One thing we can all agree on about van life: It’s awesome. There’s just no better feeling than hitting the road in a self-contained home on wheels, waking up in your favorite places on earth, and resting comfortably after long days spent outside. But just because something is great, doesn’t mean it can’t get better!

That’s why we put together this list of some of our favorite gadgets and gear for camper van owners. These items can elevate your camping trips, making life easier and more fun on the road. The difference between a good trip and a great one may just come down to the gadgets that make their way onto your packing list!

1. Carbon Monoxide Detector

To relax and fully enjoy your camper van road trip, peace of mind is a must. That’s why certain safety features, such as a carbon monoxide detector, are on our list of the most useful campervan gadgets. Any appliance that involves combustion, such as a propane cooktop, camping stove, or diesel heater, can emit deadly carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, meaning you likely wouldn’t even know you were being exposed to it until it was too late. That’s why a carbon monoxide detector is an absolute essential for camper vans. It will sound a loud alarm if carbon monoxide levels become dangerously high in your van. Every Muse & Co. Outdoors camper van comes equipped with one, so you can sleep easy and enjoy your trip.

2. Collapsible Camping Chairs

Having a comfortable place to hang out inside is part of what makes camper vans so great. But if the weather is nice, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to enjoy the fresh air at your campsite. That’s why having camp chairs handy is so important.

Collapsible camping chairs are a great choice for van owners because they are lightweight and, most importantly, take up very little space inside of your van when not in use. They’re small and light enough to put in a backpack and carry to the beach, and they’re built with outdoor use in mind for ruggedness and durability.

3. Bluetooth Speaker

What’s the only thing that can make hanging out with friends and family at your favorite camp spot even better? Your favorite music! Rechargeable Bluetooth speakers have become extremely popular in recent years, and it’s easy to understand why. These little boomboxes can pump out impressive sound, have great battery life, and are water and drop-resistant – making them a great choice for van lifers.

Perhaps the best feature of portable Bluetooth speakers such as the JBL Flip 4 is that you can set them anywhere in your van or around your campsite, and control the music from your phone. This allows you to maximize the acoustics without leaving your chair to change the song. If your speaker runs out of battery during your trip, you can charge it using one of your van’s USB ports.

To charge your speaker wherever you go, you’ll need an off-grid power system, complete with solar panels, leisure batteries, and an inverter. Having a power inverter hooked up to an adequate power bank gives you portable power wherever your van travels, so you can charge items like speakers, phones and ipads, kindles, headlamps, and any other small electronics that have a charger, without having to hook them up to your vehicle’s cigarette lighter.

4. Mini Broom and Dustpan

Some of the best camper van gadgets can also be some of the least glamorous. When it comes to improving life on the road, keeping your van clean is one of the easiest things you can do. Any experienced van lifer knows how quickly the floor of the van gets covered with dirt and sand constantly being tracked in from outside.

Fortunately, although camper vans get messy quickly, they are also a breeze to clean. We feel that this mini broom and dustpan set is an essential campervan gadget because it looks great, works well, and takes up very little room when not in use. For a deeper clean, having a portable handheld vacuum cleaner can be nice, but this broom set takes care of a dirty camper van floor in no time.

5. Collapsible Tupperware

Camper van owners and people living full-time van life are always looking for ways to save storage space. This collapsible food storage set is a lifesaver when it comes to maximizing the small spaces inside of your cabinets.

The containers collapse to a fraction of their original size so they can stow away and be a space saving dream while not in use!

6. Spikeball Kit

If you haven’t played Spikeball yet, you are seriously missing out. This game has been an instant hit among kids and adults alike, and it’s easy to tell why. Spikeball can be played just about anywhere you can find a flat clearing outside (including most campsites and wild camping areas).

One great thing about this Spikeball set is its portability. It includes everything you need to play, including a net with collapsible legs and 3 balls, all of which pack into the included compact carry bag so it doesn’t take up too much living space.

You can set up Spikeball in your campsite, or easily take it to the beach or any grassy area for hours of fun and entertainment.

Of course, no amount of gear, gadgets, or travel tips can turn a poorly-built camper van into one that is efficiently designed and user-friendly. Here at Muse & Co. Outdoors, we draw from our team’s decades of combined design and build experience to craft truly state-of-the-art Sprinter camper vans that make traveling easy, fun, and stylish. Use our Build My Van tool today to begin the process of building your dream rig!

Spikeball Kit

If you haven’t played Spikeball yet, you are seriously missing out. This game has been an instant hit among kids and adults alike, and it’s easy to tell why. Spikeball can be played just about anywhere you can find a flat clearing outside (including most campsites).

One great thing about this Spikeball set is its portability. It includes everything you need to play, including a net with collapsible legs and 3 balls, all of which pack into the included compact backpack. You can set up Spikeball in your campsite, or easily take it to the beach or any grassy area for hours of fun and entertainment.

Of course, no amount of gear, gadgets, or games can turn a poorly-built camper van into one that is efficiently designed and user-friendly. Here at Muse & Co. Outdoors, we draw from our team’s decades of combined design and build experience to craft truly state-of-the-art Sprinter camper vans that make traveling easy, fun, and stylish. Use our Build My Van tool today to begin the process of building your dream rig!