12+ Must Have RV Essentials For New RV Owners

12+ Must Have RV Essentials For New RV Owners

by | Products We Love, RV Tips | 14 comments

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.

must haves rv essentials

​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!

must haves rv essentials
12+ must have RV essentials for newbies
Winter RV Living | Survive An Overnight Freeze in an RV

Winter RV Living | Survive An Overnight Freeze in an RV

by | Products We Love, RV Tips

Winter RV Living | Surviving an overnight freeze during the winter in an RV while also living full-time, was a first for us in November 2018.

We live in Fort Worth, Texas, so while we don’t experience the snow very often, we do get below 32 degrees.

I searched the internet on advice on how to prepare your RV for an overnight freeze, and I just couldn’t find much.

I did learn how to winterize your RV if you’re going to be storing, but not if you’re living in one.

So, I am writing this for those living Full-Time or staying in an RV during the winter who have the same questions I had the day we had a freeze warning.

Questions like:

  • What do I do?
  • How to keep my RV tanks and pipes from freezing?
  • Should I get more propane or space heaters or both?

1. Shut off the water and clear the pipes

Our freezes are usually just an overnight affair here in Fort Worth, Texas.

So, once it warms up the next day we don’t have to worry about our RV pipes or hoses freezing. Therefore, shutting the water off while we sleep isn’t a big issue.

We also made sure we had water bottles or jugged water in the fridge filled and ready to go.

So, the night before (since we did not have a heated hose) we completely shut off our water and detached the RV’s water hose.

We then make sure our lines and RV pipes are free of water by turning on the faucets inside to clear the lines.

We don’t worry about the water in the water heater because it’s electric and stays warm.

If you do turn off your water heater, the best suggestion is to release the water to prevent freezing and ruining your hot water tank.

Another option is to purchase a heated water hose and some styrofoam to cover your pipes for extra insulation.

A good practice is to keep your cabinets open in the kitchen and bathroom. This allows the RV’s sink pipes to stay warm.

If you don’t have a heated water hose, you can get one right here at Amazon! So worth it! 


2. Released the Black and Grey tanks

The next thing we did was released our RV’s tanks and kept our valves closed.

Now, if your tanks are 1/3 full, and have a heating element or heating pads that keep them from freezing then it’s okay if you don’t release them.

However, I always like to be safe then sorry so since we could release them, we did!

3. Stock up on Propane and Buy a Space Heater

After shutting off the water and releasing the tanks, next we checked our propane tanks.

(We actually ran out of propane right before the freeze and kind of freaked, so we learned this one the hard way.)

Luckily, my brother-in-law had an extra tank that we could use for the night. Therefore, we didn’t have to run to the store.

So, lesson learned, when it’s cold and your Winter RV Living you always want to have extra propane.

Another option if you don’t want to rack up a high bill of propane during the winter RV living is to buy a space heater or two.

Our RV has an electric fireplace, but even that doesn’t put off enough to heat the whole RV when it is below 32 degrees outside. So, having an extra space heater won’t hurt and will save you money on propane.

The best space heaters we have found are this Ontel Handy Heater and the Trustech Oscillating Ceramic Tower Heater.

The Ontel Handy Heater plugs right into the wall and is great for bedrooms or bathrooms. It saves so much space too!


4. Get a Dehumidifier

Another thing is the condensation!

With the cold air outside and the warm air inside, this causes condensation on the windows. Over time, if not properly dealt with can cause mold issues.

Therefore, purchasing a dehumidifier is very handy and helps prevent future mold issues. This is a must when your winter RV living.

Also, we love using the Arm & Hammer moisture absorbers.

We place these in the bedrooms, closet, bathroom, and can be put pretty much anywhere.




5. Insulate your RV windows

To keep the warm in and winter out, insulating your windows is recommended.

This can be done with bubble wrap, styrofoam, insulation boards, and some velcro or tape. This will also help with the condensation too that can accumulate on your windows.

For a quick buy, you can just check out the local hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot.


6. Purchase an RV Skirt

RV skirts are great, especially if you are going to experience snow or freezing temperatures.

These skirts provide protection from wind, snow, debris blowing underneath, and insulting the underbelly of your RV to help further prevent your tanks and pipes from freezing!


7. We Bundled Up!

And last, but not least…BLANKETS!

