Congratulations! You’ve now got an RV, and you’re ready to explore the wilderness. However, no matter how much you’ve spent on your new ride, you still need to gather some RVing essentials before hitting the road.
People who’ve never gone on a road trip in an RV might be unsure of the equipment they’ll have to prepare. After all, it’s slightly more complicated than stuffing a suitcase with clothes and getting on a plane. The list of travel essentials when you’re taking an RV is different since you’re basically driving a house on wheels.
So which supplies are a must for your RV journey? Aside from ensuring that you have a durable RV cover for when you park your vehicle under the sun, see to it that you have the following items so your trips are stress- and hassle-free.
1. Portable Ultra-Quiet Generator
A trailer is not complete without a generator to keep electronics charged. If yours is an older model, you can first research how to deal with noisy RV generators. If the tips you find end up failing, you might want to consider getting a new generator. Look for options that will suit your unique needs and current budget. But if you’re not worried about the price tag, you can opt for a model with cool features like a remote start function.
2. Sewer Hose
Some RV parks haven’t been designed well, so in order to reach the dump station, you may have to stretch all 20 feet of your sewer hose just to reach it. This is why it’s always better to have a hose that seems too long than have to deal with one that’s too short.
In the absence of an adequate composting toilet, you need to have a sewer hose on hand. While it’s not the most enjoyable part of RV travel, making sure the vehicle is as clean as possible is necessary.
3. Walkie-Talkies
Two-way radios come in handy when traveling in separate vehicles. Whether you’re planning to convert your car into a camper or go for an RV, these gadgets will prove useful in many situations. This is especially true when you’re in the mountains or out in the country where there is no cellphone service, preventing you from making phone calls or sending text messages. They’re also great because you can choose from several channels to use, allowing you to contact more than one walkie-talkie.
4. Water Hose
Your camper will need to have a dedicated drinking water hose so you can get water from a city water line. Such hoses come in various lengths depending on where the spigot is. Sometimes the water source won’t be as near as you’d like it to be, so be prepared with a longer hose: 25 feet is usually sufficient. If possible, keep two 25-foot hoses with you at all times.
5. Surge Protector
A surge protector has an electrical management system (EMS) component protecting your RV’s electrical system from overvoltage and undervoltage by automatically cutting the power as needed. This is among the most useful RV accessories out there, so it’s recommended not to go without it.
While it may seem expensive, the EMS monitors your RV and turns off the power when issues arise. This way, you can prevent fires in an efficient way.
6. Holding Tank Treatment
This is a must-have if you don’t want unpleasant odors to accumulate in your RV. The substance helps break down holding tank matter and ensures that no clogs occur. Equally important are its deodorizing properties. Some RVs smell bad even when they’re empty, so it’s good to have holding tank treatments in stock. However, some people think it’s optional, but it won’t hurt to give it a try, right?
On the other hand, black tank treatments simply prevent clogging, but they make for an excellent preventative measure as well.
7. RV Doormat
If you don’t place a doormat by the entrance of your RV, you’ll be bringing dust and debris into the vehicle day in and day out. It’s better to have a large outdoor doormat that’ll minimize the need to sweep the floor. Although this doesn’t cost a lot of money by any means, it could make a big difference in your RV’s interior.
8. Tire Pressure Monitoring System
When driving for hours, you may forget to keep an eye on your tires and have to face costly repairs that could’ve been prevented. If your RV gets damaged due to tire issues, this may cause more problems down the road. You have to know ahead of time whether your tire pressure is declining before it becomes unmanageable. Many RVers overlook this critical factor and regret it later on.
Conclusion
Those are just some of the essential items any RV owner shouldn’t travel without. There are many other RV accessories on the market, but it’s a good idea to start with these ones in particular as they’re useful and easy to find. If you prefer luxury glamping, there are items for that kind of experience as well.
