Category: RV Living

The Best RV Accessories For Travel And Camping

It’s time for us to share some of the best RV accessories that we have found so far.

RV living is very unique and different from stationary, “sticks and bricks” life.

So it requires a whole different set of accessories and useful items to make RV life easier and more enjoyable.

So here is a list of some of our favorite RV accessories and gear that we use all the time.

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Best RV Accessories #1 – RV Water Softener

If you travel a lot in your RV, itโ€™s important to use a portable water softener. It can help protect your RV pipes, faucets and appliances.

This is because a lot of campgrounds have hard water. And hard water leaves harmful deposits that build up inside your pipes and appliances.

Over time, the buildup reduces their effectiveness and can eventually lead to potentially expensive repairs.

So using a portable water softener can minimize these issues. And it can even make your soaps, shampoos, and cleaning liquids more effective too!

Click here for my recommended RV water softener

Accessory #2 – 90 Degree Water Elbow

Many campgrounds have a water faucet that is located very low to the ground. And this can make it hard to attach a water hose to the faucet.

So the solution is a small metal 90 degree elbow that attaches to the faucet. Then your water hose can easily attach to the other end of the elbow.

This helps keep the hose nice and straight without kinking.

Click here for my recommended 90 degree water faucet elbow

Accessory #3 – Velcro Ties

Sometimes the simplest little items can make a huge difference in life. And velcro ties are definitely some of the best RV accessories that we have come across.

We use them all the time for various reasons. In fact, their use is only limited by your own imagination.

Sometimes we use them to organize power cords and computer cords. But I have also used them to keep my water hoses stored neatly.

We also use them in cabinet door handles to keep the doors shut as we travel down the road.

And we have used them to keep our awning tie downs from flapping in the breeze.

And if using just one is not long enough for your purpose, just add more!

There are so many ways that these simple little helpers can be useful in RV life.

Click here for my recommended RV velcro ties

Accessory #4 – Traffic Cones

Traffic cones are usually considered to be just a safety item. And it’s true that they should be in every RVers arsenal for that reason alone.

For instance, if your rig breaks down on the road, you can use them to warn oncoming traffic.

By spacing them out on the side of the road you are warning other drivers of the upcoming problem. This allows them to move over before reaching your rig.

But we have also found that traffic cones can be helpful for other purposes too.

One example is that some campgrounds allow you to choose your own campsite when you check in. So new arrivals are all driving around to claim their site, often at the same time. We like to do that in our car instead or our full rig.

So we often use a traffic cone to claim a site we want until we can get back and set up our rig. This makes sure that we don’t lose the site we want to someone else in the meantime.

But traffic cones are also great for anyplace where you park your rig and want to leave space to exit easily.

For instance, we have seen RVs parked at stores and places of business. Then other drivers unknowingly park too close to their rig and prevent them from leaving.

But using traffic cones, you can claim enough space around your RV to prevent that from happening.

Of course, there are other great uses for traffic cones in your RV travels too.

Click here for my recommended collapsible RV traffic cones

Best RV Accessories #5 – Water Pressure Regulator With Gauge

An unfortunate side effect of RV travel is the variations in water pressure that you encounter.

Some campgrounds have very low water pressure that only produces a trickle at your inside faucets.

Others have very high water pressure that can endanger the plumbing in your RV.

So a water pressure regulator is a necessity for RV travel. But most regulators you see don’t give you much information about the water pressure you are facing.

So how do you know whether the regulator is actually doing its job or not?

I prefer a water pressure regulator that has a gauge that is easy to read. And one that allows you to manually adjust the pressure up or down.

So if you have low water pressure, adjust it upward. If its high water pressure at the outside faucet, adjust it downward instead.

Click here for my recommended RV water pressure regulator with a gauge

Accessory #6 – RV Battery Maintenance

There are more choices available now when it comes to RV batteries than ever before.

But the good old wet cell lead acid battery is still the most popular choice among many RVers.

That’s because it really is proven technology that just works. And it comes at the lowest price of any RV battery type you could choose.

But the one thing you have to remember about lead acid batteries is that they require regular watering. And this is an area where some RVers are not sure about what to do.

But the whole battery watering process is made super easy with an RV battery water filler.

Just fill it with distilled water and put the nozzle in the open cell when the cap is removed. Then press down on the nozzle and it will automatically fill that cell with water up to the correct level.

Then just remove the nozzle and replace the cell cap. It really is that easy. I can usually water my battery bank of 4 wet cell batteries in just 10 minutes.

Click here for my recommended RV battery water filler

Accessory #7 – A Portable Screen Room

RVers that have smaller rigs often appreciate having a little more living space at the campsite.

