RV accessories go a long way towards making your lifestyle easier and more fun in a brand new RV or trailer which is not fully equipped with necessities and “must haves”.
But there is a huge variety of must have RV accessories and travel trailer accessories that you should consider adding to your travel trailer or camper if you’ve just purchased it.
Whether you’re outfitting an RV, travel trailer, 5th wheel, or truck camper, you’ll need to understand the importance of choosing the right necessities tools, gadgets, and space-saving accessories to complete your setup.
Fortunately, we’ve canvassed the online marketplace to bring you a comprehensive list of must have RV items, supplies, gadgets and accessories that will take you camper to another level.
And we’ve broken down our list of must haves into several categories that will help you identify the right choices for specific areas and functions in your RV.
So, If you or someone you know recently purchased a new RV, our guide to RV must haves will help you outfit your rig properly, even if you are an owner of a fully equipped luxurious motorhome, you might still find quite a few useful RV stuffs on this list.
Let’s dive in!
101 Must Have RV Accessories
Since this is a large guide, Below is an overview of the list categorized into by the uses of the accessories for easy navigation.
Top 10 RV Or Travel Trailer Must Haves Accessories And Supplies
All of the RV tools and gadgets on our list are must-haves, but some of them might fall into the category of must-must-haves! RV Must Haves and what we think you should buy if you are looking into buying an RV or already have one but not sure what else you may need.
So here are our choices for the top 10 must have RV accessories for a new travel trailer or camper.
1. Drinking-Water Hose: Camco Premium Drinking Water Hose
You can survive longer in your RV without fresh vegetables than without clean drinking water, which is why a drinking water hose is the first RV must have on our list.
You’ll need to be able to hook into a water source whether you’re at an RV resort and using city water or just filling your RV’s fresh water tank before you keep driving.
When choosing a drinking water hose for your RV, keep in mind that the water connection you’re hooking up to might not always be super close to the city water or potable water inlets on your rig.
This is why we opted to include a 50-foot drinking water hose as our recommendation in this section.
Also if you living in below temperature freezing zones, must choose from our heated RV water hoses specified list.
2. Inline Water Filter: Camco RV/Marine Water Filter
The unfortunate reality of hooking up to new sources of fresh water when you’re traveling in an RV is that the quality can fluctuate drastically.
Firstly, the quality of drinking water at an RV park will depend on whether they’re pulling from city water or a well on-site.
And even if it’s always city water, every city has different mandates for how they treat and filter their drinking water.
An inline water filter is the best and most effective way to improve the safety and taste of drinking water coming into your RV.
This filter screws right onto your drinking water hose and filters out dirt, debris, chlorine, heavy metals, and other potentially harmful chemicals that you probably don’t want in your drinking water.
3. RhinoFlex Camper Sewer Hose
In addition to needing the right stuff to get water into your RV, you’ll also need the proper accessory to empty your RV’s grey water and black water tanks.
A RhinoFlex sewer hose is a must-have RV accessory because these are some of the most durable and long-lasting sewer hoses on the market today.
While you can always opt to trust a cheaper sewer hose with your waste disposal needs, that’s almost always going to leave you more susceptible to disposal issues.
And we recommend choosing a sewer hose with a minimum length of 20 feet so that you have the reach to connect to more disposal stations even if they don’t allow you to park right next to the waste outlet.
4. RV Sewer Hose Support
One thing that I personally always hated when I first began traveling in RVs is having to pick up my sewer hose to empty the leftover remnants in the hose once the majority of your waste is gone.
That’s why I was elated when I discovered that there was an RV accessory called a sewer hose support.
These supports are accordion-style stands that you place underneath your RV sewer hose.
They create a slope underneath your hose so that more waste empties naturally using the wonderful force of gravity.
That means you won’t have to empty as many remnants before finishing your dumping process.
5. Water Pressure Regulator: Renator Water Pressure Regulator Valve
Not all RV parks and campgrounds regulate the water pressure that comes out of their spigots when you park at a campsite.
Excessive water pressure entering your RV can have a devastating impact on your RV’s internal piping.
In the worst-case scenario, it can cause pipes to burst and result in significant water damage in your rig.
That’s why the next must have RV accessory on our list is a water pressure regulator.
This accessory screws onto your drinking water hose either at the spigot end or the inlet end on your RV.
The regulator will reduce the water pressure to a safe level so that you greatly decrease the chances of pipes bursting and spilling water into the underneath compartments of your RV.
6. Water Connector Y Valve
When you park at an RV park or campground, sometimes you need the water spigot for more than one purpose.
Of course, you’ll probably want to connect to city water for drinking, showering, and washing dishes.
But you might also want to connect a smaller hose for cleaning bikes, mats, or other recreational equipment before packing up and heading to your next destination.
That’s why it’s smart to keep a water connector Y valve in your RV so that you can split the water output from a campsite spigot.
This will allow you to connect to city water and also use an external hose without constantly have to unhook one in order to hook up the other
7. RV Leveling Blocks
There are certain critical RV appliances that will only work efficiently if you park your RV on a level surface.
But the reality of RV living is that you’ll rarely find a perfectly level parking place for your rig.
Fortunately, they make a must-have RV accessory that helps you easily level your RV if you don’t have hydraulic jacks on your rig.
RV leveling blocks can be set up under any of your RV tires to bring it as close to level as possible.
You can even set up a stair-style system to get your front or back tires up on three or four blocks if you have a significantly sloped spot.
That’s why you should choose a leveling block kit that has a minimum of ten blocks in it.
8. Compact Coffee Maker
While I could put this in our RV kitchen accessories section, it’s my personal feeling that a compact coffee maker is an RV ‘must-must-have’.
I need my morning coffee to get going, but most RVs don’t have the kind of space you’ll need for the kinds of cumbersome coffee makers that you’ll typically find in a residential home.
The great part about one of these compact coffee makers is that you can prep them the night before and then simply wake up and hit the button to start the brew on your way to the bathroom in the morning.
And this particular model includes an auto-pause feature that allows you to pause the brew cycle to grab your first cup before the full cycle is complete.
Even if you want to choose another coffee maker as your own RV space, check our best RV coffee maker list.
9. RV Tire Pressure Monitoring System
An RV is not a small investment in most cases. As such, it’s important that you do everything in your power to protect that investment.
And one of the most dangerous scenarios for an RVer is a tire blow-out. This can cause you to lose control of your rig, which presents obvious risks to your RV and everyone in it.
That’s why a tire pressure monitoring system is one of the top 10 RV gadgets.
This kind of system places a gauge on each of your RV’s tires and then automatically relays pressure information and other key statistics to a digital monitor that you’ll place on the dashboard of your rig.
This allows you to pre-emptively notice pressure or temperature issues before they result in larger damage.
10. Central Vacuum System
There are many ways to keep an RV clean. You can rip up the old carpets and install new laminate flooring so that it’s easier to just sweep your rig out.
Or you could get a small, handheld vacuum to take care of upholstery and RV rugs.
But the best way to make cleaning your RV super easy is to install a central vacuum system.
These usually fit underneath a sofa bed or kitchen seat cushion and then come with enough hose to reach every nook and cranny of your RV.
It gives you all the flexibility of a central vacuum system in a residential home, but in a more compact package.
And it also means less frequent emptying of catchment containers than you would deal with on a traditional handheld vacuum.
Outdoor And RV Camping Accessories
The best part about RV travel is that you get to explore new outdoor gems that often don’t have cozy cabins or hotels nearby.
But in order to make the most of the time you spend outdoors when RV camping, you’ll need some of these outdoor and RV camping must haves.
1. Outdoor Portable Propane Fire Pit
There’s nothing better than sitting around a campfire outside of your RV.
But because of fire restrictions or the fact that not all campsites have dedicated fire rings, you may not always have the option of building a wood fire when RV camping.
That’s when one of these outdoor portable propane fire pits really comes in handy.
