RV Essentials: The RV Gear You Must Have

Last Updated on February 22, 2024 by Grant

You bought an RV and you’re ready to hit the road! Or are you? You might think that buying the RV is the hard part, but, really, it is getting all the RV gear and getting it set up and ready to use. While there are hundreds of items you might want or need, there are just a few RV essentials that you must have before hitting the road.

So, before you head out to the campground and find yourself in a bind, check out our RV essentials list to prepare you for the adventure. This RV gear will have you on the road and enjoying your new RV in comfort.

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Updated January 2024

RV Utility Connections

If you went to the expense of buying an RV rather than a tent, you’re likely looking to finally have utility connections or hookups. We tent-camped for years and loved it. That said, the comfort that comes with having air conditioning, heat, running water and a bathroom does make camping that much more enjoyable. Seriously, being able to go to the bathroom first thing in the morning without having to find your pants is one of the best things about RVing.

As such, when it comes to RV gear, the hookups are the first thing you need to think about.

Our campsite at Straits State Park in St. Ignace. — Our campsite at Straits State Park in St. Ignace, MI.

Power Management System

It’s likely that, at home, you plug your big electrical items into a surge protector. A power management system is basically a big surge protector for your RV. And let’s be honest, if you’re going to add that protection for your TV, which costs hundreds of dollars, why wouldn’t you add it for your RV which cost thousands of dollars?

We use a power management system from Progressive Industries. You first plug the box into the electrical pedestal at the campground and make sure everything is running smoothly. Errors could be low or high voltage or poorly wired connections. Once you’ve confirmed there are no errors, connect the RV power cord and you’re good to go.

If there are any voltage fluctuations or power surges, the power management system will do its thing. Ours has saved us a couple of times. The first time was during our first summer of RVing. At one campground in Vermont, we had some voltage fluctuations, which the management system caught. In the process, it did manage to partially damage the system. Thankfully, Progressive Industries sent us a new one, free of charge, within a week.

A second “save” was in Illinois on the way home in the summer of 2019. When we first plugged in, we got a ground error, indicating poor wiring at the campground. Thankfully, we were able to move to the next site over and had no errors.

Yes, the model we recommend (which is a newer version of what we currently have) is pricey. It’s a lot cheaper than having to redo the entire electrical system on your camper, though.

Progressive Industries Portable RV Surge Protector, 50 Amp EMS with Integrated Display, Fault Detection, and All Weather Shield Assembly – EMS-PT50X

Maintain electronic safety – This 50 Amp RV Surge Protector by Progressive Industries is a real guard for your RV electronics. Its built-in Electrical Management System helps to protect your RV appliances against voltage fluctuations and power surges.
Prevents costly damage – With a 50A/120-240V/12,000W rating, EMS-PT50X can absorb surges of up to 3,580 joules. This surge protector prevents severe and expensive damage to RV accessories and equipment attached to your motorized or towable RV.
Powerful fault detection – As a 50 amp surge protector for RV, EMS-PT50X can give protection against over/under voltage, open ground/neutral, reverse polarity, miswired pedestal, accidental 240V, and surge failure; as well as A/C frequency protection.
For the outdoors – This heavy duty surge protector can withstand harsh conditions through its All Weather Shield assembly, integrated display, thermal protection, and tough Lexan housing. This unit is also usable during low-visibility situations.
Proudly designed in the USA – Progressive Industries engineers and manufactures a wide range of high-quality electrical solutions designed for harsh environments. Protect your RV accessories and appliances from severe and costly damage today.

Freshwater Hose

If you want to be able to go to the bathroom, take a shower or wash dishes, you’ll need a water connection. Be sure to pick up a drinking water hose, which is generally white or blue. I’d suggest getting at least 35 feet but, honestly, the longer, the better. You never know when the connections will be in a weird location.

Indiana’s Lincoln State Park had some really awkward and lengthy water connections. It took a 50-foot hose to make this connection.

We also suggest getting a collapsible hose. Space and weight are always limited in an RV, so anything you can do to save in those areas is a good thing. The hose in the photo above was purchased at Walmart after we realized our 25-foot collapsible hose wasn’t going to reach, so I bought a 50-foot hose to make sure I can always reach the connection.

