Help for a complete novice

I used to use a plastic milk crate until 10 years ago. I turned it over and screwed a rubber car mat (trimmed to size, on top. Worked well and I could easily peg it down. Very stable any way. Used to use it to transport bottles safelt en-route.

i guess it might be a weight (lack of payload) issue but you'd think caravans would have moved on from those external 'staircases' needed to get into them.....and such a large, awkward thing to store....

motorhomes that use low frame ALKO chassis rarely need a seperate step, and those that do usually have a built in electric step.....a single step, a double step or a slider.....

all electric, no staircases......or milk crates.....

however, back to the OP...........

this (lack of) payload comes up over and over again in caravan threads....saw one a day or so ago where hanging a few clothes in a wardrobe was sufficient to cause 'imbalance'....yet this thread is a request for what 'extra' weighty 'stuff' the OP might need.....

my one piece of advice....weigh your van.....

caravans have paltry payloads (100-150kg) which in the real world is nothing.....

motormover, barrels, levellers, extra gas, awnings, mats, chairs, tables, bbq, various other electrical devices, etc, etc....that's before you get to items fixed to the van like extra batteries, solar panel, satellite dish, aircon unit, etc, etc......

......oh, and a staircase......

yes, lots of this kit can be dumped in your towcar (again provided that it has sufficient room/payload) but be very careful about the overall weight.....and even then you have to ensure that it sits in the correct part of the van to ensure a sensible nose weight.....clothes in the correct part of the van....obviously not necessarily the wardrobe.....

with a small payload, more stuff need more thought......weight management can be a minefield......

Heavy Staircase?.

do you mean 'lightweight aluminium step" ?

Heavy Staircase?.

 

do you mean 'lightweight aluminium step" ?

 

i don't think i used the phrase 'heavy staircase'...nor implied they were particularly heavy....

..my point was that, with mimimum payload, having an electric step (with associated weight panalty) might be a reason for continuing with lightweight aluminium step...?

some suggest 'weight caution' when considering a motormover....or automatic satellite dish.....as these have heavy electric motors...

no, my point wasnt that 'staircases' are heavy, merely that the alternative (something far more modern and less cumbersome) is precluded by a vans small payload.....

We travel light - we don't have aircon, solar panel or a satellite dish. 

Heavy Staircase?.

 

do you mean 'lightweight aluminium step" ?

 

i don't think i used the phrase 'heavy staircase'...nor implied they were particularly heavy....

..my point was that, with mimimum payload, having an electric step (with associated weight panalty) might be a reason for continuing with lightweight aluminium step...?

some suggest 'weight caution' when considering a motormover....or automatic satellite dish.....as these have heavy electric motors...

no, my point wasnt that 'staircases' are heavy, merely that the alternative (something far more modern and less cumbersome) is precluded by a vans small payload.....

Our step isn't particularly cumbersome despite it being a '2 level' one. It sits in the door way while travelling and gets easily lifted out when we stop and back in when we want to move on. Simples..it's not really a big deal.

I have seen too many flimsy fixed ones that are distorted and flexed due the weight of the 'van occupants to convince me they are a better option than a 'staircase'.

good point....although it depends what you (one) weighs.....

i travel light....PFW (peak fighting weight) 60kg......lol.

why dont MH have seperate staircases, i wonder...?

anyweigh...the OP should still pay due regard to limited payloads....in the van and also in the towcar.....

caravans are deliberately plated as low as is practically possble to allow as many mass market cars to be in woth a chance of towing it.....to 'force' a large towcar on someone might be an expense too far....

so low mtplm usually means low payload.....so check....

The most important thing is a LIST!

Of course, you may have several lists in which case maybe you need a Master List.  Now, the question is, do you include the other lists on the Master List and the philosphical (and mathematical) question, "should a Master List as a true catalogue contain the Master List as one of the items"?  Now I am totally confused, however, you definitely need some sort of list which you keep adding to.

Oh definatley lists I have mine on a spreadsheet, one column for OH, one for outside bits, one for food, one for clothes, one for documents etc. added to as required and now I've even started deleting things of it

despite spending 30-35 weeks away in our van we dont have a list....of any sort....

the van lives on the drive and we can load supplies, clothes etc as we feel like it....

..as its usually only a week or two between trips, the van is ready loaded with pretty much everything we need.....maps, books, satnav, load the bikes, the levellers and most of the 'pitch' kit, chairs, table, bbq, windbreak etc stays in the van's garage......

we just ensure we have phones, ipads, chargers adaptors etc...and then we turn the key....presto....off we go....

if we have forgotten something, we tend to go to places that trade/barter etc so we can usually procure what we need...