What to Buy and Pack for a Caravan Tour
A caravan tour needs more than food for the road. You also need clear route materials, visible convoy identification, reliable communication and enough equipment for the start area and stops. This checklist covers the practical items behind registration, catering, route guidance and safety. Use the participant count to scale food, drinks, cups and printed materials, then pack a small reserve for late changes or damaged supplies.
The full checklist for this plan is being updated. The tips and answers below still apply.
Tips
- Plan around two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add water for the remaining route and stops. Bring extra water in jerry cans, especially if a stop has no reliable tap.
- Prepare two sets of route maps and participant numbers: one working set for registration and one spare set for lost, wet or damaged copies. Pack them in labelled piles before loading the vehicle.
- Allow one reusable cup, plate and cutlery set per person, plus at least 10% extra. Wash fruit and vegetables in advance and keep prepared food in covered serving dishes or coolers.
- Give the convoy clear visibility with safety vests, warning triangles and directional signs. Keep the first aid kits and warning equipment in the organisation vehicle rather than buried under catering supplies.
- Charge the portable speaker, megaphone, power banks and car chargers the day before departure. Test the speaker and check the organisation vehicle before the tables, tents and supplies are loaded.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food and drink do I need for a caravan tour?
- Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add water for the rest of the route. For food, plan at least one substantial serving per participant, with around 10% extra for late registrations or larger portions.
- How many cups, plates and cutlery sets should I buy?
- Prepare one complete reusable place setting per participant and add 10% spare. For 40 people, that means 44 cups, 44 plates and 44 cutlery sets.
- When should I prepare the route maps and bib numbers?
- Print and sort them at least one day before the tour. Keep a spare set and place the maps, numbers, clipboards and pens together at the registration table before participants arrive.
- What safety equipment do I need in the caravan tour vehicle?
- Carry at least one first aid kit, warning triangles and safety vests in the organisation vehicle, with the equipment easy to reach. Check these items before loading and again immediately before departure.