25 Must Have Travel Trailer Accessories You Need in Your RV

Are you trying to set up your RV? If so, you’re probably wondering which accessories you need to enhance functionality.

When you’re considering travel trailer accessories, it’s important to take space into consideration. After all, your RV has limited space and you should only include accessories that offer real functionality and not cram up your space. They also need to be highly portable and designed with specific features that make them suitable for travel trailers.

In this article, I’ll give you an overview of the 25 most essential travel trailer accessories for an RV.

RV Essentials

1. Water Hose

A water hose is necessary to either fill up your fresh water tank or connect to the city water when in a campground. It’s not the same as a garden hose and is primarily differentiated based on the material used.

Garden hoses are made of lead and other materials that make them unsafe for drinking purposes. However, an RV water hose is made of completely safe materials for drinking purposes.

When you’re getting an RV water hose, you need to make sure it’s the right type. The different types are drinking water hoses, heated water hoses, no-tangle water hoses, and freeze-protection water hoses.

If you often travel to places with freezing temperatures, you should choose a heated or freeze-protection model that will prevent the water from freezing. You should also go for a reinforced rubber hose instead of vinyl as it doesn’t get tangled up as easily. Furthermore, the hose should ideally be lined with polyurethane as it’s the safest material for water to flow through.

Recommended Water Hose: Camco TastePURE

The Camco TastePURE is a lead and BPA free drinking water hose available in sizes ranging from 4 feet to 75 feet. They have been reinforced to achieve maximum kink resistance so they don’t get tangled up.

2. Water Pressure Regulator

An RV water pressure regulator is a device that prevents water pressure surges from occurring. This helps protect your RV’s plumbing system, filters, and hose. The water pressure in campgrounds can often be extremely high and unpredictable, which puts your plumbing systems at great risk. With a water pressure regulator, you don’t have to worry about surges and water connection problems.

There are various different types of water pressure regulators — inline barrel regulators, high-flow inline barrel regulators, and adjustable regulators.

The inline barrel regulator can restrict water pressure from 40 to 45 PSI. While they restrict the water flow, they cannot help you adjust the water pressure. The high-flow inline barrel regulator is similar to inline barrel regulators, but they have a higher flow. And the adjustable regulator comes with a gauge that allows you to monitor the pressure and adjust it accordingly.

Recommended Water Pressure Regulator: Valterra A01-1117VP 

The Valterra A01-1117VP is an adjustable water pressure regulator that can be easily adjusted with a flathead screwdriver to ensure the ideal water flow. It comes with an inlet screened washer as well and the gauge is extremely easy to read.

3. 30 amp or 50 amp Shore Power Cord

All RVs need power to run their appliances. They either run on a 12-volt battery system or via a 120-volt shore power source. When you’re in a campground, you need to use a shore power cord to connect to the main electrical grid. You shouldn’t try to use a regular extension cord, as that will inevitably lead to a fire hazard.

Before purchasing a shore power cord, check which amperage rating you need — 30 amps or 50 amps — and get the power cord accordingly. Also make sure that your shore power cord comes with an ergonomic handle so you can easily grab and disconnect it.

You can get shore power cords in two styles — dog bone adapters and puck adapters. The shower power cord with dog bone adapter is bigger and takes up a lot of space, but it’s also more sturdy and reliable. The puck adapter is a lot smaller in size, but not as reliable, and the body gets hot really fast, so it’s not suitable for long-term use.

Recommended shore power cord: Camco Power Grip Extension Cord 

The Camco Power Grip Extension Cord is a 30 amp 25 foot extension cord. It comes with a threaded locking ring to create a waterproof connection.

4. Sewer Hose

An RV sewer hose is used to connect the internal drainage and waste systems of your RV to external sewers. Essentially, it carries waste from your RV’s tank to external sewers, drains, or portable tanks. This makes it possible for you to regularly clean out your RVs waste.

The sewer hose is connected to the black water tank. Pressure is applied so that the hose pushes out all the waste into the tank, leading to the external sewer system. It’s necessary to get a durable and strong sewer hose so there’s no leakage, as that can get quite messy. You can maximize durability by making sure that the hose is flexible, since rigid hoses tend to break sooner.