But RVs only have so much room inside. And awnings are great, but they don’t protect you from bugs and insects. So what do you do?

Well, one way to get that extra space is to carry a portable screen room in your travels.

It will provide weather protection while also sealing out annoying bugs and insects if you are in a warm climate.

It essentially creates a comfortable living space outside your RV that can be set up and taken down as needed.

And they can fold down into a very small space for travel.

Click here for my recommended camping screen room

Accessory #8 – Walkie-Talkies

More damage is done to RVs while getting into and out of campsites than almost anything else.

And if you have a partner who can serve as a spotter for the driver, that’s a big help.

But how do you communicate well since the spotter can be several yards away from the driver?

Well, some RVers use a series of hand signals, and that can work well to a point. But the best way is to communicate by voice over walkie-talkies.

Some may use cell phones instead, but what happens when your cell service isn’t good?

The beauty of walkie-talkies for RVing is that they are always usable wherever you go.

And they are also great for hiking trips you may take while visiting an area in your RV.

Click here for my recommended RV walkie talkies

Accessory #9 – RV Shower Organizers

RV showers are notoriously small and cramped. And they often don’t have a lot of room for shower soaps and lotions either.

And if you have a family using the shower it can get difficult if everybody has their own favorite shower products. Where do you store all of those liquids and bottles?

Well, the good news is that there are shower organizers that easily dispense up to 3 separate soaps and lotions.

They easily mount securely to the RV shower wall and stay in place even while bouncing down the road.

And since they take up very little space, you can install more than one on the shower wall. This allows each person to have their own favorite shower products on hand when they shower.

When the liquids get low, just fill up the shower dispenser again. Easy, peasy!

Click here for my recommended shower organizer and dispenser

Best RV Accessories #10 – Earthquake Putty

Traveling down the road in an RV subjects your rig to small earthquake forces.

So all experienced RVers know that they have to store all their little knick-knacks and shelf items before they travel. Otherwise, they are probably going to have a mess when they they get to the campsite.

But there is another solution too, and that is something called earthquake putty.

It’s a flexible putty that you can place on the bottom of the small items in your rig. Then place them on a shelf or table and the putty will hold them securely in place as you travel.

This means that you don’t have to keep going through the cycle of storing them each time you travel.

Just put the earthquake putty on the item, secure it to a flat surface, and you’re done!

And if you want to remove that item or move it around just twist it and the putty releases its grip.

Click here for my recommended earthquake putty

Accessory #11 – Instant Pot

RVing is more enjoyable for many people when you keep things simple and uncomplicated. And the Instant Pot does just that.

If you like to be on the go while visiting an area in your RV, the Instant Pot is great for that.

Just prepare the ingredients before you leave for the day and toss them in when you get back. Because the Instant Pot uses high pressure for cooking, your delicious meal will be ready in no time.

And there are so many recipes on line that are quick and easy to make. Pinterest alone has an almost unending supply of great-tasting recipes.

It’s also small and compact and easily stows away when not in use. So it really fits in well with RV life.

Many full-time RVers we have met use the Instant Pot regularly. And I haven’t met anyone yet who was dissatisfied with it.

Click here to view the Instant Pot we recommend

Should You Buy A New Or Used RV? The Pros And Cons

Many RVers struggle with the idea of whether they should purchase a new or used RV.

And the truth is that there is no answer to that dilemma that works for everyone.

A lot depends on what your personal priorities are in an RV. For instance, cost of the RV, warranty coverage, better amenities, and more can come into play.

And what is a high priority for some, is low on the list for someone else.

So let’s lay out the overall pros and cons of whether you should buy a new or used RV. And then you can decide what are the most important issues for your needs.

Watch my video about new vs used RVs

Table of Contents

Buy A New Or Used RV – Pros Of Buying New

  1. One of the best reasons for buying new is that you can know the history of the RV from the first day. There is no guessing about how it was maintained because you have cared for it from day one.
  2. You usually get a factory warranty that is very extensive. These kind of warranties often last about a year from the date of purchase. But they typically cover almost everything on the RV. And that is a huge comfort, especially if you are a new RVer just getting used to having a rig.
  3. Oftentimes new RVs have the very latest technology and features built into them. If that kind of thing is important to you, a new rig could be just what you need. And it can save a lot of money and time by having all the modern items built in from the factory instead of being added later.
  4. If you are allergic to pets and smoking, you can make sure that you don’t have to deal with those issues if you buy new.
  5. Also if you are a long-term RV buyer, you will get more years of solid service simply because it is new. If you buy used, you already have lost some of the best service life of that rig.

