(Mostly dog) stuff we use every day living in our van

(Or at least every other day, because sometimes routines get weird. First published in January 2024 and last tweaked in July.)

Here are the small handful of belongings I think we could not thrive without in our converted camper van!

For a more comprehensive list of what we packed for our dog Scout when we hit the road — including things we keep on hand but don’t necessarily rely on day in & day out — check out this article from when we first moved into Hermes.

Dog-specific things

• Travel crate
  Scout rides in her secure kennel whenever we’re driving, the same way Sean and I always wear our seatbelts. More on our crate selection process here!

• Non-slip water bowl
  We recently got this Wilderdog stainless steel bowl. It has a rubber ring on the bottom to prevent it from sliding around, so we don’t have to pick it up every time we’re about to hit the road. Sean and I are both obsessed.

• Airtight food storage
  Both to keep freshness in… and dog-food smells out of the rest of our house. We store Scout’s kibble in its original bag inside a basic, plastic airtight bin.

• Tailgate poop bag dumpster
  Storing Scout’s poop inside my house doesn’t sound great to me. But we don’t always have access to garbage cans, especially if we’re out on public land. This Kurgo dumpster has held up well after we reinforced it with a stronger magnet!

• Slip lead
  Ideal for quick bathroom breaks. Scout’s usually naked inside the van, so a slip lead enables us to quickly leash her up to potty without fumbling for collar clasps.

• Medicine
  Scout’s on a twice-daily anticonvulsant for idiopathic epilepsy, so naturally we need to keep that on hand at all times.

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Cleaning supplies

• Small handheld broom
  Because between the three of us, we track a lot of dirt inside. Our door mat is no match for it.

• Extra towel
  The best tip the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy ever taught me (iykyk)! A “bonus” towel to wipe up everything from muddy paw prints to spilled coffee. We love ours from Nomadix, probably in part because their tagline is “own less do more” (perfect message, clearly).

• Vinegar, water, and lavender mixture
  We store this in an old spray bottle and use it as needed, especially on the surface of our composting toilet. It’s safe to use in a tiny space and smells pretty darn good thanks to the lavender essential oil!

I’ve compiled more of our favorite van cleaning supplies (including the ones we use less often) in this other article.

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Van gear

• Window covers
  Okay, if we’re out on public land where it’s dark and the weather is warm overnight, we won’t put these on. All other times? Our window covers from Van Essentials and Vanmade Gear make deep sleep possible.

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Miscellaneous

• Slip-on shoes
  The equivalent of a slip lead for humans. Anything to make Scout’s bathroom breaks quick and easy!

• Basic human toiletries
  Hopefully goes without saying. (Although as of this spring, I’ve pretty much cut out all shampoo, so my list of supplies here keeps dwindling.)