Curiosity Drive

2025-03-01 10:34:24

German camper van checklists

Does the fabled “spontaneity” of access to a camper van mean you can simply drive off and hope for the best? Here we recap what you might wish to know about driving, owning, preparing and loading a German camper van in the context of using it to explore Europe. We’ve been refining our checklists as we plan more away missions for 2025.

Driving in Germany

General considerations include:

• Obtaining a German driving licence (you can only drive for up to six months on a foreign licence; neither a German test nor translation are required if you’re exchanging a UK licence; see also Federal advice here)
• Understanding local (and European) road signs and rules of the road, such as overtaking, priority, speed limits, etc.
• Awareness of low emission zones within Germany and in other countries you might be touring (we find the EU Green-Zones app helpful); foreign-registered vehicles also require the appropriate badges
• Arranging insurance (see table below).

Ownership task checklist

Various ownership tasks ensure your camper van remains roadworthy (in both a legal and safety sense) and in good shape for touring. Many of these routine tasks can be scheduled in a reminders app for action at regular intervals. For our Nugget these include the following:

Interval	Task	Notes
1 mo	House battery charging	Charge on shore power for at least 24h via 230V to regain full capacity, at least every 4 weeks to mitigate aging—or trickle-charge via solar if not feasible. Note that 12.8V = 100%; 12.5V = 75%; 12.2V = 50%; 12.0V = <25%.
1 mo	Drain fresh water	If there’s residual water in the fresh tank, drain it to ensure it doesn’t become stale or contaminated (during winter the tank may be kept empty).
1 mo	Run parking heater	If unused during the previous month, a 10-minute blast will check functionality and burn off any deposits.
2 mo	Tyre pressures and tread	A visual check despite having a TPMS; ensure a minimum tread depth of at least 4mm.
6mo	Wash and wax	Westfalia recommend a UV paint treatment to protect the GRP roof. It’s illegal to wash your vehicle on the street/ at home in Germany, so locate a commercial car wash without height restrictions. Consider a one-time application of anti-corrosion underbody grease.
April	Fit summer tyres	Fitted around Easter—unless all-season tyres are fitted.
October	Fit winter tyres	Obligatory for winter driving conditions, the swap is usually made “O bis O” or Oktober bis Ostern | October to Easter—unless all-season tyres are fitted.
November	Winterise	The first frost signals the time to drain any residual water from the boiler and the fresh water/ waste water/ toilet flush tanks; doing so prevents damage from burst pipes.
12 mo	Ensure breakdown cover	Renew annual roadside assistance insurance (optional).
12 mo	Ensure vehicle cover	Renew annual vehicle/ third-party liability insurance (obligatory); policy may include contents cover.
12 mo	Ensure vehicle taxed	Annual vehicle tax | Kraftfahrzeugsteuer may be taken by direct debit mandate.
12 mo	Replace SOG filter	The manufacturer recommends replacing the SOG system’s activated carbon filter annually; this may not be necessary.
24 mo	Vehicle servicing	The first Ford Transit Custom service is due at 40,000 km or after two years (or as advised by on-board computer).
24 mo	Vehicle inspection	An obligatory Hauptuntersuchung (HU) | general inspection by TÜV for roadworthiness is due initially after 3 years, then (for passenger cars and camper vans ⩽ 3,500kg alike) every 2 years.
24 mo	Gas safety certificate	An obligatory professional G 607 inspection checks the tightness and function of the gas system, resulting in a yellow certificate and tailgate compliance badge. NB. An LPG sticker for the gas locker isn’t required in Germany.
10 yrs	Gas parts replacement	The gas hose and pressure regulator should be checked regularly; both need replacement after 10 years.

Other maintenance tasks can be performed as needed. These include:

• Toilet cassette deep clean
• Grey water tank deep clean
• Fresh water tank deep clean
• Engine oil top-up
• LPG bottle swap (typically a Campingaz 907 bottle containing 2.75 kg butane, which costs around €85; some Nugget owners recommend the cheaper refillable 2.5 kg Gardinger bottle, but report the slightly raised regulator position means it may catch on the locker’s screw lid)
• General inspection of engine bay (e.g. washer fluid level, check for signs of rodent- or Marder | marten-related damage, etc.)
• Software/ firmware updates (in the case of our Nugget this applies to the infotainment operating system plus navigation maps, camper control panel, charging booster and solar charge controller).

Some tasks are not necessary or typical in Germany, compared to the motorhome ownership experience in the UK or NZ. These include:

• Pre-season habitation service (or as converter-stipulated warranty condition)
• Electrical safety inspection/ warrant of electrical fitness (WOEF)
• Functionality of smoke/ carbon monoxide detectors (as these are not mandatory, but may be retrofitted by some owners)
• Wheel alignment (unless there has been possible damage)
• Habitation battery check (since we have maintenance-free AGMs).

