On our first night in a campground, I stood in the dark at 9 p.m. holding a water hose that was the wrong color, a power cord that didn’t reach, and a flashlight with dying batteries.
My husband was inside, laughing. We had spent weeks researching the RV itself, and almost no time thinking about the small stuff that makes a trip actually work.
That’s the thing about RV must haves: the camper is only half the equation. A cheap water pressure regulator can save you a burst line.
A $15 set of wheel chocks keeps your home from rolling. A good surge protector can be the difference between a fun weekend and a $1,500 repair bill.
This list is the gear I’d buy again if I were starting over, grouped loosely from “protects your RV” to “makes life more comfortable.” I’ve included rough costs, the mistakes I made, and a few things I’d skip entirely.
If you’re brand new, the budget table near the end shows what to buy first so you don’t spend $800 before your first trip.
1. A Water Pressure Regulator
Campground water pressure varies wildly, and RV plumbing is far more fragile than a house’s. Many RV lines are rated for roughly 40 to 60 PSI, and a campground spigot can push well past that. A regulator screws onto the spigot and keeps pressure in a safe range.
Expect to spend $10 to $30. Get brass if you can, since cheap plastic ones crack when they freeze. An adjustable one costs a little more but handles low-pressure campgrounds better than a fixed one.
Pro tip: Attach the regulator at the spigot, not at the RV end. That way the whole hose is protected, not just your inlet fitting.
2. A Surge Protector or Electrical Management System
Campground pedestals can have reversed polarity, low voltage, or surges, and none of that is visible until something fries. A surge protector is the cheapest insurance on this list. A full electrical management system (EMS) adds low-voltage and open-ground protection and will shut off power when something’s wrong.
Basic surge protectors run about $50 to $100, and hardwired or portable EMS units run $150 to $400. A neighbor of ours, a retired electrician named Gus, told me he’d never plug in without one, and after he explained what a low-voltage event does to an air conditioner compressor, I bought one the next day.
3. A Dedicated Drinking-Water Hose
A regular garden hose isn’t made for drinking water and can leach taste and chemicals. Look for a hose labeled drinking-water safe and lead-free, usually white or blue, and keep it for fresh water only.
Buy a 25-foot hose first and add a 10- or 25-foot extension if needed. Longer hoses are heavier to coil and slower to drain, so don’t buy more length than you’ve actually needed. Costs run about $20 to $40.
4. An Inline Water Filter
You rarely know what’s in campground water. An inline filter, attached between the spigot and regulator or at the RV inlet, cuts sediment, chlorine taste, and some contaminants. A basic carbon filter is around $20 to $40, with replacement cartridges every few months.
The trade-off is flow. Heavier filters can slow your water pressure slightly, which you’ll notice in the shower. I keep a basic filter for the water that comes into the RV and a separate pitcher filter for drinking, which saves on cartridges.
5. Leveling Blocks (And a Level)
A trailer or motorhome that isn’t level can cause fridge problems, doors that swing open on their own, and a very annoying night of sleep. Stackable leveling blocks (the interlocking, Lego-style kind) are lightweight, stack neatly, and cost roughly $30 to $60 for a set.
Add a small bubble level or a phone leveling app and you won’t need to guess. Cheap wood scraps work, but they swell and rot over time, so I’d spend the money on plastic.
6. Wheel Chocks
Chocks keep your RV from rolling when you unhitch or when you’re parked on a slope. They are not optional. Heavy-duty rubber chocks cost about $20 to $50 a pair, and an X-style chock that locks between tandem tires adds stability.
Buy a size matched to your tires. Tiny chocks on large tires give you a false sense of security.
7. A Sewer Hose Kit With a Support
Nobody loves this part, but a good sewer setup makes dumping much less stressful. A 20-foot hose, a clear elbow so you can see when the tank is clear, and a sewer hose support to keep a downhill slope all matter. Total cost is usually $40 to $90.
The support is the part people skip, and it’s the part that prevents clogs. Without a steady downhill slope, waste can pool in the hose and refuse to move.
Pro tip: Store the sewer kit in its own sealed container, away from fresh-water gear. A plastic bin with a locking lid costs less than a ruined day.
8. Disposable Gloves and a Dedicated Cleanup Kit
Keep a box of disposable nitrile gloves, a spray bottle of disinfectant, a roll of paper towels, and a small brush in the same bin as your sewer gear. You’ll use them every dump day.
It sounds trivial until you’re standing at a dump station without gloves. A box costs about $10 and lasts months.
9. A Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Tires are one of the most common causes of RV trouble, and a blowout can do real damage to your wheel wells, plumbing, and wiring. A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) tells you pressure and often temperature in real time, so you can pull over before a small leak becomes a big problem.
