Outfitting a New RV – A Comprehensive Guide of What We Use

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Last Updated on March 16, 2024 by Bonnie

So, you bought a camper. And now you are outfitting a new RV! Seriously, get excited because you are joining a great community and there are some seriously awesome times ahead of you! But first, you need to outfit your RV. Yep, that means getting a lot of gear. Don’t worry! Bonnie and I have you covered.

We bought our first camper back in March 2016, took two weekend-long break-in trips in it, and then took it on the road for 38 days straight. We have now spent the past seven summers taking our camper all over the country and this is the stuff we use and love.

Read about our experience buying our first RV.

Pulling our camper over Powder River Pass in Wyoming
Pulling our camper over Powder River Pass in Wyoming.

Instead of leaving you to find out what works best for the RV and go search for a place to buy it, I have compiled a gear list for you and linked it all to Amazon. In general, we shop a lot at Amazon. We have Amazon Prime for two-day shipping and we have the Amazon Prime Rewards Credit Card, both of which we love. When you combine the two, you get 5% off your purchases at Amazon and the added bonus of 2% back at gas stations.

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our Review Policy  for more information.)

Outfitting a New RV: Exterior Gear

When it comes to outfitting a new RV, I have broken up our guide into two sections: one concerning the outside of the camper and the other part dealing with the inside of the camper.

This section covers all of the stuff you need to tow your camper and set it up at the campground, including hitch, levelers, and utility connections.

Hitch

Your hitch is one of the most important pieces of gear you can get and keeping everything about your hitch working properly is one of the best ways of reducing headaches.

Hitches for a travel trailer are very much a matter of personal preference. I suggest most folks towing a travel trailer should get some sort of weight-distributing hitch with sway control. It helps keep the back end of your truck from sagging and keeps the trailer from swaying all over the place.

Husky Centerline Hitch
Husky Centerline Hitch

I use the Husky Centerline TS because it is fairly easy to use, does not need to be disconnected when making tight turns and has worked like a champ for us.

That said, there is plenty of discussion in RV forums on other brands out there. The reason I have this particular hitch? This is what the dealer I bought my camper from carried and I got them to toss it in for the price of the camper! After more than seven years of towing with it, I recommend it.

Center Line TS Weight Distribution Hitch - 2-5/16' Ball - 12,000lbs
Center Line TS Weight Distribution Hitch – 2-5/16″ Ball – 12,000lbs
LIGHTER WEIGHT – Significantly lighter weight than competing products; PRE-INSTALLED HITCh BALL – Hitch ball is factory pre-installed and properly torqued

Gear for Your Hitch

Hitch Lube

Regardless of which hitch you get, get some hitch lube! I use Reese Towpower Hitch Ball Lube. It reduces noise and keeps everything moving smoothly on the various components of the hitch. Be sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions on what to lube!

Reese Towpower 58117 Hitch Ball Lube
Reese Towpower 58117 Hitch Ball Lube
Multiple use jar; Water resistant; Reduces ball wear; Extends coupler life; Fights corrosion

Hitch Ball Cover

Once you lube up your ball, you are gonna need to cover it to keep from smearing the lube on your clothes, etc. You can read all the innuendo you want into that comment, too. My wife and I call this thing the ball condom.

Another, easier and cheaper trick is to grab hold of the hitch ball with a dirty, rubber-gloved hand. While you are holding on to the ball, pull the glove off your hand and onto the ball. That will cover the ball and prevent getting grease everywhere.

Leather Work Gloves

Work gloves are mighty handy for keeping your hands clean and not torn up. Trust me on this, you are gonna want leather work gloves when it comes to dealing with the hitch, among other things. The hitch is heavy and it will tear up your hands, plus the grease is, well… greasy.

Wells Lamont mens Leather Work Gloves with Wrist Closure DIY Yardwork Construction Motorcycle Large Wells Lamont, Saddletan, Large Pack of 1 US
Wells Lamont mens Leather Work Gloves with Wrist Closure DIY Yardwork Construction Motorcycle Large Wells Lamont, Saddletan, Large Pack of 1 US
100% GRAIN COWHIDE: Superior abrasion and puncture resistance; DURABLE LEATHER: The reinforced leather palm patch increases overall wear and durability

Hitch locks

So, you bought your beautiful new trailer and expensive hitch… Are you really going to leave them unlocked when you park it? Nah, didn’t think so. We replaced our locks with this two-piece system. Why? Because one key is better than two keys!

Master Lock 2848DAT Key Alike Set with Receiver and Coupler Latch Locks, 2-Piece Set
Master Lock 2848DAT Key Alike Set with Receiver and Coupler Latch Locks, 2-Piece Set
LOCK APPLICATION: Best used for vehicles, trailers, and RV hitch locks

Gear for Your Tires

Tires keep you rolling (pun intended) and you both need to take care of them and prepare for their failure.

Tire Gauge and Lug Wrench

First and foremost, get yourself a decent tire gauge. You will need it, period. Next, get yourself a lug wrench that will actually generate enough torque to unscrew a lug nut. This is what I have in my truck right now.

Gorilla Automotive 1721 Telescoping Power Wrench - Standard Socket
Gorilla Automotive 1721 Telescoping Power Wrench – Standard Socket
Telescoping handle extends to 21 inches for maximum leverage; Compacts to 14 inches for easy storage
$25.57 Amazon Prime

Trailer-Aid

We tried to use our Trailer-Aid and were a bit disappointed. While it got close, it did not quite get the other wheel off the ground when changing a tire. This was due to the spacing of our axles. If you have a Keystone camper, as we do, you might want to skip the Trailer-Aid. If you don’t have such widely-spaced axels, this would work like a charm. Still, we highly suggest testing it before relying upon it.

An alternative we found is using a LOT of Lynx Levelers to get the wheel high enough off the ground to change it. It is the same concept and we were able to get it high enough to change out the tire. A Trailer-Aid would be easier if you can make it work for your trailer.

Safety Markers

These are simple reflective caution triangles you use if you break down on the side of the road. It’s a small price to warn someone at night before they plow into your trailer.

Deflecto Early Warning Triangle Kit
Deflecto Early Warning Triangle Kit
Be seen and stay safe; Fluorescent orange triangles with red reflectors are highly visible day or night
$48.00

Tire Covers

If you are going to be storing your RV for any period of time, you want to protect the tires with covers. These go on easy and fold up just as easily. They protect your tires from UV damage while they are being stored.

Sale
Camco 45322 Vinyl RV Wheel & Tire Protector, 1 pair (27 inches-29 inches , White)
Camco 45322 Vinyl RV Wheel & Tire Protector, 1 pair (27 inches-29 inches , White)
Fits tires from 27″-29″; Durable and compact; Buckle and strap design for easy installation and removal
$30.11 Amazon Prime

Chocks

These are simple, yellow chocks that will keep your trailer from rolling. Get four of them (two packs of two). You can get more robust chocks if you feel you need them but we have never needed more than these for keeping the camper in one place.

Leveling Gear

It does not matter how much the campground advertises having level sites, they likely won’t be. You will need to level your trailer at least a little pretty much every time you camp. If you’re like us and don’t have a self-leveling system, that means you’re doing it manually.

Sometimes, it will be easy. Sometimes, it will be hard. The gizmos below will help make the process better.