Buy A New Or Used RV – Cons of New RVs

  1. If you are questioning what you should buy, consider this – new RVs cost more. An RV will never be more expensive to buy than when it is new.
  2. It’s pretty much like buying a car, the first owner takes the big depreciation hit. So there is an inherent financial penalty for buying a new rig. Very often the depreciation loss can be 20% – 30% or even more.
  3. It may take you a year or more to get all of the bugs worked out of a new rig. It’s sad, but true. Quality control is not the best at many RV manufacturers these days. So you may have a long list of issues that will have to be fixed over the course of the first year of ownership. This requires a lot of patience to see it through.
  4. Higher insurance costs. Of course, the higher the cost of the rig, in most cases the higher your insurance costs will be.
  5. RV dealers can be difficult to work with. Not all RV dealers are solely sales driven without a lot of thought for the customer. But far too many of them are similar to the old proverbial used car dealer in their tactics. Many people find this to be a difficult and tedious process and want to avoid RV dealers altogether.
  6. Newer RVs often are not constructed as well as older RVs. This is especially true of rigs made before 2008, or before the economic crash. RVs built before then often were made to a higher standard at the factory. But in recent years, cheaper parts and materials are being used to lower production costs. This can result in a lower quality product all around.

The Pros Of Buying A Used RV

  1. Save money on overall RV cost and depreciation loss. This is probably one of the biggest reasons many RVers buy a used rig. In fact, the savings alone can make the choice for you. Very often, many thousands of dollars can be saved by choosing an RV that is just a couple of years old.
  2. Most of the bugs should be worked out by the first owner. As mentioned above, the first year of RV ownership is often spent fixing things. If you buy the RV after that warranty period, most likely many of the quality control issues have been repaired.
  3. The previous owner may have added some nice upgrades that you can use. Upgrades are great if they are useful, but they seldom are cost effective at the time of resale. So you may have some really nifty additional comforts built into the RV that doesn’t come as standard equipment.
  4. There are lots more used RVs than new RVs. That simple fact means that you will have plenty more rigs to choose from if you buy used.
  5. You can often buy a higher quality used rig for the same cost as a lower quality new RV. Depending on how far back you are willing to go, you may even get an RV that was top of the line.
  6. Of course, if the cost of RV replacement is less, then the cost of RV insurance will usually be less too. So used RVs tend to carry lower insurance costs as well.

The Cons Of Buying Used RVs

  1. Probably the main reason people don’t want to buy used is their fear that they may be buying a problem RV. They are worried that there may be unseen problems that will only be found after the sale. Of course, having a good RV inspection by a certified inspector can help ease those fears.
  2. There is no factory warranty anymore, so anything that goes wrong is a cost for the new owner. Again, this can be resolved by getting an aftermarket used RV warranty. But a good warranty will cost quite a bit of money too.
  3. The farther you go back into the past to buy an RV, the more dated it will be. The furnishings, the colors, the older technology will be what was standard whenever the RV was new. To bring the RV up to modern standards and appearance may cost quite a bit.
  4. All appliances and mechanical components wear out over time, even if they are well maintained. So if the RV is quite a bit older, you may be faced with a spate of replacements you hadn’t counted on. And even if that’s not the case, the usable life of these RV items is diminished. They won’t last as long as the same items in a new rig.

Conclusion

Lots of RVers buy new rigs and lots of others buy used instead. And both can be very happy with their purchase.

This is because ultimately, the satisfaction of the buyer is what determines whether the transaction was good or not.

If your priorities lead you to buy a newer RV, that’s fine. Enjoy it!

But if your priorities lead to the purchase of a used rig instead, there is nothing wrong with that either.

Hopefully, the pros and cons I listed above can help you to decide what is most important to you in the buying process.

Have safe and happy travels my friends!

The Top 10 RV Travel Safety And RV Road Trip Tips

Whatever type of RV you own, there is a need to practice RV travel safety. That’s because RVs usually weigh more than passenger vehicles. And that means there is more that can wrong fast when you are on the road.

And the bigger and more heavy the rig is, the more attention is needed to operate them safely.

So, with that in mind, here are my top ten tips for RV travel safety:

Watch my video about the top 10 tips for RV travel safety

Table of Contents

#1 – Carry Extra Oil And Coolant

Regardless of the type of RV that you have, it has an engine somewhere that propels it.

And that means that some kind of oil and coolant is needed for safe operation of that engine.

So if a problem develops on the road, you will be glad that you have some extra engine fluids on hand.

And if you do, it can help you get where you need to go to get help and the proper repairs.

#2 – Carry Traffic Cones For RV Travel Safety

If you have a breakdown on the side of the road, traffic cones are an essential safety item. And if you have the collapsible kind, they don’t really take up much room either.

