There is an old adage that if you go back-packing you should only take the absolute minimum amount of possessions that you think is possible, lay everything on the floor and then half it! Well we are not sure at Class Campers that this applies to taking a trip in a VW Camper but there are lessens to be learnt from this. Firstly, it is worth thinking carefully about what you pile in to your bus. Ours was a classic example: portable satellite dish/receiver and 12 volt TV; 3 different tents and a swing ball for entertainment! All this and we forgot to take any plates or eating implements.

Secondly, too much weight will effect the ride of your bus and decrease your fuel economy, which to be fair isn't very good anyway. I once asked on a VW Camper forum how I could make my bus faster whilst increasing fuel economy. The reply was "add lightness", a suggestion that I have never forgotten.

How does one remember everything that you might need on a Volkswagen Camper road trip?

Some advocate a simple system by sticking a checklist to your fridge a week or two before you leave and then just add to it every time you have a thought! Others suggest that one should have your traveling equipment in your bus at all times. Thereby, each time you go on a trip you can add to your supplies, after several road trips you should have everything you will require. Well although both of these methods work to a certain extent the first suggestion is fraught will problems and will inevitably leave you without something you really need. Like bog paper! The second suggestion is one that I have used for years. I cleared out my camper only a couple of months ago and there must have a ton of crap in there! Most of which had no use at all. And after which my fuel economy got noticeably better. So here's how you do it! Well its how I figure is the best way.

Write out list of everything you think you might need and throw it away! Then get a pen and write a list of everything you will need to cook your breakfast/evening meal and make tea and coffee! Right that's nearly everything you need. Then write out a list of everything you need to have a shit/shave and a shower. What you should have now is all the absolute basics but enough to get you through a day or two. Now think about location specific stuff that you might require. Are you going to the Lake District or to New quay- Cornwall, because if you are then you are likely to be going walking or surfing so think about what you might

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