30 Insanely Useful Accessories for Autumn Motorhome trips

I LOVE motorhoming in autumn.

The crowds disappear, campsites are quieter, the colours are beautiful and there’s something rather lovely about getting back to the motorhome after a long walk and curling up with a hot drink, or listening to the rain on the roof.

But…

Autumn motorhoming also means mud. Rain. Wet dogs. Wet boots. Condensation. And the sun setting at some ridiculously early hour.

And, if you travel with a spaniel, you’ll spend an unreasonable percentage of your life cleaning mud off things.

After years of travelling in a motorhome, I’ve found a few bits of gear that make autumn touring MUCH easier.

Some of these are things I use all the time. Others are clever little gadgets which solve a very specific autumn vanlife problem.

So, if you’re planning to keep touring as the weather gets wetter and colder, here are some of the most useful motorhome accessories for autumn.

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MUD, RAIN & WET DOGS

Let’s start with the obvious problem.

Mud.

It doesn’t matter how carefully you choose your pitch. Sooner or later you’re going to arrive at a campsite where the grass is suspiciously soggy.

This is when you discover just how spectacularly awful a motorhome can be on wet grass- and how much mud can find its way inside!

Motorhome mud / traction mats

If you’re touring during autumn or winter, I strongly recommend carrying some sort of mud or traction mat, like these

They’re designed to go underneath the driving wheels if you start losing grip on mud, wet grass, sand or snow.

Even in summer, if I have to park on grass I’ll use these- and in autumn/ winter they’re a must.

Trust me, you’ll only get stuck once before realising just how useful they are and never leave home without them again!

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A proper mat outside the motorhome door

This sounds ridiculously simple, but it makes SUCH a difference.

Put a decent rubber-backed or weatherproof mat immediately outside your habitation door and wipe your shoes before getting inside.

Look for something which is washable, non-slip and won’t hold gallons of water. Personally, I use my awning mat, which works fine but itsn’t rubber backed. Something like this is even better.

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A waterproof boot tray

Another very unglamorous purchase which is surprisingly useful.

Instead of muddy boots dripping all over the motorhome floor, chuck them onto a waterproof boot tray by the door.

It’s also useful for wet dog leads, umbrellas and anything else you don’t particularly want touching your upholstery.

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Microfibre dog towels

If you travel with a dog, you likely already know this pain. You can have the cleanest, driest dog in the world…

…and then they find ONE puddle.

Mac is a cocker spaniel, which means he has an extraordinary ability to absorb approximately three times his bodyweight in water and mud.

Microfibre dog towels are brilliant because they’re absorbent, lightweight and dry much faster than normal bath towels. They also seem to smell less like ‘wet dog’, which is nice.

I keep one easily accessible so I can grab it BEFORE Mac gets inside and shakes himself enthusiastically over everything I own.

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Dog drying bag

Even better, particularly after a properly wet walk, is a dog drying bag

Rub off the worst of the water, put them in the bag and let it absorb the rest for a couple of minutes. They come out fluffy and clean. It’s seriously magical!

It’s particularly useful in a motorhome because you don’t have endless space to hang wet towels everywhere.

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Mud Daddy / portable dog washer

This is one of those products which makes SO much sense if you travel with a dog.

A portable dog washer lets you rinse mud off paws and underbellies before the dog comes inside. And despite the name, it’s not just useful for dogs.

You can use it for muddy boots, bikes and other outdoor gear too.

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A Dryrobe or oversized waterproof changing robe

Not for the dog.

For YOU.

Because at some point you’re going to have to go outside at 9pm when it’s dark, raining heavily and blowing a gale. For me, it’s either to walk the dog or check the gas bottle.

Being able to throw a huge waterproof robe over whatever you’re wearing makes that considerably less miserable. They’re also good for going to/from the showers.

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DRYING ALL THE WET STUFF

The problem with motorhomes isn’t really getting wet.

It’s having nowhere to PUT all the wet stuff afterwards.

Suddenly there are coats hanging from every available surface, damp shoes by the door and socks draped somewhere they absolutely shouldn’t be.

Extra coat hooks

S hooks are one of the simplest upgrades you can make.

Put them somewhere sensible near the door or in the bathroom so wet jackets actually have somewhere to hang.

Just make sure whatever you buy is suitable for your motorhome walls and don’t overload adhesive hooks with heavy wet coats.

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Electric boot/shoe dryer

THIS is one of my favourite new purchases.

There is nothing pleasant about putting cold, damp trainers or walking boots back on the next morning.