Stay bundled up with blankets, socks, warm clothes, and yes… even gloves! RV’s walls are thin and having extra blankets to stay warm during winter RV living is a must!

Our favorite blankets are wool blankets specifically because that is one of the warmest materials.

Wool blankets are great for indoor snuggles or outdoor sitting by the fire. 😊

Also, Don’t forget the Coffee, Hot Tea, or Hot Chocolate for extra warmth!!


Final Thoughts

So, let’s recap on what we did to keep our RV from freezing and how we stayed warm during our Texas Freeze.

  1. Turn the water off and clear water lines. (Unless you have a heated water hose. I don’t recommend keeping the water faucet dripping because it can fill up your grey tank)
  2. Release Tanks
  3. Purchase Extra Propane or a Space Heater
  4. Purchase a Dehumidifier
  5. Insulate your Windows
  6. Purchase an RV Skirt
  7. Bundle up! Wool Blankets, socks, warm clothes! Stay Warm!!

I hope you enjoyed reading and I hope this helps answer some questions on staying warm while winter RV living full-time.

While we make these suggestions, we are not responsible for any mishaps, freezing pipes, hoses, or fires.

We do recommend you use safety measures and read your RV’s owner’s manual.

If you have any other tips that have helped you during a Freeze, please leave us a comment!

Don’t forget to follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter!

Pin For Later! 🙂

Winter RV Living fulltime (1)

Our Honeymoon at The Beloved Hotel (Honest Review)

Our Honeymoon at The Beloved Hotel (Honest Review)

by | Destinations, Hotels, Reviews, Travel | 2 comments

Our honeymoon trip was truly an amazing and memorable experience. Staying at the Beloved Hotel was like being treated like royalty. This Hotel is an all-inclusive adult-only dream vacation that didn’t cost a fortune. We were blessed to have this trip gifted to us by Matthew’s Father. The total trip cost including airfare was less than $2500. For a week-long vacation with spa day and airfare, the cost and value were unbeatable for us.

After our amazing wedding of spending time with our family and friends as we became one, we expected the honeymoon to be the cherry on top. We had been waiting for this much-needed vacation for a long time!

Plus, this was Matthew’s first time out of the country! So, I was even more excited for him to experience a different culture.

As we arrived at the Airport in Cancun we easily located our shuttle which was also included in our bundled purchase. The ride was a little cramped, but that didn’t bother us! We enjoyed a shuttled ride with other honeymooners.

As we got out of the van, there was staff waiting to grab our bags as well as hand us a nice cool damp towel to clean our hands and a celebratory champagne. First impressions are everything and they either make or break your entire stay. Our first impression of our honeymoon stay at The Beloved was impeccable.

Check in was a breeze, the staff was attentive and present. Our room wasn’t ready when we arrived, so we decided to explore and have a nice lunch overlooking the ocean. As we ate and explored they held our bags for us. I could already tell this trip was going to be relaxing and after planning a huge wedding, much needed.

Walking through the resort, you can really tell they pay attention to detail and cater to couples celebrating their honeymoons or anniversaries. All couples celebrating received a welcome banner across their doors as seen in the image. The details truly make it memorable and exciting to be celebrating.

Our stay consisted of many days on the beach, delicious all you can eat meals, and continuous flow of drinks. We played life-size chess, kayaked and snorkeled in the ocean. We enjoyed a beautiful relaxing couples therapeutic spa day that was complimentary with our honeymoon trip.

Our favorite night was the special 4-course meal prepared just for us on the beach. Matthew’s father happened to visit the same resort with his wife about a month before and made nice with the Manager. Therefore, when we arrived they had already been preparing a romantic beach dinner for our last night to enjoy at Matthew’s father’s request.

Even without that special dinner, the experience was more than we could imagine and we would go back in a heartbeat. If you are looking for a place to honeymoon, enjoy an anniversary, or just need a vacation; we recommend The Beloved.

Our opinions are our own. People may have other experiences with products, services, or places we recommend. We only recommend products, services, or places we have visited and enjoyed ourselves.

RV With Dogs – What to Expect

RV With Dogs – What to Expect

by | Dogs, RV Tips

Traveling in an RV with Dogs is an experience all on its own. As my husband and I started the RV journey we had two dogs, Piper and Finley.

We are now living in an RV full time with three dogs because we adopted  Blaze from my husband’s sister.