Systems typically cost $100 to $300 depending on how many tires you have. Look for one with replaceable batteries and a display you can read at a glance. This is one place where I wouldn’t buy the cheapest option.
10. A 12-Volt Air Compressor and Torque Wrench
A portable 12V compressor lets you top off tires at the campsite instead of hunting for a gas station that can fit your rig. A torque wrench lets you tighten lug nuts to the correct spec, which matters more on RVs than most people think.
Expect to spend about $40 to $80 on a decent compressor and $40 to $70 on a torque wrench. Check your tires cold, before you drive, since pressure changes as they heat up.
11. Walkie-Talkies for Backing Up
Backing into a campsite with hand signals and shouted instructions leads to more arguments than almost anything else on the road. A cheap pair of walkie-talkies, or a wireless backup camera, makes the whole process calmer.
A pair of basic walkie-talkies runs $25 to $50. In a campground, I once watched two couples argue for ten minutes over a backing job that would have taken two minutes with radios, and I bought mine that same afternoon.
12. Fire Extinguisher and Working Detectors
An RV can burn very quickly, and the space is small. Keep a rated fire extinguisher (at least a 5-pound ABC type) within reach of the door, and make sure your smoke, carbon monoxide, and LP gas detectors actually work. Replace batteries on a schedule, not when the chirp starts.
Detectors expire. Most have a manufacture date and a lifespan of around 5 to 10 years, so check yours. This is one purchase where I don’t recommend saving money.
13. A First Aid Kit and Roadside Emergency Gear
Keep a basic first aid kit, a flashlight, reflective triangles or flares, and jumper cables or a jump starter. A breakdown on a highway shoulder is not the time to realize you don’t have any of it.
Add any prescriptions you take, and a paper list of emergency contacts. The first aid kit should live in a spot everyone in the RV knows about.
14. A Basic Tool Kit With Spare Fuses
You don’t need a full workshop, but a small kit with a multi-bit screwdriver, adjustable wrench, pliers, a utility knife, duct tape, zip ties, and a set of spare fuses solves a surprising number of small problems. A kit like that costs about $40 to $80 to assemble.
Add a simple multimeter if you want to learn basic electrical checks. It costs about $20 and can tell you quickly whether the problem is the RV or the campground pedestal.
15. Sealant and Eternabond Tape for Roof and Seam Repairs
Leaks are the silent killer of RVs. A small tear or a cracked seal can let water into walls, and the damage doesn’t show until it’s expensive. A roll of Eternabond tape and a tube of compatible sealant gives you a quick temporary fix if something goes wrong on the road.
These are emergency fixes, not forever solutions. Inspect your roof and seals twice a year, and if you’re not comfortable climbing up there, hire someone who is.
Pro tip: Check that any sealant you buy is compatible with your roof type (EPDM, TPO, fiberglass, etc.). Using the wrong product can make the repair worse.
16. A Dehumidifier or Moisture Absorbers
Moisture builds up fast in a small space, especially if you cook, shower, or sleep in the RV. Over time it leads to musty smells and mold in closets, under mattresses, and behind cabinets.
A small electric dehumidifier works well when you have hookups, and hanging moisture absorbers or desiccant tubs help in storage. Budget $10 to $20 for absorbers, or $40 to $150 for a small electric unit.
17. A Cell Signal Booster or Mobile Hotspot
If you work remotely, check weather, or just want to stream a movie, connectivity matters. A dedicated mobile hotspot often outperforms your phone’s built-in one, and a signal booster can help in fringe areas.
Boosters cost about $300 to $600, so think about whether you really need one. For many weekend campers, a hotspot with a good data plan is enough. Check coverage maps for the networks in the areas you travel.
18. Folding Camp Chairs and an Outdoor Mat
This is the comfort piece. A good camp chair makes a campsite feel like your own space, and an outdoor mat keeps dirt and grass out of the RV. You’ll spend more time outside than you expect.
Spend a bit more on chairs with sturdy frames and cup holders. A mat with eyelets and stakes lasts better than a plain one, which blows around in the first breeze. Total cost is roughly $60 to $150 for a good setup.
19. A 30-to-50 Amp Adapter (Dogbone)
Campgrounds offer different electrical hookups, and your RV’s plug may not match. A dogbone adapter lets you connect to a different amperage outlet. Keep in mind that adapting down (50 amp pedestal to your 30 amp RV) is generally easier than the reverse, which limits how much you can run at once.
Adapters cost about $25 to $50. Buy quality ones with solid connectors, since a loose or overheating connection is a fire risk.