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
Made in u.S.A.
Compared to heavy-duty vinyl hoses

Pressure Regulator

Another simple item to “insure” your camper’s water system is a pressure regulator. Your camper generally only needs 40-50 psi of water pressure. Some connections could run in at well over 100 psi. The pressure regulator controls that, making sure your RV doesn’t get more water pressure than it can handle. This small item should cost less than $15, which is a great deal!

Pro Tip: We suggest connecting the pressure regulator to the campground’s water supply first, a water filter (if desired) and then attach your hose. With this configuration, if the pressure builds up at the regulator, it’s not affecting your equipment at all.

Sale

Camco Brass Camper / RV Water Pressure Regulator – Protects RV Kitchen Small Appliances, Plumbing & Hoses – Reduces RV Water Pressure to Safe & Consistent 40-50 PSI – Drinking Water Safe (40055)

PROTECTS RV/MARINE PLUMBING: Keep your RV/marine plumbing safe with this brass Camco water pressure regulator. Safeguard against high-pressure city water to protect your hoses & plumbing from potential damage.
AUTOMATIC PIPE BURST PROTECTION: Ensure your pipes are safe using the built-in PSI Guard, preset at 40-50 PSI for automatic burst protection. (Maximum incoming pressure is 125 PSI.)
SAFE FOR DRINKING WATER: Camco’s pressure regulator for RV water hoses is drinking water safe. It’s a must-have camper tool for setups that require outstanding water quality.
CERTIFIED LEAD-FREE: This water regulator for RV campers is crafted from high-quality brass material. It is CSA lead-free content certified to NSF/ANSI 372 & compliant with all federal & state-level lead-free laws.
PATENTED TECHNOLOGY: Expertly crafted, this patented RV accessory has undergone extensive testing and quality control to meet the highest standards.

Sewer Hose Kit

Once you’ve got water coming into your camper, you need a way to drain it from the holding tanks. No, you can NOT just open the valve and let it flow out! You cannot even dump the gray water (the stuff from the sinks and shower) on the ground. A sewer hose lets you dump your holding tanks safely and hygienically.

We recommend this 20-foot sewer kit, which comes with the hose, a clear elbow, a connection adapter and caps. All this makes dumping your tanks as easy as it can be. A hose support stand to hold the sewer hose is nice, but not essential.

Sale

Camco RhinoFLEX 20′ Camper/RV Sewer Hose Kit – Includes 4-in-1 Adapter, Clear Elbow, & Caps – Connects to 3″ Slip & 3″, 3 1/2″, 4″ NPT Threaded Sewer Connections (39742)

SUPERIOR RV TANK DUMPING: Streamline RV tank dumping with Camco’s RhinoFLEX 20′ RV Sewer Hose Kit. Made with a tough, flexible RV sewer hose, this complete RV camping kit provides simple grey & black water tank dumping on your camping adventures.
BUILT FLEXIBLE & TOUGH: Constructed with 23 mils of durable polyolefin and reinforced with steel wire, the RhinoFLEX RV black water hose can bend & maintain its shape for reliable, long-lasting use.
PATENTED DESIGN MADE IN THE USA: This product is proudly manufactured in the USA using high-quality global materials for superior durability and performance. The patented design ensures exceptional craftsmanship and quality.
FITS MOST DUMP STATION PIPES: Compatible with a range of dump station pipes, the RhinoFLEX 4-in-1 adapter accommodates 3″ slips or 3″, 3 1/2″, and 4″ threaded pipes.
COMPACT & SPACE-SAVING: Each 10′ RV waste hose section compresses to just 39″ with the fittings for easy RV sewer hose storage. Use the included removable 4-in-1 adapter to conveniently store the hose in your camper’s 4″ square bumper.

RV Toilet paper

Perhaps one of the most highly debated items among RV gear is toilet paper. At the very least, you will need some sort of toilet paper. Every RV manufacturer out there recommends only use RV-specific toilet paper. That said, there are plenty of campers who say that it is unnecessary.

Whether it’s truly necessary or not, it’s what we use. I figure anything I can do to help extend the life of my camper is worth it. Scott Rapid Dissolve toilet paper for RVs and boats works just fine for us. As a bonus, it is generally available at Walmart and doesn’t cost that much more than a good “normal” toilet paper.