Small electric shoe dryers blow warm air into boots and shoes and can help get them dry overnight.

Just check the power requirements if you intend to use one while you’re off-grid- I run mine off my Ecoflow.

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Retractable washing line or hanging peg dryer

Not glamorous.

Very useful.

A retractable line gives you somewhere to hang wet clothes, while one of those small hanging dryers with lots of pegs is brilliant for socks, gloves and other small things.

Just remember that drying lots of wet clothes INSIDE the motorhome will add moisture to the air, which brings us neatly onto…

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CONDENSATION

Ah, condensation.

The glamorous side of motorhome life nobody puts on Instagram.

You wake up after a cold night, pull back the blinds and discover you could probably fill a small swimming pool with the water on the windscreen.

Even worse, some motorhomes have really badly designed cabs, so all that moisture runs

Kärcher Window Vac

I LOVE my Kärcher Window Vac.

Honestly, this is one of those things I bought and wondered why I hadn’t done it sooner.

Instead of wiping condensation around the windscreen with towels, you just vacuum the water up.

It’s quick, easy and considerably less messy.

If you regularly use your motorhome during autumn and winter, this is one of the first things I’d recommend.

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External thermal windscreen cover

A decent thermal screen can make an enormous difference during colder weather.

It helps insulate that huge expanse of glass at the front of the motorhome, helping keep the van warmer and reducing condensation on the inside of the windscreen.

External screens generally work better for insulation than internal ones, although obviously they’re slightly more faff to put on and take off.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you buy a screen designed for your specific cab/model.

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Moisture traps

These can be useful in cupboards, wardrobes and storage spaces where air circulation isn’t brilliant.

However, they are NOT a solution for a damp motorhome.

If you’ve got persistent damp or huge amounts of condensation, you need to look at ventilation, heating and whether there’s an underlying leak.

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Hygrometer

This is another inexpensive little gadget I think is really useful.

A hygrometer tells you the humidity level inside your motorhome.

That means you can actually SEE when moisture levels are getting high and open a vent/window or increase the heating rather than waiting until your windows are dripping.

Many also show the temperature, which is useful when you’re trying to work out why you’re freezing despite having apparently turned the heating on.

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KEEPING WARM & COSY

I don’t mind cold weather.

I do mind being cold INSIDE.

There is absolutely no prize for sitting in a motorhome shivering because you’re determined not to put the heating on.

Proper thick bedding

One of the easiest autumn upgrades is decent bedding.

Swap the lightweight summer duvet for something warmer and add a thick blanket or throw.

It sounds obvious, but there’s a huge difference between waking up cosy and waking up at 3am wondering whether your nose is going to fall off.

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Heated blanket or heated throw

I LOVE this idea for motorhome evenings.

Instead of heating the entire motorhome just because you’re sitting still watching TV or working, a heated throw gives you warmth exactly where you need it.

There are mains, 12V and USB-powered versions available.

IMPORTANT: Check the power consumption and voltage before buying, particularly if you want to use it off-grid.

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Rug for the floor

One of the best things you can do in autumn/winter is put something else down on the floor in your motorhome/campervan.

The floors get so chilly and being a little removed from that makes everything feel much warmer. Slippers work, but so does something like this.

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DARK AUTUMN EVENINGS

One of the biggest changes when autumn arrives is how quickly the evenings disappear.

In summer, you can arrive somewhere at 7pm and still have hours of daylight.

In autumn, you arrive at 7pm and it feels like the middle of the night.

Rechargeable torch

Every motorhome should have a decent torch.

Preferably somewhere you can actually FIND it when you need it.

Look for something rechargeable (USB-C is useful), reasonably powerful and weather-resistant.

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Rechargeable head torch

I actually think a head torch can be even more useful than a normal torch.

Walking the dog.

Connecting the electric.

Emptying the toilet.

Filling the water.

Trying to work out what on earth that noise is outside.

You have light AND both hands free.

Win.

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Magnetic rechargeable work light

Another clever little gadget.

A magnetic rechargeable work light can be stuck inside a garage, locker or under the bonnet while you’re trying to fix/find something.

Much easier than holding a torch between your teeth.

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Rechargeable motion-sensor lights

These little LED lights are brilliant for dark cupboards, wardrobes, garages and lockers.

Many are magnetic or adhesive, rechargeable via USB and automatically switch on when you open the door.

They’re cheap, easy to fit and one of those tiny upgrades which makes motorhome life surprisingly easier.

