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⭐ Featured Guides
Hand-picked guides to help you get more from your campervan or motorhome.
CampaMate Essentials & Must-Haves Guide 2026
Get road-trip ready with one practical guide covering the essentials that make campervan and motorhome adventures safer, easier and more comfortable. From vehicle checks and the five foundations of safety, water, power, sleep and food to smart storage, everyday comforts and space-saving extras, use it as your master checklist and pack with confidence—without taking everything you own.
- Safety, water, power, sleep and food essentials
- Vehicle checks, smart storage and comfort must-haves
- A flexible master checklist for your own style of trip
Touring Northern Ireland by motorhome
Covers the Causeway Coastal Route and other highlights, plus the practicalities of touring Northern Ireland by road.
Source: Practical Motorhome
UK overnight parking: what's legal and what isn't
Sets out the legal position on overnight parking across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus the main legitimate options.
Source: Quirky Campers
Gas lockers and LPG systems explained
A beginner-friendly walkthrough of how a campervan gas system fits together, from bottle to hob.
Source: Vanlife.uk
What does 'NCC Approved' actually mean?
Explains the NCC Approved Workshop Scheme and why using an approved workshop protects your manufacturer warranty.
Source: Onsite Caravan Services
Best Electrical Buys for On the Go
CampaMate's 2026 low-wattage electrical picks for campervans and motorhomes, including an air fryer, hairdryer, kettle, toaster, slow cooker, travel iron and a no-electricity pod coffee option.
CampaMate Using Your Wind-Out Awning in Bad Weather Guide
How to use a campervan or motorhome wind-out awning more safely when the weather changes, including rain pitch, drainage, pegging, storm straps, tension rafters, sudden gusts, overnight precautions and when to wind it back in.
More Featured Guides
Campervan & Motorhome Trip Checklist
Don't leave the important stuff behind. Tick off your van, kitchen, safety, clothing and trip essentials before you set off.
Plan your first overnight trip with confidence
A pre-trip safety inspection checklist covering tyres, gas, habitation checks and what to look over before you leave the driveway.
Source: Leisurevan
Best motorhome routes across England
Route inspiration spanning the Lake District, Peak District and beyond, useful for planning a first multi-day tour.
Source: The Gap Decaders
Campervans and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code
Explains why Scotland's right-to-roam access rights don't extend to vehicles, and what responsible overnighting looks like instead.
Source: Dubbed Out
Motorhome wild camping rules across the UK
Compares the legal position on wild camping in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in one place.
Source: IDS Leisure
Understanding MIRO, MAM and payload
Explains the weight terms on your van's plate and how to work out how much you can legally carry.
Source: Oaktree Motorhomes
Understanding motorhome gas: propane vs butane
Explains the difference between propane and butane, why propane suits winter touring, and how exchange cylinders work.
Source: The Gap Decaders
Fresh water, grey water and keeping it all hygienic
Practical tips for managing fresh water and grey water tanks without cross-contaminating hoses or fittings.
Source: Wandering Bird
Winter-proofing your van
Covers insulation grades, frost protection for pipes and choosing the right heating setup for cold-weather touring.
Source: Oaktree Motorhomes
A beginner's guide to maintenance and repairs
Covers the basic checks and light repairs every owner should be comfortable doing between services.
Source: Lowdhams
Pre-purchase checklist for used vans
A practical checklist for inspecting a used campervan, including documentation, HPI checks and condition red flags.
Source: Quirky Campers
Choosing the best van for your conversion
Compares small, medium and large panel vans and the trade-offs each size makes for space, running costs and payload.
Source: Vanlife.uk
Choosing the right insulation material
Compares PIR foam boards against sheep's wool and other options for R-value, cost and ease of fitting.
Source: Vanlife.uk
12V electrical systems explained
Introduces leisure batteries, fuse boxes and DC-DC chargers as the core building blocks of a campervan 12V system.
Source: Vanlife.uk
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
From a UK alarm manufacturer: correct alarm placement relative to fuel-burning appliances, and testing routines.
Source: FireAngel
Reclassifying your van as a 'Motor Caravan' with the DVLA
Sets out the fixed-bed, cooking, storage and seating criteria the DVLA looks for before reclassifying a V5C.
Source: Quirky Campers
What a habitation check actually covers
Explains what's inspected in a habitation check, why manufacturers require it annually, and what it costs.
Source: Camplify
A pre-journey checklist from the RAC
The RAC's own checklist for tyres, brakes and general roadworthiness before setting off. Brake, suspension and steering faults should always be inspected by a qualified technician rather than DIY-repaired.
Source: RAC
Looking after your leisure battery
Covers the basics of leisure battery care, from storage charging to spotting a battery that's reaching the end of its life.
Source: Caravan Guard
Understanding UK gas regulations
Explains how the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 apply to leisure vehicles. Gas work should always be carried out or checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer, never attempted as a DIY repair.
Source: Motorhome Servicing & Repairs
Spotting and treating damp early
What to look and smell for, and why catching damp early makes it far cheaper and easier to put right.
Source: Motorhome Protect
CampaMate summaries are original — each card links out to the full guide on the publisher’s own site. Photos are freely-licensed images from Wikimedia Commons, not taken from the linked publishers. Spotted a broken link or have a great UK guide we’re missing? Let us know via Community or Feedback.