Building out a van can be a never-ending endeavor. New accessories come out that make life on the road easier, our companions change in age and interests, and even a simple shift in the season can mean switching the gear we carry. Here are my two favorite accessories that has made my vanlife versatile and fun, even through all the changes — and one that hasn’t been worth it.

1. Favorite: USB-C cigarette lighter replacement 

My van was built at a time when it was normal to have 3 ashtrays for the rear seats but no shoulder belts. I also have a surplus of cigarette lighters, and since I’m not one to be ripping cigs, they’re mostly useless to me. I decided to replace one with an easily-wired USB port that includes a USB-A, USB-C, and a voltmeter. 

The USB port is mounted just underneath the passenger seat.

The USB-C port is my favorite part because it allows me to keep my computer charged without needing to run an inverter. The inverter is still more powerful if I need it, but the USB-C port is good enough as long as I’m starting the day with a full computer battery. The voltmeter gives me a quick point of reference if I need to see where the battery is at, and having an extra USB-A port is always nice.

2. Recovery gear

Using recovery gear to get out of a sandy jam.

I used to eschew traction boards because I saw them bolted on every mall-crawler in the neighborhood, but when they got me out of a pinch in Moab I decided to carry them more often. I had the foresight to borrow a hi-lift jack before heading to Baja, and I bought one once it got me out of a sand pit on the beach. Other favorites include a fully-charged jump battery pack, and I carry tow straps in all my vehicles even though they’ve been lent out more than used by me.

Though I’ve gotten myself in some uncomfortable situations, I always remind myself that I’m in a house with wheels, not a rock-crawler. I want to get into that secluded camp spot with the kitchen still intact when I get there. With that driving style in mind, I don’t need to go overboard on the recovery gear.

Cell phone signal extender: My one regret

The signal extender deployed on the side of the van.

I’ve spent my money on some misguided experiments, but the title for the most money spent with least improvement gained has to go to the cell signal extender. Giving credit where it’s due, the antenna does exactly what it claims to: I’ll have one or two bars of service until turning the extender, on which bumps me to three or four bars. 

But I was hoping it would change where I could work and it hasn’t done that. I can’t park deep in the backcountry for days of video-conferencing from a wispy cell signal. For my use case, the price is too high for the value it delivers, so I’m looking at satellite internet for this summer.