Whether it’s RV-specific or not, toilet paper is one of the RV essentials that you don’t want to be without!

Scott Rapid Dissolve Bath Tissue, 4-Rolls (Pack of 2)

Specially Made for your RV, Boat or Septic System
Scott Rapid Dissolve tissue breaks up 4X faster than the leading brand
Soft ,Strong and Absorbent

Leveling Blocks & Tire Chocks

Once you’ve arrived at the campground, you’ll need to get the camper level and make sure it doesn’t go anywhere. Sadly, most campsites are not perfectly level. Even the paved ones sometimes have a slight tilt to them. For this, we suggest carrying three sets of Lynx Levelers. These nifty little things are lightweight and fit together like Legos so they don’t slide around.

You can stack up as many as you need to get your camper level. Hopefully, you won’t need more than one or two on a side but you never know. They also are good for use under the hitch and stabilizer jacks. We’ve even used them as a jack to change a tire on the camper.

Lincoln State Park campsite — Bonnie relaxing in front of the camper. You can see from the number of levelers used how unlevel this site is.

We started with two sets of 10 Lynx Levelers. After a couple of very uneven campsites, we added a third set.

You can use the levelers by themselves but we like having the caps so the tire sits on a smooth surface. The caps are also a tad bit thinner, which is nice when you only need a small amount of lift.

You’ll also need chocks for the tires to make sure the RV doesn’t roll or slide. You can get Stop n’ Chocks that work with the Lynx Levelers. One set of two should be enough. You’ll also want a set of “normal” chocks for when you aren’t using levelers. We have four of these.

Sale

Tri-Lynx 00015 Lynx Levelers – 10 Pack , Orange

Tri-Lynx 00019 Lynx Cap – 4 Pack , Orange

Lynx Stop N’ Chock – 00011

Other “Just in Case” RV Essentials

Let’s be honest, there are TONS of other items that you might need while RVing. We have a full guide on outfitting your new RV that you can check out for all of the big and small things we use. That said, there are a couple of other very basic RV essentials that you’ll want before your first camping trip.

Basic Tool Kit

As with everything in life, at some point when RVing something will go wrong. Hopefully, it won’t be anything major. Having a basic tool kit will get you through most of the small things, at the very least.

Aa you get more experienced in dealing with your camper, small repairs become easy to handle. — As you get more experienced in dealing with your camper, small repairs become easy to handle, especially with a good tool kit.

Whether it is a screwdriver for tightening loose screws after a bumpy road or a tape measure to see just how long of an extension cord you need, having some basic tools is always a good idea. You might already have something like this in your truck or car. If not, we recommend you grab one sooner rather than later.

Apollo Tools Original 39 Piece General Household Tool Set in Toolbox Storage Case with Essential Hand Tools for Everyday Home Repairs, DIY and Crafts. Blue – DT9706 BL

HOME HOUSEHOLD TOOL KIT: The original 39-piece general tool kit with over 2 Million units sold worldwide. Great gift idea.
ESSENTIAL DIY TOOLS: This compact tool kit contains the most useful tools for basic DIY household repairs. Picture hanging, box opening, screw tightening, this is the perfect starter kit for home repairs.
MOST REACHED FOR DIY HAND TOOLS: Includes 8oz. claw hammer, 6.5″ lineman pliers, tape measure, utility knife, bit driver with 2” bit extension and 20 most popular bit sizes, precision screwdrivers for small screws, 8 hex keys and a pair of scissors.
STURDY COMPACT STORAGE CASE: Tools are neatly stored in a sturdy case to keep them secure, clean, organized and easy to find.

Extra Fuses

Hopefully, you won’t need this for your first trip. But you never know when a fuse will blow, leaving you without that precious electricity. Yes, you can live for a day or two without your microwave, refrigerator or power outlet. Some extra fuses will fix that quickly, though, with no major fuss.

Check your RV manual for any specific fuses your camper might need. We like this inexpensive set, which comes with a good variety of fuses.

You might also get a couple of extra brake light lamps just in case.

