You may be wondering what do you need if you have just bought a travel trailer. We’ve created this handy guide to make sure you have the camping and travel experience you dreamed of when you started planning for RV ownership and enjoyment. These are the travel trailer accessories that most people want and need.
Travel Trailer Insurance
Travel trailer insurance is a wise investment and something you need for a camper. It covers the RV in the case of an accident, but it also provides you with liability coverage in the off chance that someone visiting your RV gets injured on your property. It is worth the expense to ensure your travel trailer and your property have the same safety and protection as your vehicle or home does. It also provides peace of mind. If all goes well you’ll not need to make a claim, but if you do RV insurance has your back.
The Best Hitch
A proper trailer hitch is one of the most important pieces of gear you can get for your RV. There are many types of hitches for travel trailers. The best type of hitch for a towed trailer has sway control and have weight balance to prevent the trailer swaying when on the road and also protects your truck from being pulled down so it helps with gas mileage during your journeys. A good trailer hitch is always the first mission-critical item you should invest in. It is the first of the RV Must Haves.
Keeping things on the Level / Jack Drill Socket and A Drill
Stabilizer stands on the corners of a travel trailer are designed to be rugged in order to hold your trailer steady. The power tool makes zipping jack stands quick and easy, sometimes even saving more time than using an RV’s built-in powered stabilizer features. Make sure the stabilization jacks have a drive nut and you get the right drill adapter. If your travel trailer comes with jacks without drive nuts, the dealership can very likely replace them with ones that do. Adding leveling blocks to your camper supply and accessories shopping list is also a good consideration. Leveling blocks designed to even your tires on a site that is uneven. You can carry 2x4s or cement blocks as well but they take up space and can get muddy and wet from being on the ground in a campsite. Leveling blocks are designed to bear the weight of the tires and ensure your stabilizing jacks are stressed and are doing their job right. A cordless drill comes in handy for more than this as well but this bit and the drill are a huge time saver. Make sure you have good power strips in your RV supplies to keep it charged. Those power strips also will be used to power other things as well using the generator or the electric at a campsite. Be very careful to not overload a powerstrip. You should also have a complete toolkit as you may need a screwdriver or your hammer may save the day of the people in the campsite next to you by unjamming something.
Generator and Power
You will need a reliable generator for your travel trailer. RV Inverter generators are designed for powering a travel trailer. A quiet generator with a remote start is ideal and they are quite affordable. There are many types of generators out there but you want to ideally purchase one that has enough power to keep the A/C running when you do not have access to electrical hookups for your travel trailer. Reading generator reviews and comparing prices ensures you get the best deal and a generator that will not leave you in the dark when you do not want to be. Pick up a new gas can for filling up the generator. Store the 5-gallon gas can in the trailer so you always have fuel. RV generators are fuel-efficient so even 2 gallons of gas can sometimes last a week.
Hoses and Sewage
Another camper must have are hoses. You’ll need a few hoses and they have different purposes. The most important hose for your RV is a good sewer hose. Having a box of disposable nitrile gloves are also a mandatory travel trailer must have. There is no avoiding the sewer hose. Dumping the tanks is never a highlight but the right items make it easier. You will be using the restroom, shower and wash dishes in your RV. It is not a good idea to skimp on a sewer hose, you can save money elsewhere on the RV essentials. You need a good quality sewer hose 15-20’ long. Good quality is one of the travel trailer must-haves. That is a length that will allow you to reach all dump tanks but not be so long that waste cannot flow through the entirety of the hose. You ideally want a hose with a right angle bracket and some even have a clear window that ensures you don’t disconnect a hose when there’s fluid in it. It is an RV essential to get a sewer hose that can fit in your travel trailer bumper. You do not want a hose with connectors that force you to store the used hose inside the trailer. It’s a health hazard and the space could have an odor problem. Camco is known for providing the best hoses and there are Sewer Kits available. Sewage Tracks elevate and guide the sewer hose and make sure gravity works as it should keep the waste flowing into the dump connection even if the conditions are bog-like and your site isn’t level.
