When you’re brand new to RV life, there is a whole list of must have RV accessories you’ll need to be comfortable and safe! It’s an expensive investment up front, but skipping out on these items can end up costing so much more in damage and repairs. After a year and a half of living in our fifth wheel full-time, I feel much more confident about what gear is a must have and what you can do without. We’ve also product tested all of these items and know which ones are built to last! So today I’m going to share our favorite must have RV accessories for full-time RV life.
Power
You’ll need all these items to get power into your RV and monitor it. If you buy new, it may already come with a power cord! Our used RV needed a new one, so I’ve linked it here. Your RV is likely either 50 or 30 amp, but you will want adapters to be able to plug into the various types of plugs you encounter. Newer RVs may have fancy battery monitors included, but if yours doesn’t like our vintage fifth wheel, I highly recommend adding one.
Water
Getting water into your RV seems simple, but it actually has a bit of complexity. Beyond needing a drinking water safe hose, you’ll likely want an interior and exterior water filter. I also highly recommend using a water pressure regulator to protect your RV from high water pressure and a hose elbow to keep the weight of your hose from damaging your valve.
- Water hose (full review of ours here!)
- Exterior water filter
- Interior water filter
- Hose elbow
- Water pressure regulator
Sewer
Draining your black and grey tanks is a bit gross, but relatively straightforward. These sewer hoses aren’t indestructible, but they’re the best we’ve found. Having a sewer hose support helps it drain thoroughly, and treating your black and gray tanks regularly is a must.
Maintenance & Safety
You’ll want to be prepared for anything that comes up in a far-flung national park, and that includes sealant and heavy duty repair tape. X chocks and a leveler kit will help you park safely. Inflating your tires adequately is a safety essential, and a king pin wheel plate saves you from lubricating the king pin frequently. A bottle jack and multi-meter will help you make some of your own inevitable repairs.
- Dicor sealant
- Eternabond tape
- X chocks
- Leveler kit
- Tire pressure inflator
- King pin wheel plate
- Bottle jack
- Multi-meter
Boondocking
You may not need these items if you’re planning you always have full hookups, but if you have off-grid plans, you’ll need a way to replenish your water supply and empty your tanks.
If you’re new to boondocking and wanting to learn more about it, check out my boondocking 101 guide:
Boondocking 101 Guide
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
Nice to Haves
None of these are absolute must have RV accessories, but they’re at the very top of our nice to haves. When your home is tiny, it’s really nice to have the comfort items that make the outdoors feel like an extension of your living room.
- Outdoor rug
- Zero gravity chairs
- Solar outdoor lights
- Folding stool
- Solar lanterns
- Picnic table covers
What would you add to this list? Stay tuned for our list of fun and unique RV accessories!
And if you’re brand new to RV life, you might consider our printable RV Move Day Checklist so you don’t make any expensive mistakes packing up the RV:
Printable RV Checklist: Travel Day!
Stay safe and organized with our adorable printable RV checklist for travel days! Checklist is broken down into four categories: day before, morning of, ready to go, and set up.
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
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