These pits can run off a five-gallon or 20-gallon propane tank and they’re compact enough to fit in one of the underneath storage compartments of your RV.
Plus, they’ll allow you to fulfill your kid’s dreams of roasting marshmallows and making S’mores even if your circumstances restrict you from building a real fire!
2. Double Hammock With Stand
There’s quite possibly nothing better to do when you want to lounge around your campsite than to climb into a hammock.
But not all RV campsites come with two trees perfectly positioned for you to string a hammock up between them, which is why it’s helpful to get a hammock that comes with its own stand.
And if you’re going to get a hammock for your RV, you better get a double hammock so that you and your special someone can climb in for a nap together.
As a plus, this particular hammock model offers a sturdy 450-pound weight capacity and it comes with its own steel stand and carrying bag that protects it from damage when you store it underneath your rig between spots.
3. Zero Gravity Lounge Chairs
If you’re not particularly into hammock lounging, you’re probably more a chair-type person then.
And there’s honestly no reason why you can’t have both of these must have RV accessories set up outside of your RV.
Lounge chairs are great because they offer superior flexibility.
These zero gravity lounge chairs can recline enough for you to take an afternoon nap under the comfort of your RV awning.
But they can also sit up straight so that you can converse around the campfire or enjoy your evening meal on a dinner tray.
They also include a removable headrest that can be lowered to offer lumbar support if you desire it.
4. Folding Camp Table
Most RV sites should at least come with a picnic table and fire ring.
But any experienced RVer knows that this isn’t the case and that it’s better to have it and not need it than to arrive unprepared. That’s why a compact folding camping table is an RV must have.
These tables allow you to set up a station for dinner, snacks, playing cards, or any other purpose you can think of.
And when you’re done, you don’t have to worry about how to fit a cumbersome table inside of your rig because these tables easily fold up and store in an underneath compartment.
On top of that, these tables weigh less than 10 pounds, so they can serve other purposes, such as tailgating or for backyard barbecues.
5. Portable Tabletop Gas Grill
Personally, I’m going to opt for cooking my meats, potatoes, and vegetables over an open fire 10 times out of 10, if it’s possible.
But just like the limitations that sometimes keep us from building a wood fire at our RV campsite, those same limitations can snuff out our hopes of cooking ears of corn right on hot coals.
For these unfortunate instances, it’s important that you’re prepared with a portable tabletop gas grill that fits right underneath your rig when it’s not in use.
These grills typically require a one-gallon propane tank and provide ample heating surface area for all of your RV camp cooking needs.
This particular model even has insulated folding legs that allow you to place it on any level surface you can find around your campsite.
6. Standing Ice Cooler
Ice is one of those things that’s just a reality of RV living. Some rigs go so far as buying and maintaining a portable ice maker, but those are so much more cumbersome than simply buying cubed ice and keeping it in a cooler until it’s needed.
While there are many cooler options out there, these standing ice coolers are awesome because they place your beverages at an easier-to-reach height and they require less storage space under your RV.
Instead of having to fully bend down and sort through a variety of beverages to find the one you prefer, this cooler keeps your beverages elevated and easier to snatch when you need a refill.
Plus, this particular model even includes a drainage spout that allows you to clear water out easily, which isn’t typical of many other soft-sided RV camping coolers.
7. Pop-Up Canopy Tent
Most of the best RV awnings provide plenty of shade outside of your RV. This is essential for hot days and summer camping because, without it, you’ll end up baking in the sun when you’re just trying to relax on an RV vacation.
That being said, it can be great to have the option to create additional shade if you need it.
That’s exactly what a pop-up canopy tent will do for you. It won’t be attached to your RV so you’ll be able to move it around to the exact spot where you need it.
Whether that’s over your picnic table or down to the shoreline for a beach day, these canopy tents are super useful for a variety of RV camping applications.
8. BBQ Utensil Set With Case
When you’re getting ready to cook on an open fire or one of the best portable grills for RVing, you’ll need the right set of utensils to do it safely and efficiently.
This includes a spatula, a pair of tongs, skewers, a grill scraper, and anything else you typically use when barbecuing. This particular barbecue utensil set includes those four items, as well as a grill fork, corn holders, and a corkscrew.
And everything is contained within a durable aluminum case so you can keep it organized and protected when you store it underneath your RV.
9. Picnic Tablecloth With Clamps
Some of the worst splinters I’ve ever had have come from weather-worn wooden or fiberglass camping tables at an RV campsite.
Nobody wants to get splinters when they sit down to eat, so it’s great to have a must-have RV accessory that allows you to “set the table” every time you hit a new campsite.
Not only will a picnic tablecloth protect your table, but it will also give it that camping vibe and a little personalized touch.
But these tablecloths are designed for outdoor use, they’re susceptible to wind. That’s why you need to choose one that comes with its own set of clamps to secure it down to your table.
And these tablecloths are usually made of a material that makes them super easy to wipe clean if you spill anything on them.
10. Extendable Marshmallow Roasting Sticks
Personally, I grew up searching for the perfect marshmallow stick when I was a young RV camper.
Unlike the sticks you’ll find if you click the link above, those sticks were typically manufactured by the hands of nature.
But I can remember more than one occasion where I made an unsatisfactory S’more because I simply could not find a good roasting stick.
I’m sure many other young RV campers suffered from the same issue, and that might be why there are stainless steel marshmallow roasting sticks out there these days.
And the benefit of this particular model is that they extend to a maximum length of 32 inches so that you can really get your marshmallow the perfect distance away from the coals without burning your knuckles!
11. Outdoor Patio Mat
If you prefer to keep the interior of your RV as clean as possible, you’ll need to have multiple places where people can wipe their shoes before they enter.
Stepping out of your RV right into soft, pillowy dirt is never favorable for the conditions inside of your RV, which is why it can be nice to put down an outdoor patio mat when you park at dirtier campsites.
These mats come in many different sizes, but we’d recommend choosing one that’s large enough to at least cover the entire area under your RV awning or canopy tent.
That way, you’ll also be able to have an indoor-outdoor living space that keeps your feet clean without having to take your shoes off and put them back on every time you go in and out of your RV.
12. Inflatable Hot Tub
Okay, we have to admit that we might have stretched the “must-have” label when choosing this particular RV accessory.
But the only thing I can imagine that’s cooler than lighting a fire when the sun goes down over your RV campsite is climbing into a portable, inflatable hot tub. Thankfully, the folks at Coleman have obliged.
This particular inflatable hot tub is designed with a rapid heating system, integrated water filtration system, and a soothing AirJet system.
It measures 77” x 77” x 28” in dimension and can handle four to six adults, depending on size.
It can heat water up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit and it also features a timer-controlled heating system so you can set it to heat up an hour or two
Essential Accessories For Towing With A Motorized RV
If you’re a full-time RVer that likes to tow a vehicle behind your rig, you’ll need the right gear to do so safely. So check out these awesome (and safe!) RV towing tools.
1. Weight Distribution Hitch
Whether you have a truck pulling a travel trailer or an RV towing a smaller vehicle, a weight-distribution hitch is a must-have RV accessory for safe towing.
These hitches prevent your towed vehicle or trailer from swaying at higher speeds and also redistributes the weight of your trailer or towed vehicle to allow for more level towing.
When choosing a weight-distribution hitch, your first criteria is to make sure the hitch can handle the weight of the vehicle you’re towing.
This particular model can handle vehicles or trailers up to 10,000 pounds. And if you’re looking at these hitches, we recommend checking out our article on the best weight distribution hitches to learn what else you should consider before buying.
2. Wheel Chocks
When you tow a vehicle or travel trailer, you’ll eventually disconnect it when you get to your desired location.
Whether it’s to drop a trailer or take your personal vehicle away from behind your rig, you’ll need a set of wheel chocks to keep things securely in place once they’re disconnected.
This is one of the simpler travel trailer must haves on our list, but failing to get a quality pair can also have some of the highest consequences imaginable.
