This post may contain affiliate links. Exploring new sights is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases linking to Amazon.com and affiliated links.
Must-Have RV Essentials | Owning an RV is such an amazing adventure to embark on.
According to the RV Industry Association, it is estimated that approximately 10 million Americans own RVs. That is an impressive number and it is continuously growing.
So, you are not alone in your RVing journey!
If you are looking to purchase or already own one there are definitely items that are needed that do not come with your RV purchase.
Items like leveler blocks and sewer hoses that you just cannot camp or live without as an RV owner.
Now, when we first purchased our RV we had a lot to figure out. However, after the first couple of weeks of living full-time in our RV, we quickly realized that we were missing some much-needed items.
Must have RV essentials that have now made our living and traveling so much easier, safer, and cleaner!
Therefore, with our knowledge, trials, and expertise as full-timers, we put together a list of accessories we have purchased.
We also added explanations on why they are necessary for the RV journey!
So, whether you made your purchase for weekend camping or you are going to be living full-time like us, this list is everything you will need to get started!
Leveler blocks
These are a must! We figured this out the hard way.
In our first month of living full-time, the RV was un-level. It was frustrating, to say the least.
We purchased these leveler blocks and made sure on our next site we leveled the tires first.
You can also use the blocks under the stabilizers to keep from overextension as well as the front jack.
Wheel Chocks
These are a safety must-have RV essential to prevent any accidental movements.
Many places actually require that wheel chocks are used when you set up an RV or Trailer.
Power extension cord
The 50amp power extension cord was the first item we purchased after buying our RV.
Where we were parked we needed about 70ft of extension and the 35ft cord that came with just wasn’t enough.
Plus, it is always nice to have extra in case one surges out.
Amp Converter
Every RV Park is going to have different amp plugin options. Many times it is either 30 amps or 50amps.
Having a converter is going to save you a trip to the store and allow you to stay at more parks. Our RV takes 50 amps, so we have the 50amp Female/30amp Male.
Drinking-Water Hose
This type of hose is a must to have because the material in a regular garden hose can contain unsafe materials/minerals for drinking.
The Drinking Water Hose is BPA and Lead-Free for safer water consumption.
Water Pressure Regulator
Water regulators help control the city water pressure and protects your RV’s Pipes from busting.
They regulate the pressure to being a safe 50 to 55 psi.
Water Purifier
We love this because you never know what the water will be like going to camp to camp.
Therefore, a purifier to hook up to your hose before the water comes into your tanks or lines is a nice safety measure for your tanks as well as drinking.
Mattress topper or new mattress that fits in a RV
Let’s be honest, the mattresses that are provided with the RV (unless you custom order) is extremely hard and uncomfortable.
Whether you live full-time or camping on the weekends, no one wants to sleep on a rock hard mattress. Therefore, purchasing an RV Mattress topper was a must-have RV essential for us!
Check out our post on Tips for Making Your RV Bedroom Cozy & Comfy + Lucid Mattress Review
Dehumidifier
I can’t tell you how many stories I have read about mold in an RV due to humidity!
Many times the mold forms near windows and beds especially when it’s cold outside and warm inside.
A Dehumidifier can help prevent the build-up of moisture and further prevent mold growth. This is a Must-Have RV Essential for us!
Sewer Hose
Honestly, no one with an RV should be camping without one. A sewer hose is a must-have RV essential for safety and sanitary reasons!
A sewer hose is designed to hook up to the black and grey tanks output pipes and then hook the other end to a dump station pipe.
It prevents disgusting mishaps and allows one to properly release the tanks’ waste.
Tank Treatments
Honestly, we have no idea we needed this until the horrendous smells after taking a shower or dumping fumigated our RV.
We tried many methods to help with the smell including the GEO method of Dawn and Fabric softener. This does help, but I also highly recommend Happy Camper. It helps break down the waste as well as combat the smells.