ABN 120-Piece Small Fuse Assortment – 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 AMP – Mini ATM/APM Blade Fuses for Cars, Trucks, Boats

Practical: Use the ABN 120-Piece Small Fuse Assortment Kit as your automotive wiring and electrical equipment safety solution; Protects your vehicle and electrical devices from a short circuit or overload
Durable: Terminals are constructed from tin-plated zinc for corrosion resistance and optimal conductivity
Versatile: 0.75” (1.9cm) x 0.50″ (1.27cm); Use on your car, truck, SUV, home, boat, camper/RV, ATV, UTV, golf cart, and more electrical devices
Easily Organized: Packed in a durable plastic case to protect the fuses and provide easy transport and organization; The fuses are (industry) color coded and the case includes a chart for quick identification and simple installation
Contents: This assortment includes 7 micro/small/minor fuse sizes; Not regular, not maxi; (10) pieces of 5 Amp – Tan, (10) 7.5 Amp – Brown, (20) 10 Amp – Red, (20) 15 Amp – Blue, (20) 20 Amp – Yellow, (20) 25 Amp – Clear, (20) 30 Amp – Green

Basic Living Items

Now that you’ve got the necessities of getting your RV hooked up and are prepared for basic emergencies, you’ve got to make sure you can actually live in it. That means you’ll need basic items such as bedding, kitchen gear and toiletries.

Yes, your camper is a second home so set it up as such. Sure, you could use sleeping bags on your bed and a basic set of camping cookware. Chances are, though, that if you’ve bought a camper you’re looking for a little more luxury.

You might already have extra sheets or towels that you can move from the house to the RV. Or maybe you’ve got your eye on a new cookware set and want to move the old one into the RV. When it comes to these RV essentials, you’ll need to decide just how basic and inexpensive or complex and pricey you want to be.

I do suggest, though, that you get items that you can leave in the camper. Having to bring items to “restock” the RV every time you use it will get old quickly.

Dinner at the campground in Big South Fork NRRA. — The dinner plates from Zak Designs complete a meal.

We had some items from our tent camping days that we moved into the camper, we brought a few extra linens from the house and then made runs to Ikea and Walmart for other stuff. The more time you plan to spend in your camper, the nicer you’ll probably want to go with these items.

Bedroom

For the bedroom, I suggest all the basics you keep on your bed at home: mattress cover, sheets, comforter and pillows. If your mattress is anything like our first RV mattress, you may want a mattress topper or even a new mattress. Those upgrades can come later, though.

First, just ensure you have the basics of what you need. And don’t forget extra blankets when the weather gets colder!

We have pillows that we keep in the camper for short weekend trips. When we go on longer trips over the summer, though, we bring our nice Tempurpedic pillows from home.

Live and Sleep Classic 12 Inch Medium Firm Plush Memory Foam Mattress – Bed in a Box with Firm Body Support, CertiPUR Certified – King Size

HIGH QUALITY – Great on a boxspring, platform, adjustable or hard floor only. New purchase includes 20-year warranty
COOLER INNOVATION. Breathable, Medium Firm Plush & better quality materials, not cheap inexpensive foam. Optimum comfort that relaxes & cools your body. Deep rest for a long day ahead. No coils or latex used
BEST SOLUTION. Top Rated Memory Foam Mattress. Classic medium-firm HD core relieves pressure points + less tossing & turning. Good for side, back and stomach sleepers. Signature feel recharges you from a dream night of ultimate slumber
SOFT FABRIC COVER. Flex linen works on any home bedroom furniture frame set, box-spring or futon. Stays comfortable and has a cloud like sensation. Use a bedding pad or protector on any mattress, cot, tri-fold or guest room bed
PERFECT CONTOUR. Our Classic mattress cradles you in a deluxe cushion of 3” Premium memory foam on top of 3″ Air-Flow Infused convoluted foam over a layer of High Density Support Base. Extra-thick profile brings luxury hotel touch

Bathroom

At a bare minimum, you’ll need towels and all the basic toiletries. Sure, basic cotton towels will be just fine. We like quick-drying towels, though, since the ventilation in the camper isn’t quite as good as at home.

We really like our new towels. They dry very quickly. — We like our new towels. They dry very quickly.

You’ll probably also want a floor mat and you might need a shower curtain. After a couple of years, we even upgraded our shower head.

We have some toiletries that we leave in the camper – shower gel, shampoo, soap, toothbrush. Other stuff I bring from home each time. Since our camper sits in a storage space without any sort of hookups, I’ve found that extreme temperature changes affect some items more than others. Let’s be honest, melted deodorant isn’t doing anyone any good.