I’ve personally allowed a trailer to roll away after disconnecting it from the towing vehicle and, trust me, you do not want to repeat my mistake!
3. Clip-On Mirror Extenders
One of the downfalls of towing is that it can obscure your view out the rearview mirror or camera in your RV.
That can be particularly dangerous when backing up or checking for nearby traffic when changing lanes.
That’s why you’ll see many trucks pulling travel trailers with clip-on mirror extenders on their side mirrors.
These mirrors provide additional view towards the rear of your vehicle so that you can better monitor your towed vehicle and any traffic or obstacles nearby.
Just make sure to fold yours in or remove them altogether if you ever park your rig on a street where there’s minimal clearance between parked cars and moving traffic!
4. Hitch Lock
Once you detach your trailer and pull your towing vehicle away to grab groceries at the closest market, what’s stopping someone with a truck and a trailer hitch from pulling up, securing your trailer to their truck, and driving off with it? The answer, without putting one of these hitch locks in place, is nothing!
These locks have a ball that simulates the hitch on your truck and then it locks around the tongue of your trailer.
It does have a keyed lock, so you’ll need to keep track of that key once you lock it (and even when it’s not in place as well), but this is the best and most secure way to ensure that your trailer stays where you left it while you’re gone!
5. Wireless Towing Light Kit
If you’re towing a vehicle behind a larger RV, you might be required to wire the vehicle to your RV if it obscures the view of your RV’s brake and taillights for the following drivers.
And that’s not always the easiest endeavor unless you’re highly skilled with electrical work and you have a direct guide to follow.
An easy solution for towing a vehicle behind an RV without worrying about hardwiring them together is to get a wireless towing light kit.
This particular kit can function optimally for setups up to 65 feet in length and it’s DOT compliant.
Keep in mind that length functionality requires a combination of the length of your RV, towed vehicle, and any standard or weight distribution hitch you install between them.
We all know that life is more about the journey than the destination. When you’re traveling in an RV, however, the right RV navigation gadgets can help you avoid stressful, and maybe even dangerous, RV journeys from destination-to-destination.
Navigating your RV through tight urban areas or even rural highways can be much more difficult than navigating a traditional vehicle.
RVs require much more advanced knowledge of when you’re highway exit is coming up or you need to make a turn.
And asking a human co-pilot to handle all your navigation needs can sometimes lead to unnecessary conflict.
That’s why it makes so much sense to get an RV GPS navigation system and install it right on the dashboard of your rig.
These systems allow you to customize your routes to avoid low bridges and overpasses that can present an obvious challenge for a taller RV.
They also allow you to save your favorite destinations so that you can easily navigate back to them in the future.
2. Large Scale Road Atlas
I’m a little old-school when it comes to RV navigation.
Although I recognize the obvious benefits of a GPS system or a smartphone, I personally like to have a large scale road atlas on hand as a backup.
This ensures that you can navigate if you lose service or something unexpectedly compromises the operation of your GPS system.
A road atlas is also a must-have RV accessory for those of you that prefer boondocking or exploring more rural locations.
These locations rarely come with good service and they necessitate having a navigation solution that doesn’t rely on electricity or cell phone service.
Just make sure you update your road atlas every year so that the latest road construction upgrades are at your fingertips!
3. Two-Way Dash Cam
Our next must-have RV navigation accessory is more about preparing for the unexpected than navigating to your expected destinations.
No matter how much planning we do or how much we’re committed to defensive driving, sometimes accidents happen and their outcome can often be out of our control.
But if you install a two-way dash cam at the front of your RV, you’ll be able to record both the interior and exterior of your RV.
The 170-degree front camera will record vehicles in front of you in case you’re in an accident.
And it’s also handy to have the 140-degree cabin camera if you ever need to prove that you were awake, aware, and alert at the wheel.
4. LED Road Safety Flare Kit
But if something does happen and you need to navigate your way to the side of the road to fix an issue, you’ll need a way to alert other drivers that there is a large vehicle on the roadside.
You’ve probably seen semi-trucks pulled over at night with flares set out to alert fellow drivers to their presence.
The 170-degree front camera will record vehicles in front of you in case you’re in an accident.
And it’s also handy to have the 140-degree cabin camera if you ever need to prove that you were awake, aware, and alert at the wheel.
5. CB Radio
While you might think this is a bit of an outdated inclusion to our list of must-have RV gadgets, CB radios can still very much come in handy for RVers.
Even the local AM radio station that claims to offer the most up-to-date road conditions in the area may not give you as much information as you can obtain from your fellow drivers.
Almost all semi-trucks are still outfitted with CB radios and their drivers can be a great resource for road conditions or upcoming hazards.
Because many of them travel the same roads frequently, talking to truck drivers via CB radio can also be a great way to navigate to off-the-beaten-path campgrounds or restaurants that you wouldn’t otherwise find out about!
RV Kitchen Accessories You Must Have
Cooking in an RV doesn’t have to be stressful or lackluster. With these excellent Camper kitchen accessories, you’ll be able to cook delicious, gourmet meals in your RV just like you would at home.
So, here are some of the best RV kitchen gadgets and accessories will help you save space in a tiny camper or motorhome kitchen.
1. Cast Iron Skillet
There’s something different about cooking in cast iron. Maybe it’s the added “seasoning” that they accumulate over the years or maybe it’s just the added weight of the skillet when you pick it up to flip your favorite foods.
But a cast-iron skillet is a must-have RV accessory because it allows you to cook over hotter fires than any other pan could handle.
And while we’re at it, why don’t we throw in a set of measuring spoons as well?! This particular set is made of silicone material that won’t crack, bend, or otherwise deform over time.
While you probably won’t have one in your RV, they are also dishwasher safe if you need to give them a more thorough cleaning once you get home.
2. Collapsible Measuring Cups
If all else fails, we must be able to measure! But we mustn’t have the regular type of measuring cups that won’t allow our smaller RV drawers to close.
No, no, that simply won’t do. We need collapsible measuring cups that lie flat when we’re done with them so that we barely notice they’re there until we use them again.
And while we’re at it, why don’t we throw in a set of measuring spoons as well?! This particular set is made of silicone material that won’t crack, bend, or otherwise deform over time.
While you probably won’t have one in your RV, they are also dishwasher safe if you need to give them a more thorough cleaning once you get home.
3. Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
Many times when we’re RV camping, it’s not the easiest thing to break from our fun and go inside to start cooking.
So that often leads us to choose microwaveable meals or sacrifice nutrition for convenience.
But we don’t think that should have to be the case and that’s why we’ve included the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker among our choices of RV kitchen must haves.
These pressure cookers allow you to cook a variety of foods safely and easily. You’ll be able to dial in the settings, set the timer, and then return to your fun until you hear the cooker beep.
From there, allow things to cool a bit and you’ll be enjoying delicious camping meals without the hassle of excessive prep or clean up.
4. Countertop Convection Toaster Oven
While you could always opt for a traditional toaster, a countertop convection toaster oven will give you more versatility in an RV.
Plus, you’ll be able to store it right on the counter because of its low profile.
That means you can save overhead cabinet space for other items.
While you might think it curious that we suggest storing one of these toaster ovens right on your counter, it’s definitely possible as long as you place a non-slip pad underneath it.
We’ve done that for years in our RV without issue and then your convection toaster oven is always ready to toast your favorite morning pastry or help you reheat pizza in the evening!
5. Collapsible Colander Set
I remember the first time I made pasta in my first RV. I got all the way through cooking the noodles and prepping the sauce before realizing that I didn’t have a colander to strain the water out of the noodles.
While I was able to manufacture a solution to that unfortunate situation, it would’ve been much easier with a collapsible colander set.
And yes, you could most certainly just buy a regular colander for your RV. But this is among the must-have RV accessories that could fall into the kitchen and space-saving categories.
Why utilize excessive cabinet space with a regular colander when you could get a collapsible colander set that requires a fraction of the storage space?