Preparatory checklists

Ahead of loading the van there are multiple things to check as you prepare for a journey. We can consider these under the categories of travel requirement, vehicle and habitation section readiness.

Travel requirement	Notes
Driving licence/ international permit	On a DE licence the IDP is not required in EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
Passport/ Ausweis/ entry visa	If any likelihood of border crossing
Paper proof of vehicle ownership	Take Fahrzeugschein | vehicle registration
Paper copies of any pre-purchased tickets	e.g. for ferry crossings
Paper proof of vehicle insurance cover	NB. countries/ duration of cover e.g. EU-wide; print IVK/ International Motor Insurance Card
Paper proof of travel insurance cover	NB. countries/ duration of cover
Paper proof of breakdown insurance cover	e.g. ADAC
Health insurance card (EHIC)	Take Krankenkasse card
Purchase beam deflectors	For travel to UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus
Purchase foreign emissions compliance	Country-specific badges may be required
Check other country-specific requirements	e.g. spare bulb kit, turn off speed camera warnings (if not automatic)

Vehicle readiness	Notes
Check tyre pressures	All-seasons: 400 kPa front + 475 kPa rear
Check tyre tread	ADAC advise 4+ mm for winter or all-season tyres (edge of €1 coin = 3 mm); 1.6 mm is legal min
Check tyre type	Change O bis O (Oktober bis Ostern), unless all-season fitted
Check vehicle lights	Check operation of indicators, etc.
Check washer fluid level	Add antifreeze in winter
Check AdBlue range	Fill to 24 L max
Check diesel range	Fill to 80 L max
✅ Vehicle owner’s manual	Or access PDF on phone
✅ Country sticker	“D” on registration plate
✅ Dash cam	Where allowed/ with risk assessment due to strict data protection laws
✅ Accident report form	In glovebox
✅ Rettungskarte | Rescue card	Behind driver’s sun visor
✅ Parking disk
✅ Road atlas
✅ Yellow jackets	x4 (incld. for any rear passengers)
✅ Warning triangle
✅ First aid kit
✅ Ice scraper	With integrated snow brush
✅ Repair kit/ inflator	In case of puncture
✅ Tool kits	For roadside fixes; incld. jack in passenger footwell
✅ Spare wheel
✅ Pen and paper

Habitation readiness	Notes
Habitation master switch on	Primarily to enable compressor fridge
Check house battery voltage	Expect 12.7+ V when not under load (AGM)
Cool the fridge	Turn on with lid closed/ ventilation off
Fill fresh water tank	Fill to 42 L max (or 10 L for travel)
Fill reserve water container
LPG supply	Sufficient? NB. No gauge
Side windows and roof vents	Fully close before driving
Water/ waste/ boiler drain taps	Close before filling/ driving (unless winter)
✅ Conversion owner’s manual	Or access via PDF on phone

Loading checklists

Firstly, a note about payload. Payload is the difference between the unladen weight of your van (in our case, around 3,000 kg) and the maximum legally permitted weight or gross vehicle mass/ GVM (in our case, 3,400 kg). Thus, we have about 400 kg of payload—but from this we must deduct the weight of the passenger(s) and of full tanks of various fluids (diesel at 0.832 kg/L, AdBlue at 1.09 kg/L, water at 1 kg/L). The remaining kilos correspond to our loading allowance.

Services	Notes
✅ 10 m power hook-up lead	European Standard CEE17
✅ 5 L water container	With integrated spout/ funnel
✅ 2-pin Euro adapter	Continental 2-pin to CEE17
Toilet chemicals	Not needed when SOG fitted
✅ Rubbish bin
Bin liners
✅ Nylon water hose	Food grade
✅ Single-flame gas cartridge stove	Back-up for main bottle (as no level gauge)
Gas cartridges

Garage kit	Notes
✅ Cab thermal covers
✅ Washing line & pegs
✅ Washing bowl	For dishes or clothes
✅ Folding chairs
✅ Camping table
✅ Levelling ramps
✅ Fairy lights
✅ Umbrella
✅ Shovel & brush
✅ Duct tape	Invaluable for running repairs!
✅ Windsock and pole
✅ Habitation floor mats
✅ Shower tent & hose
✅ Grey water bucket	Used in sink during winter to avoid using tank
Snow shovel	To keep heater exhaust snow-free in winter
Trowel	For emergency toilet
Hatchet	For firewood; for awning/ shower tent pegs