You should also make sure that the waste flow is strong and consistent, so that there’s no clogging. The hole size should ideally be 4”x4” as this maximizes the flow and prevents clogging.

Recommended Sewer Hose: Camco RhinoFLEX 

The Camco RhinoFLEX is a 20 foot long RV sewer hose kit. It comes with a number of accessories that can increase  functionality and durability, including swivel fittings, translucent elbow, storage caps, and a 4-in-1 dump station fitting.

5. 30 amp or 50 amp Surge Protector

An RV surge protector is a device that ensures all your RV appliances are protected at all times. Its primary function is to protect all your electrical appliances from sudden voltage fluctuations and spikes.

A standard surge protector is connected to the camp’s power outlet before the electrical cord is connected to the RV. If there’s a surge in voltage, electricity isn’t transmitted from the power pedestal; the surge protector simply cuts it off.

Advanced surge protectors can protect RVs from voltage spikes, but they also do a lot more. They can be used to moderate low or high voltage. It can restrict electricity flow and also provide protection from miswirings and other electrical issues.

There are a lot of different types such as primary surge protectors, secondary surge protectors, powerstrips, hardwired surge protectors, and portable surge protectors. All of these serve different purposes and you should get the one most suited for your RV.

Recommended surge protector: Progressive Industries PT30X 

The Progressive Industries PT30X surge protector is a 30 amp portable surge protector. It doesn’t require a complex installation process; you simply have to hook it up to your electrical pedestal’s outlet and it starts functioning. It’s weatherproof so you can leave it outside even when it’s raining.

6. Holding Tank Treatment

 

Do you want to prevent your RV from smelling like sewage? Do you want to prevent your waste tank from clogging? If so, it’s necessary to employ holding tank treatment.

Holding tank treatment is basically a chemical product that is added to your RV’s toilet system. It helps break down the holding tank matter. This prevents the tank from clogging as all the matter has been broken down into water, allowing it to easily flow into the sewer hose and be released. Furthermore, chemicals present in the holding tank treatment counteract the odor exuded by waste matter, preventing your entire RV from smelling like sewage.

Holding tank treatment comes in tablet and liquid forms. If you use the tablet, you need to simply add one in your tank. If you use the liquid form, you need to measure out the amount, pour it into the toilet, and flush.

Recommended holding tank treatment: Happy Campers Organic RV Holding Tank Treatment 

The Happy Campers Organic RV Holding Tank Treatment is a biodegradable and eco-friendly chemical product. It can break down solid matter, including tissue paper, and turn it into liquid form, thus preventing clogging. If you use the Happy Campers treatment, you don’t even need to use special RV paper.

7. Levelers

An RV leveler is a device placed below the wheels of an RV’s tire to adjust its height. When you’re camping, you can’t always find perfectly even ground to park your vehicle on. As such, you might find that some of your wheels are at different levels. Once you measure the difference, you can place the blocks on the ground and drive over them to level out your vehicle.

RV leveling blocks come in two primary styles — ramp-style and block-style. The leveling ramps are designed like ramps that you have to drive over. The different levels in the ramp represent different heights. The leveling blocks are a series of Lego-style building blocks that can be piled together to achieve the desired height, and then the RV is driven over them.

Recommended leveler: Tri-Lynx 00015 

The Tri-Lynx 00015 is the best set of leveling blocks on the market. A single pack comes with 10 leveling block pieces. They can be stacked atop one other into a pyramid, and then you can drive over them to level out the RV. These blocks can withstand up to 40,000 pounds of weight, which is enough for the heaviest of RVs and motorhomes.

8. Generator

 

It’s important to get a quiet generator for your RV because it adds power to your electrical appliances. When you’re traveling around, you cannot always be assured of electrical connections.

You can connect to an electrical grid when you’re at a well-equipped campground. But when you’re traveling, you need to rely solely on batteries. However, batteries can run out and are unreliable. As such, a backup generator is important so you can continue powering your appliances when they run out.

Most RV generators are extremely lightweight and easy to install. However, you must make sure that your generator is quiet because it can otherwise end up causing some commotion and disturb your neighbors.