6. Stackable Dinnerware Set
Once you get done straining that pasta and you remove the sauce from the heat, you’ll obviously need something to serve it up for you and your adventure partner.
Because RVs bounce around so much while you’re driving, we recommend looking for plastic or metal dinnerware rather than going with something ceramic.
This will, of course, limit what you can place in the microwave to reheat, but keep in mind that ceramic bowls and plates will need to be cushioned somehow before you start driving.
This particular dinnerware set includes four plates, four bowls, and four drinking cups that are all BPA-free and top-rack dishwasher safe.
7. Collapsible Dish Drying Rack With Drainboard
Unless you go in for a super high-end RV or 5th wheel, you most likely won’t have a dishwasher in your rig.
So, you’ll be doing dishes by hand and you’ll need somewhere for them to dry once you’re finished.
The best dish racks for RVs sit nicely in one half of your kitchen sink and don’t move even when you’re driving.
But the unfortunate part of that design is that it makes you sacrifice half your sink even when you aren’t actively drying dishes.
Otherwise, you’ll need to find a cabinet or under-the-sink space to store your dish rack when you aren’t using it.
And that’s exactly why a collapsible dish rack is so handy. It functions the same as a regular RV dish rack but requires much less space when you need to store it.
8. RV Utensil Set
When you really get into RV travel, you most likely won’t want to constantly move utensils and cookware from your home into your RV (and back!) every time you take a trip.
As a result, it’s really best to set up your RV so that the only things you need to move in to be road trip ready are food and maybe a few items of clothing.
That’s why our next camper kitchen must have is a full utensil set. And many of these sets are made of plastic or metal for the same reason that you want to choose those materials for your RV dinnerware set.
This particular utensil set includes 13 pieces in total and gives you forks, knives, spoons, and even a set of chopsticks.
9. Non-Stick Cookware Set
Okay, so we have to admit that we kind of put the cart before the horse here.
How can you make use of your new dinnerware and utensil sets if you don’t already have a non-stick cookware set to prepare your favorite RV meals?
The answer, as you hopefully already guessed, is that you can’t (or at least it’s going to make things much more difficult!).
Outfitting your RV with a non-stick cookware set means that you won’t have to move pots and pans into (and out of) your RV every time you take a trip.
This type of cookware is durable enough to handle the bouncing and vibrations that come along with driving an RV or towing a travel trailer.
And this particular set even comes with three bamboo cooking utensils to help you flip and stir your favorite dishes.
10. Cutlery Knife Set
Oh yeah, you’ll also need knives to chop vegetables, mince garlic, or otherwise cut any foods that require something more than a butter knife.
We all have our particular preferences for the cut and size of knives that we like to use when prepping food.
So why not choose a cutlery knife set that comes with knives of several different sizes.
That will give you the freedom to put your RV guests to work helping you prep foods for your dinner meals.
And you won’t have to worry about coming up short on knives with a set like this. It includes six different knives that are all color-coded to make it easier to identify who was using what.
In an age of reducing cross-contamination, we think that’s a great bonus to this knife set!
RV Recreation Accessories
Another key to successful RV is having all of your outdoor recreation equipment on hand so that you can genuinely enjoy your stays at new destinations. So check out our picks for the best RV recreation gear too!
1. Hitch-Mounted Bike Rack
When you drive a large RV, sometimes the best way to get around when you park at a new campground is by bicycle.
Biking is a great way to explore new towns and get some much-needed exercise after sitting in your rig all day just to get to that town.
But if you plan to bring a bike (or multiple bikes) along on your RV adventures, you’ll need some sort of bike rack to transport them on.
For RVs, a hitch-mounted bike rack is often the best solution because it makes it easy to transport bikes with minimal effort when loading and/or unloading.
That being said, travel trailers, 5th wheels, or RVs that are already using their hitch to tow a vehicle may require a different solution.
To learn which type of bike rack is right for your unique set up, check out our article on the best RV bike racks!
2. Collapsible Corn Hole Set
Successful RVing is all about having fun once you get to your destinations. Everyone has different recreation preferences, but it’s always nice to have a few outdoor games tucked away underneath your RV.
Corn hole is one of the most popular ones around these days, but a regular set would take up way to much space in an RV.
So, someone thoughtful and clever figured out how to manufacture a collapsible corn hole set that’s perfectly suited for RV travel.
It includes two boards and eight total bean bags (four of each color), but the boards fold down so that they are super slim when you need to store them under your rig.
Plus, they are much lighter than traditional corn hole boards, which makes them easier to take from your campsite down to the beach or wherever you want to set them up.
3. Inflatable Paddleboard
I don’t know about you, but I specifically plan many of my camping trips so that I can be close to some body of water.
It makes many of the necessities of camping much easier, but I also love to swim, paddle, and kayak.
The problem with bringing a paddleboard on an RV is that they are often too cumbersome to strap to an already tall roof and too long to attach vertically to the back of your rig.
Fortunately, advancements in inflatable technology have now made inflatable paddleboards widely available for us.
Early models had some downfalls, but the most modern boards these days perform just like a traditional paddleboard as long as they’re inflatable to the proper air pressure.
And then when you’re done paddling, you can deflate and roll them up for convenient storage in one of your rig’s underneath storage compartments.
4. Inflatable Kayak
If you’re nervous or uncomfortable with the idea of standing up on a paddleboard but you still love to explore new waterways, then you’re in luck.
There are also some great inflatable kayaks out there these days and many of them deflate into an even more compact package than inflatable paddleboards.
When choosing an inflatable kayak to add to your collection of must-have RV accessories, we recommend choosing a model that has capacity for at least two paddlers.
That’s why we’ve included the Intex Excursion Pro here because it can fit two paddlers but it can also be adapted to a single kayaker.
Oh, and it has plenty of room for a cooler, dry bags, fishing gear, or even your furry, four-legged paddling companion.
5. Kan Jam
If corn hole isn’t really your jam, then maybe Kan Jam is! This is another great outdoor RV game that involves a minimum of four people to play.
And the simplicity of its design means that it hardly requires any storage space when you’re not playing.
It’s made up of two sheets of plastic that roll together and lock into place to create the ‘Kan’.
The only other element after that is the Frisbee, which you attempt to throw into the top of the Kan or through the slot on its side.
This game was introduced to many in their college years, when it was customary to always play with a beverage of choice in one hand.
But it’s also a great one for families with young kids just learning how to throw a Frisbee!
6. Electric Air Pump
Remember that inflatable paddleboard and inflatable kayak we included above?
Well, some of them require air pressures in excess of 10 pounds per square inch (PSI).
That type of pressure is really hard to obtain with a hand or foot pump, and even the more basic air pumps can’t inflate to pressures above two or three PSI.
So if you do go get one of those inflatables for your RV, you’re going to need a high-powered electric air pump so that you’re not stuck inflating them by hand every time.
And the pump we included above is a great option because it can inflate up to 20 PSI.
It also plugs right into your rig’s cigarette lighter and it allows you to preset the desired pressure you want and it will automatically turn off when that pressure is reached!
7. Scrabble Deluxe Travel Edition
Sometimes even the most well-planned RV trips can be impacted by inclement weather.
All the outdoor games we’ve included thus far are awesome and super fun when the weather is nice.
But they aren’t so fun when it starts to rain or there are 30 mile-per-hour winds whipping through your campsite. At that point, you’re going to need to have a few indoor games to fall back on.
Scrabble is always a go-to for us because it was one of those games we always grew up playing as a family.
And it’s great for RVing because it’s simple and doesn’t have any moving parts (unless you count the rotating track that the board sits on).
Oh, and the travel edition comes in its own carrying case so that it’s protected wherever you decide to store it in your rig.
8. Pass The Pigs
This is another awesome indoor RV game. If you haven’t played Pass The Pigs before, you’re missing out.
And if you have, then you probably already bought your own set.
The game is super simple and comes in a really compact package, which is one of the biggest reasons why it’s a great camping game for RVers.
