Modern wing mirrors can be very odd shapes and strap-on towing mirrors often can't cope. But before you bin them, try crossing the straps over rather than having them parallel to each other like the instructions say - it might just be enough to keep them stable.

Keep a large elastic band on your toilet roll holder. Before you move off, just slip it over the roll - it will stop it unravelling en route.

If you love using herbs and spices in your campsite cooking but are pushed for space, try putting them into empty Tic-Tac containers. They're a lot smaller than jars, won't break if you drop them and won't roll around while you're moving. Wash them out first though!

While nobody likes the idea of somebody going through our caravan, it's sometimes an unfortunate occurrence of sharing space with others. If you need to leave cash in your caravan, consider picking up some solid tea and coffee containers. It's doubtful a thief will search through them to find your money.

You know when the wind sings through your awning straps or they permanently drum against the sides when vibrating? Just undo them, put a couple of twists in them and reattach - it stops the vibrations building up. Peace at last!

Instead of using petrol-based firelighters for the barbecue, put a piece of charcoal in each of the pockets of a cardboard twelve-egg carton. Put it in the barbecue and light the cardboard - it will burn for long enough to set the charcoal alight without the smell and mess of a firelighter and it's better for the environment too.

Keep power chord connections off damp ground and protected from rain using an upside down bucket with two holes.

If you keep getting attacked by ants at the campsite, make sure you have some chalk to hand. Ants hate the calcium carbonate naturally found in chalk, which is made up of the compressed shells of marine animals. All you have to do is draw on the ground or crush the chalk and scatter it to stop the ants in their tracks.

A spirit level is the obvious tool for levelling the caravan but if you haven't got one with you, take a look at the app library for your smartphone (Apple iTunes or Google Play for Android) because there's bound to be a spirit level app you can use instead.

If you put your 'van up on axles and remove the wheels each winter to stop it being towed away (and take the pressure off the tyres) be aware that hardened caravan thieves often carry sets of wheels with them. Foil them by putting a couple of locking wheel nuts in each hub.