50+ Must-Have RV Accessories You Will Use in 2024 (2024)

So, you just bought a travel trailer, 5th wheel, or motorhome and now you’re probably asking yourself: what do I need so we can travel? RV gadgets and gizmos are probably one of our favorite topics to talk about because we love to share information about the RV accessories that you’ll actually use while living full-time in an RV.

From a pressure cooker to an RV mattress to a backup camera, there are a lot of accessories for full-time RVers. It’s fun to check out the top RV gadgets when getting yourself set up and ready to hit the road.

However, it can also be a little overwhelming. You want enough household items to be comfortable while you’re traveling. After all, just because it has wheels, it still needs to feel like home. You also want to carry all the tools and equipment you’ll need to maintain your RV and be safe on the road.

That said, you don’t want to carry too much. Not only is it a small space, but cargo weight is an important factor to keep in mind while RV’ing.

The good news is that we’re here to help! Todd did many hours of late-night research for the essential must-have RV items. And now we’ve been on the road for a while so we get to update the list based on personal experiences.

Grab a glass of your favorite drink and get comfortable, because we’re going to go in-depth covering the best RV gadgets we actually used. We’ll also list a few great camping accessories and kitchen supplies that make life on the road more comfortable.

Even if you don’t (yet) have an RV, you may want to check out this list if you’re searching for gift ideas for any friends or family or are passionate about their RV lifestyle.

Are you ready? Awesome. Here we go… Let’s dig into the best accessories, supplies, gadgets, and tools for RVs, travel trailers, campers, and fifth wheels.

Best RV Accessories for Sewer, Water, and Electric

We’ll start with some critical items. Based on our personal experiences as well as many discussions with campsite neighbors, these are the must-have items to maintain sanitary water, reliable electricity, and safe waste management.

If you purchase your RV brand new straight off the lot, it’s definitely not ready for you to hit the road.

Before we bought our fifth wheel, we had never lived in an RV. As soon as we picked up our new home on wheels, we realized there were quite a few things we needed to buy before we could begin our grand adventure.

Todd did extensive research on the must-have RV accessories, tools, and equipment we needed. He wrote an in-depth article about Must Have RV Accessories for Sewer, Water, and Electric Connections.

If you’re just starting on your RVing journey, we highly recommend you head over there and read up on the details of each gadget.

These are the items we use daily and would buy all over again with our new-found knowledge about RVing.

The following is a comprehensive list of the must-have RV equipment to manage and maintain the water and sewer connections.

Here are a couple of quick tips before you hook up your RV:

1. Check the ground water and electrical connections before setting up your rig. It’s a big disappointment to go through the work of leveling your RV and getting out all the hose kits only to find there is no water pressure, or the electrical connection is down.
2. Make sure your holding tanks are closed before you hook up.

RV Sewer Hose Storage Bags

We recommend purchasing large clear plastic bins or hose bags that you can use to store the hoses. You can easily find bags specifically made for storing RV hoses. They are color coded and/or labeled to ensure you put the black, grey and fresh water hoses in the appropriate bag each time.

If you buy plastic containers to use for storage, I recommend labeling those (simply mark a large piece of duct tape with Black, Grey, Fresh Water). Also, wash them frequently.

For a more in-depth article on sewer hoses, be sure to check out our guide titled How to Find the Best RV Sewer Hose Kit.

If you’re new to RV living, watch this fantastic video from Keep Your Daydream that describes how to hook up your RV at the campsite.

There are DIY options for heated RV hoses. Our heated hose froze because we forgot to double check the outlet was on. Wow, that was a big mistake.

We didn’t want to spend nearly $200 on a replacement heated hose. So, Todd watched a video about RV Water Hose Freeze Protection. Then he made his own heated water hose, which worked really well for us.

Related Reading: RV Kitchen Accessories for Full-Time RV Living

TheRV surge protector and circuit analyzerwe covered above is similar toone of the first items that Todd purchased (pictured) when we bought our travel trailer home

During our time of full-time RVing, we set up and tore down a lot. Probably too often. We traveled at a pace we wouldn’t recommend to others considering an RV lifestyle.