The game set includes two pigs, a scorecard, and a golf pencil. That’s it! Each person takes a turn rolling the pigs like you would roll dice.
And there are all sorts of intriguing and controversial ways you can score points (or lose them!) depending on how the pigs lie at the conclusion of your roll.
9. Waterproof Clear Playing Cards
Whether your family is into poker, rummy, or any other card game you can imagine, playing cards are a must-have RV recreation accessory.
They always come in handy when all other options have been exhausted, but the nature of RVing often leads to traditional playing cards becoming damaged or compromised in inclement weather.
So, if you’re going to buy playing cards for your RV, you might as well opt for a waterproof set. That way you don’t have to worry about pulling them right inside if it starts to sprinkle a bit.
And you also don’t have to worry if drinks get spilled on them as someone turns around or tries to stand up in the cozy living areas that are common to RVs.
10. Ladder Toss Game Set
As much as we think it’s important to plan for the worst when it comes to RV recreation, we prefer to always expect the best.
So the last item on our list of RV recreation must haves is yet another outdoor game.
And this one could be categorized as an interesting combination of horseshoes and ring toss.
Ladder toss comes with two stands that are made out of PVC pipe.
The stands are an upside-down T-shape with multiple rungs on the vertical axis.
Once you set those up, you’ll try to throw these funky things that essentially look like two golf balls with a string attaching them.
Each rung is assigned a different point value and you get to play to whatever point total you desire!
RV Organization Accessories
The key to successful RV travel is organizing your space in your camper so that you’re not living in a constant state of clutter.
These RV space savers will help you maximize your space and create a dedicated spot for all of your RV essentials.
1. Collapsible Hanging Closet Organizer
The best way to improve the storage space in your RV’s closets is to get a collapsible hanging closet organizer.
This makes it much easier to organize shoes, undergarments, or anything else that doesn’t have a neat and tidy home elsewhere in your RV.
This organizer gives you four shelves to work with and it’s less than 12 inches wide. It also has two hooks at the top instead of just one.
From experience, that’s an underrated but critical design element to keep the organizer from swinging (and stuff from falling out) while you’re driving!
2. Vacuum-Sealed Storage Bags
Sometimes storage bins can be awkward and they can actually make it harder to maximize the storage space in your RV.
They can make your items more bulky even if they do help you keep like items organized together.
That’s why we recommend placing anything that could be labeled as ‘crushable’ into vacuum-sealed storage bags.
Then you can utilize that central vacuum system you learned about earlier (or just the regular handheld vacuum plugged into the wall) to suck all the air out of the bags and save a bunch of space!
3. Wall Mount Towel Organizer
Towels are one of those crushable items that really don’t make sense to store in a vacuum-sealed storage bag.
That’s because you’ll probably need to use them daily (or at least every other day) and you should probably be rotating towels every week or two (c’mon guys!).
But towels take up a lot of cabinet space if you choose to store them that way.
And many RVs end up having a lot of unused wall space that should be used to help you save space.
That’s where a wall mount towel organizer comes in handy. Install one of these in or just outside of your RV bathroom for a space-saving way to store all your bath towels.
4. Spice Rack Gripper Clip Strips
Ever thought of storing stuff on the doors of your RV cabinets? Well, the makers of these spice rack gripper clip strips sure have.
So, instead of having a bunch of loose spices rolling around, falling over, and spilling while you’re driving, you’ll have everything neatly and securely clipped to the inside of one of your kitchen cabinets.
These strips come in a set of three and they are designed to hold plastic jars only.
That gives you enough storage capacity to hold up to 12 spice jars without taking up any cabinet space. Oh, and the strips can be cut to custom fit any RV space.
5. Over-The-Cabinet Door Organizer
You’re always going to have a few kitchen accessories that can’t quite fit easily inside your kitchen cabinets.
These are usually the items that are too large or awkwardly shaped so that they require too much space that could be used for other items.
The skinnier items are perfect for an over-the-cabinet door organizer. This space-saving RV accessory is perfect for any low cabinet in your RV.
It will give you a place to store cutting boards, baking trays, or any other thin kitchen tools that don’t quite fit inside your kitchen cabinets neatly.
6. Adjustable Cutlery Tray
One of the most annoying nuisances I’ve ever encountered in my many years of RV travel is the sound of loose utensils banging around in a kitchen drawer while you’re driving.
Then, when you stop, you open the drawer and everything is all mixed up and tangled up and it’s hard to tell the difference between forks and knives.
Failing to organize your cutlery also causes it to take up much more space than required.
But if you just get an adjustable cutlery tray for your top kitchen drawer, you’ll not only be able to organize your utensils, but you’ll also save a bunch of drawer space that you can use for other small utensils or cooking essentials.
7. Pantry Organizer Bins
Personally, I can’t stand a disorganized pantry. Many times, that leads to old items getting pushed to the back of the pantry and spoiling before you even realize you had them.
Plus, a disorganized pantry usually means less space for the items you really want to put in there.
That’s why I’ve trended towards getting pantry organizer bins for my last few RVs.
These bins allow you to avoid clutter and keep your pantry items organized according to whatever system you like to use. Oh, and when you’re more organized, you end up utilizing space more efficiently!
Gear And Accessories For Boondocking In An RV
Not all RVers prefer to find a posh campground or RV resort at every destination they visit.
Some of you probably want to explore off-the-grid locations that require the kind of RV boondocking must haves that allow you to live comfortably without a power or sewer connection for weeks at a time.
Here are the best RV boondocking accessories to help you make the most of your adventure, If you’re camping without power or water hookups.
1. Solar Shower
When you’re boondocking or dry camping in an RV, one of the most important things you can do is monitor your water usage.
While most RVs have showers inside, those showers will require water from your onboard water tank.
And every time you shower in your RV, you also fill up your holding tanks, which typically have a smaller capacity than your water tank.
To conserve water, and more importantly to go longer before your holding tanks are full, it’s useful to have a solar shower for boondocking.
These showers come in many sizes and they usually require 3-4 hours to warm up to comfortable bathing temperature.
2. Solar Lantern
You’ll start to notice a theme throughout this boondocking and dry camping section.
It makes a lot of sense to rely on the power of the sun when you don’t have an electrical stand to plug your RV into.
And when you’re not plugged in, you can drain your RV battery quickly if you’re hanging out with the lights on for several hours every evening.
That’s why you should grab an affordable solar lantern to add to your collection of must-have boondocking and dry camping RV accessories.
And this particular model is even inflatable so that it takes up next to no space inside your RV until you inflate it and turn it on.
Plus, you can just leave it outside or on the dashboard of your RV on sunny days to charge it up.
3. Solar Power Bank
While a solar lantern harnesses the power of the sun to help you bring light to the darkness (not trying to get too poetic, but it’s accurate!), a solar power bank harnesses the power of the sun to help you keep your essential small electronics charged.
This particular solar power bank weighs only 10 ounces and offers a capacity of 10,000 milliamp-hours.
It’s compatible with most Apple and Android mobile devices and fully recharges in about six hours when left in direct sunlight.
But it can also be charged via the included 5-volt adapter and it even has dual flashlights in case you lose your solar lantern in the dark!
4. Portable Travel Toilet
Proper waste disposal is a really important part of responsible boondocking or dry camping.
Not a lot of folks want to talk about it, but we can’t just go around relieving ourselves wherever we so desire when we’re camping off-the-grid.
That’s going to leave our beautiful and unperturbed natural landscapes less beautiful for the next visitors.
That’s why anyone that spends extensive time boondocking or dry camping should consider having a portable camping toilet with them.
While this is essential for many truck campers or van-lifers, it can also be a way for boondocking RVers to avoid filling their onboard black water tank too quickly if you’re staying out for weeks at a time.
5. Portable Generator
For your larger appliances, you’ll need more wattage than a power bank is capable of supplying.
If your RV doesn’t already have a generator installed in it, I’d recommend checking out our article that details how to determine what size generator you need for your RV.
