Basic RV Essentials Every RV Should Have
Anyone who knows me knows I’m all about simplifying life. For me, having a lot of stuff negates the whole point of camping, whether I’m traveling in my RV or tenting at a campsite that’s way off the beaten path. Many of simplified lifestyle fans find ditching stuff is the perfect route to a happier life with less stress and more joy. With that said, whether you’re hitting the road full time or taking off on a weekend camping trip. there are are some must-have essentials that you should have in your RV.
One thing nobody tells use when we buy our first RV is that there’s an extensive list of equipment required for basic set up so the RV can do all the things it was built to do. The following list includes all the necessities for basic RV setup. I’ve included links to some of my tried and true favorite products in the list.
Essential Gear For Basic RV Setup
- Drinking Water Hose – Specially made to ot leach toxic chemicals into your drinking water, an RV drinking water hose is essential for filling your RV freshwater tank or connecting to city water.
- Heated drinking water hose Keeps the water flowing when you connect to city water in winter.
- Gray and black tank cleanout hose– Cleanout hoses are made for nitty gritty jobs like flushing holding tanks or rinsing the sewage hose.
- RV Sewer Hose (aka “stinky slinky”) this is a 4 inch hose that goes from the RV wastewater outlet to the sewer drain adapter.
- Disposable Nalgene or rubber gloves: Gloves will protect your hands from sewage.
- Sewer Adapter “L” connection : Connects the stinky slinky to the sewer drain-I highly recommend the Camco Sewer Adaptor Pro for creating a secure, odorless connection.
- Holding Tank treatment: Helps to eliminate odors and prevent tank clogs. I personally use Thetford Bio holding tank treatment to keep my tanks flowing and odor-free.
- 30 or 50 Amp Shore Power Cord Chances are, you one of these was included with your RV.
- 20-30 foot 20 amp extension cord for plugging in lights etc
- Power management system/surge protector keeps your RV electronics safe from faulty power or power surges.
- Tire pressure guage
- Spare tire
- Tire inflator or air compressor
- Jack
- Leveling blocks
- Bullseye level for getting your RV perfectly level. iPhones have a built in level that can be handy for leveling your RV too.
- Well equipped first aid kit
- Lighter
- 2-3 fire extinguishers– There should be a fire extinguisher within reach wherever you are in the RV.
- Jumper cables
- Automotive fluids and funnels: It makes sense to be prepared with a quart of oil if you need one.
- 1-4 crescent wrenches in different sizes.
- Multi-bit screwdriver
- Distilled water for battery top-ups
- 3-5 gallon Bucket– because buckets are handy when you need one
- Propane bottles with propane
- GasStop propane gauge and leak detector lets you know propane tank level and stops the gas flow if it detects a leak
- Towing essentials like weight distribution hitch, sway bars etc for towable RV and two bars for towed vehicle
Not Essential But Nice To Have
- Portable Power Station or generator for backup power supply
- Starlink Satellite Internet to stay connected
- Portable induction Cooktop Incredibly fuss-free, fast, energy efficient way to cook or boil water.
- Grill having an outdoor grill makes it so easy to cook great meals outdoors.
- Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker makes it easy to create fabulous meals while you’re out enjoying the great outdoors.
- RV Patio Rug: Woven plastic patio rugs add a little style to the campsite, but they’re also great for keeping dirt and gravel out of the RV. When you’re ready to go, they’re quick and easy to wash with a hose and pack up.
Thoughts About Basic RV Setup
These basic necessities for basic RV setup can really add up at the checkout. With that said, if you’re currently in the process of purchasing an RV, it’s a good idea to ask your RV dealer to include at least a few of these in your purchase price.
Full Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. This means – at no additional cost to you – I earn a commission if you make a purchase using our links. I only link to products and companies I use myself and love. This is my full-time job and the income goes toward supporting the free content on our websites and YouTube channel.
Lynne Fedorick is an RV expert and experienced outdoor author who has written hundreds of articles for RV Life, RV Trader, and other leading publications. She evaluates RV gear, portable power systems, and emergency preparedness equipment for real-world RV travel. Lynne is the founder of RVAdventureGuide.com, offering RV travel tips, reviews, and destinations from a uniquely Canadian perspective.
