Must Have Camper Van Supplies (That Won’t Break The Bank!)

I was SO STOKED to be back in my camper van, Freebird, after a lonnnngggg hiatus this spring. As soon as I got back in, though, I knew it was time for some new swanky camper van supplies.

I tracked down some easy and affordable products that I’m dying to share with you guys. While my camper van conversion created a place to live full-time, these upgrades have truly made a home.

And I’ve seen a huge difference in the quality of my daily van life since making some upgrades. These are simple changes, but sometimes it’s the simple things that make all the difference.

Not in the mood for a video? No problem! Read below for a list of the upgrades I cover in the video above.

Here are the best of the best camper van supplies.

Berkey Travel Water Filtration System

This is by far the most expensive product on this list, but it also brings the most value. The Travel Berkey Water Filter is a vanlife game changer! One of the biggest health challenges for a full-time vanlifer is finding healthy filtered water on the road. When it comes to finding filtered water on the road, there aren’t a ton of options. If you buy plastic gallons of water, you’re wasting money and damaging the environment with single-use plastic waste. Some states like California have water refilling stations, but this water can be pretty expensive. I found myself either filling up filtered water at friends’ houses (if I was lucky enough to find a nearby friend), finding the occasional fresh water spring score (which is both rare and amazing), or just dealing with unfiltered water from gas stations or random hoses– NOT ideal for your health!

The Travel Berkey changes all that. Now I fill up my 5-gallon tank with water from any potable source, hose or sink, and then fill up my Berkey from that water. The sink water is used for dishes/brushing my teeth and I drink my Berkey filtered water.

The Berkey filters 99.9% of all contaminants! It filters literally everything you don’t want in your water– including chlorine and fluoride. The travel system holds 1.5 gallons and measures 7.5 inches around by 18 inches high, so it fits perfectly on my countertop. I highly recommend making this investment in your health!

If you’re interested in some of the products I use daily to keep myself healthy on the road, you can scope out the whole list on my Amazon store.

Want to know how I keep my Berkey stuck on my countertop while, I drive? Check out these badass super strong reusable sticky pads I’m selling on my online store!

Reusable RV Sticky Pads

Reusable sticky pads keep it possible to keep things on my countertop when I’m driving without going flying everywhere.  They hold everything in place– plants, soap dispensers, spice racks, my water filter, and my portable speaker. They stay sticky forever– just rinse them with water if they lose their stick and they’re sticky again! You can buy them at my online store! Let me know what you think!

Hanging Fruit Hammock

Everyone LOVES this cute, convenient little fruit hammock, so I needed to add it to this

list. I’ve been using this for a while, so it’s not a recent upgrade, but I did recently fix the installation by angling it 45 degrees. This way apples can flow freely without smashed the walls of the van and making applesauce.

Hanging storage is so great in a camper van, and this affordable little storage solution makes a huge impact!

Indoor Plants

Houseplants are good for your health. Not only do plants add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, some plants even remove toxins like benzene and formaldehyde from the air! Here’s a great article that lists different plants and the ways they improve your indoor air quality.

Black-Out Vehicle Window Covers

Window covers that insulate and also block light are essential, especially if you ever stealth camp (which you will). This is the only time I recommend reflectix because it works so well on window covers and make a big difference. Definitely have thick black-out covers for every single window in the van, including the front cab.

Camper Van Supplies– The Cute Stuff!

This is a give-in, but having cute stuff in your van that makes it feel nice and homey is so so important. Yes, function matters, but so does comfort. A couple of cute throw pillows, blanket, and a colorful rug make a HUGE difference in such a small space. Plus it’s a fun way to collect memories from your favorite places throughout your travels! Be sure to hit up some vanlife gatherings while you’re out there!

Voited Pillow Blanket

I am currently obsessed with this Voited cloud touch pillow blanket (and so is my adorable nephew Cole!).

This is the blanket I sleep with every night.  The super soft side keeps me warm and I use the cooler side if it’s hot outside.  It’s the only blanket I use in the van and I love it because it has multiple functions and turns into a pillow when it’s not being used as a blanket.  No more stuffing my bedding into my cabinets!

Colorful Rugs

My friends over at Austin Rug Co. has small 1.5′ x 3′ and 2′ x 3′ vintage rugs that fit perfectly in a camper van. You can get a cute blanket while on your travels to remind you of places you’ve been and be sure to cover your walls with stickers and magnets from all the places you’ve explored!

Benchmark Maps

Benchmark Maps are pretty cool if you plan to spend a lot of time in one state and want to thoroughly explore. These maps have extensive recreational information and detail exactly where you can find free parking in the west United States.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and National Forests allows free parking for up to 2 weeks (at which point you need to relocate 25 miles away).

These atlases are an incredible way to find excellent natural places to explore! Check out the Women on the Road podcast to get discounts for Benchmark Maps.

The Ultimate Camper Van Supplies for Comfort: Pillow-Top Mattress Pad

Ohhhh man, this mattress pad makes me SO HAPPY. My cushions are not very comfy and so a lot of the last year was spent with an achy back. For a while I had a foam mattress topper, but it just couldn’t handle being rolled up and put away daily and ended up ripping into pieces.

This pad is super comfy and soft, and it rolls up and squishes into small spaces without requiring you be delicate with it. My van bed sleep has already improved 100%!

And while we’re at it, get a badass book!

You Are A Badass is the first book I’m digging into on this solo vanlife vision quest. It comes highly recommended and I highly recommend it to you!

I’ll leave you with an inspirational quote from the book:

“If you want to live a life you’ve never lived, you have to do things you’ve never done.”

I’ll see ya’ll on the road!