If your RV does have a generator, you’ll be able to use it when boondocking to power your microwave, air conditioner, and other larger appliances.
But if you need to run multiple large appliances at once, even your RV’s onboard generator might get maxed out. And that’s when a portable generator will come in handy!
6. Portable Power Station
If you need more power storage capacity than a solar power bank can supply, we’d recommend looking into portable power stations.
These stations are designed to provide power to laptops, mini-coolers, drones, and other outdoor electronics.
This particular portable power station includes a 240 watt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and it’s compatible with solar panels for recharging.
Otherwise, you’ll need to recharge it via a wall outlet. And it offers one 110-volt AC outlet, two USB-A ports, and one DC car port.
It also includes a pure sine wave inverter that supplies clean power so it won’t damage your sensitive electronics.
7. Solar Panel Kit
If you need to recharge your RV’s coach battery, engine battery, or the battery in your portable power station, the best way to do it when boondocking is with a solar panel kit.
You can even go so far as to install solar panels permanently on the roof of your RV, but you can also keep your panels portable so that you can set them up in the ideal location outside your RV.
This particular solar panel kit comes with one 300-watt crystalline solar panel, one 30-amp charge controller, all connectors, a tray cable, a corner bracket mount, and an adapter kit.
Because hooking your RV up to solar power can require a bit of a length installation process, we recommend checking out our article detailing how much solar power you need for your RV.
8. Collapsible Water Container
When you’re boondocking or dry camping, bringing enough water along is a central consideration.
That means bringing enough water for drinking, washing dishes, brewing coffee, washing up, and anything else you may use water for during your trip.
And even if you have a 100-gallon water tank in your RV, you will stand to benefit from buying a few extra collapsible water containers to bring a few extra gallons along.
That way you can even designate your containers for drinking water only and save the water in your tank for dishes and showering.
9. Collapsible Wash Basin
Depending on your camping setup, you might benefit from setting up a dish station outside.
This will allow you to collect dirty dish water in a wash basin rather than in the holding tanks of your RV.
As a result, having one of these basins and committing to doing dishes outside can greatly extend the length of time you can stay out before you need to find a dump station.
But as you might have picked up by now, it doesn’t make much sense to get a regular washbasin that’s going to take up too much storage space in your RV when you’re not using it.
So maybe we’ve created a new rule for RV must haves: when in doubt, make sure it’s collapsible!
10. Multipurpose Microfiber Towels
I purchased one of these six-packs of microfiber towels right after I bought my last RV.
I had no idea I had purchase what amounted to golf towels, but having the small carabiners on each towel actually really came in handy for multiple places throughout our setup.
When you’re boondocking, we’ve already touched on the importance of conserving water.
And instead of using more water for dishes or to wipe down surfaces in your rig, just get a few extra towels to help you take care of messes.
And if you have enough of a stockpile, you can simply leave them dirty until you get back to a spot with a laundromat!
11. Compact Camping Stove
In addition to conserving water, minimizing your propane consumption is also important for extended boondocking adventures.
While most RVs have large propane tanks, you might want to conserve that propane for keeping the heater going at night, especially if you’re boondocking or dry camping in colder locations.
As such, you might want to avoid cooking on your RV stove by purchasing a separate compact camping stove.
These stoves usually run on one-pound propane tanks that are easy to stockpile and available almost anywhere.
They’re also sometimes easier to find than places to refill your onboard propane tank, so it makes sense to rely on them for cooking when boondocking.
12. Camp Stove Carrying Case
Protecting your camping stove is essential if you want to be sure that you have a reliable method for cooking meals when you’re off-the-grid.
And for an RV accessory that is most likely going to be stored in your rig’s underneath compartments, getting a carrying case that protects it from bumping or moving around is a great idea.
This particular carrying case is designed for Coleman two-burner stoves with dimensions up to 21.5” x 14” x 4.8” (length x width x height).
It also includes two drawstring pouches on either end that are perfect for holding an extra fuel canister or two.
13. Water Purification System
If you fail to bring along enough water for your boondocking adventure, you’ll need to have a backup plan in place.
And while a water purification system requires that you choose a boondocking location that’s near some source of freshwater, it’s a must-have RV accessory to help you filter and utilize water from more ‘unconventional’ locations.
The best water purification systems out there these days utilize gravity and a micron filter to remove dirt, debris, chemicals, and heavy metals from your water.
Because they use gravity, it makes them easy to fill and set to filtering in a collection container while you can walk away and do something else!
14. Biodegradable Soap
Washing dishes outside while boondocking is a great way to conserve water in your RV and reduce how quickly you fill up your holding tanks.
But it’s important that you do so responsibly by using biodegradable soap.
Otherwise, you’ll be putting potentially harmful chemicals into the environment that plants and animals in that area likely aren’t accustomed to.
There are many types of biodegradable soaps out there (Dr. Bronner’s is actually one of my favorites!), but it can be useful to choose a soap that comes in a large, refillable container.
That’s why we’ve chosen this Nalgene-sized soap option because it further minimizes plastic waste and you’ll be able to refill the entire bottle at a number of locations along your RV journey.
15. Satellite Phone
Most folks that prefer boondocking or dry camping love it because it takes them off-the-grid and forces them to re-immerse in nature.
And while I’m a huge fan of that benefit (and of boondocking in general!), I recognize that it’s important to be prepared if you encounter an emergency when you’re a long way off-the-grid.
In some cases, a satellite phone may be the only way you can contact the outside world for emergency assistance.
And this is one of those must-have RV accessories that are better to have and not need than to need and not have.
This particular satellite phone offers global coverage and meets military standards for resistance to dust, shock, vibration, and blowing rain.
RV Temperature Control And Insulation Accessories
One of the downsides of living or traveling in an RV is that they often aren’t the most insulated living spaces you could choose.
But these RV temperature control and insulation solutions will help you keep your rig at a comfortable temperature year-round.
1. Reflectix Foil Insulation
There can be several steps to insulating your RV for temperature control or winter RV living.
But placing Reflectix foil strategically around your RV is a great place to start.
This insulation is available in multiple thicknesses and quantities.
So you can find the right solution for your specific situation.
Reflectix doesn’t contain any toxic or carcinogenic chemicals and you won’t need goggles, a respirator, or any protecting clothing to work with it.
It also inhibits condensation, which can sometimes be an issue when insulating an RV for better temperature control.
2. Vent Insulator And Skylight Cover
But Reflectix isn’t a great solution for the vents and/or skylights in the roof of your RV.
These areas require a thicker solution because they are one of the primary spots where heat can escape out the top of your RV.
Thankfully, our friends at Camco have come up with a solution.
Their vent insulator and skylight covers are pre-made to fit most standard 14” RV roof vents.
They have a reflective surface on the top to block the sun’s damaging rays and nearly three full inches of foam to reduce heat transfer.
These covers are also durable and easy to store when you want to open your roof vents again.
3. Battery Powered Clip Fan
Most RVs these days have air conditioners that offer a ‘Fan’ feature.
But they sometimes don’t provide enough air circulation to really keep your RV comfortable.
In boondocking situations, you might also want to promote airflow throughout your RV without having to run your generator to power the AC unit.
In both of those cases, a battery-powered clip fan will come in handy to make the temperature in your RV more amenable.
While it won’t blow cold air like an air conditioner would, simply moving the air around your RV more can often help to make things feel much more comfortable.
4. Portable Wireless Dehumidifier
If you do any traveling in humid climates, you’re probably already aware of the discomfort that humidity can cause.
In addition to that, humidity can wreak havoc on certain elements of your RV by facilitating the growth of mold and/or mildew.
There are a lot of powered portable dehumidifiers out there that you should consider if you live full-time in an RV in a humid climate.
But if you only occasionally visit humid places, a wireless dehumidifier will suit you well.
In both of those cases, a battery-powered clip fan will come in handy to make the temperature in your RV more amenable.
