Owning a Mars caravan should feel like freedom, not hard work. These 20 simple hacks and tips are based on real-world use and are designed to make your setup, pack-down and everyday life on the road a whole lot easier.
Keep levelling blocks, chocks, hose fittings and your power lead in one easily accessible tub near the door or front locker. That tub comes out first when you arrive and goes in last when you leave, so you’re not digging through half the van to find a chock.
Once you’re set up and happy with how the van sits, take a quick photo of the setup from the side. Next time you’re levelling or positioning the van, you can refer to that photo to copy what “right” looks like.
Use a small strip of low-tack painter’s tape near the door with big text like “LEGS UP? ANTENNA DOWN? AWNING IN?”. Peel it off once you’ve checked everything – cheap, easy peace of mind.
Store heavy tubs, tools and water as close as you can to the axle line and low to the floor. It helps stability, keeps tow ball weight under control and generally makes the van tow better.
Think in two modes:
When it’s time to move, you just switch back from camp mode to travel mode – no guesswork about what has to be packed away.
Use coloured tubs or colour labels to make life easier. For example:
Everyone in the family quickly learns where things live and can find gear without asking.
Stick a small label near your power control panel listing the big power users: air conditioner, microwave, kettle, toaster etc. It’s a simple reminder not to run everything at once on limited power.
Use low-draw LED strips or small lamps for night-time lighting. They use hardly any power and mean you’re not blasting bright ceiling lights every time someone gets up during the night.
Pick one spot inside as the charging zone and put a multi-USB charger there. It keeps cables tidy, devices away from wet areas and makes it obvious where phones and tablets should be parked.
Use one tub for washing and one tub for rinsing. It saves water, keeps the sink clearer and makes it easier to tip grey water out where allowed instead of filling the sink.
Keep plates, bowls, cutlery, mugs and your basic spices in one easy-access drawer or cupboard close to the door. It speeds up roadside coffee stops and simple meals without unpacking half the kitchen.
Keep a small squeegee in the shower and run it over the walls, floor and screen after each use. It helps water drain away faster and reduces mould and soap scum build-up.
Use overhead cupboards for light, soft items like clothes and linen, and keep heavy items down low in floor cupboards or under the bed. It’s better for stability and makes doors less likely to dump weight onto you when opened.
Use simple over-door hooks on the bathroom or bedroom doors to hang jackets, towels and hats. No drilling, no permanent changes – and you can remove them when not needed.
Use Velcro strips or removable hooks for light items like remotes, torches, keys and small organisers. It keeps surfaces clear and stops things getting lost, but you can still move or remove them without damaging walls.
When setting up your mat or walls, peg one corner down loosely first. It stops everything blowing away while you square it up and tension the rest.
General rule: if you find yourself asking, “Is it too windy for the awning?”, it’s probably time to pack it away. Put the awning away before the wind really hits, not in the middle of a gusty squall.
Put a small mark or pattern on your outdoor mat to show which side runs along the caravan. That way you can drop it into position the same way every time with less fuss.
Keep a small bag near the door with the essentials: kettle, coffee/tea, a couple of mugs, snacks, wipes and basic toiletries. That’s the first bag out so you can make a drink, have a quick freshen-up and breathe before doing a full setup.
If you’ve got kids (or just clumsy adults), clip glow sticks or tiny LED lights onto guy ropes at night. It looks fun and dramatically reduces late-night trips and face-plants.
Use your phone as a mini logbook. Take quick photos of tyremarks, scale readouts, odometer, services and anything that looks odd. Save them in a “Mars Caravan” album so you have a simple history ready when you talk to support, insurance or your service centre.
You don’t need to do all 20 of these at once. Pick a couple of hacks that suit how you travel and build from there. A few small habits can make a big difference to how smooth and enjoyable your Mars adventures feel.
If you’ve discovered your own great Mars hack, we’d love to hear it – share it with us so we can keep improving these tips for the whole Mars community.