In this post, I will explain what we considered in advance of taking our van to Europe so you can prepare your campervan for your own trip. There is a dedicated section which focuses on longer trips, as most campervans will be suitable for a standard holiday.

This adventure was our first time taking our campervan to Europe, so preparing in the correct way was key! Our adventures will take us through Europe, the Balkans and Morocco. It will be our first time in most of these countries, so we need to be prepared for the unknown!

Preparing your Campervan for Europe for a Holiday

We had our campervan for approximately two years before starting this trip. During this time, we undertook the required servicing and maintenance (new brakes, etc.), which all formed part of the preparation of the campervan. You’ll likely be doing a lot of miles on your trip, so it is important to have your campervan as healthy as possible!

For a short trip to Europe (a usual holiday length), your campervan will likely be ready to go, with a few extra purchases including:

• Electric hook-up EU adapter
• Headlight deflectors
• High-visibility jackets
• Hazard warning triangle
• UK sticker
• Water tap adapter

A few documents I suggest you take on your trip (long or short) include:

• V5 (useful if you break down)
• Evidence of insurance that allows you to drive in Europe for the duration of your trip
• Driving licence
• Passport

How to Manage the Heat

On our trip, we are sticking to warmer areas and, as we have taken a dog, managing the temperature inside the van is very important. We took a few steps before the trip to help manage this:

• We chose to install 2 MaxxAir fans to replace the existing roof vents. The idea is to create airflow within the van, with one blowing air in and one extracting air out. This creates constant air circulation, which is great for keeping the van cool. I would highly recommend this strategy, as MaxxAir fans can run off your standard leisure battery (12 volts) and do not require an electric hook-up (like an air-conditioning unit requires). They have made a big difference for us and Reef.

• We invested in thermal window covers for the front windows. We previously had a curtain here, but as windows are a major contributor to heat loss or gain, we felt this was a worthwhile investment. They also double up as blackout covers for sleeping.

• We repurposed the front curtain for the side windows, to benefit from the double-lining, the orginal curtains were only single-lined. This helps keep more of the sun out.

• All of the side and rear windows on our van are tinted, which also supports heat management; we bought the van like this.

Before leaving the van, we ensure all curtains are closed, the van is parked to minimise direct sun on the large front window (ideally in shade where possible), we put up the thermal window covers and set the fans to circulate the air. With all of these measures in place, we have managed to keep the van at a manageable temperature, even during a heatwave.

What Type of Power Setup do we use?

We chose to upgrade our battery and solar setup (and everything that goes along with it) in advance of the trip. Our current setup means we can be fully off-grid from an electricity perspective. We upgraded our battery to a lithium-ion battery, installed two new solar panels and upgraded the MPPT controller and the DC-DC charger to Victron models. All of this means we effectively never need to hook up the electricity on a campsite unless we are in a particularly shady spot for several days.

Our van runs entirely on 12V when we are not hooked up to electricty on a campsite, we do not have an inverter at all as we just do not feel the need to use any appliances in our van that cannot be ran this way like a microwave, a coffee machine or an air fryer.

If you plan on avoiding campsites, you will need to make sure your electrical setup is sufficient for the journey. For example, if your setup relies on solar, you need to be confident you will get enough sunlight, if your setup relies on the DC-DC charger, make sure you will be doing enough driving.

Preparing your Campervan for Europe for a Longer Trip

What Type of Gas Arrangement is best?

For longer trips, you need to consider how you will refill your gas. Calor Gas is a very popular brand in the UK; however, it is not readily available in mainland Europe. We opted to install a refillable LPG gas bottle using a Gaslow kit. Refillable gas is considerably cheaper than the bottle-swap method (approximately €1 per litre in France in May 2026), so this has provided a worthwhile cost saving for a long trip.

At the time of writing (two months into the trip), we have found refilling the bottle easy. There are many LPG refilling stations at petrol stations (verified countries: France, Switzerland and Italy). LPG is called GPL in much of Europe, and there are apps like MyLPG.eu which show locations of fill-up points and their prices.

On average, we have been refilling the gas bottle approximately once every six weeks. We have an 11kg bottle, which holds around 27 litres. If you opt for a refillable option, you will need to purchase EU adapters for refilling.

Getting Prepared with your MOT and Service

Before venturing on a long trip, it is worth checking that your MOT will be valid for the full length of the trip, as your insurance is generally only valid with a current MOT.

If you are up to date with servicing, this may not apply. However, if you have not serviced your car or van in a while, this is a worthwhile step before a longer trip. You want to minimise the risk of breakdown while abroad.

Check your Insurance

If you are planning a longer trip, you will need to review your insurance. Most UK insurance companies will only cover you for a limited number of days abroad and may restrict coverage to certain countries. There are UK companies that will cover longer trips. You may need to purchase additional insurance while abroad for the countries you are visiting.

FAQs about preparing a campervan for a trip to Europe

I’m going on holiday to France for 1-2 weeks, will my van be suitable already?

Most likely, the answer is yes! If you have already been using your van in the UK, then Europe is not that much different. Make sure to buy an electric hook-up EU adapter, headlight deflectors, high-visibility jackets, a hazard warning triangle, a UK sticker and a water tap adapter for the country you are visiting, and fill up your gas bottle. Other than this, you’re likely ready! If you’re feeling unsure, book into some campsites so you have peace of mind.

How long did it take you to prepare your van for a longer trip?

It is hard to put an exact number on the time taken, we spent around 6-8 full weekends with help from my dad to do all of the modifications we wanted (some have not been listed in this article like changing the suspension). We needed help from family with certain elements, like electrical wiring. Jobs are never quick; don’t underestimate even small DIY jobs. Leave yourself plenty of time for any improvements you want to make before your trip. We were still finishing off the final changes to our gas bottle a few days before leaving, and that was stressful!

How have you managed the heat in Europe?

It is hot in summer, especially if you stay in areas at sea level. We installed 2 MaxxAir Fans and invested in thermal window covers; I’d highly recommend both! This strategy has worked remarkably well. Additionally, we always look for parking spots in the shade, or at a minimum, we park so the sun is not shining directly on the front window.

Final Thoughts on Preparing Your Van for Europe

We are deep into our 1-year trip around Europe, the Balkans and Morocco, and the work we put into preparing the campervan has been well worth it and made our trip more enjoyable. Spending some time upfront has meant we can have a more relaxed time away, which, for a longer trip, is particularly important. Don’t get me wrong, this hasn’t meant that we haven’t had to do any work whilst we are away. We didn’t get time to replace the brakes before we left, so this was a job that we had to do early in the trip.

I hope this article has been helpful to you and gives you some practical advice on how to prepare your campervan for the amazing adventures you’re planning! I am currently posting a weekly vlog following our road trip around Europe, the Balkans and Morocco. You can check it out here.

This blog is based on personal experience, so please ensure you carry out your own research.