With our experience with dogs and living in an RV, there are some things we would like to share.

But first, I would like to say that Dogs are incredible animals. The inspiration to write this post came from complaints I saw on Facebook that somehow pets ruin the RV experience.

Personally, I disagree with that statement because I believe pets are comforting, funny, and intelligent.

Our three fur babies are apart of our family!  With that being said, if we could take them absolutely everywhere with us, we would! However, they are not service animals and do not have a license to do so. So when we do travel, we try to always make sure that parks allow them to come along.

When it comes to living in such a small space with pets, I would be lying if I didn’t say it is an adjustment, not only for you but also for the pets themselves. Luckily, our dogs are pretty resilient and happy as long as they get to play, sleep, and fed twice a day.

So let’s get into it. What should you expect when moving into a small RV with your pet or pets and travel?

1. There will be hair!

I know, I know. This one is kind of a given but in all seriousness, with the space being so tiny in an RV the hair accumulates a lot quicker than in a house. I can’t tell you how much hair we accumulate in a single day, but if you didn’t like sweeping before, you’ll hate it even more.

We have to sweep our RV almost every day. We even wash/change our bedding twice a week because our little one, Finley, is a night cuddler and sleeps at our feet.

2. They Will Bark

It’s an inevitable event that happens when they see people walking around the RV park. Piper, our lab, sees a Squirrel and will whine. Blaze, our Ball Boy, barks when a doorbell sound goes off on the TV.

Whatever it is, they will bark and we do our best to correct their behavior but we understand dogs will be dogs. If you have a barker, the best thing we have found is to distract them with a toy or bone. This will help prevent them from the desire to stare out the window.

3. Leashes are a Necessity!

I can’t express how important it is to keep your dogs on a leash. This is pretty much a necessity mainly for the safety of the dog. There is no telling what other animals are out and about that could hurt your animal if they get loose. Many RV parks and national parks do require that dogs have to be on leashes.

Trust me, this is one area I struggled with when training my dogs. I tried everything to teach my dogs to walk easily on a leash, and I mean everything, but the only thing that works is the Gentle Leader. With the Gentle Leaders, I no longer have issues taking all three dogs out together at the same time. I know that if they see a squirrel I will not get pulled down to the ground.

4. Pick up the Poo!

Yes! This is a must and a foreseen event that has to happen when being a dog owner. Having poo bags is a necessity because who wants to walk outside in a nice RV park and step in dog poop? Picking up your dog’s poop is just common courtesy as well as doing your part to keep areas nice and clean.

5. Toys, Toys, and More Bones?

We have ropes, balls, and of course bones for our pups. The bones especially, keep the three occupied when we want and need them to be quiet. When you have people walking around or animals scurrying in the trees, the bones allow for some peace and quiet.

6. Exercise!

Dogs need their exercise and when RVing that means leashes and long walks if there is no dog park. RV’s are small spaces and any dog of any size can get cramped and have bursts of energy that needs to be released. Walks in the morning, afternoon, and evening become normal.

I believe a well-behaved dog is a tired dog!

There are also other methods to give a dog more outside time like portable fences and temporary tie outs. However, we personally never let our dogs stay outside unless we are out there with them.

 

7. Dirt & Mud … oh My!

Along with the dog hair, there will be a ton of dirt that gets tracked in, however, this isn’t only the dog’s fault. Our shoes bring in the dirt just as much as the dogs. Also, rainy days suck when living in an RV, especially when you are in an area that gets really muddy. It’s not only taking the dogs out but also having to clean them off and wipe their paws every time they come back in.

There you have it! These are our top 7 things to expect when RVing with dogs, whether you’re just going for the weekend or plan on full timing it like us. We hope this brings some insight into what it’s like to have dogs in an RV.

Our three fur babies are apart of our family. We will sweep every day and buy more and more toys as long as they are happy dogs. Dogs and other pets live very short lives and giving them the best life we can is what we strive for. Like we mentioned before, If places or hiking trails do not allow dogs, we skip it and move on. Let us know if you have any other suggestions on how you RV with dogs!

Pin To save for later

Sign up today for our monthly newsletter!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

By Signing up, you are subscribing to receive Exploring New Sights email newsletters. You may unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please review our Privacy Policy. 

Pin It on Pinterest