Top-10 RV emergency items

We don’t plan to deal with emergencies when we travel with our RV or go on holiday, do we? But perhaps we should...

These are for the things that we don’t expect to go wrong, but sometimes do...

First aid kit

This is a logical thing to carry, as insect bites, scratches and worse are an unwelcome part of travel, and you sometimes need some first aid attention to get you by until you can get to a medical professional.

You can buy then at any chemist, motorists’ service like the NRMA, RACV or RACQ (I even saw a St Johns first aid kit at Aldi the other day for $20!) but you also need to check them annually to ensure that ointments are still within their user-by dates.

Add some painkillers like Panadol too, and ointment or tablets like Voltaren for sore joints, as well as a pack of Band-Aids.

An emergency beacon

What if you're bitten by a snake or a rabid dingo on the Tanami Track? Or if your caravan’s A-frame breaks, a tyre blows out and you have no spare?

If you have a phone signal you can make can emergency call or signal that you are in trouble, but it's also a good idea to carry a SPOT emergency beacon that can send an emergency signal with your GPS location to Police or State emergency services.

Will you ever need to use it? Probably not, but you'll feel better carrying it and the annual subscription buys a lot of peace of mind.

Of course a two-way radio, or even better a Sat Phone provides the ultimate peace of mind, but unless you plan to spend a lot of time off the phone grid, or have a business that needs your constant attention, it’s an expense that many can’t justify.

A torch with new batteries

You can use your mobile phone’s 'torch', but a proper torch is much better and lasts longer.

Best carry two torches in case one fails. They're not expensive (unless you opt for a fancy head torch or one of those military-style batons that light up the Milky Way!), and you can buy them at most supermarkets.

A compass

When was the last time you used one? Probably some time, but if you get lost on a walk you may need a basic unpowered compass to get back to a major road to reconnect to your van. Your phone should have an App for one, or if not, buy one online.

Matches

Sounds basic – yes – but when have you tried to light a fire by rubbing sticks together? Carry at least two boxes – one in the van and one in your day pack - as they always seem to disappear when you need them most...

Waterproof vinyl sheet

You can buy these relatively cheaply at hardware stores and they fold up to nothing, but they keep the rain off and shelter you when you need to keep warm. Leave one in your day pack.

A portable radio

If you have a battery-powered portable radio you can keep abreast with impending flood or cyclone warnings. Download the ABC app on you phone or buy a cheap AM radio with a good antenna in case your tow car battery goes flat.

Spare keys

Carry spare keys in both your car and caravan, but also store them outside both vehicles in a hidden place clear of water that can easily be reached.

Inflated spare tyre

Carrying a spare tyre for your tow car or RV is a no brainer. But make sure it’s inflated before you go.

Tyre pressure gauge and pump

Carry a tyre pressure gauge to ensure you can drop your tyre pressures when you encounter unmade roads and sand, and an electronic air pump to reinflate them afterwards.