XL Travel Towel – 2in1 Quick Dry Extra Soft Microfiber, 13 Colors, Lightweight for Gym, Swim Practice, Travel, Backpacking, Camping, RV, Beach, Emergency Bag, Dorm, Tiny House, Van or Camper

Large 60 x 30 inches Towel – No Wet Towel Smell, No Stink, No Bulk, No Fuss – PERFECT FOR:
SPORTS: Swim practice or any other activity that involves showering outside of your home – it won’t stink if you forget it in your bag – use it in the gym, yoga, dance or sport lessons, ball sports, golfing, hiking
TRAVEL: Road tripping, RV trips, camping and backpacking – *Pro tip: chose a different color for every family member!
LIVING: (1) Any small home: tiny house living, mobile home, van and student dorm life (2) Perfect for children and senior care as the towel is lightweight, gentle to sensitive skin and dries up quickly (3) Throw it in the trunk of your car or your emergency bag.
We’ve made it even better: Our new version has round corners, which won’t fray!

Kitchen

The kitchen is, perhaps, the most difficult part of the RV to prepare. You’ll need some basic cookware, dinnerware and towels at the very least. If you’re a coffee drinker, you’ll want a coffee pot. You’ll also probably want some mixing bowls, cutting board, etc. if you plan to cook dinner. Yes, the RV essentials can get complicated when it comes to the kitchen.

RV Gadgets — We love how little space these nesting bowls and measuring cups take up.

I’ll never forget the time we bought bagels for breakfast and then realized that we didn’t have a toaster. Yep, we hit Walmart that afternoon to buy an inexpensive toaster to leave in the camper.

If you want to keep it basic, though, that is doable. And the supplies are things that you can add over time as you’re ready to. Just be sure your plates and cups are lightweight and won’t break easily.

Sale

Cheer Collection 15 Piece Nested Bowl Set with Mixing Bowls, Colander, Sifter and Measuring Spoons, BPA-Free Bright Colorful Plastic Space-Saving Food Prep

FOR ALL YOUR KITCHEN NEEDS – Versatile mixing bowl set for cooking, baking, measuring & preparation
NESTED, SPACE-SAVING DESIGN – Convenient, easy storage! Everything fits inside the large mixing bowl
STYLISH, RAINBOW COLORED – Dishwasher safe stackable set in bright colors adds style to your kitchen
MEASURE WET & DRY INGREDIENTS – Includes measuring cups and set of spoons for prep and cooking
BPA-FREE FOOD GRADE PLASTIC – High quality materials is non-toxic and safe for the whole family

Other RV Gear

As you can tell, there are a few items that you absolutely must have before you head out in your new RV. There are MANY more items that you might want or need to make your camping experience more comfortable. Truly, the more we camp in the RV, the more “things” we decide we need. Or the more we want to upgrade the items that we have.

Grant and Bonnie relaxing by the camper in our zero-gravity chairs. — Enjoying our new chairs at our campground at Indiana Dunes State Park.

Sometimes it’s little things to get us better organized. Other times it’s items we truly didn’t realize we needed. There are even things that we didn’t realize existed until we saw it at a campground or heard about it from a neighbor.

Final Thoughts on the RV Essentials

When buying an RV, there are a lot of things to consider. I’m not going to lie, if you’re new to RVing, it can be a little overwhelming. There will likely be more runs to Walmart for items you didn’t know you needed (or wanted) than you care to think about. Don’t let that frustrate you. It’s all part of the process. I promise every time you take the camper out it will get easier.

Yet another trip to Walmart, this time for a power cable extension and longer water hose. — Yet another trip to Walmart, this time for a power cable extension and a longer water hose.

Stock up on the RV essentials and let the rest of the gear work itself out over time.

If you’ve got the basic items and are looking for more in-depth suggestions, check out our full RV gear guide. For those things that truly make RVing comfortable, take a look at the list of our favorite RV gadgets.

Finally, if you’re looking for RV tips, check out the following articles:

If you’re a seasoned RVer and have suggestions on essential RV gear we forgot, drop us a comment and let us know!

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.

Before you hit the road in your new RV, make sure you have all the RV essentials first! Our guide includes all the RV gear you need for your first trip.