But, one perk that came from moving every few days to a week was we got really, really good at setting up and tearing down camp.

These are the products that made setting up camp a lot easier.

If you’re curious about how these RV levelers work, watch this video about how to level your RV on the first try.

If you’re looking for travel trailer accessories to save your back, this is it.

Watch this video Todd put together explaining the product and the easy install.

Related Reading: The Best $600 We Spent on Our New Travel Trailer

Working remotely is what allowed us to RV full-time. It’s a freedom we’ve enjoyed for several years and feel very grateful for the opportunities it offers.

While we would never venture to claim we’re RV tech experts, we do have real life on-the-road experience. So what we do here is share with you what worked for us.

These are the tools that enabled us to continue working from the road, sometimes from very remote locations. We used these almost daily on our travels:

Related Reading: Internet Solutions for RVers

The weBoost model we purchased worked well for us, but it only boosted one device at a time because the phone needs to sit in the cradle to work. The newer version of the weBoost recommended above is similar, but it works on all devices inside the RV simultaneously.

We used the booster for the first six months of our trip, then realized we needed something with a little extra oomph and something that would boost more than just one cell signal at a time.

This is where the next product came to save the day…

We also ran into situations where our spot would have a weak signal, but the one right next to us was fine. Eventually, we learned to drive around and find a campsite with the best signal. Of course, that only works at parks that allow you choose your spot.

Gadgets and gizmos for your RV kitchen is a topic I could talk to you about for ages.

Figuring out how to whip up meals in a tiny kitchen was definitely an adjustment, but I had a lot of fun finding solutions to determine what worked and what didn’t.

You will have your own learning curve based on your RV kitchen. Mine included cooking with essentially no counter space, learning that the oven temperature settings were never accurate, and juggling which appliances could be simultaneously plugged in without tripping the breaker. Fun!

But when 5 o’clock rolled around, just like in my very large house kitchen, I would pour myself a glass of wine, sometimes put on some music and enjoy preparing dinner for my family. It was my favorite time of the day while RVing full-time.

A lot of what you need for your kitchen depends on your cooking style, the amount of space in your kitchen, and which built-in appliances are installed in your rig.

It is a perfect solution to help reduce the issues of cooking in a small kitchen. And yes, I even used it as a cutting board, its intended purpose. I can slide a pizza straight out of the oven onto the board, slice the pizza, and serve.

Mmmmm…homemade pizzas taste so good while traveling in an RV.

We love those first sips of coffee in the morning. When we’re in a warmer climate, stepping outdoors and sitting at the picnic table or in our outdoor lounge chairs is the best way to enjoy a first cup.

If it was darn cold, I would stick my head outside to take a peek and breathe in the brisk fresh air. Then, I would slip back inside and savor a hot cup of coffee surrounded by our warm RV.

I prefer the Instant Pot to the Crock Pot because of the short amount of time it takes to cook something. A crock pot didn’t make sense for us and our schedule, but it might work for you.

I also didn’t use a crockpot because I didn’t trust the consistency of the electrical service at most RV parks.

I could just imagine us returning from a long hike to find the electricity was shut off and whatever was simmering in the crockpot was cold to the touch (and raw). That would have been a disaster.

Swivel Sprayer for Sink Faucet

If your RV sink doesn’t already have a swivel faucet, I highly recommend you install one. This is one of those add-on gadgets you’ll wonder how you ever went through RV life without it. The swivel action and increased water pressure will help you keep your sink cleanwith a simple switch from a single stream to a powerful jet.

360 Degree Swivel Faucet

$8.99

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07/09/2024 11:46 am GMT

We’ve covered what you need for sewer, water, and electrical connections.

We’ve covered a fewcool RV gadgets needed for your RV setup process and we’ve talked about RV kitchen accessories that are my favorites and get used daily.

Now it’s time to chat about those fun RV accessories and gadgets that aren’t really a necessity but help make RVing a lot more fun and relaxing.

This is the fun RV stuff!

Portable Propane Fire Pit

One thing we were all looking forward to when we made the decision to full-time RV was how much more we would be outside.