By deploying them out in back of your rig, you are warning approaching drivers that a problem is ahead.

That means that they can begin to move over before reaching you, keeping both your rig and their vehicle safe. And of course, it makes the whole situation more safe for travelers as well.

Some prefer warning triangles instead. And that’s fine too. Just make sure that you have some kind of warning system with you for roadside breakdowns.

#3 – Tire Pressure Check

This is one of the most important safety checks you can make on your rig.

After all, your tires are what actually touches the road as you travel. And if you experience a blowout, it often is not a very good thing in an RV.

So regularly check the pressure in your RV tires and any other tires in use if you are towing.

Here is a link to an article I wrote on tire pressure safety.

It’s better to solve any tire problems before you get on the road than deal with them while traveling!

#4 – Have Roadside Assistance

These days there are some very good choices for roadside assistance for RVs.

The three companies usually used for RV travelers is AAA, Good Sam, and CoachNet.

Truthfully, any of these roadside assistance providers can do a great job for you. And you will be very glad to have them when a breakdown occurs.

So compare their features and what they cover first, and then make your choice.

The only really bad choice you can make is not having some form of roadside assistance at all.

#5 – Use A Departure Checklist For RV Travel Safety

A lot of problems happen on the road because someone forgot to do something before leaving.

And honestly, nobody can remember everything at all times. There is just too much to do to get an RV ready for travel.

So make a checklist of all of the items that you will need to accomplish while departing. And then carefully follow that departure checklist every single time before you leave.

#6 – Perform A Final Walk Around

Even if you have a reliable departure checklist, make sure to perform a final walk around anyway.

It’s amazing how something important can still be left untended even when using a checklist.

So your best defense against omitting something important is to carefully review the entire rig before you leave. If you have a towable RV, this means both the RV and the tow vehicle.

Most of the time, you won’t find a problem. But on those occasions where something was missed you will be glad you did the final walk around!

#7 – Make Good Use Of Rest Areas For RV Travel Safety

Driving an RV rig on the road can wear on you fast. There is a lot that you have to keep track of while on the road.

And it’s easy to become weary and lose your focus when you spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Especially when you don’t take a break!

So try to plan rest stops in your travel schedule to take a break and freshen up.

Maybe get out and take a walk, have a snack, and check over your rig before leaving again.

If you do, you will feel much better and be more alert while piloting your rig.

#8 – Maintain A Safe Driving Distance

We are all taught to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front while using our passenger vehicle. But that distance needs to increase even further when driving an RV.

There is usually a lot more weight and bulk in an RV as compared to a personal vehicle. So it takes much longer to bring that much weight to a stop.

And if you haven’t allowed enough room between your rig and the vehicle ahead of you, it can be trouble.

I highly recommend allowing much more room than you think necessary to be safe on the highway.

To accomplish this, I like to drive 5 – 10 MPH below the flow of traffic and well within the speed limit. By doing this, most vehicles will pass you on the left and go far ahead if they return to the right lane.

Whenever there has been a need for a sudden stop, this practice has always kept us safe on the road. Besides, RVing isn’t about hurrying and rushing around.

So drive safely!

#9 – Use Main Roads For RV Travel Safety

The larger your rig, the more important it becomes to stay on main roads. Getting off onto secondary roads can introduce all kinds of challenges.

For instance, many secondary and smaller roads have little to no paved shoulders on the road. This means that you have a much smaller margin for error when driving on them.

And traffic is much easier to negotiate on larger roads and highways too.

But you also have to consider that on smaller roads you could run into unwanted surprises as well. These could be low bridges, low-hanging limbs, or low-hanging wires.

None of these issues are usually found on main roads and highways. So it pays to keep your rig on main roads as much as you can.

#10 – Get Diesel Fuel At Truck Centers

If you have a motorhome or a tow vehicle that has a diesel engine, where you fuel up is important.

It may be tempting to pull into a regular fuel station to fill up. But if you have a larger rig, this is often not a good idea.

You may be able to get into the station, but getting out can be another thing altogether.

Instead, there are many large truck centers like Loves, Petro, T/A, etc. that are better choices.

That’s because they are usually located very close to a main highway with easy on and off ramps. And once inside, you usually have plenty of room to drive around safely without damaging your rig.

And if you use the diesel fuel discount card that I mentioned in this article, it will also save you money.

Conclusion

These 10 RV travel safety and road trip tips have worked very well for us. We use all of them on a regular basis.

And we can confidently say that these RV tips have saved us often in time, money, and much more.

So be sure to stay safe on the road with your rig by using the tips that I have shared with you!

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