Tips for new campervan owners

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Guest Writer: Marlene Rindå Jikita

As new motorhome owners in the summer of 2021, we embarked on a whole new life. We had no idea what we were getting into, but have dreamed of this for so long that we still took the chance when it appeared. Now we have had our motorhome Peppe for just over 6 months and think we have been out so much that we can give our best tips for beginners. We have all the mistakes quite fresh in our minds.

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The best thing is to wake up in your campervan! That's how it really is. The dream we had, became a plan and the plan became reality in the summer of 2021. We discovered that money can actually buy happiness! We LOVE motorhome life!

On Instagram and Youtube

Before I start with all the tips, let's take the most important one... the first thing you do when you buy your first motorhome is to start an Instagram account! Of course!!! You want to show off your gem, our name is Jikitas on an adventure. If you're a bit crazy, like we are - well then you start a channel on Youtube too! There we are also called Jikitas on adventure and show all our trips, campsites and a lot of other things. Feel free to join us 🙂

Our motorhome Peppe

We bought our first motorhome in the summer of 2021, which was named Peppe and is a Weinsberg CaraCompact, Edition: Pepper from 2018. He is quite small but absolutely perfect for us. We can fit everything we need and "downsize" each time. You do well with less stuff than you think, actually.

Tips for buying a motorhome

Our first tip concerns the purchase itself. Think about what you really need! There are only two of us and we agreed that the car should not be very big, not longer than 7 metres and not heavier than 3.5 tonnes. We hadn't even set foot in a motorhome before we started looking, but knew that ferries are a little cheaper, and road tolls in some countries can be lower if you have a smaller car.

As I said, there are only two of us and we wanted to have a "open plan" to make best use of the space, so reversible chairs that can be used as armchairs at the dining table made sense. And we wanted a bed that would stay up all the time in the back and could be closed, climbing into a bed above the cab was not an option.

Bring a "veteran"

The next tip is to bring a veteran, someone who knows motorhomes.and who knows what to look for and can go through the purchase agreement. Someone who knows what can break, things that can go wrong and such details as the warranty. Should you have any extra, more than what is included? If you're not good at doing it yourself, it might be a good idea ... We didn't think we needed it, as the car is almost new and in good condition.

Martin had checked all the points and picked out a car for us. We decided to start looking in early May, found two cars that suited us, looked on 21 May and bought it the same day. And thought that we would be able to go on an adventure after a few weeks... it wasn't like that. It was 6 weeks delivery time!!! But hey!!! That premiere trip in midsummer we could forget, half the summer would go before we could go out and go. So sour!

We thought the cars there were just for travelling, not that they needed to be serviced, cleaned and inspected first. So... If you want a car for the summer, buy it by March! Then you can use the whole season!

Where should you park your motorhome?

Something else you might not think about is where to park the motorhome, both in season and in winter. Can you park it outside your home? Should the car be used all year round or should it be switched off during the winter?

We are fortunate to have a garden, or had ... maybe you should say ... because now the front is a car park. Having the car at home is a great advantage when you get a spontaneous whim and can just take off. Of course, we think the neighbours have the best view in the world, they may not be quite as happy as we are ...

Collecting the motorhome

Then comes day D, it's time to collect the pearl! Set aside the whole dayleave early, use public transport, or take a lift if possible so that you can drive the car home together. Especially if it's your first car. Bring a packed lunch, stop on the way and have a chat. We had 14 miles to go, it took 3 hours by public transport.

When we arrived, we got a briefing on all the functions of the car, how to fill water, empty the toilet and other essentials. Before we left, we had checked that the car was inspected, parked and insured. All papers were already filled in, so it was just to drive home after all the information.

Driving home your first own motorhome is total happiness! A bit like going home from the maternity ward with your first child actually. Parking at home for the first time and seeing him standing there and taking up space, so wonderful! The dream has become a reality and he is just standing there waiting for the premiere trip. Where would we go? What do you need to think about? Many people said to try sleeping at home the first night, and then try a night of camping. We ignored those tips.

First campervan trip

We picked up Peppe on Tuesday and left on Friday. Why wait? We only went 5-6 kilometres away, to Skokloster. You can stand in the car park outside the castle for 100 SEK, which we thought was a reasonable start.