I think we all had visions of sitting by the campfire every night, with our favorite drink in hand, looking up at the stars, soaking in the silence of the night. This scenario does come true. But, only on occasion and certainly not as often as I anticipated.

One reason is due to burn bans set by many campgrounds. Another common reason is when there was no fire pit at the site. Of course, there are also times when we simply don’t want to wake up smelling like campfire smoke.

While staying with our friends in San Diego, they gifted us this Camp Chef fire pit and it was the gift that kept on giving. We used it a lot. And as you can see, it’s set atop an outdoor rug. That’s because with propane, you don’t need to worry about flying sparks created by wood fire.

This is one of our favorite non-essential RV accessories. It’s very cool and we think RVers will be glad they have one.

Pop-Up Gazebo

We wanted something that would expand our living space, while also protecting us from insects.

If you’re in a similar situation – searching for a little more elbow room – consider a mini-splurge on a pop-up portable gazebo. It’s amazing what a little bit of extra space can do for a family or couple traveling together.

Although we were at first hesitant to purchase it because storage space is so minimal, it actually packed up small enough to store in the pass-through of our travel trailer. It worked out perfectly.

This is another one of our favorite RV accessories we bought while on the road. It has allowed us to spend countless hours soaking up the outdoors.

Elevate RV Camping Outdoors: Our Review of the GOzeebo Tent by SylvanSport

Telescoping Extension Ladder

We realized pretty quickly into RVing that having access to our travel trailer roof was incredibly important.

Since travel trailers don’t have a built-in ladder like motorhomes or a place to store a ladder on the back of our rig, this telescopic ladder was exactly what we needed.

Telescoping 12.5 FT One Button Ladder

$129.99

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07/11/2024 06:26 pm GMT

Todd used this ladder over and over to check on the roof, brush off the slide out before pulling it in, RV repairs, and more.

Zero Gravity Chairs

Right before we left on our trip, Todd injured his back. He purchased a zero gravity chair, which helped ease the pressure on his lower back.

After the outdoor rug went down, our Zero Gravity camping chairs were next. I would move these chairs up to the “must-have RV accessories” section after a long road trip.

TIMBER RIDGE Zero Gravity Recliner

$134.99

Oversized zero gravity chair has a seat height of 22.25" with a reclining locking system to adjust your recline position up to 170 degrees.

• Made with a heavy-duty aluminum frame
• Includes fully padded seat and adjustable padded headrest
• 22 pounds
• 30.5" L x 24" W x 43.5" H

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07/08/2024 09:26 am GMT

Here are a few RV must-haves that fall under the safety and care of you and your rig category:

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System – This is something that gave us a little extra peace of mind. We have a TireMinder TPMS. There is also a newer, solar-powered tire pressure monitor.

• Portable Air Compressor – This is another must-have RV gadget for tire care and safety.

• Electric Mini Dehumidifier – RVs hold a lot of moisture, which can cause all kinds of unwanted things to happen. Use a dehumidifier to prevent costly repairs.

• Headlamp – A headlamp is really useful when looking for something outside the RV after dark. It’s great to have for inside the RV in the event of a power failure. The headlamp is also a great accessory if you’re doing work under the camper or in small dark spaces. We have used headlamps while camping and for night hiking.

Whether you’re a full-time RVer or a weekend warrior, decorating your rig and making it feel like a home is important. Here are a few of my favorite accessories for sprucing up your space.

If you’re looking for some fun gift ideas, here are a few items your RVing friends would love:

• State Sticker Map – A fun way to track and show all the states you’ve visited
• Portable Gas Grill – This is the perfect grill for RVers because it can be used on a table. Or, because it has a telescoping stand, it can also be used on the ground. This alternative setup is great because a lot of RV parks do not allow grills to be used on top of the picnic tables.
• Portable Propane Fire Pit – As we mentioned above, this was gifted to us and it’s one of our favorite items in the RV.

And that’s a wrap for our list of favorite RV Gadgets, Supplies, and Equipment. These are the items we actually use and would not want to do without.

We truly hope this list and the explanations helped you prepare for your RVing adventure.

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