Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 10 Essentials Every RV Owner Should Buy Before Their First Big Trip

By
RV Camper Essentials
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Buying your first RV can be overwhelming. Then there’s towing your camper, learning to park and back up, and setting up once you get where you’re going. That first outing can feel just as stressful, but with the right gear, it doesn’t have to be. We’re not talking about frilly gadgets like fairy lights and portable pizza ovens (though those are important too). This list is an honest roundup of the essentials you really need to keep your RV safe, comfortable, and clean. These are the essentials every new RV owner should buy before their first big trip.

Andersen Levelers/Chock Kit

Andersen Levelers / Chock Kit
Image used with permission by copyright holder

None of the other gadgets on this list will matter if your wheels aren’t properly secured and your new RV decides to roll into the lake or your neighbor’s campsite. Before investing in anything else, make sure you have a way to properly lock your wheels on arrival. Cheap plastic wheel chocks abound, but this isn’t something you want to cheap out on to save a few bucks. Andersen levelers have become a standard in the industry. They’re versatile (work on a wide range of RVs), durable (support up to 30,000 pounds), and dead simple to use, even for first-time RV owners.

Recommended Videos

Hughes Autoformers Power Watchdog Surge Protector

Hughes Autoformers Power Watchdog Surge Protector
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is one of our most important recommendations for protecting your new investment. Even the best campground electrical systems can be unpredictable. A good surge protector works as a middleman between your RV and the campground electrical system. If there’s an electrical short, an unexpected power surge, or the power pole isn’t grounded properly, a surge protector can shut off or sacrifice itself to save your RV’s precious electrical system. This could potentially save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair costs. Be sure to match the capability of your RV (30 amp or 50 amp) to the power rating of the surge protector.

Related

Camco 25’ Heavy-Duty Extension Cord

Camco 25’ Heavy-Duty Extension Cord
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Many RVs and travel trailers include at least a 25-foot electrical cord from the factory. Still, campgrounds have a way of situating their power poles in the most inconvenient spots. That’s why an extra extension cord is a must-have for every RV trip. This 25-foot heavy-duty extension cord will double the total length of most RVs, and 50 feet is more than enough for all but the rarest camping scenarios.

Innova Battery Tester and Charging System Monitor

Innova Battery Tester and Charging System Monitor
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Your RV’s battery is the beating heart of your rig’s electrical system. Even if your plans don’t include “dry” camping (i.e., not being connected to shore power), some of your RV’s systems still rely on a healthy battery. For around $20, this 12-volt plug-and-play tester from Innova monitors your battery and alerts you if the charge dips below a safe level.

Camco RV Brass Inline Water Pressure Regulator

Camco RV Brass Inline Water Pressure Regulator
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Campground water systems — especially those at state parks — can be just as unreliable as their electrical setups. In some cases, the water pressure can top 100 pounds per square inch, which is enough to damage your RV’s delicate plumbing and even cause a flood. For less than $10, this simple device from Camco ensures that’s never an issue by mechanically regulating the water pressure at the spigot down to a safer level.

Culligan RV Water Filter

Culligan RV Water Filter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The quality of campground water is often just as unpredictable as the pressure. Safeguard every sip of water while you’re RVing with a pre-tank water filter. This simple, disposable device screws between the campground spigot and your RV’s water system to filter every drop. It’s an easy and affordable solution to ensure you and your fellow campers are drinking, cooking, and showering with the cleanest water possible wherever you are.

Disposable Vinyl Gloves

Disposable Vinyl Gloves
Image used with permission by copyright holder

RVing can be surprisingly dirty business. One of the best ways to keep clean and sterile on the road is with rubber or latex gloves. Reusable gloves work just fine, but we prefer the convenience of disposable gloves. Keep a pair or three in your RV’s bathroom, in the closet near your front door, and near your sewer lines to ensure you can grab them when you need them most.

BioLite HeadLamp 750 Headlight

BioLite HeadLamp 750
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Avid campers know the value of a good headlamp. They’re invaluable for everything from midnight bathroom runs to finding a misplaced bottle of beer to checking for bears in the middle of the night. That same versatility makes them incredibly useful for RV owners too. Camp long enough, and you’ll inevitably find yourself arriving very late to your campsite, needing to check on a leaky water hose after dark, or searching for firewood long after the sun’s gone down. A good headlamp allows you to keep your hands free and keep working no matter the lighting conditions.