The first weekend we drove with food boxes and tinned food. That way, we could focus on getting to know the car to begin with and avoid anything to do with cooking. It was quite clever actually. Just learning how to switch to LPG, fix the toilet, secure the load and all the other details are fully sufficient on the first trip. Don't mess up!

So what do you need in a brand new motorhome?

Mattress, both for the protection of the traveller and for convenience. Cushions, duvets and bed linen of course. Towels of course, and maybe a cloth to wipe the floor with if it rains out or if you spill on the floor. Baskets in different sizesr to cords and other small items in wardrobes and on shelves. Boxes with lids for cables, tools, straps etc. in the garage.

Cords. mobile phone cords and power strips in all lengths and for all sockets. For the motorhome itself, you need a long power cable, or two that can be spliced, as the power poles may be far away. Inside our car, we have a power strip to which we connect most things. Then there is only one plug to unplug when we pack up and move on. All the wires are then collected in a box above the kitchen table that is easy to access.

What about porcelain? You always have to keep track of the load weightso the crockery and all the glasses are plastic, but we have regular cutlery. We got the tip that wipe the plates with paper or lick them clean after eating to make them easier to wash. You become very aware of water consumption and this trick saves a lot!

Sunbeds but make sure you can also sit and eat in them. Baths, for example, don't work very well. doormat inside the car (or a larger one outside) that collects the worst of the dirt. A small bag, basket or pouch for shower, washing-up and laundry items to take to the shower, laundry or kitchen is very practical. Bicycles may not be a must, but they are a convenient way to discover a place.

We don't have a safety box yet, but will install one. For passports and other things that you don't want to carry around.

Almost as important as cord to power pole are water hose. Even if there is one where you come, it feels fresher to have your own. You don't know if someone has actually flushed the toilet with the one in place....? Urk!  Special gloves for the toiletpreferably plastic or rubber ones, which are easily accessible inside the door where the toilet cassette is attached.

Gas bottle! It may be included, but if it's not, buy it right away. Otherwise it will be tricky with the fridge, cooker etc. Check the size where it will stand, we bought one too high...

A long text, but it can be summarised as follows:

• Be careful when buying and do proper research!
• Think about your needs and get help from someone experienced.
• Please note that delivery times can be long.
• Basic kitchen utensils, plastic or disposable plates and glasses, cutlery, trivet/ cutting board, knife, saucepan and frying pan.
• Mattress, pillows and duvets.
• Cables, wires and hoses. For electricity in the pole, mobile phones and water.
• Plastic boxes, baskets and crates in different sizes.
• Don't forget fire extinguishers, very important!  

The rest you can get as you feel you need it.

Level blocks are something that many people use, we haven't done it yet. However, we saw the need when the tomatoes started to roll down from the kitchen counter or when the glasses slowly slid across the table. So we will probably at least buy and have in the car if necessary, but we will not go out with a spirit level and measure, we have actually seen some people do that!

Checklist at departure

One of the things we learnt quickly was the fact that load secure. In other words, that all the equipment is firmly in place when you leave. We've seen teams leave with the electrical cord fluttering, but we haven't made that mistake ... yet ... Martin has a list that he checks off at every departure. Here it is:

• Switch the fridge to battery power
• Switch off the gas
• Unplug the power cord
• Take down the satellite dish
• Close all roof hatches
• Lock all doors
• Lock the entrance door

Checklist for winter storage

During our first winter, we wondered about winter storage. We asked some veterans and got pretty much unanimous answers:

• Pick out EVERYTHING! (food, textiles, candles, paper plates, cords - everything).
• Wipe and wash clean
• Place the car on a slight slope to allow melt water to drain off.
• Empty the water system properly, there are many tricks.

As the veterans told us: Motorhomes are for outdoor use and really only need to be protected from the water system freezing up, not much else needs to be done.

Enjoy the motorhome lifestyle

The most important thing, however, is to enjoy and to dare to take things as they come. To live your dream that you have actually realised. The thing that many do not dare ... Most people who are "on a roll" are also very helpful and come with extra hands when you need.

So enjoy and chill out! Most things can be solved. 🙂

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Marlene Rindå Jikita

Marlene has worked as a journalist since the 90s and has been freelancing for the last 30 years. She has also lived and worked in Africa. Together with her husband Martin (photographer), she travels around Sweden with her camper van Peppe and the rest of the world by plane, boat and bus. New places are best discovered on foot or by bike. On social media you can follow their motorhome adventures under the name "Jikitas På Äventyr".

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