Level

Ok, so the first time you level your camper, you are going to want to use a nice carpenter’s level to make sure it is squared away. Once you do that, stick these bubble levels on the outside of your camper, near the front. They will tell you how many inches the camper needs to come up to be level.

Sale
Hopkins Towing Solutions 08525 Graduated Level, Regular
Hopkins Towing Solutions 08525 Graduated Level, Regular
Designed to take the guesswork out of RV leveling; Markings indicate how many inches are required to raise or lower a trailer or vehicle
$12.03 Amazon Prime

Lynx Levelers, Caps and Stop n’ Chocks

Once you figured out how much you need to level, lay these plastic leveling blocks down and drive the trailer up onto them. The cool thing is one layer of them is supposed to be one inch on the bubble level. It isn’t always perfect but it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process.

I know some folks will haul 1”x4” scraps to level with. I am not a fan of using 1″x4″s for a few reasons: 1) Lynx Levelers are plastic and won’t rot and 2) they work like LEGOs and won’t slide.

I suggest getting three bags of 10 of these. We started with two bags and ran out in a couple of places leveling our camper and supporting the stabilizing jacks our first year. Since then, three bags has done the trick.

Lynx Caps go on top of the levelers to protect the “LEGO” connectors. They are great as stabilizer pads and can be used by themselves for leveling small amounts.

That said, with the above levelers and a cap, the “one level for one inch off” rule may not be quite exact. With a little practice, you’ll learn to read the gauge and determine what you need. Get two packs of four of the Lynx Caps.

Stop n’ Chocks link into the Lynx Leveler to secure your trailer on the levels. Get one pack of two. I had a total of four and never used the other two. I ended up giving the other two away.

You can even use Lynx Levelers to help you change a tire!

Sale
Tri-Lynx 00015 Lynx Levelers - 10 Pack , Orange
Tri-Lynx 00015 Lynx Levelers – 10 Pack , Orange
Lynx Recreational Vehicle Leveling Kit, 10/Pack; The levelers can also be used as a support base for other stabilizing equipment
$33.18 Amazon Prime
Sale
Tri-Lynx 00019 Lynx Cap - 4 Pack , Orange
Tri-Lynx 00019 Lynx Cap – 4 Pack , Orange
Product Type :Auto Accessory; Package Dimensions :8.5″ L X8.5″ W X3.0″ H; Country Of Origin :United States
$15.10 Amazon Prime
Lynx Stop N' Chock - 00011
Lynx Stop N’ Chock – 00011
1 Lynx Stop N’ Chock Wheel Chock; Country of origin: US; Color: Orange
$14.99 Amazon Prime

X-Chocks

A new addition to our camping gear is X-Chocks. These metal contraptions spread between the wheels on your camper to prevent your wheels from moving. They add a lot of stability to your camper, even more than the stabilizing jacks themselves.

X-Chocks added a lot of stability to our camper.
We recently picked up some X-Chocks and were quite impressed without much additional stability they brought to the camper.

I will be honest, putting them on the first time is a bit of a hassle. It takes a lot of trial and error to get them on. That said, once you get them on, you just need to loosen them a small amount to take them off, which will make putting them on a second time a lot easier.

We had to order the extended version of X-Chocks so they would fit our Keystone trailer, which has wider than normal axle separation. Once we got them installed, we noticed a significant difference in the stability of our rig. These are well worth the price.

X-Chock Wheel Stabilizer - Pair - One Handle - 28012
X-Chock Wheel Stabilizer – Pair – One Handle – 28012
Fits even the tightest of applications retracting down to 1 3/8” and extends to 10”; Rust inhibitive coating.
$75.03 Amazon Prime
ADNIK BAL 28024 X-Tended Fit X-Chock - Double
ADNIK BAL 28024 X-Tended Fit X-Chock – Double
Provides added stabilization and prevents tire shifting; Country of Origin: United States; Stabilize using the tires’ natural movement
$89.56 Amazon Prime

Ryobi One+ Gear

Home Depot’s house brand of power tools, Ryobi One+, makes a ton of different tools that all use the same rechargeable battery. They are reasonably priced and, if something breaks, you can easily find a replacement at any Home Depot. We have several of their tools that live in our camper and make life on the road a lot easier.

Outfitting a new RV with these tools will keep costs down (you only need a few batteries) and take up less space (you only need one charger). I have included links to Amazon to make shopping easier for you, but you can likely get these cheaper at Home Depot.

Scissor Jack Socket and Cordless Drill

ONE+ gear from Ryobi makes for great RV gadgets
All three of these tools use the same battery and charger.

I can’t tell you how much time this scissor jack drill adapter, combined with a cordless drill, will save you. You put this in your drill, then the stabilizer jacks go up and down in seconds. We saw a poor guy in Baker, NV putting down his scissor jacks by hand in 100+ degrees.

I went over to help him out with my drill only to discover the scissor jacks on his camper did not have a drive nut. My recommendation: if you have a camper that has jacks without a drive nut, pay to have them replaced with ones that do. This one trick will save you so much sweat.

Camco RV Leveling Scissor Jack Socket Drill Adapter, Fits 3/8' and 1/2' Power Drills, Works With All 3/4' Hex Drive Jacks (57363), Silver, Small
Camco RV Leveling Scissor Jack Socket Drill Adapter, Fits 3/8″ and 1/2″ Power Drills, Works With All 3/4″ Hex Drive Jacks (57363), Silver, Small
Reduces time and effort to raise or lower Scissor jacks; Fits 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch power drills
$12.69

Other Ryobi One+ Gear

I got this drill, a bare-bones model I picked up at Home Depot. It lives in the camper and I rarely use it for much more than driving the scissor jacks, but I have a drill bit kit just in case I need it.

I also have a portable fan that runs off either batteries or an outlet. This is great for boondocking (camping without connections) when it is a bit warm at night. Both of these are great additions to any camper.

Need a hand vac? Ryobi makes those, too. We have that plus we got a handheld air compressor to be able to top off tires. Yes, it has enough juice to inflate the tires on the camper and is great for making sure they are full before a long drive. All run on the same batteries and charger, which makes it quite convenient.

Sale
Ryobi P215K 18-Volt ONE+ Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit with (1) 1.5 Ah Battery and 18-Volt Charger
Ryobi P215K 18-Volt ONE+ Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit with (1) 1.5 Ah Battery and 18-Volt Charger
Drill/Driver: 1/2 in. single sleeve, keyless chuck with automatic spindle lock; Drill/Driver: Low Speed 0 – 450, High Speed 0 – 1750
$60.00
RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid WHISPER SERIES 7-1/2 in. Fan (Tool Only), GREEN (PCL811B)
RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid WHISPER SERIES 7-1/2 in. Fan (Tool Only), GREEN (PCL811B)
ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid WHISPER SERIES 7-1/2 in. Fan (Tool Only); Hybrid Technology: Use With Any ONE+ Battery or Extension Cord
$57.00
Ryobi hand vacum battery powered 18V ONE+ (BODY ONLY)
Ryobi hand vacum battery powered 18V ONE+ (BODY ONLY)
Dual Filter and Powerful Suction for Maximum Performance; GRIPZONE for Optimized Grip and Comfort
$90.91 Amazon Prime
Sale
RYOBI P737 18-Volt ONE+ Portable Cordless Power Inflator for Tires (Battery Not Included, Power Tool Only)
RYOBI P737 18-Volt ONE+ Portable Cordless Power Inflator for Tires (Battery Not Included, Power Tool Only)
SPECS: 20” hose, 2” pressure gauge, 0-150 PSI, 18V, 2.5lb, cordless operation
$48.99
Grant airing the tires back up after handling most of the sand.
Grant airing the tires back up after handling most of the sand in Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Electrical Gear

Your camper relies on the electricity you put into it, so don’t skimp on the gear you use to connect your camper to the pedestal.

