Here is my list of the top 10 roadtrip accessories I have used while travelling and living fulltime in my van. Hearing horror stories of older vans breaking down with huge costs to fix it made finding a newer van my prioity when starting my vanlife travel journey. Not being mechancially inclined I felt having a van with potentially less maintainence was truly my best choice.
In 2021 I purchased a 2020 Promaster, the newest van I could afford. I haven’t had any major breakdowns which I attribute to the newer van and I am religious about doing regular maintainence. Regular engine oil changes and checkups at local dealerships along my roadtrips is always planned.
I have had a few minor mishaps. A nail in my tire along the Texas beaches and a gift of a screw in another tire while travelling through Slab City. My brake fluid became low driving up and down the many hills and valleys in Death Valley. Both I managed with not too much stress and I didn’t even have to call my roadside assist. My number one tip as a vanlife traveller is to have some kind of vehicle assist for major problems.