Check our our review RV Tank Treatment: Comparing GEO Method to Happy Camper
Decomposing Toilet Paper
You can buy special RV toilet paper or another kind like SCOTT but whatever you decide you want to use decomposing because it prevents build-up and blockage.
I have read horror stories of RV toilets and black tanks clogging up due to toilet paper blockage. Therefore, the soft fluffy toilet paper like Charmin is NOT the best to use in an RV.
Air Compressor
When traveling, this is a must-have RV essential!
Before leaving a camp checking the air in the tires should be a priority and having a portable air compressor available is extremely convenient.
Power Surge Protector
Surge protector can help prevent your RV’s electrical system and appliances from frying. This can be due to either a badly wired power supply at a campsite or Lightning.
Tire Covers
Tire Covers prevent the tire’s rubber from sun exposure that causes them to lose the moisture in the tire’s rubber, also known as Dry Rot!
Having Dry Rot in your tires can be a disaster on the road. A great preventative measure is to have tire covers, especially if you are going to be camped without moving for a while.
No Sway/Weight Distribution Bars
These are a MUST HAVE RV ESSENTIAL if you have a Travel Trailer/Bumper pull. Our RV is a 34 ft bumper pull, and having these No Sway Bars was a non-negotiable for us.
The guys at Route66 in Oklahoma set them up for us because having them properly installed is extremely important for them to work correctly.
This was the best and most important purchase to make when towing a Travel Trailer. The No Sway Bars prevent the trailer from swaying by gusts of wind while driving, which further prevents overturning your entire trailer and truck.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! We really hope this list of must-have RV essentials provides some great insight on items that are very useful when owning an RV, whether you are full-time or a seasonal/weekend traveler.
All of these items are a must for us because they have made our lives of living in an RV easier, safer, and cleaner.
If you have any suggestions on great items you’ve found or are must-haves for living the RV lifestyle, please comment below!
We would love to hear from you!
Pin For Later!
Fantastic list! I just bought a travel trailer and I am in the process of cleaning it up and painting. I have no idea how anything works in the trailer but will probably buy most the items mentioned in your list. How did you figure everything out? My trailer is a 2004 25′ Puma and it did not come with any literature to explain things. I have never even been in a trailer before this – so I am in for a huge learning curve.
Honestly, we learned as we went. Living full-time it was a quicker process for us. We also joined a bunch of RV Facebook groups and read blogs about RVing. 🙂 Happy RVing to you! Also, I would check Palomino’s website for a manual. Our’s is digital and had to download our manual.
Really good list! The only one we haven’t needed at all is a dehumidifier – not sure if it’s because of the part of the country we’re in or the design of our RV (four season fifth wheel) but from what I hear, we’ve been lucky!
Thank you so much, Ashley! Our RV is four season too, definitely the way to go! Hopefully, you won’t need one! 🙂 Ours is mainly in the bedroom, for some reason when it’s raining a lot it can get kinda musky in there!
Love this list! Definitely necessities for having an RV.
Thank you, Amber! Glad you find this list helpful! 🙂
Love your tip about the extension cord. We had a heck of a time finding one after arriving at a park and discovering the post was on the other side of the RV and we had to run the cord underneath and up a hill.
Yes! We had to rush order ours from Amazon because finding that kind of cord is not easy! We called multiple places, and no one had them. Thank goodness for Amazon!
This is a great list. We have 2 motorhomes and rent one out. We’ve found that a lot of people like to rent before they buy and from our experience, many will benefit from your list. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Cindy!
I wish I had this list when we bought our RV a few years ago. I think we ended up buying everything on this list! This is a great list! I encourage everyone that is buying an RV to purchase everything on this list because you will soon. It makes life much easier when you are camping.
Hi Becky! Thank you for sharing your experience. I am glad you found this list helpful! All the items definitely make RVing easier! 🙂
This is a great list! We bought our first camper last summer and and we definitely need some of these items! We have already figured out the hard way why some of these are so imperative. Thanks for making this!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy this list has helped!