Power Cord

If your camper did not come with one, you will need one in the correct amperage, either 30 or 50 amps. We have a 30-amp camper, so I picked up a power extension cable. In both New Orleans and Indiana, we ran into several campgrounds where we needed a power cable extension. The pedestal was at the back and our power connection is close to the front of the camper. It’s just prudent to have an extra power cable.

Power Management

Like the hitch, power management is a source of serious debate among RVers. There are a few different brands, each with plusses and minuses. We ended up buying the Progressive Industries model and it has been great so far. Basically, the device works like a surge protector for your camper. It analyzes the power coming from the pedestal, looking for all sorts of electrical problems.

The best part for me is the lifetime warranty. Our model actually failed on us. It was working just fine, but caught a low voltage problem at a campground. Then, a few nights later, it just stopped letting electricity through the unit. It would analyze the power and not give any error codes but no juice was going to the camper.

We called Progressive and they FedEx’ed a new unit to us to our campground in Bar Harbor. Seriously, you can’t beat that kind of service! I have linked to their most up-to-date model.

Dog Bones

A dog bone is not something for your pet. It is a plug adapter for your camper. Let’s say you are out on the road, no reservation, just going to stop at an RV park along the way. You get there and they have a spot, but only a 50 amp connection for your 30 amp trailer. What do you do then? You pull out the dog bone and plug right in!

Since I have a 30 amp camper, I have two: I have a 50 amp to 30 amp and a 15 amp to 30 amp, covering the two different plug types out there. You will need to get the dog bones that work for your camper.

One thing to bear in mind: a dog bone is just a plug adapter. It will not magically make more power come out of a lesser connection. You will not be able to function normally on a 30 amp connection if you have a 50 amp RV. Typically, that means you will not be able to run A/C, which is often the biggest power draw.

SaleBestseller No. 1
Camco Heavy-Duty Electrical Dogbone Adapter, 50 Amp Male to 30 Amp Female, 18 Inches (55175),Black
Camco Heavy-Duty Electrical Dogbone Adapter, 50 Amp Male to 30 Amp Female, 18 Inches (55175),Black
90-Degree Heads: Help reduce pressure and stress on the adapter and its connection.; A Certified Product: Product is certified in Canada; includes a 12-month warranty.
$24.46 Amazon Prime
Bestseller No. 2
Camco 12' PowerGrip Dogbone Electrical Adapter with Handle | 30 amp Male to 15 amp Female (55155)
Camco 12″ PowerGrip Dogbone Electrical Adapter with Handle | 30 amp Male to 15 amp Female (55155)
90-Degree Heads: Help reduce pressure and stress on the adapter and its connection.; A Certified Product: Product is certified in Canada; includes a 12-month warranty.
$17.27 Amazon Prime
SaleBestseller No. 3
Camco RV Dogbone Electrical Adapter with Innovative 180 Degree Bend Design and PowerGrip Handle - 15 Amp Male to 50 Amp Female, 12' (55168) , Black
Camco RV Dogbone Electrical Adapter with Innovative 180 Degree Bend Design and PowerGrip Handle – 15 Amp Male to 50 Amp Female, 12″ (55168) , Black
90-Degree Heads: Help reduce pressure and stress on the adapter and its connection.; A Certified Product: Product is certified in Canada; includes a 12-month warranty.
$31.63 Amazon Prime
SaleBestseller No. 5
Camco 55572 18' 50 AMP Locking Male/50 AMP Locking 90 Degree Female PowerGrip Dogbone Electrical Adapter
Camco 55572 18″ 50 AMP Locking Male/50 AMP Locking 90 Degree Female PowerGrip Dogbone Electrical Adapter
90-Degree Head: Helps reduce pressure and stress on the adapter and its connection
$64.95
Bestseller No. 6
Camco PowerGrip Dogbone Adapter | Features Heavy-Duty PVC Sheath Construction, a 15-AMP Male and a 50-AMP Female Connection, and is Rated for 125 Volts (55446)
Camco PowerGrip Dogbone Adapter | Features Heavy-Duty PVC Sheath Construction, a 15-AMP Male and a 50-AMP Female Connection, and is Rated for 125 Volts (55446)
90-Degree Heads: Help reduce pressure and stress on the adapter and its connection.; Length: Features a 12-inch length
$21.99 Amazon Prime

Coax Cable and Surge Protector

If your camper has a cable connection, you might as well have some coax cable to take advantage of the cable at your campsite. I suggest a 25-foot length and a one-foot cable for using an in-line surge protector.

You protected your main electrical system from getting zapped, but make sure you protect your TV, too. Connect this to the shorter coax cable on the exterior of your camper and then to the connection to the park.

ASKA Coaxial Surge Protector for Cable TV, Surge Lightning Protector for Coaxial TV Antenna and Satellite in-Line 75 ohm 5-2150MHz
ASKA Coaxial Surge Protector for Cable TV, Surge Lightning Protector for Coaxial TV Antenna and Satellite in-Line 75 ohm 5-2150MHz
Plugs into Coaxial Line; Safe and Reliable In-Line Surge Protection; 5-2150 MHz Frequency Range
$7.66

Water Connection Gear

Just like electricity, water is essential to the good operation of your camper… Keep it fresh and clean. So, let’s talk about your water connection. Your water connection is an essential part of outfitting a new RV.

Drinking Water Hose

First things first, you will need a water hose. But not just any water hose. You need a food-grade water hose. These are typically white or blue, not the green garden hose. Originally, we had a standard white rubber hose for our water connection, but the collapsible hose I use for flushing the sewer hose is so convenient, that I looked for a similar hose for drinking water. Once I found one, I was hooked!

This is seriously one of the best upgrades I have gotten for the camper after our first major trip. This is so much easier to use than the hose above. Yes, it costs more but is well worth it in terms of the lack of hassle and the smaller space it takes up. GET THIS HOSE!

Be sure you get the 50-foot model. We ended up having to run to Walmart on our Great Lakes trip because we needed a longer hose. After three summers of camping, we thought we were good. We were wrong. We had to buy a longer rubber hose. We still have it, just in case, but we bought the 50-foot Apex hose and it is so much easier to deal with.

Sale
Teknor Apex-4006-50 Zero-G 1/2' x 50', Blue
Teknor Apex-4006-50 Zero-G 1/2″ x 50′, Blue
Lead-free, complies with consumer product safety improvement act of 2008 for lead content; Manufactured with f.D.A. Sanctioned materials
$38.40 Amazon Prime

Pro Tip: Do not use this hose for anything other than drinking water. You do not want to contaminate your drinking water!

Water Pressure Regulator

A water pressure regular is a must. You don’t know what the water pressure is at the campground you are going to. It could be 120 psi. Your camper, on the other hand, only needs 40-50 psi. Using too much pressure will cause your pipes to leak!

Pro tip: connect this to the campground’s water supply, then connect the filter, then connect the hose, which will connect to your camper. Here’s why: the pressure will build up at the regulator but will be reduced on the other side. You don’t want your components (hose and filter) dealing with additional pressure. That will lead to hose failure a lot faster. See the picture above.

