We get asked all of the time, what are RV Newbie Must Haves? This article shares our RV Newbie necessities and our favorite Glamping Essentials. When you RV Full-time, you want comfort, security, and memories. This list of RVing full-time gear is designed to make the road feel more like home!
This list of RV Must Have’s are different than any other you’ve seen before! More than just a RV Newbie top 10, these items are about enjoying the comforts of home while on the road.
If we haven’t already met: We’re John & Mercedes, the RV Odd Couple. We sold our house & most all possessions to hit the road and live free, independent, and adventurous lives because life is too darn short! There are affiliate links in this post. This means if you purchase and use our links, it will not cost you a penny more, but we will earn a small commission. Thank you in advance as these help us offset the costs of the blog and creating the video.
From essential RV safety, to camping gear, this article details RV gear that makes your life easier. Before we go into detail on our RVing Must haves, we ask that if you are an “RV Veteran” please leave a comment and let us know what we missed. If you are an “RV Newbie,” let us know if you have any questions.
Our RV Newbie Must Have’s:
RV Locks: https://amzn.to/2WAZzlP
Did you know that most RV manufactures use the same keys for RV doors? The undercarriage doors are almost all the same. If you own an RV you probably have a black key with the same code on it. When we found this out we immediately switched our RV Locks. When you are a full time RVer and most of your possessions are in your RV, a good RV lock is a must-have!
RV Security Camera: https://amzn.to/2WY6BQZ
Unfortunately we’ve already had experiences where we wished that we had a security camera. Luckily we found the RioLink. This camera operates on wireless, and even has a solar panel! It has a motion sensor that gives us peace of mind when we’re exploring for the day.
Lock Cable: https://amzn.to/2I5t7PO
While we’re not advocating that you lock every chair or item outside, if it is worth over $100 in value, we recommend securing it with a cable lock. We keep a few to secure our higher priced RV gear.
Master Lock 4PK: https://amzn.to/2GMwf15
Along with a solid lock cable, don’t forget a good lock. We use Master Lock to secure our expensive RV Gear. It doesn’t matter what lock type you use, but make sure you secure your RVing essentials!
Furrion Backup Camera: https://amzn.to/2KElpOd
Our RV is 42 feet long. For us a back-up camera is very important. Now, if you’re in a smaller RV, this may not be essential. But in our case, and as full-timers, a Back-up camera is huge for safety! Our Furrion is failing us. We’re not sure if it is due to poor installation from Camping world or if the mechanism fried on the dash.
Halowview Backup Camera: https://amzn.to/2KCzT12
We will be putting our Furrion back-up camera against the Halowview. We can’t use it yet, due to birds nesting on the back of our RV, but it’s a video for the future. Remember, if you’re in a huge rig like us, a back-up camera is an RV Newbie must have!
Tire Pressure Monitoring System: https://amzn.to/2K5yTTK
One of the biggest concerns for RVers is Tire safety. Tire blow outs are horribly dangerous. But if you monitor your tire pressure and temperature, you can help avoid this safety hazard for RVers. The cost is small when you compare to the cost of a major tire blow out.
Portable Air Compressor: https://amzn.to/2F1CUVf
Along with a system to monitor the tires, you need a portable air compressor. We did a detailed review of our portable Air compressor, and we’ll link to it here if you are interested. Don’t skimp on tire safety! An Air compressor is an RV Newbie must have!
Dog Bone: 50 to 30AMP– https://amzn.to/2U970LR 30 to 50AMP- https://amzn.to/2IzMhft
If you saw our viral video where John almost got into a fight, you know that the whole thing could have been avoided if we had a dog bone. If you stay in RV Parks, you can’t always get a 50 Amp or 30 Amp spot. So be prepared!
Surge Protector: 50AMP- https://amzn.to/2PD7Qz8 30 AMP- https://amzn.to/2VMx2Zo
After spending so much on an RV, one of the biggest mistakes Newbies make is that they fail to protect their electrical. Many RV Parks have antiquated infrastructure and when you compare the cost of a good surge protector to the cost to replace all of the electrical in an RV, get a surge protector for your RV!
Hose Splitter: https://amzn.to/31kdZ8L
Some RV Parks only give you one water connection. John loves his hose splitter because it allows him to have a running hose without having to disconnect the RV’s water supply. This is a small expense that we use all of the time!
