I LOVE motorhoming in autumn.
The crowds disappear, campsites are quieter, the colors are stunning and there’s one thing moderately pretty about getting again to the motorhome after an extended stroll and curling up with a sizzling drink, or listening to the rain on the roof.
However…
Autumn motorhoming additionally means mud. Rain. Moist canines. Moist boots. Condensation. And the solar setting at some ridiculously early hour.
After years of travelling in a motorhome, I’ve discovered just a few bits of substances that make autumn touring MUCH simpler.
Particularly when touring with a spaniel who seems to view each muddy puddle as a private problem!
A few of these are issues I take advantage of on a regular basis. Others are intelligent little devices which remedy a really particular autumn vanlife downside.
So, when you’re planning to maintain touring because the climate will get wetter and colder, listed here are a few of the most helpful motorhome equipment for autumn.
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MUD, RAIN & WET DOGS
Let’s begin with the apparent downside.
Mud.
It doesn’t matter how fastidiously you select your pitch. Ultimately you’re going to reach at a campsite the place the grass is suspiciously soggy.
That is whenever you uncover simply how spectacularly terrible a motorhome could be on moist grass- and the way a lot mud can discover its manner inside!
Motorhome mud / traction mats
In case you’re touring throughout autumn or winter, I strongly advocate carrying some kind of mud or traction mat, like these
They’re designed to go beneath the driving wheels when you begin dropping grip on mud, moist grass, sand or snow.
Even in summer season, if I’ve to park on grass I’ll use these- and in autumn/ winter they’re a should.
Belief me, you’ll solely get caught as soon as earlier than realising simply how helpful they’re and by no means depart dwelling with out them once more!
A correct mat exterior the motorhome door
This sounds ridiculously easy, but it surely makes SUCH a distinction.
Put an honest rubber-backed or weatherproof mat instantly exterior your habitation door and wipe your footwear earlier than getting inside.
Search for one thing which is washable, non-slip and received’t maintain gallons of water. Personally, I take advantage of my awning mat, which works high-quality however itsn’t rubber backed. One thing like that is even higher.
A water-proof boot tray
One other very unglamorous buy which is surprisingly helpful.
As an alternative of muddy boots dripping all around the motorhome ground, chuck them onto a water-proof boot tray by the door.
It’s additionally helpful for moist canine leads, umbrellas and the rest you don’t notably need touching your upholstery.
Microfibre canine towels
In case you journey with a canine, you probably already know this ache. You may have the cleanest, driest canine on the earth…
…after which they discover ONE puddle.
Mac is a cocker spaniel, which implies he has a rare capability to soak up roughly 3 times his body weight in water and dirt.
Microfibre canine towels are sensible as a result of they’re absorbent, light-weight and dry a lot quicker than regular tub towels.
I hold one simply accessible so I can seize it BEFORE Mac will get inside and shakes himself enthusiastically over every little thing I personal.
Canine drying bag
Even higher, notably after a correctly moist stroll, is a canine drying bag
Rub off the worst of the water, put them within the bag and let it take in the remainder for a few minutes. They arrive out fluffy and clear. It’s significantly magical!
It’s notably helpful in a motorhome since you don’t have limitless area to hold moist towels in every single place.
Mud Daddy / moveable canine washer
That is a type of merchandise which makes SO a lot sense when you journey with a canine.
A conveyable canine washer helps you to rinse mud off paws and underbellies earlier than the canine comes inside. And regardless of the identify, it’s not simply helpful for canines.
You should use it for muddy boots, bikes and different out of doors gear too.
A Dryrobe or outsized waterproof altering gown
Not for the canine.
For YOU.
As a result of in some unspecified time in the future you’re going to need to go exterior at 9pm when it’s darkish, raining closely and blowing a gale. For me, it’s both to stroll the canine or verify the gasoline bottle.
Having the ability to throw an enormous waterproof gown over no matter you’re sporting makes that significantly much less depressing. They’re additionally good for going to/from the showers.
DRYING ALL THE WET STUFF
The issue with motorhomes isn’t actually getting moist.
It’s having nowhere to PUT all of the moist stuff afterwards.
Instantly there are coats hanging from each out there floor, damp footwear by the door and socks draped someplace they completely shouldn’t be.
Further coat hooks
Further hooks are one of many easiest upgrades you may make.
Put them someplace wise close to the door or within the lavatory so moist jackets even have someplace to hold.
Simply be sure that no matter you purchase is appropriate on your motorhome partitions and don’t overload adhesive hooks with heavy moist coats.
