Before we left for a year across Europe, we filled our Fiat Ducato camper van from top to bottom with 3D prints. Small annoyances, missing features, things that could simply be better.
All prints in this article can be found on platforms like Printables or Thingiverse. The files are free to download. All you need is a printer.
The system behind everything: the magnetic quick-release
Before we go through the individual items, it helps to understand the system that ties most of the prints together: a magnetic quick-release system.
The idea is simple. You have a set of neodymium magnets, each with one half of the coupling system attached. Every accessory has a matching connector on the back. Press it on, click it into place, done. Want to remove it? One twist and it comes loose.
The advantage: you need fewer magnets than accessories, because you can swap them around. The magnet goes wherever you need it at that moment.
You’ll need magnets with an M6 threaded stud. For lightly loaded items, 43mm magnets work best. If you’re putting more weight on them (like the clothesline), go for 66mm magnets or larger.
This system is built into several of the prints below.
1. Magnetic hook and clamp
The clamp is designed to hold things in place when it’s windy: a towel, a tarp, anything that would otherwise blow away. You can also use it to stretch a cloth between your awning pole and the side of the van, creating an extra windbreak or shade panel. It uses the same coupling system.
These are two separate items, but they work so well together that we treat them as one.
The magnetic hook is the most-used thing on the outside of our van. Click it onto a magnet and hang a towel, a jacket, a wet swimsuit. Need the magnet somewhere else? Pull the hook off and use it elsewhere.
2. Window security lock
This is the print that surprises people most. And honestly, it’s a bit unsettling that it’s even necessary.
The latches on camper van windows — on the Ducato, but also the Jumper and Boxer — can be manipulated from the outside with a long, thin piece of wire. You push it through a small gap, lift the latch, and the window is open. It’s a well-known trick among burglars targeting campsites and cities.
Our solution: a small printed clip that slides over the latch and blocks it. It sits on the inside, is invisible from the outside, and costs less than a euro in filament.
We’ve slept a lot better since. That might be the best ROI of any print we’ve made.
3. Shower head holder and soap tray
When you travel without fixed campsite facilities, an outdoor shower isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. We have a shower connection at the back of the van, but setting it up was always a minor hassle: nowhere to put the showerhead, soap going everywhere, hose in the way.
The shower head holder is a magnetic holder that connects to the van via the quick-release system. Attach it, shower, click it off, put it away.
The soap tray is something we designed ourselves and isn’t available online. A small magnetic tray with a raised edge for a bar of soap or shampoo bar. It sits right next to the shower head holder and comes off in one move when you’re done.
Note: don’t shower near locks, lakes, or rivers, even with biodegradable soap. The fats and oils in soap are harmful to fish and aquatic organisms regardless of how eco-friendly the product claims to be.
4. Magnetic clothesline
Two printed corner pieces, each with two neodymium magnets, connected by a cord. The corner pieces click onto magnets on the side of the van. The clothesline is up in five seconds, down in five seconds.
We recommend magnets of at least 66mm diameter — there can be quite a bit of weight on the line, and smaller magnets let go when the laundry is wet.
5. Key holder for Ducato, Jumper and Boxer
Camper van keys are always lost. We printed a holder that fits precisely on the Fiat Ducato key — and also works for the Citroën Jumper and Peugeot Boxer, since they share the same key geometry.
6. Oversized cup holders with mug cutout
Our Ducato only came with one cup holder, and not a very practical one at that. We adapted an existing design to fit our large mugs and thermoses.
7. Quick-reload paper towel holder
This paper towel holder mounts under an overhead cabinet. It’s designed so you can swap out a roll easily.
More prints coming soon! In the meantime, check out our camper must-haves as well!
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