Recommended Gear

The right gear can make RVing a lot easier and more comfortable. Here’s the gear I personally use and recommend (and the stuff I think is a waste of money).

If you have questions about anything listed below (or not listed here), feel free to email me at chris@gomakethings.com.

Many of the links are Amazon Affiliate links, and I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using them. They’re also all things I genuinely use and bring with me in my RV.

Fresh Water

• Zero-G Water Hose. Lead-free for drinking water. Unlike most white marine/RV water hoses, this one is easy to roll up and handle, even when its cold.
  • Budget Pick: Camco. Gets the job done.
• Water Pressure Regulator. Preset to 45 psi, it keeps your RV plumbing safe at campgrounds with higher-than-average water pressure.
• Storage Bags. Keeps your hoses, cables, and fittings together. I own two: one for water gear and one for electric gear.

Sewer

• RhinoFlex Hose Kit. Rigid, easy to work with, and fits in many RV bumpers. Includes two 10-foot hoses (when you need just a bit more length), plus the dump station elbow and fitting.
• Optional, but good to have…
  • Dump Station Adapter. You’ll often find sewer inlets that lack any threading. This adapter ensures your fitting remains in place and helps avoid any… incidents.
  • Magnetic Sewer Hose Bumper Cap. Hooks onto your sewer hose and makes it much easier (and cleaner) to get the hoses in and out of your bumper.
  • Storage Box. A watertight box for storing the dump station elbow fitting. Keeps the rest of your storage compartment clean.
  • Sewer Cleanout Hose. You never want to use your fresh water hose to flush out your black tank. This bright orange hose prevents any confusion.
  • Black Tank Flush. If your RV does not have a built-in black tank flush, this provides a way to backfill the tank and clean it out.

Electric

• Power Watchdog Surge Protector: 30 amp or 50 amp. Constantly monitors electrical quality and cuts power to your RV if it gets dangerously high or low. Prevents your entire electrical system from being fried. Unlike most models, the surge module can be replaced after an incident.
• Optional, but good to have…
  • Surge Protector Lock. These things are expensive. Prevent them from “disappearing” at a campground.
  • RV Extension Cord: 30 amp or 50 amp. Every now and then the power outlet is just a bit too far away.
  • Adapters. Sometimes, you need to connect a 30 amp rig to a 15 amp outlet, or a 50 amp rig to a 30 amp outlet. These let you do that.

Leveling

• Rubber Wheel Chocks. These heavy duty rubber chocks hold really well, and won’t crack or split like plastic ones.
  • Budget Pick: Camco. They tend to slip a bit on pavement, but mostly get the job done.
• Lynx Leveling Blocks. Place them under your tongue and stabilizer jacks, or stack them and drive onto them to level your motorhome. Lighter, cleaner, and easier to use than wood blocks.
• Anderson Leveler. Just put it under your tire and drive up. Hands-down the easiest way to level a trailer.
• LevelMate Pro. Get your RV perfectly level in a fraction of the time with an app on your phone. This is so much more convenient than a manual level.
• Drill Leveling Adapter. Raise and lower your manual stabilizer jacks more quickly with a ¾-inch drill bit adapter. If your tongue jack has a ¾-inch hex on it, you can also use it to level the camper front-to-back.
• Proven Hitch Lock. Keep your trailer safe at the campsite or in storage.

Heating & Cooling

• Furnace Insect Screens. Flying insects love to nest in furnace vents. Prevent them from doing so.
• Propane Gauge. Keep track of (roughly) how much usable propane is left in your tank.
• Dual Propane Rack. A lot of RVs come with a single propane tank. You can easily add a second with this rack.
• Digital Fridge/Freezer Thermometer. RV fridges are notoriously fickle. These give you an accurate temperature reading, and record the min and max temperatures in a space to check if anything went wrong.

Around the Campfire

• Coleman Camp Chairs. Lightweight, affordable, and compact, these fit easily into most RV storage bays.
  • Upgrade Pick: Coleman Again_ If you need or want a chair with a bit more heft, this is a good choice.
• Aluminum Folding Table. This table can be used at coffee table or regular height, is really light, and folds up super small.
• Table Cloth. I’ve seen people do disgusting things on campground picnic tables. Keep yourself clean and safe with this table cloth and seat cover set. Water resistant and easy to wash. Unlike versions with elastic edges, this fits nearly any sized table.
• Mini Shovel. The most versatile tool I own. Adjust a burning log, put out a campfire, dig sand at the beach, shovel snow, break up ice… this one tool does a lot.