RV accessories: Outfitting your new rig

Last updated on August 1st, 2024 at 09:00 am

travel trailer at Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Your new RV is remarkably ill-equipped when you leave the dealership. You still have to buy RV accessories and fittings that could increase your costs by hundreds of dollars.

Sometimes dealers will throw in a few “extras” to make a sale, but you will still fall short of your needs.

Most dealers have a store where you can buy some of the gear you need, often at a premium price. The smart consumer looks at other options. My go-to retailers are Amazon and Camping World with a nod to Walmart and Ace Hardware, my on-the-road resources.

Freshwater Fittings

Outfitting your new RV

Drinking water hose. At least one 25-foot drinking-water-safe hose. Avoid using a standard garden hose for drinking-water hookups. These hoses are white and clearly labeled for drinking water.
Drinking Water Filter. Filters campground water before it enters the trailer’s plumbing. These are special filters readily available at any RV supply store.
Water pressure regulator. Prevents surges in pressure that can damage pipes inside your RV.
Garden hose: Use a regular garden hose for washing kayaks and other gear.
Hose splitter: A two-way hose splitter enables you to connect both your garden hose and your drinking-water hose to the campground spigot. (The filter goes only on the drinking hose.)

Wastewater Fittings

Sewer hose. Minimum 15 feet.
Foam rubber sewer collar. Required in most states.
Clear 45-degree sewer fitting. Optional, but useful to see when tanks are empty.
Sidewinder Sewer Hose Support. Aids flow of wastewater to sewer hookup. 15 feet.
Gray water sewer fitting. Drain gray water only to sewer hookup or tote tank with garden hose.
Swivel stick holding tank rinser. Provides pressurized rinse of black water tank through your toilet.
Holding tank back flush with valve. Flush the tank from outside with a garden hose. For me, this is an absolute must unless you already have a back-flush system built into your rig.
Blue Tote Tank. Towable tank to cart wastewater to the campground dump station without have to move your rig. I’ve owned both sizes listed here and prefer the 15-gallon for ease of handling and storage.
RV Disposable Dump Gloves and Dispenser. For handling the sewer hose. Essential.
Toilet paper. Rapidly dissolving TP for marine and RV toilets. Don’t use household TP.

Power Supply

30-amp extension cord. I carry a 25-foot extension, just in case I need it, and I have used it many times.
15-amp to 30-amp adapter. For those times only a 15-amp power supply is available, but you need a 30-amp connector for your RV.

Tip: The longer the chord, the thicker it should be. I use a 14-gauge extension cord for connecting to standard (15-amp) outlets when the connection is distant, and I’ve used it when parked in driveways for the night.

Trailer Equipment

Graduated Levels. A pair of stick-on levels for setting up camp on uneven ground.
Stabilizer jack pads. Protects stabilizer jacks. These are compact for storage, but you can use scrap 2×4’s.)
Electric tongue jack cover. Protect your electric jack from weather while in storage.
Tire Lock Wheel Chock. Locks tandem wheels to prevents trailer from rolling. Otherwise, basic wheel chocks will do. I carry both.

Patio Gear

Patio carpet — Soft landing when stepping inside and out of your RV. Keeps the dirt out of your rig.
Picnic tablecloth and bench covers — For dirty campsite picnic tables.
Patio Chairs — We have a fold-up rocker, a gravity chair, and fold-up camp chairs. Buy at a store where you can try them out.

Tools

A cordless drill is handy for stabilizers. Use a 3/4″ hex-drive socket. Basic tool kit containing a hammer, screwdrivers, etc., and I often use a rubber mallet. Note that you may need a special screwdriver for interior screws. You probably have most of the tools you need in your garage or basement.

Cleaning Supplies

Dish soap is a multi-purpose, inside and outside the trailer. I also carry a spray bottle of water and vinegar for quick cleanup, and a second spray bottle with bleach and water to sanitize hose ends before hooking up. McGuire’s Marine One-Step Wash and Wax removes tough stains and black streaks that won’t wash off with dish soap.

Bucket, sponge and brush mop with expandable handle for reaching high sides of the trailer and cleaning the roof. A foldaway broom and Swifter are perfect for cleaning interior floors.

Storage

DampRid. Moisture, mold and condensation are an RV’s worst enemy. DampRid helps keep the interior dry.
Wheel Covers. Protect your tires and spare from the weather and the sun with wheel covers.
Hitch Coupler Lock. Whether parked in a campground, your yard or in storage, prevent your rig from being towed away by a thief.