Water Filter

There are several different systems you can use for a water filter. Some campers have filters built into their system. This is a good, easy-to-use filter and it removes foul tastes from your water. One thing I like about this filter is you can easily find it at Walmart if you need to replace it on the road.

Water Splitter

I recently added a simple connection splitter to my gear. What this allows me to do is connect to the black water tank flush valve when I am setting up the camper. I use this to add water to the bottom of the black water tank to prevent the build-up of solid matter. It’s simple and effective, letting me accomplish two things at the same time. I got mine at Walmart while on the road but here is a nice brass one on Amazon.

Sewer Gear

Just like your water connections, a good sewer connection is essential for outfitting your new RV. Unless you just don’t want to use water at all, you will need to be able to safely and sanitarily drain your gray and black water tanks.

Every camper is different and some have funky sewer connections but this gear works for me and is the most common stuff I have seen out there up to this point.

Sewer Hose Kit

The first thing you want to buy is a sewer hose kit. This kit has just about everything you need to get started. Get the 20-foot kit. It comes with a 10′ connecting hose and a 10′ extension hose. Most of the time, that is all you will need in terms of connecting to a sewer hook-up. I have linked to their new, improved model which has a clear elbow connection.

Typically, the sewer hose connection is a few inches above the ground and you want a smooth flow into it. This sidewinder “stand” will allow the hose to run smoothly over uneven ground to the sewer connection and drain easily. I recommend getting a 20-foot support.

Pro tip: Sometimes your Lynx Levelers will come in real handy when doing a sewer connection, like when we stayed at Fishing Bridge RV Campground in Yellowstone National Park. Sometimes, you have to improvise, adapt and overcome!

Sewer Tank Rinser

So, after staying at several campgrounds without other bathrooms to deposit solid matter in, I noticed some build-up in my black water tank. We solved part of this problem by partially filling our tank. But that didn’t solve the problem of the existing build-up. So, I picked up this attachment and blasted out my black water tank from the drain and it worked exceptionally well. I was able to flush out a lot of solid matter easily and it was easy to tell when the tank was clean.

Sewer Rinse Adapter and Secondary Hose

I can’t begin to tell you how much I love this adapter, which connects to our sewer hose, and makes it easy to wash the hose out after draining the tanks. Most of the time, it is attached to my secondary hose (see below).

So, you drained your black tank and your gray tank and now you are ready to rinse that sewer hose out because who wants to travel with funk in your hose? Just attach this to a generic hose, turn on the water, uncouple your sewer hose from the camper and couple it to this adapter. Turn on the valve on the adapter and voila! No mess. No fuss.

You can get a cheap rubber garden hose to use when you clean the sewer hose, flush the tank or spray down the camper, but this is so much better and takes up a lot less room.

Camco RV Sewer Hose Rinse Cap | Features a Convenient Shut-Off Valve for Water Flow Control, Firmly Locks onto the RV Sewer Hose Bayonet Fitting, and Rinses RV Sewer Hose Before Storage (39533)
Camco RV Sewer Hose Rinse Cap | Features a Convenient Shut-Off Valve for Water Flow Control, Firmly Locks onto the RV Sewer Hose Bayonet Fitting, and Rinses RV Sewer Hose Before Storage (39533)
Thoroughly rinses your RV sewer hose before storage; Firmly locks onto the RV sewer hose bayonet fitting and connects to a garden hose
$16.85 Amazon Prime

Winterization Gear

Campbell Hausfeld Air Compressor, 1-Gallon Pancake Oilless .36 CFM .33HP 120V 3A
This air compressor, along with a couple of adapters, made winterizing our camper a snap.

While you, likely, won’t need it right away, you will need some equipment to winterize your camper. You will want to either drain all of the water lines and holding tanks OR fill them with RV antifreeze. There are a couple of different methods to accomplish this task. We use an air compressor to blow out all of the water lines and then drain our tanks. We put a little antifreeze in each tank and in all of the sinks.

Read up on how we winterize our camper.

Air Compressor

I got a small, pancake-style air compressor that would store easily in the camper. The idea is, using an adapter, you blow all of the liquid out of the lines. This worked like a charm. While it is loud, this is not something you should need to use all the time. Unfortunately, the Craftsman air compressor I have linked is a lot more expensive than the one I bought (sadly, Amazon no longer sells it). But, this one has all the accessories you need for winterizing your camper in one package.

Sale
Craftsman Air Compressor, 6 Gallon, Pancake, Oil-Free (CMEC6150K) and Camco Blow Out Plug With Brass Quick Connect (36143)
Craftsman Air Compressor, 6 Gallon, Pancake, Oil-Free (CMEC6150K) and Camco Blow Out Plug With Brass Quick Connect (36143)
The air compressor accessory kit includes 13 pieces for multiple applications (Craftsman).
$181.91 Amazon Prime

If you have an air compressor already, Camco makes a great adapter to blow out the lines with.

Camco Blow Out Plug With Brass Quick Connect-Aids in Removal of Water From Water Lines (36143)
Camco Blow Out Plug With Brass Quick Connect-Aids in Removal of Water From Water Lines (36143)
Aids in removal of water from water lines; Quick connect attaches to air compressor quick connect hose
$11.92 Amazon Prime

Miscellaneous Gear for Outfitting a New RV

This is the gear I keep in my pass-through storage that just makes RV life easier. This section of “Outfitting a New RV” includes essentials that make your quality of life better.

Rubber gloves

I keep a box of disposable gloves in the pass-through for two reasons: dealing with the sewer system and dealing with the ball lube. Once I am done with both, take them off and throw them away. These are easy to acquire at Walmart or Home Depot if you run out on the road.

I tried the Camco ones which stick onto the door of the pass-through. I was not impressed with their durability in dealing with some of the more difficult jobs around the camper. Plus, they were just slippery in terms of grip.

Shop Towel

I keep a box of these towels in the pass-through and they are great. The box itself is a little big, but we love being able to pull a couple out as needed. These are great for cleaning up after dealing with the sewer connection, the hitch or cleaning out the grill.

Sale
Scott Blue Shop Towels in a Box - 200 Sheets
Scott Blue Shop Towels in a Box – 200 Sheets
Model number 75190; Blue 10″ x 12″ shop towels in pop-up dispenser box; These shop towels are ultra-strong, durable and work well even when wet
$21.80

Storage Bins

I have not used these bins in particular, but I have several just like them. They are perfect for storing stuff like our tools, leveling gear, etc. I love the built-in lids! It means you never misplace a lid or leave it behind!

I keep bins for leveling gear, electrical stuff, drinking water hoses and sewage stuff. Note: I keep a lot of this stuff separate from each other. That is especially important when it comes to your drinking water stuff and the sewage stuff. Don’t mix hoses or store them together!

Every pass-through is different. Measure yours and get the bins that fit your compartments.

