! Argh!!

Your insurance will have details of what security devices you need, most require 2.  If only one needed a hitch lock is much easier to fit.  I don't have a tracker but my caravan is 11 years old now!  You may want to take a TV, just get an inexpensive small one.   A travel kettle is an essential item for us.  I would strongly recommend 2 gas bottles as there is nothing worse than running out of gas - it always happens at inconvenient times!   A local trip for a weekend will confirm that you have got it right.

By Heck Jill  That looks like a family sized Hookah !! 

Something to use to fill your Aquaroll or similar is useful, they are often not left in situ so they don't get algae. I have  2' length of plastic waste pipe with a bit of paracord to secure it to the tap.  They sell them at club sites but I had the makings kicking around the garage, so fashioned my own - there's no standard for what the site tap termination will be, but the waste pipe fits anything.

A small piece of sandpaper in the boot is handy if its wet and your towball starts to rust before and while you're away and if you have 15 pin electrics a plastic 'recentering' tool can be a couple of pounds well spent - again leave it in the car boot/glove box.  Also consider getting a spare van key cut and leave that in the car, I've broken into two vans now for people who have locked themselves out (faulty door lock)/lost keys. I always keep a torch in the van for when the electrics trip and spare fuses for the 12v side.

Other essentail things not mentioned (and may be fitted to yur van, so forgive me) are a fire blanket and extinguisher.  

You'll find that you see folks on sites with kit you'll think "oh that's useful" and if you're like us, realise what you drag around with you all the time and never use, with experience.  "Less is more" is a good way to go to start with - enjoy!

I agree with everything that others have suggested but have a couple to add. First of all you say "Towing Mirror". That really should be two, one for each side of the car and get used to using them. 

You will probably need, at some time, a ramp or series of wood blocks to get the caravan level side to side. You will probably need wood blocks under your corner steadies if the site is very sloping. Wood blocks shouldn't cost you anything.

I recommend a check list left inside the caravan of things to make sure are done before driving off, eg widows shut, cupboard doors closed, Heki rooflight closed, fridge changed to 12v, water drained out of heater, etc etc.

When hitching up do things in a methodical way and don't get distracted by others around you. Tell them politely to "go away"

Kettle to go on hob for when you are off grid or those cuppas en route.  This would be in my vital category!

When hitching up do things in a methodical way and don't get distracted by others around you. Tell them politely to "go away"

We read in our local paper today about a caravan that became unhitched whilst towing, not far away from here, in early July and killed a motorist coming the other way. Double tragedy, reading about it, as the driver seems to be genuinely distraught and obviously the family of the unfortunate driver killed will never get over it.

Just shows, Always check the hitch is attached and always use a breakaway cable.

You are never too experienced to become complacent.