10 Van Life Gadgets You NEED Under $100

Two years, one minivan, and countless miles later, I’ve boiled my roadtrip setup down to ten pieces of gear that genuinely make van life, car camping, and RVing easier, safer, and way more comfortable. This isn’t a wish list—it’s what I actually carry, use, and trust. Dead battery? Solved. Flat tire? Handled. Bad coffee? Never again. Here’s my road-tested kit and the real stories behind why each item earned a permanent spot in my rig.

Links to products, devices and gear featured in this video

1) Portable Battery Jump Starter: The Glove-Box Hero

Let’s start boring but essential. A portable jump starter has saved me twice. Once when I left my interior lights on all night, and another time after I made a very dumb mistake: I’d been charging my power station from an AC inverter wired to my car battery (only safe with the engine running). That inverter pulls about 470 watts—and I forgot to shut it off. The jump starter cranked my minivan instantly both times. The one I use has 4,000 peak amps, a clear 3-in LCD, a built-in flashlight with emergency modes, USB outputs for devices, and a full set of safety protections so you can’t fry your cables by connecting them backward. It also works across a wide temp range (-4°F to 140°F). If you drive off-grid, this is peace of mind in a tiny brick.

2) Pocket Air Inflator: Tiny, Smart, and Strong

I keep a compact air inflator that weighs around a pound and still pushes up to 150 PSI. It has intelligent presets (car, motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, balls) plus a manual mode that remembers my custom pressure. Set the PSI, clip on the hose, hit the button, and it auto-stops when it’s done—no air escapes when you disconnect. The hose even stores in the top, which doubles as the power switch so it doesn’t turn on in your bag. The 2,000 mAh battery charges via USB in about three hours. It’s small, but it’s gotten me out of roadside headaches and keeps my bike ready to ride.

3) Cordless Dustbuster: Daily Clean + Disaster Control

Vans collect crumbs, dust, and the occasional spice explosion. Ask me how I know. I built a vertical spice rack in my sink box; sometimes a tin pops open and paprika shrapnel goes everywhere. My Black+Decker cordless handheld vac (the “Advanced Clean” model) crushes daily messes and chaos alike. The pull-out crevice tool finds every crumb in those tight van corners, and the see-through dust bowl tells me when to empty. Bonus: for quick sweeps, I love a tiny bamboo brush and recycled-plastic pan—perfect for a few crumbs without dragging out the vacuum.

4) USB Water System: Real Sink, Zero Hassle

Running water on demand—without a full 12V pump setup—feels like luxury. My entire system is a USB-rechargeable faucet pump paired with 3-gallon jugs. Two buttons: one for continuous flow, the other dispenses a precise 20 ounces (about 2½ cups) and shuts off automatically. It’s quiet, holds pressure, and the internal battery lasts weeks per charge. You can mount the faucet above a sink (like I did) and run a small hose down to the jug. I upgraded it with two things:

• A drop-in filter rated for up to 250 gallons, so the water tastes great.
• An Osprey quick-connect on the hose, so removing the jug for refills takes only seconds. It’s simple, modular, and one of my favorite quality-of-life upgrades.

5) Low-Watt Electric Kettle: Off-Grid Coffee Without the Pain

I use a compact 17-ounce kettle because it only draws 700 watts—easier on smaller inverters and portable power stations. It has markings in cups/ounces/liters so I only heat what I need, a steam sensor for auto shut-off, and a covered heating element for easy cleaning. A couple quirks (the water level window’s only on one side, and the lid hinge steals some fill clearance), but I just fill with it a cup and it’s no big deal. For me, reliability and low power draw beat fancy every time.

6) Clever Coffee Dripper: French-Press Flavor, Pour-Over Clean

If you love a deep, rich brew but hate gritty sediment, this is the sweet spot. The Clever Dripper uses a stopper valve so you can steep like a French press, then set it on your mug to release a clean, filtered cup—no sludge. Mine holds about 18 ounces and two and a half minutes of steep time is my sweet spot. Cleanup is so easy: lift the paper filter and toss or compost. Morning ritual, perfected.

7) USB Label Maker: Future-You Will Thank You

I labeled every spice tin and both ends of every wire in the van. It sounds excessive—until you’re troubleshooting a fuse panel at night. A cheap USB-rechargeable thermal labeler (no ink, ever) with a 300-dpi quality gives crisp, readable labels. Type a name in the free mobile app, hit print, stick, done. Quality labels = fewer mistakes and faster fixes.

8) Butyl Tape: The Unsexy Leak Stopper

If duct tape is universal, butyl tape is the waterproof version. It molds into gaps and sticks to wood, plastic, and metal. I used it under bolts/washers on my DIY roof boxes and around pass-throughs for my Starlink quick-connect. After thousands of miles in heavy rain, I have zero leaks. Keep a roll—you’ll find a use for it the day you need it most.

9) The Best 12V Fan I’ve Used: Gimbaled, Quiet, Efficient

My main cabin fan is a gimbaled 12-volt unit that swivels 360° and tilts up/down, so I can aim it anywhere. It’s whisper-quiet, sips power (under ~4.5 watts on high), has multiple timer options, and I mounted it near the kitchen window so it doubles as an exhaust fan while cooking. The motor is designed to run for thousands of hours. In a small space, airflow is comfort—and safety—so I don’t skimp here.

10) Little Giant Jumbo Step: Confidence at Any Height

The priciest item on this list, but I use it constantly. My two-step model has extra-deep (8.5") steps—so even the top step feels stable—plus a front safety rail you can lean against. There’s a tool tray up top, extended rubber feet for grip on gravel, grass, or dirt, and it folds to about 4.5" thick. It’s rated to 375 lbs and feels bombproof. If you ever load roof boxes, clean solar panels, or tinker with mounts, a solid ladder is worth every penny.

Final Thoughts

None of this gear is flashy. But every piece reduces friction, solves a real problem, or adds comfort every day I’m on the road. That’s how I decide what earns a spot in a tiny rolling home: it has to do real work. I love finding smarter, lighter, more reliable ways to camp and travel. And if this helped you dial in your setup, consider sharing it with a friend who’s building out their first rig. See you out there.