Fresh Water Hoses and Tank Valves
The other camper necessity hose is fresh water hoses. You’ll probably want two fresh water hoses for your trailer. There are special hoses made for RVs. The suggested lengths range from 15-25” so you can figure out which length works best on your travel trailer but always start with a 15’ hose. One of them will be the fresh water hose that is only used to get city water into your trailer or to fill the fresh water tank. The other is used to drain the black or grey water. It is mandatory to have two different colored hoses so they do not get confused with each other. This is why a garden hose is generally not recommended. White hoses are the most common color for fresh water as it’s an easy visual guide to know which hose is the one that is clean. A lead-free hose is mandatory. Having a backup hose wrapped up and stored away is a good measure as hoses are not perfect and can leak or rupture from water pressure changes. Having a collapsible hose that saves space is a great option. You can even consider a heated water hose to prevent freezing causing hose ruptures. If you will be camping in colder climates or in winter, the heated hose becomes a camper must have. Tank Filler Valves save you time when fresh water tanks need to be filled as it eliminates air having a hard time escaping from the tank.
Water Pressure Regulators and Water Filters
The water pressure regulator is an RV is one of the accessories for a travel trailer you must have. It is also usually one of the RV accessories that is forgotten on that first trip out. It is one if the best RV accessories you can buy. Campground water pressures vary and there is no standard PSI. Your camper generally only needs 40-50 psi but some campgrounds can have 120 psi that can ruin not just your day but can ruin your whole trip. The high water pressure can damage your camper fittings and pipes. The water pressure regulator should be connected to the water supply, then the filter connected to the regulator and then your fresh water hose. This is just best practice. It keeps the hose and filter from dealing with potential water pressures that will cause a hose to burst or shorten its lifespan. Most RV’ers filter their fresh water multiple times so starting with a filter connected to the supply as well as the campers possible built-in filter and maybe even a faucet filter ensures you’re drinking the safest cleanest water. Having the filter connected to the pressure regulator makes sure the water that comes out of the faucet is clean. Water sources for campgrounds vary so a water filter is highly suggested.
All or Most of The Comforts of Home
There are also some items on the camper accessory list that are smaller things that can easily be forgotten. Having a first aid kit for emergencies is as essential for an RV as it is to have one in your car. The RV accessory that many people forgot is sheets and linens and they try to improvise with normal bedding. RV mattresses are not the same size as standard mattresses. Getting RV linens ensures that no one is ever short sheeted or mummified. QuickZip RV Bed Sheets are a nice item as well. They make setting up an RV bed take less time and the bed is made in seconds. A mattress pad really makes a travel trailer bed the perfect place for a good nights sleep. An RV mattress pad has a happy home in every RV and happy sleepers upon it. Bed sheet straps are also called suspenders and keep RV beds sheets taut and smooth. Considering a portable hammock to hang up at your campsite is a nice little way to relax and enjoy your camping time.
The Bare-Bottomed Necessities
You will also need to have a nice toilet brush that comes with a case to close it up in. You can also use the brush for black tank cleaning. Another thing be very attentive to is the chemical toilet. You must use RV/Marine toilet paper, as regular toilet paper does not disintegrate in the black water tank. Special toilet tissue designed for an RV restroom is not a luxury. Toilet Chemical is another necessity. It breaks down the toilet paper and prevents odors. For comfort, getting a package of toilet chemical is something that should be near the very top of your list. RV’s will possibly have some leaks eventually and having Dicor or the type of sealant your RV needs will let you seal any leaks and stay dry and not end a trip. It allows you to do a patch on the leak in camp and then get it repaired after you get home.
Keeping It Tidy and Keeping Amused
A collapsible net hamper bag typically used by college students is a way to collect dirty clothes and keep there from being socks wandering lost in the camper. You’ll also want to make sure that your travel trailer has a collection of movies, music or books. The movie “RV” is a travel trailer rite of passage and is required viewing, at least on the first trip out. Your RV is a small-enclosed space that’s always having dirt and leaves brought into it. Having a nice mat outside your trailer to wipe one’s feet on reduces the flooring getting soiled. You can also pick up a portable handheld vacuum to clean up carpeted areas in the camper. Mounting putty is a wonderfully practical solution that should always be on hand. You can use mounting putty to help attach knick-knacks and other things to surfaces so they need not be moved every time the trailer moves and small items to decorate stay secured. A quick and easy way to increase your space in a travel trailer is using hanging closet organizers. These can add a lot of storage space for clothes and personal items. To save on counter space, a hanging toothbrush holder by the sink saves on space and makes sure your toothbrush stays clean and never gets lost. Many travel trailer supplies can make your camper stay tidy, well organized and you do not get bored being stuck in the RV on a rainy day.
