Are you a new RV owner? We want you to be prepared when you start your RV adventure and in order to help with your planning, we’ve come up with this helpful RV Gear Shopping List for you.
This list contains products that we have and use nearly every single day. These aren’t convenience items or nice to haves like some of the items in our previous blog post, but tools and supplies that you simply have to have for the day-to-day and safe functionality for RVing.
This post contains affiliate links. We receive a commission for any purchases made via these links.
Okay new RV owners, Let’s dig in.
Table of Contents
Sewer Hose and Nitrile Gloves
You can’t get around this one. As a new RV owner, you are going to have to purchase an RV sewer hose to deal with your gray water (from washing dishes, taking a shower, washing your hands, etc.) and your black water (toilet water).
You want to get a good quality sewer hose that is at least 20′ long, and quality nitrile gloves to go with it. Why the gloves? Just keep reading.
I recommend getting the Sewer Kit below from Camco. The hose swivels at all ends which avoids kinking and twisting stress on the hose. It also has end caps for keeping things sanitary when you disconnect, and an opaque sewer elbow. You want to know things are flowing well, you don’t necessarily want to see what’s actually going down.
And the gloves. I don’t like worrying about what may have splashed on my gloves, so I use a fresh pair every time. You don’t want to risk it, trust me!!
Fresh Water Hoses
Rather than a run of the mill water hose, make sure to get a purpose-made fresh water hose.
Forget that old hose sitting on the back porch, do it right. Minimum, 25′.
In fact, get two.
Yes, two.
You never know what accident could befall your first hose, especially since the freshwater fixtures and black/grey tank drains are typically on the same side of the RV not far from each other.
Just saying… Get your water hoses here!
Heated Water Hose
If you’re camping year-round or anywhere north of Central Florida or South Texas I definitely recommend a heated water hose.
You don’t want to deal with the mayhem of a ruptured hose at 3:00 in the morning.
Be prepared. In 2019 we experienced snow in Colorado, in May!! We were so relieved to find that our water hose did not freeze.
Sewer Cap with Hose Adapter
Yes, your RV comes with a sewer cap, but you may want to consider one that will allow you to connect a water hose.
This will allow you to drain your gray (sink, shower) water.
We have stayed at campgrounds where there was no sewer, but they did provide a “Grey Water Only” drain.
In addition, you may find yourself dry camping on BLM land or someone’s property where it is legal and acceptable to drain your gray water. This type of sewer cap will allow you to drain your grey into the woods or a proper receptacle.
Click here to see the one we purchased for less than $10!
Wheel Chocks and Levelers
You’re living life on wheels now so make sure you are living level and staying put when you park!
Don’t forget your wheel chocks, and unless you have a self-leveling rig, some simple levelers to help out!
We find ourselves using ours nearly every time we camp. Even in Florida!!
Weight-Distribution Hitch and Sway Bar
If you’re towing a Travel Trailer like us, a weight-distribution hitch is essential.
When you place a load on your hitch ball, you’re unbalancing your truck/SUV by taking the weight off of the front axle reducing control authority for turning and braking.
A weight distribution hitch leverages weight back to the front of the tow vehicle as the nice Australian in this video explains.
Take a look and then check the Amazon link below.
Also, it pays to add a sway bar.
Our TT is rock solid on the highway, partly due to having a sway control bar.
GET PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IF NECESSARY.
Surge Protector
This item on the new RV owner shopping list is one that we finally purchased in 2019!
It’s a portable surge protector, and make sure to get the right one for you (30 or 50 Amp).
We’ve taken on a machine worth thousands of dollars so spending two to three hundred dollars really has to happen.
The type we purchased (the Surge Guard Portable Total Electrical Protection) will reset itself after protecting your RV, which is important if you have pets traveling with you. For more information on the Surge Guard Portable Total Electrical Protection: click here for 30 amps or click here for 50 amps.
Amp Adapters
Continuing with the electric theme you definitely want a 50 Amp to 30 Amp adapter or of course a 30 Amp to 50 Amp adapter.
There’s nothing worse than traveling all day, pulling into an overnight RV park, and realizing that there are no 30 Amp sites left for your TT or a 50 Amp site for your Bus.
An electrical adapter takes care of that problem so that you can hook up to any power outlet.
It helped us out when our monthly parking site was occupied by another guest for 5 days a few years ago and we had to park on a grassy spot with 50 amp service.
It was actually a gorgeous unofficial spot that they ran auxiliary power to that we were really sad to leave.
Power Cords
Critical for the new RV owner is a spare power cord.
We keep all our spare equipment separate from our day-to-day supplies to ensure survivability because who wants to make a 2:00 am run to Walmart on New Year’s Eve if you can avoid it?
We recommend the Camco PowerGrip Heavy-Duty OutdoorExtension Cord for RVs. These are easy to find, affordable, and long-standing.
Find out more about the 30 amp power cord by clicking here (this is the kind we have).
Find out about the 50 amp power cord by clicking here.
RV Inverter Generator
Last but not least – and optional unless you’re going to be boondocking regularly – a gas inverter generator.
We finally purchased one during the 2017 summer season. Here are the 3 Reasons We Bought the RV Ready Champion 3500 Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator
Final Thoughts
Now you can always find more RV products besides our Shopping List for the New RV Owner, but we feel this list can help you cover the essentials for a smooth start to your RV adventure!
Please let us know what you think and if you have any questions for us!
Being a new RV owner can be overwhelming, please let us know how we can help you!!
Get Your FREE Shopping List!!
Download the shopping list of everything in this post for free so you can shop whenever you are ready!! Click here to get it!
