The Only List Of RV Accessories You Will Need
YES! You’ve got the rig, now it’s time for some RV Accessories! This is the good stuff, the fun stuff, the poop handling stuff! (Yup you need THAT too!) Below are our best recommendations for best in class RV must-have necessities.
Stop by any outdoor outfitter or RV supply store and you will find a million different ways to spend money. Almost any veteran RVer will tell you that they bought too much junk when they started out.
We all do it- all of that stuff looks so great- and the articles you read will be full of scare tactics regarding safety equipment or RV accessories that, if you don’t buy them, will certainly result in death or dismemberment somewhere along Route 66.
The truth is, there are some RV accessories you absolutely need, and a whole bunch that you don’t. This is the only list of RV necessities you will need! Everything on this list is a MUST HAVE or at least adds so much value to us that we would not do without it.
Many of these may make great gifts for RV owners as well. Read on!
RV Hookups and Maintenance
RV Sewer Hose:
If you ever plan to poop while on an rv trip, this is a must have rv accessory. Yup. You need one (at least.) That poop isn’t going to get itself out of the tank and into the hole in the ground. I tend to carry 2 of them- 15 feet long. It is not often you need both, but when you do…WOOF!
There are a few different brands but I prefer RhinoFLEX Hoses. They telescope up nicely and are long-lasting. A bit more pricey, but I think it is worth it, at least for my main hose.
Camco Sewer Hose
- Complete, 20 foot ready-to-use kit includes everything you need for worry-free grey and black water tank dumping.
- (2) 10′ RhinoFLEX camper sewer hoses with pre-attached bayonet & lug fittings, (1) transparent elbow with 4-in-1 adapter, and (4) storage caps. Fittings swivel for easy connecting.
- Fits a variety of dump station pipes. The 4-in-1 adapter fits 3″ slips or 3″, 3 1/2″, and 4″ threaded dump-station pipes.
Sewer Hose Support:
When I was young, my dad was a Construction Superintendent. He would take me to work with him sometimes where I would meet the most interesting tradesmen.
It was from an old German plumber named Hans that I learned the 4 things I needed to know to become a plumber: “Hot goes on the left, cold goes on the right, s**t goes downhill and payday is Friday.”
Unfortunately for all of us travelers, many RV park owners never learned these rules. Therefore you will come across more than a few sewer connections that are raised off the ground leaving an uphill section at the end of your hose. Since we all now know that s**t goes downhill, this is an issue!
Plus, you don’t want your RV sewer hose laying on the ground. It gets all messy and is a pain to pack up on moving day. You will need an RV sewer hose support to keep your waste flowing in the right direction.
RV Surge Protector
This is one of those must have RV gadgets. Not all RV parks have good, stable power to their sites. You will hear horror stories of newer RV’s burning up their electrical systems due to power surges. Definitely get one of these for your motorhome, fifth wheel or travel trailers.
Wheel Chocks
Yes, you can use old bricks or chunks of wood, but a nice set of wheel stabilizers will keep your rig where it belongs all of the time. I hate that feeling of waking up in the middle of a downhill roll, don’t you?!
RV Leveling Blocks
Again, many people use a variety of wood bits to support their stabilizers, but you can’t pass up the opportunity to get some huge “man-legos.” They stack up nicely and neatly for storage and look a lot better than old 2×6’s. Plus when not in use, these RV accessories can be built into a fort! Now THAT’S a MUST-HAVE!
Leveling Blocks
- Interlocking blocks stack to the desired height for customizable leveling
- Can be used with single wheels, double wheels, hydraulic jacks, tongue jacks, stabilizer jacks, fifth wheel jacks and tandem axles
- 8 ½-inches x 8 ½-inches x 1 ½-inch. As the blocks are nested together, each block adds 1-inch of additional height
- Includes a zippered storage bag with handle
Ladder
You will have need of a ladder from time to time, and it is really nice to have one when you need it. I found this great telescoping ladder on Amazon and have loved this purchase. It folds down to fit easily into my basement and makes washing and maintenance duties a snap. Also, kites stuck in trees, frisbee’s on roofs, etc.
Telescoping Ladder
- Simply push down on the thumb buttons and the ladder will slowly slide down effortlessly
- Extension ladder has passed the test of American National Standard for Ladders
- This collapsible ladder is more than 60% overlapping on each casing tube.
- Standard work load of 250 lbs, non-slip end caps hold the base firmly in place, while extra-wide steps ensure safe climbing
RV Tools
I carry a pretty good supply of hand tools. All RV owners shoud as well. I keep most of them in a soft-sided tool bag and the larger, less used ones in a large Tupperware container. This makes it easy to grab both holders and set up on a picnic table, or the bed of the truck, or to the location of any repairs I might need to do.
Outside general hand tools, I keep a hatchet for splitting wood, hand saw for cutting up small deadfall branches, a caulking gun, tow strap, clamps, and tie down straps. Oh and Gorilla Tape– make sure you have some Gorilla Tape! Did I mention Gorilla Tape?
Tool Bag
- Durable tool bag with large, zippered main compartment, 17 exterior pockets and 10 interior pockets
- Internal metal frame allows for easy access and prevents the bag from collapsing on itself
- Triple needle-stitch construction, rugged haul handles, YKK zippers, metal hardware, abrasion-resistant base
- Made of sturdy synthetic fabric with Rain Defender durable water repellent