While it won’t blow cold air like an air conditioner would, simply moving the air around your RV more can often help to make things feel much more comfortable.
5. Electric Ceramic Space Heater
On the opposite end of the spectrum, winter RVing may require that you have another source of heating in addition to the heat provided by your rig’s central heating system.
While you’ll need to be careful to choose one that doesn’t overload your RV’s electrical system, an electric ceramic space heater is a great way to keep your RV warm in the winter.
This particular space heater is small and compact for RV use. It has a total of three settings: high, low, and fan only.
It also has an adjustable thermostat so that it will cycle on and off according to how warm you want to keep your RV living space.
RV Internet And Television Accessories
Some of us specifically choose RV travel for the chance to unplug from the Internet or technology in general.
For others, maintaining a quality Internet connection in your RV is essential to your travel lifestyle.
If you fall into the latter category, check out these ideas for improving the Internet and television reception in your RV.
1. Cell Phone Signal Booster
One of the ways you can improve your connection when you’re RVing in areas with spotty coverage is to get a cell phone signal booster.
While these devices aren’t made to create a signal where there is absolutely none, they can improve weak signals to make them more usable.
This particular model is able to boost 4G LTE, 3G, and 2G cell phone signals.
It also supports all cellular devices, including tablets, notebooks, and Wi-Fi hotspots.
This particular model is able to boost 4G LTE, 3G, and 2G cell phone signals. It also supports all cellular devices, including tablets, notebooks, and Wi-Fi hotspots.
It’s also compatible with a number of popular U.S. and Canadian carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, Spring, T-Mobile, Straight Talk, U.S. Cellular, and others.
2. Wi-Fi Range Extender
Many RV parks and campgrounds love to advertise that their sites come with Wi-Fi. But not all of them really have a signal that’s worth anything when you connect to it.
In fact, I’ve found that many RV parks have less-than-satisfactory Wi-Fi connections, especially if you’re really trying to get work done or stream video.
But if you’re close enough to the Wi-Fi router, you can use a range extender to increase the range and strength of any Wi-Fi signal.
I used one of these to extend the Wi-Fi signal from one cabin to another in Costa Rica and it worked perfectly.
This particular model is built to voer up to 2000 square feet and supports Internet speeds up to 300 Mbps.
3. Automatic Directional Antenna
If you like to connect to over-the-air television channels in your RV, you probably make great use of your RV antenna.
But if you have one of those traditional antennas installed on your RV, you probably spend a few minutes turning it left and then back to the right to try to find the best reception possible.
If you want to save that time and make it much easier to find the best signal every time you pull into a new RV park, you should get an automatic directional antenna.
This particular model also comes with a Wi-Fi router so that you can also use it to receive Wi-Fi signals so that you can connect to your favorite streaming services.
4. Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot
If you require Internet connection when you’re not at an RV park, you’ll either have to rely on the hotspot on your smartphone or get a separate mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.
The good part about a hotspot for remote workers is that it allows you to keep separate track of your business Internet expenses rather than worrying about how to separate business use of your phone from personal use.
This particular mobile hotspot can provide Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps and you can connect up to 20 different devices to it.
It also boasts a 5040 milliamp-hour battery life and it can easily be recharged to provide continuous use if you need to work all day.
5. Roku Express Streaming Media Player
If you have a solid Wi-Fi connection and you want to get access to all of your favorite streaming and subscription services, you’ll need to connect a Roku Express Streaming Media Player to your RV television.
That includes things like Netflix, Sling TV, Apple TV, and Disney+.
The newest version of the Roku player is compatible with Alexa devices if you really want to turn your RV into a smart vehicle.
You’ll need to create an account when you plug your Roku device into your TV, but then you’ll be ready to go, provided you already have accounts with your favorite streaming services.
General And Miscellaneous RV Accessories
The remainder of the must haves on our list didn’t quite neatly fit into any of our other categories. So here are our final choices for general and miscellaneous must-have RV tools and gadgets.
1. Emergency First Aid Kit
The nature of RV camping is that you’re not always super close to medical care.
But we’ve found that the majority of injuries associated with RV camping are minor cuts and scrapes that don’t require extensive medical care. They might, however, require gauze or a bandage.
That’s why you should always have an emergency first aid kit stored somewhere in your rig.
It’ll help you avoid being unprepared if you or anyone you’re traveling with unexpectedly gets hurt.
This particular kit includes a total of 158 pieces contained within an easy-to-carry storage bag.
2. Heavy-Duty Collapsible Utility Wagon
When you travel in an RV, you’ll sometimes want to pack up a bunch of supplies and take them down the trail or onto the beach for a chill day.
But that can be a challenge depending on how much stuff you want to bring and how far you have to go.
That’s why many RVers elect to purchase one of these heavy-duty collapsible utility wagons and store them underneath their rig.
When you put one of these wagons together, it gives you a wheeled cart to pull your day-trip supplies to wherever you want to go.
And this particular wagon even has a small tray table with cup holders for once you get to your spot.
3. Colorful Can Koozies
Nobody likes a cold beverage when their spending so much time outside RV camping.
We’ll never judge you for your beverage of choice, but we might look sideways at you if you actually prefer to drink that beverage warm instead of frosty cold (afternoon/evening beverages only!).
Not only is a koozie a great way to keep your beverages cold when RV camping, but they’re also a fun way to express your personality.
And with this set of colorful can koozies, everyone can choose a unique design that best fits their unique nature.
4. Portable Air Compressor
A flat tire can really put a wrench in your RV travel plans. And if your tire is seriously compromised, you’ll obviously need to reach out to a towing service.
But if your tire pressure is just low (and your awesome tire pressure monitoring system tells you so), you’ll need a portable air compressor to easily add some air before you continue on your way.
This portable air compressor requires 12-volt DC power and has a built in pressure gauge so that you can make sure you don’t over-inflate your tires.
It also has a 25-foot air hose that allows you to reach all of your tires from a central location. And it can inflate to a maximum pressure of 150 PSI, which is much more than you’ll need for RV tires.
5. Inflatable Lounger
This is one of the most fun must-have RV accessories on our list.
If you’re getting tired of your regular camping chairs or even that cool RV hammock that you found earlier on our list, you might want to try one of these inflatable loungers.
They take up a very minimal amount of space underneath your RV and you actually just fill them up by swinging them through the air and then sealing them like you’d seal a kayaking dry bag.
Then you can just lie down and relax for up to five or six hours (you’ll need to inflate it again after that!).
6. Basket Hitch Cargo Carrier
If you don’t opt for a bike rack and you’re not towing a vehicle, then a basket hitch cargo carrier is a great way to add storage space to your RV.
This accessory is more common for smaller RVs and cab-over tampers, but it does provide a great spot for strapping a couple large plastic storage bins to the back of your vehicle.
This hitch cargo carrier has a 500-pound capacity and fits standard two-inch hitch receivers.
It has six-inch-high walls around the entire basket and offers storage dimensions of 60 inches long by 24 inches wide.
It also features an angled shank that provides additional ground clearance so you don’t have to worry about it scraping on the ground.
7. Gutter Spout Extenders
If you’re interested in maintaining the exterior of your RV in order to keep its resale value as high as possible, you’ll definitely be interested in this must have RV accessory.
Most older RVs have gutter spouts that don’t extend away from the sides of your rig. That means all the dirt and gunk draining off your roof runs straight down the side of your RV.
In many cases, this ends up leaving streaks or unsightly stains that can be hard to remove once they’ve been there for several years.
In some cases, even the best RV fiberglass waxes aren’t enough to remove those stains.
That’s why you should just get a set of gutter spout extenders to keep those stains from happening in the first place!
8. Lithium Battery Jump Starter
Every vehicle needs to have a set of jumper cables just in case.
But not all jumper cables are created equal, and if you’re going in on jumper cables, you should think about getting something like a lithium battery jump starter.v
This accessory will allow you to jump-start your RV without needing power from another vehicle.