Electrical boot/shoe dryer
THIS is one in all my favorite concepts on this listing.
There’s nothing nice about placing chilly, damp strolling boots again on the following morning.
Small electrical shoe dryers blow heat air into boots and footwear and will help get them dry in a single day.
Simply verify the facility necessities when you intend to make use of one whilst you’re off-grid.
Retractable washing line or hanging peg dryer
Not glamorous.
Very helpful.
A retractable line provides you someplace to hold moist garments, whereas a type of small hanging dryers with a lot of pegs is sensible for socks, gloves and different small issues.
Simply keep in mind that drying a lot of moist garments INSIDE the motorhome will add moisture to the air, which brings us neatly onto…
CONDENSATION
Ah, condensation.
The glamorous facet of motorhome life no one places on Instagram.
You get up after a chilly night time, pull again the blinds and uncover you could possibly most likely fill a small swimming pool with the water on the windscreen.
Kärcher Window Vac
I LOVE my Kärcher Window Vac.
Actually, that is a type of issues I purchased and questioned why I hadn’t performed it sooner.
As an alternative of wiping condensation across the windscreen with towels, you simply vacuum the water up.
It’s fast, straightforward and significantly much less messy.
In case you usually use your motorhome throughout autumn and winter, this is among the first issues I’d advocate.
Exterior thermal windscreen cowl
An honest thermal display screen could make an infinite distinction throughout colder climate.
It helps insulate that massive expanse of glass on the entrance of the motorhome, serving to hold the van hotter and lowering condensation on the within of the windscreen.
Exterior screens typically work higher for insulation than inner ones, though clearly they’re barely extra faff to placed on and take off.
IMPORTANT: Ensure you purchase a display screen designed on your particular cab/mannequin.
Moisture traps
These could be helpful in cabinets, wardrobes and storage areas the place air circulation isn’t sensible.
Nevertheless, they’re NOT an answer for a humid motorhome.
In case you’ve received persistent damp or enormous quantities of condensation, it is advisable to have a look at air flow, heating and whether or not there’s an underlying leak.
Hygrometer
That is one other cheap little gadget I believe is admittedly helpful.
A hygrometer tells you the humidity degree inside your motorhome.
Meaning you’ll be able to really SEE when moisture ranges are getting excessive and open a vent/window or improve the heating moderately than ready till your home windows are dripping.
Many additionally present the temperature, which is helpful whenever you’re attempting to work out why you’re freezing regardless of having apparently turned the heating on.
KEEPING WARM & COSY
I don’t thoughts chilly climate.
I do thoughts being chilly INSIDE.
There’s completely no prize for sitting in a motorhome shivering since you’re decided to not put the heating on.
Correct thick bedding
One of many best autumn upgrades is respectable bedding.
Swap the light-weight summer season quilt for one thing hotter and add a thick blanket or throw.
It sounds apparent, however there’s an enormous distinction between waking up cosy and waking up at 3am questioning whether or not your nostril goes to fall off.
Heated blanket or heated throw
I LOVE this concept for motorhome evenings.
As an alternative of heating all the motorhome simply since you’re sitting nonetheless watching TV or working, a heated throw provides you heat precisely the place you want it.
There are mains, 12V and USB-powered variations out there.
IMPORTANT: Examine the facility consumption and voltage earlier than shopping for, notably if you wish to use it off-grid.
Rug for the ground
Probably the greatest issues you are able to do in autumn/winter is put one thing else down on the ground in your motorhome/campervan.
The flooring get so chilly and being slightly faraway from that makes every little thing really feel a lot hotter. Slippers work, however so does one thing like this.
DARK AUTUMN EVENINGS
One of many greatest adjustments when autumn arrives is how shortly the evenings disappear.
In summer season, you’ll be able to arrive someplace at 7pm and nonetheless have hours of daylight.
In autumn, you arrive at 7pm and it feels just like the midnight.
Rechargeable torch
Each motorhome ought to have an honest torch.
Ideally someplace you’ll be able to really FIND it whenever you want it.
Search for one thing rechargeable (USB-C is helpful), fairly highly effective and weather-resistant.
Rechargeable head torch
I really assume a head torch could be much more helpful than a traditional torch.
Strolling the canine.
Connecting the electrical.
Emptying the bathroom.
Filling the water.
Making an attempt to work out what on earth that noise is exterior.
You’ve gotten gentle AND each fingers free.
Win.
Magnetic rechargeable work gentle
One other intelligent little gadget.
A magnetic rechargeable work gentle could be caught inside a storage, locker or underneath the bonnet whilst you’re attempting to repair/discover one thing.
