Van Life 🚐

50 brilliant campervan gadgets (15 essentials + 35 nice-to-have upgrades)

Charlie & Kristina Stamp, Pierrick Jean

• 9 min read
50 brilliant campervan gadgets (15 essentials + 35 nice-to-have upgrades)
Photo by Tyler Lillico / Unsplash

Having the right gadgets for a campervan can make a real difference to comfort, organisation and everyday life on the road.

This guide starts with 15 essential gadgets that form a solid core setup for campervans and motorhomes. Further down, an extended list of 35 optional “nice-to-have” upgrades explores additional tech and accessories that can improve convenience, safety or comfort over time — depending on travel style and priorities.

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Campervan essentials: quick gear list (15 must-have gadgets)

A concise summary of the key gadgets featured and discussed throughout this article:

Here are some essential campervan gadgets to help you find your way and have a jolly good adventure when you arrive.

Van life in France — practical gadgets help keep everyday campervan life organised, powered and comfortable on the road.

1. Cheap Smartphone as a Motorhome SatNav

It's hardly worth buying a dedicated SatNav unit these days with an abundance of cheap 4G Android smartphones on the market.

You can pick up a brand new device for well under £100 (or use the old one you chucked in a draw somewhere), install Google Maps and you're good to go. It's also handy for use with the brilliant Park4Night app if you're looking to wild camp.

2. Basic Magnetic Phone Mount

You don't need any fancy gizmos to use any old smartphone as a SatNav. This cheap and cheerful magnetic phone mount will do the job perfectly well. Just place the metal part between your case and the phone, then attach the magnetic mount to the air vent and lock it into place.

3. UK & Ireland Campervan Route Guides

If you prefer to take your sweet time when exploring the UK and Ireland by campervan these beautifully illustrated route guidebooks are the perfect companion. They're available in both paperback and Kindle versions with routes covering:

Tip: If you are preparing to drive the famous route through the highlands of Scotland, where a 4G signal is often scarce, grab yourself a handy NC500 pocket route map.
North Coast 500 Itinerary: Scotland’s Most Epic Road Trip
Embark on a Scottish North Coast 500 road trip in a campervan. Experience the rugged coastline, majestic mountains, and picturesque villages.
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Wild camping on the Isle of Skye — real van life means adapting your setup to remote places where power, signal and space matter.

Tech and Power Gadgets for Campervans

You don't have to be a super geek to get the most out of these tech gadgets for campervans. Keep your tech tidy and fully charged with these neat gadget suggestions.

4. Cable & Tech Organiser Bag

If you're anything like me, you've got fistfuls of unruly cables that magically form a tangled mess when not in use. I solved the issue of my van's messy tech cupboard with this nifty electronics organiser bag. It's helped to keep my cables and campervan gadgets tidy and easy to access anytime I need them.

5. USB Charger Gadget for Campervans

To save the precious juice in your leisure battery and charge gadgets on the go with this handy Dual USB Charger. It plugs into the cigarette socket of your motorhome so you can easily charge up any tablets, mobile phones or other vanlife tech anytime you are driving.

6. Protective Laptop Sleeve

If a laptop or tablet is part of your campervan gadgets setup then it's important to protect it from scratches and knocks when on the road. A case like this basic laptop sleeve can help to keep your devices in tip top shape wherever you may roam.

7. Foldable Solar Panel

If you don't have a solar panel on the roof of your campervan or just want to maximise solar energy then a foldable solar panel is a great solution.

It folds up into a 15cm square envelope for easy storage and you can leave it on your dashboard or take it on hikes and pull in some free energy to charge all your campervan devices.

Campervan WiFi Gadgets

If you're going to be living in your van full time or just want to stay connected when you're on the go here are the ideal gadgets for campervans to achieve it.

8. WiFi 4G Router

There are lots of mobile 4G devices available but I chose to use this RUT240 4G LTE Router because it's used for industrial applications so is more than up to the job. You simply pop in a 4G mobile data sim card and connect any device to it as you would with home WiFi. The ultimate campervan gadget!

9. Omni Directional 4G Antenna

This funny looking dome sits on the roof of your campervan and helps to boost your 4G signal reception.

If you're converting a van into a camper then it's easiest to install a 4G Antenna before you put your ceiling up so you know where the cables with come through the roof. The connectors simply screw onto the 4G router box mentioned above.

Chill Gadgets for Campervans

Spending some quality time with your van should be a totally relaxing experience. Here are a few fantastic gadgets for camper to aid your rest and relaxation anytime.

10. Kindle eBook Reader

My Amazon Kindle Oasis is hands down one of the best things I own. I resisted eBooks for a long time because I like the look and feel of paperbacks but now I use the Kindle all the time.

It's great to load up a good book and relax in my van anytime I fancy it, takes up hardly any space and stows away nicely in a net pocket. Plus, the backlight screen means I don't need to keep the overhead spotlights on if the wife wants to sleep. It's easy to recharge via one of my 12v USB sockets and lasts for ages between charges.

There's also the cheaper Kindle Paperwhite if you don't need the fancy extra warm light feature of the Kindle Oasis.

11. Audible (Free Audiobooks)

For the times when I fancy listening to a book rather than reading it, say when I'm on a walk, my Audible app (iOS and Android available) does the job nicely. It has the world's largest selection of audiobooks including best sellers, new releases, sci-fi, romances, mysteries, classics, and much more.

If you hit the button below you can grab a 30 day free trial of Audible, plus, you get to keep 1 free audiobook (2 for Prime members) even if you cancel before the trial ends. I'd highly recommend giving it a go for some great content in your camper anytime you fancy it.

12. Noise Cancelling Headphones

It might seem odd to suggest wireless noise cancelling headphones if you're only touring peaceful places but there is a good reason. When it rains hard it can get pretty loud inside any van conversion or motorhome. That's when the noise cancelling function comes in handy, allowing you to hear whatever you are listening to over the rain hammering on the roof!

The Lindy BNX-60 are the best under £100 pair of headphones I've ever used. They come with a handy case and cable if you don't want to use the wireless bluetooth function.

13. Portable Espresso Machine

If you love your posh coffee then this Portable Espresso Machine is the perfect gadget to buy for your campervan or van conversion. You can use Nespresso (or similar) capsules to create the perfect cup of Joe wherever you are.

14. Bluetooth Travel Speaker

If you don't have a fancy speaker system wired into your campervan then a solid Bluetooth Speaker is the way to go. This 11cm square travel speaker easily pairs with any device so you can enjoy your tunes or an audiobook out loud. You can also take this campervan gadget outside without fear thanks to the IPX7 waterproof rating and lengthy battery time.

15. Mini HD Travel Projector

Being on the road doesn't mean that you have to skip movie night or a good old Netflix binge. You can hook this mini travel projector up to your device and stream anything in HD onto the wall or curtains inside your campervan.

Tip: Check out our dedicated post if you're looking for more fantastic campervan kitchen and camping accessories.
Campervan Accessories - 59 Motorhome Must Haves
In this must-have campervan accessories guide, you’ll find a list of items that are essential for a fun, comfortable and safe journey in your motorhome or van conversion. We’ve got a comprehensive list of 59 essential items for your campervan kitchen, bathroom, storage, security and day-to-day liv…
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Nice-to-have upgrades (35 optional extras)

The 15 gadgets listed above cover the essential setup for campervan travel. The list below is entirely optional, focusing on additional “nice-to-have” upgrades that can improve comfort, safety, or day-to-day convenience on the road.

With all that sorted, the campervan will be ready for pretty much anything — from dodgy weather to questionable WiFi — and there should be no excuse left for a “we forgot the one thing” moment.

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