Kitchen and Dining
A hot pot or instant pot is the go-to for every RV chef. It’s the one appliance that lets you have a full kitchen in a single unit. You can have a fresh baked cake in the middle of nowhere if you want as well as having a convenient time saving cooking method. Happy campers require coffee so compact coffee makers are an RV necessity. You can even consider an acrylic French press. Having unbreakable plates and cups in your cabinets prevents the cost of replacing dinnerware if there’s ever a sudden stop. Having a nesting bowl and measuring cup set saves space and having a set of kitchen tools and knives just for the RV makes sure you never forget to bring the ones from home along. Using cooking spray instead of oil and having an air fryer minimizes messes and cleanup for meals in your camper. Magnetic spice racks expand your culinary options and take up little space and provide a lot of flavor to make camp food into feasts. There are also cabinet mounted spice racks as well. Shatterproof wine glasses make camping fancy. Freezer packs also come in handy for a multitude of reasons. They get the fridge cold when you set up camp or if it’s the first use the travel trailer that season. It also keeps food fresh and chilled if you do not keep your fridge running when the camper is pulled. It also replaces the need for ice when camping. Non-skid liners are very cheap and can be cut to fit your travel trailers drawers. These grippy liners ensure kitchen and dining items do not slide around in drawers or get damaged or scratched. It’s also a more environmentally friendly and better option than bubble wrap. Having a well-equipped kitchen and dining area can add a lot of small but very affordable things to your camper accessories list.
Additional Camper Must Haves
You should make sure that you do not forget to make sure you have proper storage and use the space inside your travel trailer well. Having bookcase with doors allows you to store books, DVDs and more conveniently and safely when traveling. A mirror mounted on the inside of your bookcase door also adds more functionality as you then can check your appearance. You should try to set up for RV so as many things serve multiple purposes as possible. You should also make sure you have cable ties to prevent your electrical cords from getting tangled. Grabbing a pack of different colored ties and labels can make your power management easy and ensure you never unplug your hotpot while it’s cooking dinner. You should also consider bringing your own water supply that can last a few days. Collapsible camping jugs are an ideal solution and require very little space when not in use. Having potable water is not to be overlooked. if you get a flat tire and are waiting for help, you need to stay hydrated. Reflective tape can be used on steps and door handles on the exterior so they illuminate in the dark when a flashlight hits them to provide safety. Fans can be used to cool off and even as a clothes dryer and there are many small powerful fans available to choose from. Fans can keep your RV from getting stuffy in humidity.
If you enjoy boondocking and having a bigger budget, there are things you can add to your trailer kit to help you have more fun in your stay. One is a portable campfire. When you have this, you can start a fire wherever you need to. Also, never forget your fire starting kit, you should always have a fire starting kit to get all your campsite fires blazing. Enclosed fire pits are a great investment and allowed in most state parks even. A portable campfire is a nice luxury item and provides safe warming for an entire family. You should make sure you have good hiking backpacks in order to walk to camp stores and likewise have your essentials with you if spending the night out camping and sleeping under the stars. You need a quality frame backpack that can easily be stored away to port your things from RV to campsite and back.
High Tech for Travel Trailers
There are several accessories that allow you to use your technology when camping. These are optional things you need for a camper. A cell booster makes sure you can receive important calls in areas when the mobile coverage is low. It increases the range of your phone, especially inside your RV. Solar powered cell phone chargers eliminate the need to use power at a campsite and let you stay connected to the outside world. You can use solar powered chargers to charge phones, tablets and even laptops. Some solar chargers are even incorporated into camping backpacks so you can charge as you hike. A Wi-Fi booster set on top can increase connection to free Wifi hotspots. Electric fly swatters are a fun and high tech way to kill bugs that get inside your RV and are very popular.
There are a wide range and diverse offerings for camper necessities. Having the best camper stuff makes for a safe and fun camping trip and makes sure that your home away from home is as safe, secure and has all the conveniences you desire. By being well outfitted with the top RV accessories, all that remains after setting up camp is to enjoy your trip.