A lot simpler than holding a torch between your tooth.
Rechargeable motion-sensor lights
These little LED lights are sensible for darkish cabinets, wardrobes, garages and lockers.
Many are magnetic or adhesive, rechargeable through USB and robotically swap on whenever you open the door.
They’re low cost, straightforward to suit and a type of tiny upgrades which makes motorhome life surprisingly simpler.
AUTUMN OFF-GRID ESSENTIALS
In case you’re touring later within the 12 months, energy turns into extra vital.
Photo voltaic panels aren’t producing as a lot as they did in June, you’re spending longer inside and also you’re most likely utilizing extra lights, devices and heating-related tools.
EcoFlow moveable energy station
That is clearly a a lot larger funding than a £15 torch.
However when you spend lots of time off-grid, a transportable energy station could be extremely helpful.
Relying on the mannequin, an EcoFlow can cost telephones, laptops, cameras and different units, and bigger fashions can energy some mains home equipment.
I wouldn’t say all people wants one.
In case you principally keep on campsites with electrical hook-up, you most likely don’t.
However when you get pleasure from wild parking or spending a number of days away from EHU, it’s undoubtedly price taking a look at.
IMPORTANT: Work out what you really wish to energy BEFORE selecting a mannequin. Battery capability and most output fluctuate enormously.
Energy financial institution
On the different finish of the value scale, an honest energy financial institution is all the time helpful.
I take advantage of my cellphone continuously when travelling for navigation, photographs, work and discovering locations to cease.
A conveyable battery means I can cost it with out worrying about working the motorhome electrics unnecessarily.
Multi-USB / USB-C charger
As a result of one way or the other one individual travelling in a motorhome finally ends up with roughly 47 issues which want charging.
Cellphone.
Watch.
Digital camera.
Energy financial institution.
Headtorch.
Canine tracker.
Laptop computer.
An honest multi-port charger cuts down the variety of plugs and adapters you want.
A FEW MORE THINGS I LOVE FOR AUTUMN MOTORHOMING
And since apparently I can’t cease at 25…
Small cordless vacuum
Mud.
Leaves.
Grit.
Canine hair.
Crumbs.
Autumn is MESSY.
A small rechargeable handheld vacuum is sensible for doing a fast clear with out getting the principle motorhome vacuum out — assuming you even carry one.
Collapsible bucket
Helpful for cleansing muddy boots, rinsing tools, washing the canine and 100 different jobs.
And since it collapses flat, it doesn’t take up helpful space for storing.
Waterproof-backed runner
In case you’ve received a very high-traffic space inside your motorhome, a washable waterproof-backed runner will help defend the ground throughout moist climate.
Particularly helpful when you journey with canines.
Rechargeable hand heaters
These are a beautiful little luxurious for chilly morning walks or evenings exterior.
Many double as an influence financial institution too, which makes them barely simpler to justify!
Waterproof canine/seat cowl
As a result of regardless of the canine towels, drying gown, Mud Daddy and mat…
Mac will STILL one way or the other discover a solution to be moist.
A washable waterproof cowl protects the seats/couch/mattress from muddy paws and damp fur and might merely be thrown within the wash afterwards.
What do you REALLY want for autumn motorhoming?
You undoubtedly don’t have to rush out and purchase every little thing on this listing.
In reality, please don’t.
The perfect motorhome equipment are those which remedy an issue you even have.
But when I have been placing collectively an autumn motorhome package from scratch, my priorities could be:
- One thing to assist me get unstuck — traction mats
- One thing to cease the mud getting inside — an honest door mat
- One thing to cope with the canine — microfibre towels/drying gown
- One thing to cope with condensation — Kärcher Window Vac + thermal display screen
- One thing to dry moist gear — boot dryer + someplace to hold coats
- One thing to maintain me heat — correct bedding + heated throw
- One thing to assist at the hours of darkness — a chargeable headtorch
- And, if I used to be spending a lot of time off-grid — an honest moveable energy station
Autumn is definitely one in all my favorite occasions of 12 months to journey in a motorhome.
Sure, it’s wetter.
Sure, it’s colder.
And sure, when you journey with a spaniel you’ll spend an unreasonable share of your life cleansing mud off issues.
However you additionally get quieter roads, fewer crowds, beautiful autumn colors and a few unbelievable locations nearly solely to your self.
And with the proper gear onboard, a wet autumn night tucked up inside your motorhome can really be fairly pretty.
Even with a soggy spaniel.
Final replace on 2026-09-14 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photos from Amazon Product Promoting API