Quantum QDC2115-9 Plastic Storage Container with Attached Flip-Top Lid, 21' x 15' x 9', Gray
Quantum QDC2115-9 Plastic Storage Container with Attached Flip-Top Lid, 21″ x 15″ x 9″, Gray
Ideal for storage, distribution and order picking; Molded from high density polyethylene; Tops attached with steel hinges that interlock for stacking strength and security
$25.65 Amazon Prime

Basic Tool Kit

Every RV needs a basic tool kit. Like the bins, I don’t own the linked kit, but it is a pretty close approximation of what I do own. You don’t need to keep a ton of tools in your camper but something like this will help you solve most problems you run into. The only tools I feel are missing from the kit are a pair of vice grips and a large adjustable pair of pliers. Vice grips are surprisingly handy and I have had to use them to separate my pressure regulator from one that the campground put on the spigot. The large adjustable pliers are perfect for removing a stuck sewer cap.

IRWIN VISE-GRIP Locking Pliers, Fast Release, Curved Jaw, 10-Inch (11T)
IRWIN VISE-GRIP Locking Pliers, Fast Release, Curved Jaw, 10-Inch (11T)
One-handed, triggerless release is 2X easier to open than traditional locking pliers; Anti-pinch, non-slip ProTouch Grips provide comfort, control, and less hand fatigue
$23.59 Amazon Prime
Sale
12-Inch Channellock Groove Joint Pliers with Comfort Grips - 2.25-Inch Jaw Capacity, Laser Heat-Treated 90° Teeth, Forged High Carbon Steel - Made in USA
12-Inch Channellock Groove Joint Pliers with Comfort Grips – 2.25-Inch Jaw Capacity, Laser Heat-Treated 90° Teeth, Forged High Carbon Steel – Made in USA
Right angle, laser heat-treated teeth grip better and last longer; Undercut tongue & groove design won’t slip
$19.75 Amazon Prime

Gear for Relaxing Outside

Once you have your camper set up, it is time to set up the fun stuff. Here are a few recommendations for things to have with you to make the best use of the space outside your camper!

Grill and Grill Tools

My camper has one built-in, but there are plenty of good grills out there for campers. Back when we were tent camping, we had a great tabletop grill, made by Coleman similar to this one. They make some other really good portable grills that use the very easy-to-find 16.4 oz propane bottles.

The grill tools I have are suited for a grill without a nonstick coating (the one above has one… use plastic tools on it). This grill tool set is very similar to the one I have that lives in my camper.

Sale
Coleman Fold N Go Propane Grill, Portable & Lightweight Grill with Push-Button Starter, Adjustable Burner, Built-In Handle, & 6,000 BTUs of Power for Camping, Tailgating, Grilling
Coleman Fold N Go Propane Grill, Portable & Lightweight Grill with Push-Button Starter, Adjustable Burner, Built-In Handle, & 6,000 BTUs of Power for Camping, Tailgating, Grilling
Portable folding grill with built-in handle for easy transport and storage; Delivers 6,000 BTUs of heat across 105 sq. in. of grilling surface
$99.99 Amazon Prime
Cuisinart CGS-W18 Wooden Handle Grill Set, Quick Cut Pizza Cutter, 18 Piece
Cuisinart CGS-W18 Wooden Handle Grill Set, Quick Cut Pizza Cutter, 18 Piece
SET INCLUDES: Spatula, tongs, grill brush, 5 skewers, 8 corn holders, and a storage case; STAINLESS STEEL: Each tool features stainless steel tool heads
$31.24 Amazon Prime

Chairs, Outdoor Tables and Hammocks

You are gonna want some camp chairs so you can enjoy the outdoors (otherwise, why are you in a camper to begin with?). If you have a large motor home or fifth-wheel, there are some amazing folding chairs that will fit in your storage areas with no problems. For us, in our travel trailer, we need chairs that fold down smaller but still provide serious comfort.

We had these chairs from Picnic Time for years and love them. They are very comfortable and, combined with these footrests are just about perfect.

Zero Gravity Chairs

A few years ago, we upgraded to Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Chairs. These things are great! They are super comfy, the backs are mesh so they breathe really well. They recline far further than I need and you can easily lock them in position. Plus they are cheap!

They do have a couple of downsides: It can be a bit difficult to get them started reclining and they do not fold down nearly as small as our old chairs. Indeed, I have some difficulty storing them in the pass-through with the grill in there as well. Still, for the money, they are great!

If you decide to get them, get a couple of these little side tables. They work like a champ!

Caravan Sports 80009000052, Black Infinity Zero Gravity Chair-2 Pack, 2-Pack
Caravan Sports 80009000052, Black Infinity Zero Gravity Chair-2 Pack, 2-Pack
Easy to transport, folds down to 6.3 inches; Color: Black, supports up to 300 lbs.
$111.09 Amazon Prime

Table

Having a table to set things on is always nice. This table from ALPS Mountaineering has been a great addition to our campsite since we tent-camped. I got the model with the checkerboard on it, in case Bonnie and I ever decide to play checkers or chess on it.

ALPS Mountaineering Eclipse Table + Checkerboard (Charcoal/Salsa)
ALPS Mountaineering Eclipse Table + Checkerboard (Charcoal/Salsa)
It has two levels, one for the games and one for the food and drink.
$26.16

Hammocks

One of the recent additions to our gear is a couple of hammocks for relaxing at a campground. We like nylon hammocks because they pack down to almost nothing. We got this hammock in a Cairn Box and it has since been a constant companion with us at campsites. It sets up easily in just a few minutes.

Boondocking Gear

Using an EcoFlow River to power fans to keep us cool.
Using our solar generator to power a fan to keep us cool in a serious heatwave.

Solar Generator

The folks from EcoFlow sent us one of their River solar generators to test out and I have to say we love it. A solar generator is essentially a large battery pack with a solar charge regulator built in. It is great for boondocking and dry camping. We were able to keep all of our devices charged (phones, tablets, laptops and cameras) and Bonnie was able to have a hot cup of coffee every morning while we dry camped outside Crater Lake National Park.

We were so impressed with the device, we bought an EcoFlow 110W solar panel to charge it. As long as you have a clear shot at the sun, it charges the generator quickly. This system is great any time you are without power, camping or not. We also bought a battery add-on, which doubles the capacity of this excellent piece of gear, making it comparable to the EcoFlow River Pro.

EcoFlow continues to add new solar products, including some generators that will power an RV or a house!

Rechargeable Lantern

If you are boondocking, having a good source of light that is not draining power from your RV’s batteries is pretty essential.

We recently got a rechargeable lantern similar to this one which has both a USB port and solar panels to charge it. This lantern is bright enough for most indoor tasks and makes for an excellent basic outdoor lamp.

A Few Other Pieces of Gear for Outfitting the Outside of Your RV

A few other items I suggest, but I don’t have a specific gear recommendation for:

• A large outdoor mat or rug to set up under your awning for muddy and gravel sites.

• Some sort of mosquito repellant… I have yet to find one I am really happy with.

Outfitting the Inside of Your New RV

Now, it’s time to work on the inside of the camper. A lot of this gear is personal preference, just like furnishing a home. That said, I am going to cover the basics of what we have purchased for our camper to make long road trips with it work.

Refrigerator

The fridge is one of the most important components of making RV travel work. Not only does it keep your leftovers for the next night, it keeps those tasty adult beverages frosty, which is very important after a stressful setup in a tough back-in site.

Fridge Thermometer

A fridge thermometer takes the guesswork out of whether your fridge is working properly or not. We originally bought an electronic one with a large display but ended up with an old-school thermometer. Sometimes, old-school stuff just works better.

