12 Essential Accessories for New RV Owners
When we bought our first travel trailer, I had no idea what equipment we would need. All I knew was that I didn’t want to sleep in a tent anymore. Luckily for us the previous owner left everything behind for us. I am grateful that he did that, because I saved us a lot of time, money, and trial and error to get things figured out. We didn’t use everything, but it gave us a good head start. Here are the 12 essential accessories for new RV owners.
Power Cord
You will need a cord to connect your new trailer to the campground power, or shore power. Depending on your trailer it will either be 30 or 50 amps. They come in lengths from 25 to 100 feet. 25 feet should be long enough to connect in most campgrounds.
Power Adaptors
Campgrounds will have different connections at their power stations. Some may have only15-, 30-, or 50-amp access, some may have all three. If you end up on a site with the wrong type for your trailer you will need an adapter to be able to plug in. If you have a 30 amp trailer you should have a 30-50 adapter and a 15–30-amp adapter. If you have a 50 amp trailer you should have a 50-30 adapter and a 15–50-amp adapter. The 15-amp adapters are also nice for use at home. You can plug into any outlet and power your trailer in the driveway.
Extension cord
On one of our first trips in our new trailer we got to camp and found out that the power station was too far away for our power cord to reach. We had a 30-15-amp adapter, so we drove 30 minutes to the nearest town and picked up an extension cord from the hardware store. It wasn’t an ideal fix, but it got us through the week. I would recommend carrying an extension cord that is rated for your camper, just in case you find yourself in a similar situation.
Sewer Hose
A trailer with a bathroom was a must have for us. I wanted to leave the days of getting up and walking to a bathroom in the middle of the night and using nasty vault toilets far behind. While it is super convenient and awesome to have our own bathroom, it comes with the extra responsibly of having to drain it. You will need a sewer drain hose that connects to the dump station at the campground. Sewer hoses have universal widths but can vary in length from 10-20 feet.
I like this Camco RhinoFlex 20 foot, because the clear elbow makes it easier to know when the tank is done draining.
Portable Waste Tank
If are going to be camping for an extended period or have a larger group, you will fill up the waste tanks before your trip is over. If that happens you have 2 options: pack up your trailer, hook up and tow it to the dump station or use a portable waste tank to drain your tanks while still at your campsite. Ideally your tank will be the same size as your trailers tank, but that also depends on your storage capacity. If you do not have room for a larger tank a smaller one will work but require more trips to the dump station. Check out this Camco Rhino 28 Gallon Tank
Water Hose
To keep your drinking water clean and sanitary, you are going to need a dedicated water hose for your trailer. A good hose will work for filling up your freshwater tank and hooking your trailer up to city water at a campground. I prefer a 25-foot hose, because it is easier to store and clean than a longer 50-foot hose. If you have a need for a longer hose, consider using two 25-foot hoses to get the length you need.
Water Filter
Whether you’re hooked up to a campground water faucet, a local water supply, or using water from your RV’s holding tank you should have a water filter somewhere along the way. A filter will make sure that your water is free of contaminants and remove bad tastes that can come from using well water or the plastic taste that can come from using your freshwater tank. Many new trailers will come with a filter installed, but if not, you can buy and install one yourself.
Spare tire
Our first trailer did not come with a spare tire, so buying was one of the first things I did before we went on a trip. To find the right spare tire, you will need to get the size and load rating information from one of your tires. You can take the information to a local RV shop or a tire shop that sells trailer tires and buy one there.
Our trailer didn’t have a mount for a spare, so I stored it in the bed of my truck. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked for us. I would recommend getting a bumper mounted spare tire carrier.
Bonus “Essentials”
Here are a few things that we always bring that maybe aren’t essential but must have for us.
Grill
Are you even camping if you aren’t grilling? I like to make as many camp meals as possible on the grill. It’s more fun to cook outside and it helps keep the interior cool during hot summer days. Our first camper came with a mounting rail that allowed us to put the grill on the outside wall. Currently we are using a Colman Folding grill with a griddle I can swap in to make pancakes.
Check Out our Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Portable Grill
Booster pack/air compressor
You never know when you might need a jump start or to top off a low tire. I carry a Stanley Fat Max Professional Power Station on every trip, and it always stays in my truck. I had a bad experience where I needed a jump start, but couldn’t get anyone to help, so I said never again and picked this up from our local hardware store.
Tool Kit
I have been a mechanic on and off for the last 20 years. I always keep a set of basic hand tools in my truck. It’s nothing fancy, but I at least have wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers to handle any simple repairs on or inside our trailer.
Electric heater
We live in Wisconsin and love camping in the spring and fall so we always keep an electric heater on hand. The heater allows us to keep a comfortable temperature without having to run the propane furnace. Having a heater has saved us lots of money on propane.