There are a number of different types of generators on the market based on how they’re powered. Gas and diesel generators are the most preferred because gasoline is easily found and not very expensive. Propane generators are eco-friendly alternatives, but they’re also more expensive.

Recommended generator: WEN 56200i 

The WEN 56200i is the best RV generator on the market because it can produce 1250-watts to 3100-watts of energy. Its most impressive feature is that it’s completely quiet while in operation, so it won’t disturb the occupants of the RV even at night.

9. Air Compressor

An RV air compressor might not seem like an essential accessory to many people; however, if you are a regular RVer, it’s extremely important.

With continued use, RV tires  tend to get over or under-inflated. Both of these situations have dire consequences. If your tires are over-inflated, they can burst while you’re driving, causing an accident. If they are under-inflated, they lose their grip and you might have trouble driving and will lose fuel efficiency. Furthermore, even a small difference of 10 psi can drastically cut down your vehicle’s overall weight capacity by up to 25%.

An RV air compressor helps you check your RV’s tire air pressure level and make sure it’s just right. Additionally, advanced compressors also determine  tire temperature levels. Both of these features help you protect yourself against blowouts, flat tires, etc.

Recommended air compressor: EPAuto 

The EPAuto air compressor is a 12V DC compressor rated for 10 to 15 amps and 120 to 180 W of electricity. It has a clear 4-display unit that shows the PSI, KPA, BAR, and KG/CM. One of its best features is the auto shutoff which gets triggered when the tire is approaching the ideal pressure range.

10. First Aid Kit

When you’re traveling in an RV, it’s extremely important to always carry a first aid kit. When you’re constantly traveling around, you never know where you will be when an emergency arises.

You could be in some campground, in the wilderness, or in the middle of nowhere without a city in sight. It’s possible that the nearest hospital might be a long drive away. Or an emergency might come up in the middle of the night.

Thus, t’s important to always have a first aid kit in hand. No matter what happens, when, or where, you’ll always have the essentials you need for treatment. The items found in a first aid kit aren’t enough to treat major injuries and medical issues, but they can give you enough time to find a hospital or emergency center.

Recommended first aid kit: Sawyer Products SP903 

My personal favorite first aid kit while traveling is Sawyer Products SP903. This kit comes with everything you need to treat and clean minor wounds, wrap them in a selection of gauze and bandages, secure sprains and broken bones, and treat insect bites. They also include instructions on how to use the ointments and accessories in the kit, along with detailed CPR instructions.

RV Kitchen Utilities

11. Refrigerator Fan

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When you’re in an RV, it’s important to save as much power as possible. One of the most power-intensive appliances in an RV is often the refrigerator. An RV refrigerator consumes a lot of power to keep itself cold, especially in hot climates. The hotter the external temperature, the more power it consumes to maintain a cool temperature range.

Here’s where a refrigerator fan comes in. An RV refrigerator fan essentially ensures that the refrigerator remains cool on the outside, even in hot climatic conditions. The refrigerator needs less power to function efficiently. This can save a lot of power and proves to be cost-effective in the long run, especially considering that refrigerator fans are relatively cheap investments.

Recommended refrigerator fan: Valterra A10-2606 

The Valterra A10-2606 is a 3-volt refrigerator fan. It provides a compact and portable air circulation system, cutting down fridge cool-down time by over 50%.

12. Immersion Blender

Just because you’re living in an RV doesn’t mean you need to give up on healthy eating. An immersion blender is the ideal kitchen accessory to help you prepare delicious dishes with relative ease.

The best immersion blenders chop vegetables, crush them, or blend and puree them to make sauces and smoothies. The advanced immersion blenders also come with a self-cleaning system so you don’t spend too long cleaning up after the cooking is done.

Recommended immersion blender: MAXLY Multifunctional Hand Stick Blender  

My personal favorite is the MAXLY Multifunctional Hand Stick Blender. This blender weighs only 3 pounds and has dimensions of 9.9 x 9.4 x 5.5 inches, which makes it ideal for use in RVs where you don’t generally have a lot of space to spare. The blender is made of stainless steel and has 4 different functionalities. The blender itself comes with 8 different speed options.

