Planning an RV trip can be a thrilling adventure, but it requires some essential preparation to ensure everything goes smoothly. In this post, we’ll cover the 10 most important items you need for a safe and seamless RV journey. From safety equipment to practical gadgets, these must-have items will help you enjoy your trip to the fullest and avoid common pitfalls.

Key Takeaways

Preparation is Key: Planning stops, packing essential items, and ensuring your RV is equipped with necessary gear can significantly enhance your RV camping experience.
Safety First: Items like wheel chocks, surge protectors, and disposable gloves are crucial for maintaining safety and hygiene during your trip.
Leveling Matters: Properly leveling your RV ensures stability and prevents potential issues, making bubble levels and power drills indispensable tools.
Water Quality: Using potable water hoses and inline water filters safeguards against contaminants, ensuring clean and safe water for drinking and everyday use.
Sewage Management: Effective black tank treatments and sewer hose supports help prevent unpleasant odors and blockages, contributing to a more pleasant camping experience.
Backup Plans: Keeping spare batteries, tools, and backup accessories handy ensures you're prepared for unexpected situations, such as power outages or equipment failures.

Wheel Chocks

You don’t think much about wheel chocks until you find yourself on a slightly sloped campsite. Back home in Delaware most of our campsites are flat so wheel chocks aren’t usually a concern. But once you get out to other campsites you’ll realize their importance.

If you show up at your campsite and realize you forgot your wheel chocks don’t panic. You can improvise with cut up pieces of a 2x4 or even large tree limbs as long as they fit snug against the wheel. Remember to put the chocks on the lower side of the wheel for maximum effect. I love these wheel chocks. They’re cheap, bright yellow and made of super tough plastic. Sold in pairs of 2 they’ll fit tires up to 26” in diameter but will work on almost any size tire.

Leveling Your RV

Proper leveling is crucial for smooth sailing in your RV or travel trailer. Being off-kilter can lead to a host of issues, making your RV living experience less than ideal. To ensure everything stays on the straight and narrow, it's essential to level your rig both end to end and side to side.

Bubble levels are your best friend when it comes to leveling your RV, and this one is our go-to choice. It's affordable, straightforward to use, and doesn't take up much space. Be diligent in checking for levelness at both the front and rear of your RV. Don't forget to assess both side to end and end to end for a perfectly balanced setup.

Power Drill with 3/4" Hex Drive

From a pop-up to a full-size drivable RV, I can’t overstate how important it is for your rig to be level. The scissor jack is one of the most common jacks RV’s utilize at each corner. These scissor jacks usually come with a 3/4” Hex head and a longer jack wrench. The wrench will make your arms incredibly tired and cause you to take longer to level your rig up.

Ensure you keep 2 batteries and a portable drill on your rig with the appropriate size hex drive. Most hex drives are 3/4”; however, check your jacks hex head size to ensure you get the correct one. Additionally, being prepared for situations where you might lose service is crucial, highlighting the value of having non-digital tools like an atlas or a paper map as backups to avoid getting stranded when navigation service is unavailable.

Pro-Tip - I keep multiple RV camping accessories (leaf blower, saw, radios, etc.) powered by the same drill’s batteries to reduce redundancy.

Sewer Hose Supports

Dealing with a sewer block in an RV can be one of the worst problems you could encounter. RV pipes and fittings are designed to be lightweight, which makes them prone to clogging if they are not leveled properly. Sewer pipes that come with the RV itself usually do not cause any issues.

The problems usually arise with the slinky-style hose that connects the RV to the sewer system. When dealing with the gray tank, there is usually no problem. However, if you want to dump a black tank without any issues, the hose must be level from the RV to the sewer connection. To solve this problem, you can use a slinky support that is affordable and gets the job done. However, be careful when handling it as it is made of a cheaper style plastic and can break easily.

Surge Protector

Recreational Vehicles (RVs) are equipped with a variety of electrical accessories that are specifically designed to work in an RV and are therefore quite expensive. However, it is important to invest in these accessories, especially power surge protectors, to avoid any damage to your RV's electrical appliances.

The cost of surge protectors can vary depending on the features you require. We recommend using a mid-range surge protector that provides adequate protection at an affordable price. Cheaper surge protectors may not offer sufficient protection and can also produce a louder hum or buzz noise. In addition, it is crucial to ensure that the surge protector you choose matches the amperage of your RV.

Disposable gloves

Disposable gloves are one of RV owners' must-haves. RV life can become very messy at times. You could have an outdoor kitchen and cook raw meat, or you might be getting ready to handle your sewer hose. You don't want to use reusable gloves in either situation, and you don't want to use your bare hands if possible. A box of disposable gloves solves this problem. They're cheap, and you can buy them in bulk, so you rarely need to buy more. Here's the kind we typically use.

Potable Water Supply Hose

Believe it or not but not all water hoses are the same. They come in different lengths, but they also come in other materials. Most water hoses are not meant for potable applications. They are made with plastics that could harm you in the long term should you consume water that's traveled through them.

It's essential to ensure you always have a water hose on the rig rated as drinkable or potable. We recommend a 50' version and a 25' version so that you have a backup as well as be able to choose the appropriate length at whatever site you are at.

Black Tank Storage Treatment

If you have ever experienced the unpleasant smell of raw sewage, then the last thing you would want is to smell it inside your RV. Unlike house plumbing systems, many RVs do not include plumbing traps on all devices. The purpose of a trap is to keep a section of the pipe full of water to prevent gas from going back into the home.

Due to the limited space in RVs, it is important to use some treatment inside the RV's holding tank to prevent the odors from becoming too strong and seeping back into the RV. There are numerous solutions available in the market to address this issue. Heres a recommended solution that we have had success with.

Water Filter

A good inline water filter is an excellent addition to any RV kit for the same reason the water pressure regulator is required. Campgrounds are notorious for sub-par water pressure and water quality. Sand and sediment are common inside campground water systems, and you want to avoid that stuff building up in your RV's piping and fixtures. RV's have enough repair issues required on their own; we want to avoid raising the likelihood of additional problems. Inline water filters go between the campground water connection and the connection to the RV. They are relatively cheap. We keep a couple extra as well as the one we're using. You can see the one we use here.

Final Thought

By packing these 10 essential items, you'll be ready for anything that comes your way, ensuring your journey is both safe and comfortable. From crucial safety gear to comfort enhancers and practical tools, having the right equipment will allow you to focus on the adventure and make lasting memories.

FAQ

1. What safety equipment should I bring on an RV trip? Ensure you have a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and basic road safety tools like reflective triangles and a tire pressure gauge.

2. How can I stay comfortable during my RV trip? Consider investing in a quality mattress topper, a portable grill for outdoor cooking, and comfortable outdoor chairs.

3. What practical tools are essential for an RV trip? A reliable GPS, a surge protector to safeguard your electronics, and a water pressure regulator to protect your plumbing are crucial.

4. Is a portable water filter necessary for an RV trip? Yes, a portable water filter ensures you have clean drinking water no matter where you park your RV.

5. How do I keep my RV level when parked? Use leveling blocks or a leveling system to ensure your RV is stable and comfortable when parked on uneven ground.

The Most Important RV Gear To Have At All Times