Water Pressure Regulator: https://amzn.to/2MCoSzD
An absolute RV Newbie Must have is a water pressure regulator! Remember, some RV Parks have old plumbing. If you fail to regulate the water pressure, you could have significant damage to the plumbing system in your RV!
Kink-Free Hose: https://amzn.to/2I4JbBl
Storing hoses takes up a ton of room. We recommend spending a little bit extra on a kink-free Zero hose to keep RV storage simple and easy. Since hoses are used on the RV daily, having a quality, easy to store hose is very helpful!
This list of RV Must have’s are not the end all be all. This is what works for us. If you want to know more about the tools that we cary on the RV, you may want to check out our list of RV Tools, A-Z.
RV Glamping Essentials:
The next list of RVing Must Have’s is what we call our Glamping Essentials. These are items that contribute to our comfort. Since we are RVing full time, we want the RV to feel like home as much as possible.
Washer & Dryer: https://amzn.to/2Ka1NCk
Given that we have a toddler and a big closet in the master, having a washer & dryer in the RV was a big priority for me! If we were “weekend warrior” RVers, it would be different, but when you’re full-time, comfort matters!
Tripod: https://amzn.to/2I5hdoX & Stabilizers: https://amzn.to/2XvqUSZ
If you have an onboard washer and dryer unit, consider investing in a tripod and stabilizers. Otherwise the RV shakes when the washer & dryer is on. 🙂
Portable Grill: https://amzn.to/2Iu4RpA
RVing without a good Grill is a cardinal sin! We didn’t like the grill that came with the RV. We love our portable grill. It cooks great and keeps the inside of the RV cool!
Fire Pit: https://amzn.to/2WBfbGe
There’s nothing more relaxing then sitting by a fire. But with fire bans, and the smoky soot of wood fires, we love having a portable propane fire pit. It’s easy to use and very relaxing!
Weboost RV Cell Booster: https://amzn.to/2XAfDRt
Our internet needs are greater than most. With a Youtube channel, it’s really important that we have internet connectivity. In the city, this isn’t an issue. But when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, consider a cell booster for connectivity.
RF Cell Booster: https://amzn.to/2IL58Vl
While we’ve found the Weboost to be helpful, we were less than impressed for the price point. So we are planning on putting it against the RF Cell Booster in the future. We’ll let you know how it goes!
Antenna: https://amzn.to/2Xz1zYt
If you’re not sure about a full on Cell Booster, consider getting an Antenna. The price is so good, it should be on every RV Newbies list!
Clam Tent: https://amzn.to/2K6wh82
If you are going to be stationary, a Clam Tent is a Must have! The set up is super quick. It’s awesome protection from mosquitos and bugs. And most importantly for us, it corrals the kid and dog. We love having our morning coffee in the clam tent! It’s a splurge item that we love!
Other RV Must Haves that didn’t make the video:
Hindsight is 20/20 and we wish we had included the following in our video. But we’ve included them in the blog article.
Fire Extinguisher: https://amzn.to/2WwOGlh
We really should have mentioned this but fire danger is a major concern for RVers. Make sure you have more than one fire extinguisher!
Generators: https://amzn.to/2Wt9PI6
Even if you are an RV Resort goer like we are, you should make sure you have a generator. On a couple of occasions now, this generator has saved us! RV Parks loose power too! So even if you’re a Glamper like us, consider having a generator!
Compact Pressure Washer: https://amzn.to/2K2tLQ8
We love our portable pressure washer. When we’re parked under a tree it’s great for cleaning the RV. It’s also awesome for washing the truck and getting rid of the bugs. This is a luxury item that has make our lives so much easier!
Outdoor Mats: https://amzn.to/2KIAjmN
I love love love these outdoor mats. They help keep the floor of the RV clean. Unless you’re on a concrete pad, I love having these mats. They cut down on the dirt that enters. And as a mom, anything that helps me keep the RV clean is a bonus!
Why are we sharing our RV Newbie Must-Haves?
When we decided to take this huge leap of faith and RV full-time with our family, so many people offered us help. We are sharing about our RVing essentials to help others considering the full-time rving lifestyle.
We’d like to pay it forward. We’ve created a download of our “Top 10 RV Must Haves.” This download has links to ease purchase. You’ll Join our “RV Odd Squad” and be the first to know about our new adventures, products, and RV living hacks!
Thanks for Joining our RV Odd Squad,
John, Mercedes, Sage & Skippy