CDN FG80 Refrigerator/Freezer NSF Professional Thermometer
CDN FG80 Refrigerator/Freezer NSF Professional Thermometer
Thermometer tests freezer and refrigerator for safe food storage; Measures temperatures from -40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 to 27 degrees Celsius)
$7.18 Amazon Prime

Fridge Cold Packs

One of the best purchases we made was two sets of Cooler Shock packs. These packs go in your freezer for 48 hours to charge and will provide very cold ice packs for your fridge.

Here’s how we use them: We freeze them going into a trip. We toss all but one pack in the fridge to keep everything cold as we drive. The other pack goes in the freezer to cool it down. Once we get to our location, we fire up the fridge and move some of the packs into the freezer to refreeze. As the fridge starts to keep cold on its own, we transfer the remaining packs to the freezer to recharge.

The Cooler Shock packs work so well that we do not use propane at all to run the fridge while driving. I know a lot of RVers out there run the propane fridge while driving/towing. We don’t. I would rather spend a little money on these freezer packs, which work great than risk a propane fire… or spend the money on propane for that matter.

Magnetic Bottle Opener

You are gonna want to get a bottle opener for those aforementioned refreshing adult beverages. We ended up getting one from a souvenir shop in Bar Harbor, but this one is what we have at home and it works like a champ!

Ice Cube Tray

When we first hit the road with the camper, we didn’t get any ice cube trays for the fridge. We didn’t want to deal with the mess of water everywhere if the fridge stopped working (power loss, etc.) So, we tried both plastic and metal “ice cubes.” We even tried whiskey stones. None of them worked as well as we wanted.

So, for the summer of 2022, Bonnie got this nifty ice cube tray and storage system. It allows you to store a decent amount of ice and if it melts, the box contains it. It worked like a charm.

Bonnie also got some molds for large blocks of ice, perfect for whiskey on the rocks. The molds have a lid, making it good for travel as well.

Outfitting Your Kitchen

One of the first things you are going to want to do is outfit your kitchen with a permanent set of gear. The reason for this is simple: your time is worth more than the cost of an extra set of pots, pans, kitchen tools, etc. You don’t want to have to pack and unpack your kitchen every time you take the camper out on a trip.

Plates

The great folks from Zak Designs sent us some camper-themed plates and bowls, plus tumblers. We have used them a few times and are really impressed. We love how sturdy the plates are plus how easy to clean. The only downside is they are not microwave-safe. And, sadly, they no longer carry the camping-themed plates.

That said, we have other things we can put in the microwave and these are just too cool not to take with us. In addition to something that is microwave-safe, be sure to get something that is shatter-resistant, such as these plates by Corelle.

Waste Basket

This waste basket hangs over the edge of one of the cabinet doors, which keeps it off the floor (floor space is valuable). The other advantage is supermarket plastic shopping bags fit it perfectly. We found in New England there were several campgrounds with mandatory recycling programs, so you may want to consider purchasing a second wastebasket to use for recycling.

Paper Towel Holder

Like the wastebasket, this holder hangs on the top of the cabinet door and holds a roll of paper towels, freeing up counter space for cooking. Very handy, indeed!

Dish-Drying Rack/Drainer

I think the one thing Bonnie hates more than doing laundry is drying dishes, so she bought a dish-drying rack/drainer. It collapses for easy storage and works fairly well.

Nesting Mixing Bowls, Measuring Cups and Spoons

Bonnie loves these nesting mixing bowls and measuring cups because they take up so little room. They are perfect for the limited amount of space in our kitchen area.

Small Cutting Board and Knife Set

Our current cutting board is a bit small, so we will probably eventually upgrade to this one. Get a cutting board that you like, in whatever size you think you will need and can store easily.

This knife set is similar to a set that we have had for several years. Our camper doesn’t really have space for a knife block and I hate having knives in a drawer unless they are covered. There are bigger and there may be better sets out there, but a set of three has worked well for us so far.

Shelf Liner

To keep things from sliding around, line the shelves with your plates, etc. with this liner.

Kitchen Bins

Bonnie uses bins like these in various sizes, both plastic and cloth to hold spices and dry foods, as well as other kitchen essentials, in the cabinets. It keeps them from sliding all over the place and makes the food easy to get out.

Amazon Basics Collapsible Fabric Storage Cubes Organizer with Handles, 10.5'x10.5'x11', Pack of 6, Gray
Amazon Basics Collapsible Fabric Storage Cubes Organizer with Handles, 10.5″x10.5″x11″, Pack of 6, Gray
DURABLE FABRIC: Lightweight yet sturdy fabric offers strength and breathability; PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: 10.5 x 10.5 x 11 inches (LxWxH)
$19.68 Amazon Prime

Cleaning Supplies

Make sure whatever you get is RV-safe. The materials used in RV construction are not the same as in normal house construction. We use Method cleaners and they work pretty well.

Fire Extinguisher

Every camper comes with a fire extinguisher but, to be honest, you probably need at least one more to store by the bed. Having an extra fire extinguisher where you sleep can make all the difference in getting out of a burning RV or not.

Jim Rudolph, the president of Safety First, sent us this FireAde extinguisher and we are quite impressed with its bonafides. It puts out fires quickly, washes clean with just water and will not expire. This has a permanent home in our camper by the bed. As someone who has already lived through one house fire, I am a firm believer that you can never be too careful.

Some Other Items You Will Need to Outfit Your RV Kitchen

•Basic kitchen utensil set

•Flatware and drawer organizer

•Pots and pans

Outfitting Your RV Bathroom

There are a couple of things you need to understand about RV bathrooms: 1) By nature, they are almost always cramped and 2) you need special stuff to make the toilet/black water tank work well.

RV Toilet Paper

I would not use normal toilet paper in your camper. It will not break down and will become a problem in your black water tank. This is the toilet paper we use. You can often find this at Walmart (most of the time near the automotive section but sometimes near the camping section), so if you run out on the road, you should be able to find it. Also, a lot of campgrounds carry it in their camp stores, but sometimes those camp stores are pretty pricey.

Scott Rapid Dissolve Toilet Tissue (Pack of 4 rolls)
Scott Rapid Dissolve Toilet Tissue (Pack of 4 rolls)
Scott Rapid Dissolve Toilet Tissue (Pack of 4 rolls)
$9.00 Amazon Prime

Toilet Deodorizer

Use these tabs, along with a lot of water, to prevent odor from coming up from your black water tank.

Sale
Walex Porta-Pak RV Marine Black Holding Tank Deodorizer Drop-Ins, Camper, Boat, Camping Cassette Toilet Cleaner Tablets Pods, Fresh, 10 Pack
Walex Porta-Pak RV Marine Black Holding Tank Deodorizer Drop-Ins, Camper, Boat, Camping Cassette Toilet Cleaner Tablets Pods, Fresh, 10 Pack
Number 1 portion contol deodorizer in the world; Unbeatable odor prevention; Formaldehyde free
$10.44 Amazon Prime

Toilet Paper Roll Holder

Our camper did not have a toilet paper roll holder by the toilet, so we bought this one and it works just fine.

Toothbrush Holder

Another easy way to save on counter space is a toothbrush holder. This one works well for us, though you may have to replace the adhesive after a while.

Tissue Holder

My wife uses tissues like there is no tomorrow and this tissue box holder saves on serious counter space in the bathroom. Even she initially thought this was a somewhat frivolous purchase but has come to really appreciate this little space-saving device.