Happy Campers RV Holding Tank Treatment

Happy Campers RV Holding Tank Treatment
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Living and traveling with other people in a confined space — especially a tiny travel trailer — can get interesting. It also can get smelly if you don’t take the right precautions. By treating your camper’s bathroom with a sprinkle of Happy Campers RV Holding Tank Treatment, you can make sure your RV smells fresh no matter how long you plan to be on the road.

Amazon Basics Ceramic Space Heater

Amazon Basics Ceramic Space Heater
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For most of us, warm-weather camping season is right around the corner (or maybe even already here). So worrying about heating your RV may not be a concern. But if you’re planning to camp up north or in the Rockies, you’ll need a reliable and affordable way to keep warm. If you’re hooked up to shore power, consider saving your precious propane and rely instead on an inexpensive space heater to warm your camper’s interior. Just be sure to buy one with a tip-over switch, particularly if you’ll be camping with pets or small children.

To make sure you never forget a thing, download a mobile packing app to make a checklist before heading off on your first trip.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Tee up at the best golf resorts in the U.S.
Stay along the links at these top golf resorts in the country
A person hitting a shot on the golf course.

Wake up, golf, eat, sleep, and repeat. That's the name of the game at the best golf resorts in the country. At these stellar spots across the nation, you can stay at your favorite course and — when you're not driving, chipping, and putting — enjoy perks like excellent food and drink and breathtaking views.

What makes the grade? The best golf resorts in the land offer excellent links, sure, but they also feature stunning settings and deliver world-class hospitality. If you're planning a vacation around your favorite sport, look no further than this list.

Read more
From Nikon to Bushnell: The 10 best golf rangefinders in 2024
best golf rangefinders garmin rangefinder in use

You're a golfer and you, to nobody's surprise, want to hit the ball in the hole. After months of getting in golf shape, you've perfected control of the muscles essential to your swing and practiced them again and again. Need 100 yards to the hole? You can hit exactly that within a 5% margin of error. But you don't need 100 yards. Or maybe you do. In fact, you don't know how far you are from the hole. If only you had a golf rangefinder to tell you how far it is away and how much slope you have to fight to get up to it.

The best golf rangefinders will help you in much the same way that a golf GPS can. They act like an informational gun, just point and shoot to learn how far away something is and possibly even learn how much slope you'll need to climb to get there. Where a GPS gives you a map of your surroundings — and, possibly, how far away something is and even slope based on GPS data if you're lucky — the rangefinder will give you a true-to-life look at the land as it is today. At least, as long as you can see the spot you want info on from your current vantage point. Oh, and they magnify, too, making them like sort of single-lensed binoculars for golf (monoculars?). As a result, some golfers like to use a rangefinder instead of a golf GPS, or even use the two in tandem. The following are the best golf rangefinders to help you settle in on your next 18, putting the perfect amount of power on each shot.
The best golf rangefinders in 2024

Read more
The best camper vans for adventurous luxury living in the great outdoors
Solar power, full bathrooms, decked-out kitchens, and high-end finishes throughout—these rigs have it all.
Three Outside Van camper vans parked in the desert.

Back in the day, camper vans were the original "shaggin' wagons." If your pappy or grandpappy had one, they could probably regale you with stories of cruising across the great US of A in a tricked-out van with dual captain's chairs, a fold-down rear sofabed, and copious shag carpeting throughout (cue Steve Miller Band's greatest hits!). But times have certainly changed. Today's swankiest camper vans offer all the comforts of home, including fully applianced kitchens, pop-up rooftop tents, solar power for weeks, and even full bathroom setups. If that's the level of opulence you're looking for, these seven rigs are the best camper vans for luxe living in the great outdoors.
Storyteller Overland Beast Mode: Best for hardcore overlanders

Most of the luxury camper vans on this list are well-equipped to take you just about anywhere on-road and (mostly) off-road. But Storyteller Overland's Beast Mode rig is an entirely different animal. It's the most rugged, go-anywhere camper van in SO's line-up with legit full-time four-wheel-drive powered by a turbodiesel V6 capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds. Beefy BF Goodrich K02 tires and overlanding-friendly tech, like LED lightbars, a side ladder, and a sizable roof rack good for hauling all your favorite outdoor gear, mounting a solar array, or both—your call—are all standard. We love the interior, too, which features a cushy, retro-meets-modern vibe that's way cooler than even the most custom vanlifing rigs you've seen all over the Instagrams and TikToks. What's more, the price includes all the fixin's, so you needn't worry about running up the bottom line with your favorite options. Starting at $232,586.

Read more