The caravan is hitched, the fuel tank is full, and the open road is calling. If you’ve been on the road for a while, you’ll know that the best trips come down to having the right caravan gear.
The next generation of caravanning experience is about making your home-on-wheels smarter, lighter, and ready to go deeper into the bush. For the savvy traveller, preparing for a trip means outfitting your RV with caravan accessories that promise maximum efficiency and off-grid independence.
Powering Your Adventure: Off-Grid Caravan Gear
If you want to stay out longer on your big lap, you need to talk power and water. Relying on powered sites is fine, but the real freedom in van life comes when you can go off-grid for days at a time. That self-sufficiency is the perfect solution, and it all comes down to having the right power accessories and caravan equipment.
Clean Water Made Simple
Getting water from unknown sources is a fact of camping life, but you don't have to put up with bad tastes and odours or the worry that comes with questionable quality. The smartest and easiest way to ensure your water is palatable is by using simple filtration.
OZtrail Pick: The Inline Water Filter is a simple inline accessory that connects between your drinking hoses to improve the quality of water going into your tank.
While an inline water filter is essential for cleaning the water as it enters, its effectiveness can be compromised before you even hook it up. Keeping these hoses separated and clean is important in successful water filtration.
OZtrail Pick: The Caravan Trio Storage Bag Kit includes three durable, labelled bags - one each for your electrical cable, sullage hose, and drinking water hose. It keeps your clean hoses away from your dirty ones, ensuring easy pack-up every time.
The 12V Life Hacks
Smart campers are turning to efficient 12V appliances and solutions. When you're running entirely off your battery bank, every watt counts. The key is finding a powerful gear that doesn't guzzle electricity.
Smart Comfort with Next-Gen Caravan Accessories
We all know the struggle: a cramped campsite and a pile of gear that takes ages to unpack and even longer to pack away. The trend for outdoor gear is focused on items that do double duty, set up instantly, and keep everything tidy, which makes life on the road easier.
Set Up Smart, Not Hard
Your outdoor shelter should be an extension of your caravan, not an added frustration. Look for quick-pitch awnings and, if you’ve got one, invest in awning accessories. They’re essential caravan parts that securely hold the awning fabric, eliminating flapping and protecting the fabric when the wind picks up.
OZtrail Pick: Deflappers are a simple way to reduce awning flapping noise. These soft-padded deflappers help protect your awning fabric in windy conditions without leaving marks.
Tidy Van, Tidy Mind
Keeping your caravan organised saves space and stress. Smart storage is your best friend. Every seasoned traveller knows that being organised is key to enjoying the view, not tripping over your shoes.
OZtrail Pick: The Caravan Storage Pockets (available in various sizes) stick securely to the walls of your caravan or RV without drilling. They keep phones, keys, and tablets right where you need them.
Safety First: Essential Caravan Parts and Equipment
Safety is the most important for any RV owner. When you’re towing a few tonnes across Australia, you need to be prepared and compliant.
Don't Guess Your Weight
You simply can’t afford to overload your caravan - it's dangerous and illegal. Keeping a digital weight control scale gives you an accurate reading of your tow ball and wheel weights. Getting that weight distribution right is the single best thing you can do for stable, safe towing. It's one of those caravan accessories essentials that is a small investment for massive peace of mind on your next camping trip.
OZtrail Pick: For peace of mind, the Digital Weight Control Scale ensures your caravan gear and contents are safely distributed, helping you comply with Australian standards.
Be Level-Headed
Before you even unhitch your vehicle, having the caravan level is key to a good night’s sleep (and a happy fridge). When your RV isn't level, your absorption refrigerator can't properly circulate its coolant, making it inefficient - or worse, causing it to fail entirely.
OZtrail Pick: The Bubble Level or T Level provides the immediate, precise measurement needed to guarantee your caravan is level before unhitching. Combine that with a solid set of Companion Chock and Levellers and Stabiliser Stands to lock it all down.
Gear Up Your Home Away From Home
When you're trying to embrace convenience, off-grid independence, and superior comfort, the best caravan accessories are those that are light, durable, and make life on the road effortless. You’re not just packing more; you’re preparing better with limited space and ready for any challenge the camping trail can throw at you.
When the sun goes down, the right lighting makes all the difference. Explore our online store exclusives to find smart lighting and solar solutions designed to keep your campsite illuminated after dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the absolute must-have pieces of safety caravan equipment that I shouldn't skimp on?
You can always shop for an extensive range of caravan accessories for comfort, but safety is where you must invest. Beyond standard fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, your top priorities are about control and compliance.
You must know your weights (ATM, GTM, TBM) to legally tow across Australia. Investing in accurate scales is essential caravan equipment. If you're heading off the bitumen, recovery tracks, a snatch strap, and associated caravan parts are crucial for self-rescue.
Why is proper weight distribution more important than just staying under the maximum tow capacity?
Staying under the tow capacity is the law, but proper distribution is what keeps you alive. If your weight is wrong (usually too much at the rear), it creates a pendulum effect, leading to the dreaded "caravan sway."
The general rule for load placement is to distribute heavy gear low down and close to the axle line of the caravan or camper trailer itself. Getting this right guarantees a safer caravanning experience.
Are awning anti-flappers (De Flappers) really worth the space they take up in my caravan gear?
Yes, awning anti-flappers provide massive value, especially in Australia, where the wind can pick up fast. They hold the awning fabric securely to the roller tube, preventing that "flapping" noise that can keep you up all night. More importantly, they prevent the fabric from rubbing against the frame, which significantly extends the life of your expensive awning.
What’s the difference between a sullage hose and a drinking water hose? Do I really need separate ones?
Yes, you need to separate a sullage hose and a drinking water hose. This is essential camping hygiene. Drinking water hoses are specifically built using food-grade materials to prevent the leaching of harmful chemicals or plastic taste into your potable water. You should only use these hoses for filling your fresh water tanks.
Sullage hoses (Waste Water) are for draining grey water (sink/shower) from your caravan or RV. They are not food grade. Using them for drinking water poses a serious health risk.
How can I maximise my time off-grid during my camping adventure?
Maximising off-grid time comes down to two things: power and water management. Focus on efficient energy creation and storage. That means using high-efficiency portable solar panels or a solar blanket, and upgrading to deep-cycle lithium batteries for better usable capacity.
Increase your water tank capacity where possible. Carry supplementary water in jerry cans, and use a high-quality water filter when filling from natural or questionable sources.
What is the single best way to keep my caravan clean and organised on the road?
The key to enjoyable van life is simple, practical systems. Utilise wall-mounted and hanging caravan accessories to get things off the floor. Invest in folding bowls, kettles, and even buckets. These outdoor gear items save massive amounts of space in your limited storage areas. Place a sturdy mat outside your door to catch dirt and grit before it enters the RV. This simple step reduces the amount of sweeping you'll do, giving you more time for your outdoor adventure.