Skip to main content

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

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.

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.

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 has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
The Luxurious Bowlus Terra Firma Is Unlike Any Travel Trailer You’ve Ever Seen
Bowlus Terra Firma Luxury Travel Trailer

The pandemic has had us all a bit stir crazy for the last year. So, it’s no surprise that 2020 fast became the “Year of the New Great American Road Trip,” and 2021 shows no sign of slowing down. Camping, road-tripping, and even RV’ing are more popular now than at almost any other time in history. If you’ve been considering the mobile nomad lifestyle and even a swanky Airstream isn’t disco enough for you, Bowlus has something to show you.

At first blush, the Bowlus Terra Firma is a showstopper. The bold design combines the aerodynamics of a vintage fighter plane, the taut riveted aluminum construction of an Airstream, and the overall aesthetic of, well, it’s hard to say. There are clear elements from the worlds of luxury boatbuilding and Jet Age-inspired spacecraft. It’s somehow all of these things and none of them -- clearly modern, but with firm roots in early- to mid-20th-century transportation design. It’s enough to turn the heads of even the most hardened Airstream owners.

Read more
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S., alpine touring (2nd) and splitboarding (5th) also rank high
Some like small courts, some like wide-open backcountry
A group of people playing a game of pickleball.

The stats are in for 2023, and it tells us that Pickleball is the undeniable frontrunner in growth over the past four years. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the racket sport has grown over 170% in the past four years. But it's not alone in seeing enormous growth. Sports participation has continued to grow as we move out of the pandemic, including several outdoor activities — most notably winter sports — and previously fringe sports.

Ingrained in our human nature is the need to feel part of something big that connects us to others. Movements, sports, and ideologies all fit this bill, and the more people who take part, the more we feel validated in our desire to play or push ourselves in that sport. Marginalized or new sports may appeal to those willing to take a risk on an all-new activity, but until that sport gets some traction, you might end up spending hundreds of dollars on a short-lived hobby.

Read more
Is this the perfect off-road camper? Boreas Campers thinks the new EOS-12 is the holy grail
You can get far, far off the grid with this one-of-a-kind travel trailer
Small family relaxing outdoors with a Boreas Campers EOS-12 camper trailer.

If you’re looking for maximum go-anywhere camping versatility, almost nothing beats an off-road-ready teardrop trailer. They’re like towable hard-sided tents with all the amenities you need -- sleeping quarters, a basic cooking setup, some sort of power supply, and a little bit of storage for your clothes and essentials. But their extremely compact designs can feel cramped after a few weeks or even a few days. If you’re looking for something more, but a rugged full-sized travel trailer is too much (or too expensive), Colorado’s Boreas Campers just announced a Goldilocks solution that promises the best of both worlds.

Boreas Campers 2023 EOS-12 Walkthrough

Read more