Camco 57101 Pop-A-Tissue- Tisssue Box Holder- Mounts to Walls and Cabinets, Dispenses Tissue and Holds Tissue Boxes Upward or Downward- Perfect for RVs and Trailers, Easy Install - Clear (57101)
Camco 57101 Pop-A-Tissue- Tisssue Box Holder- Mounts to Walls and Cabinets, Dispenses Tissue and Holds Tissue Boxes Upward or Downward- Perfect for RVs and Trailers, Easy Install – Clear (57101)
Keep facial tissues handy in a wall or cabinet-mounted dispenser.Fit Type: Universal Fit; Installs easily with screws or adhesive tape
$13.02 Amazon Prime

Towels

We started out using cotton towels from Ikea, which have hanging loops and dry ok, but if it is a driving day or a rainy day outside and they are cooped up in the bathroom all day, they can get a bit musty.

So, we got microfiber towels like these and they are great. They dry quicker without having to be hung outside. The towels are not quite as comfy as cotton towels but they do a great job nonetheless. They are a bit long, so we had to put additional hooks on the door for them.

Toiletries

I suggest keeping a second set of toiletries in the camper, as practical. The less you have to pack, the more time you can spend enjoying your camper. That said, some items just won’t store well in extreme heat or cold, so use your best judgment here.

Bedding

You will need bedding appropriate to your bed. Some RV beds are custom-sized, so make sure you know your bed size before you get anything.

Having a set of sheets, pillows and a comforter ready to go for your camper definitely cuts down on the prep time for each trip. Again, your time camping is worth more than the additional expense of bedding.

If you live in an area near Ikea, you can get quality sheets and bedding for a cheap price. Remember, you want your bed in your camper to be as comfortable as possible. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Mattress and Mattress Pad

The mattress that came with our camper was awful. It was quite thin and offered no support whatsoever. So much so that we bought a mattress topper online before we finished our first weekend with it.

We found a great memory foam mattress topper on Amazon and it kept us going for two summers.

LUCID - LU20RQ45MT 2 Inch Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper
LUCID – LU20RQ45MT 2 Inch Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper
2-inch premium memory foam mattress topper; Ventilated to increase air flow for a soothing sleep temperature
$90.18

After two years, we bought a mattress on Amazon. It was a bit of a risk since we like to try a mattress out before we buy it, but the price and the reviews convinced us.

The new mattress is great (at least for me). I like it a LOT better than the Tempur-Pedic we had at home. It is firm, but not overly so. Bonnie would love if it were about 10% softer but, for the money, it can’t be beaten. Indeed, we ended up replacing our too-soft Tempur-Pedic mattress at home with another one of these mattresses.

Other Gear For Outfitting the Interior of Your Camper

Heater and Fan

Propane is expensive. One of the first pieces of advice we received for our camper was to buy a small, electric space heater instead of using the furnace on cool nights. This one is relatively small and works like a charm.

Optimus H-1322 Portable 2-Speed Fan Heater with Thermostat , White
Optimus H-1322 Portable 2-Speed Fan Heater with Thermostat , White
2 Heat Settings (750 and 1500 watts); 4-position Function Switch (off/fan/low/high); Fan-only Setting
$28.64 Amazon Prime

While the AC system has a fan that can be set to always on and blowing air, it is pretty loud, so we bought a small fan to use at night or outside. It is quiet and the lowest setting makes for a nice cool breeze.

If you are going to be using the Ryobi One+ system, you might want to just get the Ryobi fan. You can operate it with a battery or an extension cord. If I were only going to get one fan, I would get the Ryobi model because of its flexibility. That said, this one is quieter and has more settings.

RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid WHISPER SERIES 7-1/2 in. Fan (Tool Only), GREEN (PCL811B)
RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid WHISPER SERIES 7-1/2 in. Fan (Tool Only), GREEN (PCL811B)
ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid WHISPER SERIES 7-1/2 in. Fan (Tool Only); Hybrid Technology: Use With Any ONE+ Battery or Extension Cord
$57.00

Power Strip

Our new surge protector in our camper
We got this new surge protector with six USB ports, 3 USB C ports, including enough power to charge an iPad, and 3 USB A ports.

If you are anything like Bonnie and I, you have a plethora of things that need recharging or power. I recently upgraded to this power strip as an electrical hub for the camper. Behind the TV mount in our camper is a decent-sized cabinet area with an outlet.

This power strip sits back there with chargers or cables for our iPads, iPhones, Apple Watches, drill battery and Fire Stick.

The reason I like this particular power strip for all of those applications is the six USB ports, including three USB C ports with up to 40 watts of power delivery.

Amazon Fire Stick

I used to take an Apple TV with me as well but now Fire Sticks have just about every app you can find on an Apple TV, including Apple TV+. There is just simply no reason to take an Apple TV now. The best part about a Fire Stick is you can sign into web-based WiFi login prompts at campgrounds.

Zip Ties and Velcro Straps

All of those electric cables, plus a dozen other things, will need tying down. Get some zip ties in various sizes and make your life less cluttered, cable-wise.

The other thing you will need (trust me on this!) is velcro straps. These get a ton of use in our camper.

Extra Fuses

Eventually, a fuse will blow on your camper and you will need to replace it. Check your electrical system to see if you need more or less of any particular fuse type, but this is a pretty good variety of fuses for your camper.

Command Hooks

Get a bunch of these. Trust me, you will want to hang things like your keys, towels, coats, hats, etc. in different parts of your camper.

One Last Essential for Outfitting Your New RV: Our Book

So, you have gotten everything you need for your camper and are ready to hit the road? But where are you going to go? We have you covered there too!

Our new book, Moon USA RV Adventures, has 25 routes across the country with everything you need for a great trip, including where to go, how to get there, where to stay, what to eat and what to do when you get there.

Seriously, we take all of the leg work out of planning an outstanding RV trip!

Sale
Moon USA RV Adventures: 25 Epic Routes (Travel Guide)
  • Sinclair, Bonnie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 560 Pages – 02/28/2023 (Publication Date) – Moon Travel (Publisher)

Final Thoughts on Outfitting a New RV

Like I said at the beginning: welcome to a great community! We hope you have found this list helpful and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop us a line!

I know this article is focused primarily on travel trailers and that different types of campers have different needs. But we also know, for a lot of folks, a travel trailer is their first camper. It was for us back in 2016. Since then, we have visited 48 of 50 states with our camper (we have been to the other two states, just not in our camper). So, when you read about this gear, this is the stuff we use on the road… Otherwise, we wouldn’t recommend it!

Forrest Gump Hill
Monument Valley on the Utah/Arizona border

Pro Tip: Every camper is different and you are sure to find several things unique to your camper that you need on your first, second or even third time out. I suggest staying somewhat near a Wal-Mart for the first couple of trips while you work out all the kinks. Don’t worry! It gets better.

Again, we are so glad you have joined the RV community and we look forward to seeing you on the road!

We invite you to join our Facebook group, USA RV Adventures. This group is for experienced, newbie and wannabe RVers to discuss RV destinations, itineraries and camping/travel tips.


Travel Resources
What do you use to find a flight?

We use Skyscanner to find deals on flights. Skyscanner has a great interface and compares tons of airlines for the best pricing and routing. That said, it does not always have every airline and some airlines will have better deals on their website. Still, Skyscanner is a great place to start.
Click here to search for a flight.

What do you use to find a hotel?

