Throwing caution to the wind and heading off on a spontaneous adventure is the reason why we love our vans, however making sure your van is equipped with the right measures to keep you safe and deal with any emergencies is vital to avoiding making a bad situation worse. Here we look at ways to keep you safe and secure so you can enjoy vanlife without the worry of 'what ifs'.
1. Plan your trip and be aware of your surroundings.
Use Google maps to plan your route and make sure you are aware of where you are going, where the nearest emergency facilities are and if venturing to more remote places always make sure you have an exit route. Ensure you have a fully charged phone, plenty of fuel and supplies incase you get caught out in bad weather, get lost or stuck somewhere remote.
2. Communication and location tracking
Always tell someone where you are going. I often share my location with friends and I will text them if I am going for a hike away from the van and how long I expect to be. You could also leave a note on your van if you are expected to be out all day hiking, and when you will be back. Use the free 'what3words' app to pinpoint your exact location and share with a friend.
3. Secure your van to deter thieves
Sounds obvious, but always, always lock your van! Even if you are just going inside to get supplies this simple step helps to deter potential thieves. Make sure you store valuables away and out of sight. Consider installing a security camera for your van to keep an eye out, even when you're not there. Most cameras aren't expensive these days so theres is something to suit everyones needs and budgets.
4. Equip your van for emergencies
Invest in a few items and store them in an easily accessible place in the van incase of an emergency. Get yourself a simple first aid kit, a fire extinguisher and a carbon monoxide alarm. Don't forget to make sure you have a spare key in a safe place! Also, don't forget to check you have valid van insurance and it is worth investing in breakdown cover. Ensure you have a torch, spare batteries, cables and a spare battery pack for charging your phone or other vital accessories.
5. Trust your gut!
My fifth and final tip is to always trust your gut! If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, trust your gut and leave.
Van safety items checklist
- First Aid Kit
- Fire Extinguisher
- Security Camera
- Location Tracker
- Torch
- Spare batteries
- Battery pack
- Charging cables
- Download 'what2words' app
- Enable location sharing with a friend (note: this will use up phone battery)
Got safety sussed on the road but looking for inspiration to make your trip an awesome one - check out our top 10 campervan products for 2023.