20. A Propane Tank Gauge and Leak Detector
Running out of propane on a cold night is miserable. A simple inline gauge or a Bluetooth tank monitor tells you how much you have left. A basic gauge costs about $10 to $15, and a smart monitor runs $30 to $60.
A small propane leak detector is another smart add-on. Even if your RV has a built-in detector, a second one is cheap peace of mind.
21. RV-Safe Toilet Paper and Tank Treatment
Regular toilet paper can clog your black tank. Use RV or septic-safe toilet paper that breaks down quickly. Tank treatment pods or liquids help control odors and break down waste.
You don’t need expensive treatments. A basic enzyme-based product used consistently works as well as pricey brands for most people. Costs are about $15 to $30 for a month or two of supplies.
22. A Headlamp and a Lantern
Dump stations, hookups, and dark campsites all call for hands-free light. A headlamp lets you work on hoses or check connections at night without holding a flashlight in your teeth. A battery or rechargeable lantern lights the campsite itself.
A decent headlamp costs about $20 to $40. Rechargeable models save on batteries but carry spare cells in case you forget to charge.
23. Non-Slip Shelf Liner and Clear Bins
Cabinets in a moving RV are chaos waiting to happen. Non-slip shelf liner keeps items from sliding, and clear, lidded bins keep categories together. This is the cheapest upgrade on the list, and one of the highest return.
A roll of liner costs about $10 to $20, and a few bins about $20 to $40. I wasted a morning cleaning spilled pasta sauce before I finally bought it, so learn from my mistake.
What to Buy First: RV Must Haves by Budget
You do not need everything on day one. Here’s how I’d prioritize if I were buying for a first trip.
| Budget | Buy First | Wait On |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150 | Water pressure regulator, drinking-water hose, wheel chocks, leveling blocks, sewer hose, gloves, headlamp | Signal booster, TPMS, dehumidifier |
| $150-$400 | Surge protector or EMS, water filter, fire extinguisher, tool kit, first aid kit, shelf liner | Smart tank monitors, premium chairs |
| $400+ | TPMS, air compressor and torque wrench, walkie-talkies, hotspot, sealant and tape | Cell booster until you know you need it |
Protection vs. Comfort: A Quick Comparison
| Category | Examples | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Protects your RV | Pressure regulator, surge protector, TPMS, sealant | Prevents expensive repairs |
| Protects you | Fire extinguisher, detectors, first aid, chocks | Safety first, and not worth cutting corners on |
| Makes life easier | Walkie-talkies, camp chairs, shelf liner, headlamp | Cheap upgrades that smooth every trip |
My Honest Wrap-Up: What I’d Buy First if I Were Starting Over
If I were setting up a new RV tomorrow, I’d start with the protection gear: a pressure regulator, a surge protector, a drinking-water hose, and chocks.
Then the safety gear. Then I’d take a trip and see what actually frustrated me, and buy RV must haves to fix those specific problems.
That last part matters. Everyone’s rig and travel style is different, and the best RV accessories are the ones that solve a problem you’ve actually had.
Don’t let a long list talk you into spending hundreds on gear you may never use.
Frequently Asked Questions About RV Must Haves
What are the most important RV must haves for beginners?
A water pressure regulator, surge protector, drinking-water hose, wheel chocks, leveling blocks, and a sewer hose kit. Add safety items like a fire extinguisher and working detectors right away.
How much should I budget for RV essentials?
Plan on roughly $150 to $400 for a solid starter setup, and more if you add things like a TPMS or EMS. Buying in stages, based on your actual trips, keeps you from overspending.
Do I really need a surge protector?
I’d say yes. Campground power can be unreliable, and a surge protector or EMS costs far less than replacing an air conditioner or other electronics.
Can I use a regular garden hose for my RV?
You shouldn’t use it for drinking water. Use a hose rated as drinking-water safe, and keep a separate hose for other uses.
Is a tire pressure monitoring system worth the cost?
For most people, yes. Tire failures can cause significant damage, and a TPMS gives you an early warning, which is worth the $100 to $300 for most rigs.
What RV accessories can I skip?
Skip anything that duplicates what you already own, and be careful with gadgets that promise to solve problems you haven’t had yet. Signal boosters, premium tank monitors, and extra decor items can usually wait.
How do I keep my RV from smelling musty?
Ventilate when you cook and shower, use moisture absorbers or a small dehumidifier, and keep cabinets and closets from being packed tightly. Fix leaks quickly, since hidden moisture is the main cause.
What should I keep in my RV at all times?
Fire extinguisher, first aid kit, flashlight, basic tools, spare fuses, and your emergency contacts. Store them in a consistent spot so everyone knows where to find them.
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