We typically stay at Hilton properties, so we use the Hilton website. You can find good Hilton Honors discounts or AAA discounts for a hotel there. We make great use of our free night certificates from our Hilton Honors American Express.
Click here to book a Hilton property.

If there are no Hilton properties available, we use TripAdvisor to read reviews and book the hotel. We find we can get the best price that way.
Click here to search for a hotel.

We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.

What if I need more space than I can get at a hotel?

We use Vrbo for the times when we have rented a cabin for a weekend getaway, like this cabin in Townsend, TN, or needed to rent a house for a large family vacation. We had a great experience with them in terms of refunding deposits when COVID hit and will continue to use them.
Click here to search for a vacation rental.

Who do you use for rental cars?

As a general rule, we book with Hertz for rental cars. We have had nothing but good experiences with them. Plus, we really like unlimited mileage and not worrying about crossing state lines. We have even rented from Hertz overseas in both Slovenia and Croatia.
Click here to book a rental car.

How about booking a cruise?

We have found some amazing prices for booking a cruise through Cruise Direct. We have saved a lot of money on our cruises compared to what we found elsewhere, making a last-minute Bahamas cruise even cheaper.
Click here to book a cruise.

What if I want to rent an RV?

We highly recommend Outdoorsy for RV rentals. We rented a camper van for a week to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the elk rut and Custer State Park for the Buffalo Round-Up and had a blast. The program was easy to use and we really enjoyed the freedom of having a camper van for that trip.
Click here to rent an RV.

What do you use for booking tours?

We don’t often book tours. Typically, we like to do stuff on our own. That said, there are some experiences you can’t have any other way. So, when we do want to book a tour, we always check Viator first.
Click here to book a tour.

Do you use anything to get discounts on the road?

We make extensive use of both Good Sam and AAA on the road. Good Sam is normally regarded as a discount card for RVers at campgrounds and Camping World but anyone can use the 5 cents off a gallon at the pump at both Pilot and Flying J.
Click here to get a Good Sam membership.
We have had AAA as long as we have been married and it has more than paid for itself in discounts at hotels, aside from the peace of mind of having roadside assistance. Add in paper maps and the ability to get an international driver’s license and it is more than worth it for any traveler out there.
Click here to get a AAA membership.

44 thoughts on “Outfitting a New RV – A Comprehensive Guide of What We Use”

  1. Went through this a year ago. No argument on your suggestions. However, I couldn’t handle the hooking and unhook ingredients, in and out, etc. I just bought a Class C and took delivery yesterday. I set both with solar, satellite, lithium ion house battery and a 4in. bed topper. Yes, a little more investment, but it sure makes life on the road a whole lot better and more comfortable. Also, I have a multitude of self-locking plastic boxes in different sizes that I got at Walmart to store anything and everything. Also, I have a shoe cleaner that sits right by the stairs. Enjoyed your article and it is spot on!

    Reply
    • Fred, I have to say I am more than a bit jealous of the solar system you have in your Class C… That is one of my planned upgrades for our camper. We just bought a mattress for our camper and we will update the recommendations once we try it out. It was less than $200 on Amazon for a queen, so not a bad price.

      Thanks so much for the recommendation on the shoe cleaner. That is a really good idea. I will have to add that to our camper and the list!

      Reply
  2. Thank you so much for compiling this list. I wish I would’ve found this at the time we bought our trailer last year…. I believe we have everything on this list now or at least pretty close. The only difference is that it took many YouTube videos and research to find all of this stuff and get it in my trailer. These are all very good ideas and products that you are suggesting. Happy Camping.

    Reply
  3. Thanks so much for this list. We just bought a 27 ft pull behind, picking it up in a week… and there are a few things I would have never thought about. Like the water pressure regulator and filter. Thanks for compiling all this info.

    Reply
    • Your dealer should have told you about a water pressure regulator and so many other things here!! Unless you bought your trailer from a private party, I’d avoid your dealer for lack of the above advice…

      Reply
      • We certainly agree any good RV dealership should walk you through and ours did, but it was a ton of information. That’s one of the reasons we wrote this article… To put that information in an easy-to-access and re-access place.

        Reply
  4. This list is great for my husband doing his set up thing, I went searching for outfitting the interior, do you have such an article, is there a Part 2? At the age of 70, and 48 years of marriage, my husband finally got senile enough–ha ha–to give in and let me start camping. He has a large touring BMW motorcycle and I knew toy hauler/camper would sweeten the pot. First, we bought our first pick-up truck and I get to drive it around town. Some friends are envious but not many. It was fully equipped for towing what we planned to buy. We are minimalist, we got a toy hauler/camper trailer. We are ignorant and innocent as babes in the woods. The camper package is very generous, hoses and cords are included and the ultimate selling point was electric levelers and they “threw in” the sway bar. When we pick it up and they demo it I’m going to use your list to check which items we still need to make this undertaking as easy for the Mr. as possible. Also, that interior outfitting list for me—kitchen, bathroom, bedroom–at least what I can’t get along without at first until I decide what our needs are. Thank you, I’m going to add your site to Favorites.

    Reply
  5. I inherited a trailer from my dad, and am trying to figure out how to outfit it to meet our needs. Your site provided me with excellent information. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    Reply
  6. Thank you! Great article. We just bought a class c rv and have never camped. This is so helpful and have used the links to buy several items. Now on to read part two.

    Reply
  7. As for the mosquitos and other pesky little flying biters, have you tried Tea Tree Oil? It will even keep gnats away, believe it or not! I usually mix it in lotion and put it on that way. It may burn a bit if you do not put it in some type of carrier product like lotion or baby oil or coconut oil. Also, you can get Tea Tree oil conditioner and use that as a lotion or rub it in your dry hair and do not wash it out until you are ready to head in for the night. It has a strong, but clean and earthy smell and the bugs do not like it.

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  8. It¡¦s really a great and helpful piece of information. I¡¦m satisfied that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. Great article glad I came across it. It has given me some ideas that i did not think about but i do have one other suggestion for you though. When looking for ideas on leveling my travel trailer i came across levelers made by anderson that are shaped like curved wedges that you basically just drive up on and chock and camper is leveled. No need for all those blocks. thanks again for this article headed over to read the inside one now.

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  10. Great article, however, my husband has one more suggestion- a padded kneeler. When he has to crawl under the slide-out to drain the gray water and black water tanks, it’s murder to have to kneel in the gravel!

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  11. Thanks Grant! I’ve been doing this for years, but reading this article, I’m going to add a couple of things to my kit.
    I’ve found it handy to have a nail bar in my tool kit to pull stakes up from anchoring my pop-up. I also carry a military style folding shovel and a small landscaping rake as well.

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  12. I need to to thank you for this excellent read!! I absolutely enjoyed every little bit of it.
    I’ve got you bookmarked to look at new stuff you post!

    Reply
  13. I love what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever
    work and exposure! Keep up the great works guys I’ve included you guys to my
    personal blogroll.

    Reply
  14. Howdy! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to look it over.
    I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting
    this to my followers! Great blog and wonderful design and style.

    Reply
  15. Hi There! Thank you both so much for all the effort you have put into this article. We are pretty much newbies. Have done a lot of tent camping, boat camping, and had a solid side pop up trailer for a while, but that’s many years ago. Now we are close to purchasing a new travel trailer. This information you have provided is a huge help. We have been out of the camping thing for so long that everything is new for us again.
    Cheers
    John.

    Reply

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