It contains a powerful, 2000 amp battery and it can provide up to 40 jumps on a single charge. It’s also compatible for up to 8-liter gasoline engines and 6-liter diesel engines.
9. Wheel Covers
The health of your RV’s tires depends on how well you take care of them.
And while you can’t help the damage and wear they receive while you’re on the road, you can absolutely protect them from unnecessary wear and sun exposure when you’re parked.
The best way to do so is to get a compatible set of wheel covers for all your RV tires.
These covers are UV-resistant so that the sidewalls of your tires don’t dry and crack if left in the sun.
And if you’re in need of advice on how to choose the right wheel covers for your rig, check out our article on the best RV wheel covers.
10. Holding Tank Treatment Drop-Ins
Experienced RVers might sometimes seem like they have sensitive noses.
But they’re simply trained to recognize when their RV holding tanks require treatment.
Every once in a while, you’ll need to drop something down your toilet to help clean out your RV’s black water tank.
There are liquid and drop-in solutions for treating your holding tank, but we prefer drop-ins because they come with zero risk of spilling when you’re not using them.
These drop-ins dissolve in your holding tank and help to reduce nasty odors. Plus, they are biodegradable so that you don’t have to worry about flushing them at your next dump station stop.
11. RV Standard Fuse Kit
Dealing with electrical issues in an RV can get frustrating quickly.
I’ve been there when that process necessitated scooting on my back to check the length of the undercarriage of my RV for gnawed or frayed wiring.
But other problems require much simpler solutions. Every RV has at least one fuse panel located somewhere inside the cabin.
Many actually have more than one because of the complexity of an RV’s electrical system.
But the easiest electrical issue to solve in an RV is a blown fuse. But you’ll only be able to replace that fuse if you keep a standard fuse kit on hand.
12. Power Inverter
Aside from all the other power-related solutions we offered for boondocking, many on-the-grid RVers simply prefer to keep a power inverter handy.
This can be a must-have RV accessory for older rigs that don’t come with USB ports in the cab for charging smartphones.
One of the best times to recharge your phone is while you’re driving. But you can only do that if your RV is compatible with modern smartphones.
That being said, many older RVs still have that reliable DC cigarette lighter. And when you plug a power inverter to that, you’ll then be able to plug your regular phone charger into that inverter to power up your device.
13. Portable Surge Protector
The quality of the electricity that you find at many RV parks and campgrounds can sometimes be questionable.
And if that power surges unexpectedly, it can cause major problems to your RV’s appliances and damage to your electrical system as a whole.
That’s why it’s always advisable to plug a surge protector into the power outlet at a site and then plug your RV’s 30 or 50 amp wire into that surge protector.
If you’re unsure of how to choose the right surge protector for your rig, check out our article on the best RV surge protectors, why you need one, and how to make the best choice for your rig.
14. Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
If you don’t have one of those modern RVs with a built-in outdoor entertainment system, you’ll need another way to play your favorite tunes while you’re lounging around the campsite.
And unless you still rely on one of those 1980’s boomboxes, you’ll probably want to invest in a Bluetooth speaker.
But because of the outdoor nature of RV camping, you’ll want to choose a speaker that can hold up in the elements.
A waterproof speaker is a great start, but you should also make sure your speaker can handle drops and guards against the ingress of dirt and fine debris.
This particular speaker also has a 100-foot range, which means it won’t cut out when you walk into your RV with your phone in your pocket.
15. State Sticker Map
Now that you have so many of the best RV must haves at your disposal, there’s really no limit to how far you can go.
And one of the best parts about RV travel in the United States is the sheer size of the country and how much there is to see out there.
It becomes a source of pride amongst full-time RVers to show off how many states they’ve visited so far.
But there are so many that it can be easy to lose track when you’ve been traveling for a number of years.
That’s why we recommend getting a state sticker map and adding a sticker every time you cross a new state line.
16. RV Shower Head Kit
If you’ve ever taken a shower in an RV, you already know that it’s much different than showering in a residential home.
The space is usually much smaller and the showerhead operation can also be quite different.
That’s why many RVers choose to upgrade their shower with a new RV showerhead kit.
This particular kit features an oxygenating shower head that actually adds oxygen to the water as it passes through the showerhead.
That translates to the same water pressure you’d enjoy with other shower heads, but it greatly reduces the overall amount of water you’re using so that you keep your water tank fuller and your holding tank emptier.
17. Electronic Steel Safe
Fortunately, most RV parks and campgrounds are known as very safe places to spend the night.
But we’d be lying if we said that the chances of someone breaking into your RV while you’re away are zero percent.
And if that does happen, it’s best to be prepared by keeping your most prized valuables in an electronic steel safe.
This particular safe is designed for RV use and allows you to customize your locking combination with a code from three to eight digits.
It also comes with two manual override keys if you forget your combination or simply want to gain access to it quickly without worrying about punching in the code.
FAQs
What are the most common travel trailer parts that need to be replaced?
Travel trailers are a great way to explore the open road, but they do require regular maintenance and repairs. The most common travel trailer parts that need to be replaced on travel trailers are the tires, brakes, and suspension components.
Tires are one of the most important parts of any vehicle, and travel trailers are no exception. Over time, tires can wear down due to age or improper use, leading to reduced traction and an increased risk of blowouts. It’s important to check your trailer’s tire pressure regularly and replace them when necessary.
Brake systems also need regular attention in order to ensure safe operation. Brake pads can wear down over time, leading to decreased stopping power and increased wear on other brake components.
What are the best accessories for a camper trailer?
For those who own a camper trailer, there are a few must-have camper trailer accessories that will help make your outdoor experience more enjoyable.
Invest in a good quality tarp or cover for your camper. This will protect your trailer from the elements and keep it looking great for years to come. You’ll also want to pick up some tie-downs so you can secure your trailer when you’re on the road.
Consider adding some extra storage options like shelves and bins to keep your gear organized while on the go. These items can help maximize space inside your camper and make it easier to find what you need when you need it. With these essential accessories, you’ll be ready for any adventure!
What are the most popular RV trailer accessories?
RV trailer accessories can make a huge difference in the overall comfort and convenience of your camping experience. Some of the most popular RV trailer accessories include awnings, solar panels, and bike racks.
Awnings are great for providing shade and protection from the elements while you’re camping. They come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit any size or type of RV trailer. Solar panels are also great for providing power when you’re out on the road, allowing you to stay connected without having to rely on generators or other sources of electricity. Finally, bike racks are essential for those who want to explore their surroundings while on the road – they make it easy to transport your bikes safely and securely.
What are the essential supplies for a travel trailer trip?
When planning a trip in a travel trailer, there are some essential travel trailer supplies that you should have on hand. First and foremost, you should make sure to bring all the necessary camping equipment. This includes items like tents, sleeping bags, and cooking utensils.
You will also need plenty of food and water for your trip. It’s best to plan ahead and stock up on non-perishable food items that can be easily transported in a cooler. You should also bring along any necessary medications or first aid supplies that you may need while on the road.
What are the most important camping trailer parts?
The frame is the backbone of the trailer and made it’s made from steel or aluminum. Make sure that your frame is strong enough to support the weight of all your camping gear.
The axle and suspension system are also essential components. They help ensure stability and smoothness when traveling on rough terrain. Check if your axle and suspension are in good condition before setting out on a camping trip.
Remember you will need a reliable hitch system to connect your trailer to your vehicle. This will include a coupler, drawbar, safety chains, and other accessories depending on the type of trailer you have.
Conclusion
Outfitting and organizing your RV with all of the must have RV and travel trailer accessories can sometimes be a stressful process.
But we’d invite you to relax and have some fun with it because adding to your RV can significantly simplify your living situation and improve your ability to enjoy new and unique RV adventures.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed this comprehensive list of RV must haves and we wish you the best of luck outfitting your rig for all of your upcoming adventures. From there, enjoy the ease and comfort of traveling and living in your new RV!