Tech kit	Notes
✅ 12v USB adapters
Binoculars
Camera
✅ MiFi router & antenna	Incorporates WiFi extender/ booster
Data SIM card/ eSIM	If roaming outside of EU
Head torch
Headphones
Watches/ phones/ tablet
Laptop	Incld. wireless mouse & backup SSD
Multitool knife/ other tools	e.g. Leatherman; set of small screwdrivers etc.
USB battery pack
Cables and power supplies
Portable power station & solar panel	EB3A (12Ah/ 600W LiFePO4) + PV200 (200W)

Kitchen kit
✅ Glasses with silicone lids	x2
✅ Melamine beakers	x3
✅ Thermal mugs	x2
✅ Melamine plates	x2
✅ Melamine bowls	x2
✅ Thermos
✅ Collapsible coffee filter
Filter papers
✅ Small chopping boards	x2
✅ Sharp knife
✅ Bread knife
✅ Bottle opener/ cork screw/ can opener	Use Leatherman!
✅ Storage containers
✅ Gas kettle
✅ Electric kettle
Dish cloth
✅ Dish washing liquid & brush
✅ Fly swat
✅ Hand wash/ multipurpose wash	Also serves as surface cleaner
✅ Kitchen roll
✅ Peeler
✅ Cutlery	x2 knife, fork, spoon, teaspoon
✅ Scissors
✅ Silicone spatula/ stirrer
✅ Powder fire extinguisher
✅ Saucepan w/ detachable handle
✅ RidgeMonkey Mk2 XL
✅ Omnia oven
Expresso maker
Tea towels	x2
Hand towels	x2
✅ Plastic bag clips
Compact scales
Grating set	With integrated fluid measure

Sleeping kit	Notes
✅ Cushions	x2
✅ Pillows	x2
Pillow cases	x2
✅ Mattress toppers	x2
✅ Sleeping bags	x2
Duvets	x2
Sheets	x2
✅ Blankets	x2
✅ Sheepskins	x2
Hot water bottles	x2

Bathroom kit	Notes
Medicines	e.g. antihistamine, ibuprofen, paracetamol, etc.
First aid kit	Incld. Compeed for blisters
Compeed
Travel sickness band
Hand sanitiser
Insect repellent
Shower block carry bag
Body wash
Shampoo
Deodorant
Hammam towels
Face cloth & towel
Nail care kit
Sewing kit
Sunscreen
Tissues
Toilet paper/ tissue
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Travel wash
Coins for showers/ toilets

Personal kit	Notes
Laundry bag
Day pack
Water bottle/ bladder
Underclothes
Van slippers/ Oofos
Fleece &/or down jacket
Jeans
Packing cubes
Pyjamas
Rain jacket
Shirts
Shoes/ sandals
Walking boots
Gaiters
Walking trousers
Winter walking trousers
Yaktrax
Bug nets
Rainproof over-trousers
Shorts
Slouch pants
Socks
Sports kit
Sun hat
Warm hat & gloves & scarf
Swimwear
Thermals
Reading glasses
Sunglasses

Basic groceries	Notes
Reusable bags for grocery shopping
Coffee	Filter & expresso
Tea	Black & herbal
Hot chocolate
Sweet chilli sauce
Milk/ UHT milk
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
Spices	Provence; Cinnamon; Sage
Stock powder	e.g. for soup
Long-life snacks
Extra bottled water	Fill collapsible carrier, hiking bottles
Butter
Bread
Sugar
Pasta & pesto	Emergency meal!

There and back checklists

Whew! Surely there are no more lists after all that? There are two more lists we apply less rigorously, containing considerations for fully utilising a pitch and for breaking camp and returning to base.

Booking and arrival	Notes
Water & power sources
Grey & black water disposal
Level areas
Check-out time
Bins & recycling
Laundry facility
Barrier code
Distance to toilets & door code/ key	Flush app may help if none on site
Shower cost/ coins accepted
Sun direction	Sun Surveyor Lite app may help expose solar panel
Tide times	Tide Guide app may help avoid pitch inundation
Views
Shelter	e.g. from wind; beware trees (birds, branches)
Walks	e.g. to local attractions, nearest shops/ pubs

Tear-down and return	Notes
Disconnect power supply
Turn off gas
Drain fresh & grey water
Empty & clean toilet cassette
Empty fridge & set to vent
Master switch to off
Clean fridge/ hob/ sink
Sweep/ vacuum
Close curtains/ blinds	In summer to keep heat out
Winterisation	Open drain boiler + fresh/ waste/ flush tanks

Download

If these checklists seem useful and could serve your own needs (with or without adaptation), feel free to download a printable version here.

#2025 #camperVan #europe #germany #nomad #roadTrip #travel #vanLife

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