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AUTUMN OFF-GRID ESSENTIALS

If you’re touring later in the year, power becomes more important.

Solar panels aren’t producing as much as they did in June, you’re spending longer inside and you’re probably using more lights, gadgets and heating-related equipment.

EcoFlow portable power station

This is obviously a much bigger investment than a £15 torch.

But if you spend a lot of time off-grid, a portable power station can be incredibly useful.

Depending on the model, an EcoFlow can charge phones, laptops, cameras and other devices, and larger models can power some mains appliances.

I wouldn’t say everybody needs one.

If you mostly stay on campsites with electric hook-up, you probably don’t.

But if you enjoy wild parking or spending several days away from EHU, it’s definitely worth looking at.

IMPORTANT: Work out what you actually want to power BEFORE choosing a model. Battery capacity and maximum output vary enormously.

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Power bank

At the other end of the price scale, a decent power bank is always useful.

I use my phone constantly when travelling for navigation, photos, work and finding places to stop.

A portable battery means I can charge it without worrying about running the motorhome electrics unnecessarily.

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Multi-USB / USB-C charger

Because somehow one person travelling in a motorhome ends up with approximately 47 things which need charging.

Phone.

Watch.

Camera.

Power bank.

Headtorch.

Dog tracker.

Laptop.

A decent multi-port charger cuts down the number of plugs and adapters you need.

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A FEW MORE THINGS I LOVE FOR AUTUMN MOTORHOMING

And because apparently I can’t stop at 25…

Small cordless vacuum

Mud.

Leaves.

Grit.

Dog hair.

Crumbs.

Autumn is MESSY.

A Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum is brilliant for doing a quick clean without getting the main motorhome vacuum out — assuming you even carry one.

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Collapsible bucket

Useful for cleaning muddy boots, rinsing equipment, washing the dog and a hundred other jobs.

And because it collapses flat, it doesn’t take up valuable storage space.

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Waterproof-backed runner

If you’ve got a particularly high-traffic area inside your motorhome, a washable waterproof-backed runner can help protect the floor during wet weather.

Especially useful if you travel with dogs.

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Rechargeable hand warmers

These are a lovely little luxury for cold morning walks or evenings outside.

Many double as a power bank too, which makes them slightly easier to justify!

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Waterproof dog/seat cover

Because despite the dog towels, drying robe, Mud Daddy and mat…

Mac will STILL somehow find a way to be wet.

A washable waterproof cover protects the seats/sofa/bed from muddy paws and damp fur and can simply be thrown in the wash afterwards.

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Rechargeable hair dryer

A rechargeable hair dryer sounds like overkill until you’re relying on a dodgy (or non-existent) hookup and still want to wash your hair.

It runs off its own battery rather than the motorhome’s power, so no damp hair and freezing mornings when you’re off-grid.

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WHAT TO WEAR (AND HOW TO DECORATE) FOR AUTUMN

Autumn touring isn’t just about the van- it’s about staying comfy (and maybe a little festive) wherever you go. Here’s what’s in my kit bag and on my door this time of year:

Thermal hiking trousers

Not glamorous but essential. I live in these once the temperature drops- and they dry so much quicker than jeans.

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Fleece lined clogs

Also not glamorous but these are so comfy to throw on for a shower or a quick dog walk. And they don’t mind being muddy/ cleaned.

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Flickering camping lanterns

These are brilliant for evenings outside and look so pretty.

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Pumpkin string lights

I adore these lights– perfect for an easy Halloween feel to your campervan. (And battery powered, so no need to charge!)

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Autumn wreath

Want to spruce up (pun intended!) your door? This Autumn wreath is perfect (just don’t drive with it on the outside!)

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MORE WAYS TO STAY WARM

If you couldn’t tell already, I take staying warm VERY seriously. Here are a few more bits that keep me toasty on chilly autumn nights:

12V heater

Ideal for taking the chill off first thing in the morning. I use this a lot when I don’t want to use the heating.

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Electric heated blanket

I ADORE my electric blanket. Whilst touring Germany, Austria and Italy last Autumn, I used it every single night. Yes, even up in the mountains (powered by the Ecoflow). Mac is also a fan…

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Heated fleece throw

If you prefer a throw you can use for outside (or have both!) this one is heated and makes sitting outside so cosy. Again, run it off an Ecoflow so you can sit out with it.

I hope that helps make your Autumn and Winter motorhoming just a little bit easier. I’d love to know where you’re heading- feel free to find me on Instagram or Facebook and let me know. 🧡

Last update on 2026-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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