Renting a camper for the first time: what to check at handover

Collection takes about an hour, and it is worth all of it. Most problems people hit on the road are things that were explained at handover and then forgotten by day three. A few worth writing down on your phone as we go:

Gas. Where the bottles are, how to open and close the valve, and which appliances run on gas. Turn the gas off while driving.

Heating and hot water. How to light it, how long the water takes, and what it draws from. This is the one people ask about most on the first cold evening.

The fresh water and grey water taps. Where they are, and what the level gauge is telling you.

The toilet. How to open the blade, how much chemical goes in, and how to release and carry the cassette. Doing it once with someone watching is worth ten minutes of reading.

Electricity. What runs off the leisure battery, what needs mains hookup, and where the cable is. Fridges are usually the surprise here.

The awning. How far out, and — more importantly — that it must be wound in if wind gets up or you leave the camper.

Driving. Height and length, where the reversing camera view is, and how wide the turning circle really is. Most campers are 2.3 m wide and 3 m tall; that rules out some car parks and a few older barrier heights.

Take photos of anything already marked or scratched. We photograph the vehicle at handover and at return anyway, and it protects you as much as us.

And ask. Everything in the camper can be explained in a sentence, and the walkthrough is the cheapest time to hear it.