13. Water Filter

Clean water availability is extremely important when traveling in an RV. You can’t always buy plastic bottles of water and that can be extremely expensive. If you’re in a campground, you’ll likely be using the camp’s water source via drinking water hoses. However, the water supply isn’t always 100% hygienic and pollutants can potentially get mixed in when it’s transferred through the hose.

To ensure that you’re drinking 100% clean and potable water, you should install a water filter in your RV’s kitchen. They are usually made of a filter media like an ultra-fine sieve that can trap pollutants, preventing unwanted particles from flowing through the water.

Recommended water filter: Camco TastePURE 40043

The Camco TastePURE 40043 is my favorite water filter because of its large capacity and efficiency. It has a 20-micron high-flow sediment with a carbon filter, which can drastically lower the growth of bacteria in the water. It has a wide body that can also support a high water flow rate.

14. Instant Pot

Trying to cook for a large family or group is pretty painful in a cramped RV. That’s when you need to get rid of single-purpose kitchen tools and start using multi-functional instant pots.

Most RV instant pots perform several functions at the same time, which means you can prepare several different types of dishes with just one device instead of cluttering up the limited space with a bunch of toys and tools.

Recommended instant pot: Instant Pot DUO Plus 60

The Instant Pot DUO Plus 60 is a 6-quart instant pot that can serve 9 different functions. It can be used as a programmable pressure cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, sauté pan, water warmer, steamer, sterilizer, rice cooker, and egg cooker. It does everything from boiling eggs and preparing rice to baking cakes! It also comes with 15 microprocessor controlled programs that allow you to set up the necessary time for different dishes without having to make guesses. Finally, with dimensions of 13.4 x 12.2 x 12.5 inches, it doesn’t take up much space either.

15. Coffee Machine

A coffee machine isn’t, strictly speaking, a “necessity” for an RV. However, most people like to start off with a good cup of Joe as it energizes you for the rest of the day. If you’re getting a coffee maker for an RV, you should ideally stick to a few criteria — space efficiency, user-friendliness, and ease of cleaning.

Recommended espresso machine: French Press Coffee Maker

The French Press Coffee Maker is a 1-liter coffee machine that can prepare 3 to 4 full-sized cups of coffee. The double wall construction ensures that coffee and tea remain hot about four times longer than in glass containers. As such, you can simply prepare coffee in the morning and keep drinking for the rest of the day, or serve your entire family at once. It also has a quadruple layer filter basket that ensures that the coffee is completely clean. Finally, the coffee machine is made of stainless steel, so it doesn’t rust and is extremely easy to clean.

RV Outdoor Essentials

16. Hammock

Do you go camping often? If so, you’ll probably need a means of relaxation outside the RV. Chairs don’t allow you to recline and they’re not highly portable. That’s where hammocks come in. A portable folding hammock is the ideal means of relaxing under the sun outside your RV.

Recommended hammock: Aottop Hammock

To hang most hammocks, you need to find twin poles or two trees at a close enough distance to be able to hang the ends. Finding this isn’t always possible when camping. You should get a hammock that comes with its own supportive framework. That’s why the Aottop Hammock is my favorite portable folding hammock on the market.

The Aottop Hammock comes with sturdy frames that can support the ends of the hammock. It measures 7’ 10” from end to end, more than enough space for even the tallest people, and it has a weight capacity of 225 pounds. Furthermore, the material doesn’t sag over time, so you can continue using it for a long period of time.

17. Propane Fire Pit

Most campgrounds don’t allow wood-burning fires because they pose hazards. If not handled well, the fire can get out of hand and potentially damage property or even harm other fellow RVers. Furthermore, lighting firewood can be a time-consuming process as you have to constantly feed actual firewood, which might be in short supply.

However, with a propane fire pit, you can have the thrill of a campfire, but in a safe and easy manner. Propane fire pits come in various forms. Some include fake logs that give the illusion of burning actual firewood, which defines the quintessential camping experience. The other option is using lava rocks that disperse and radiate heat.

Recommended propane fire pit: Outland Firebowl 870

The Outland Firebowl 870 is an extremely safe and efficient propane fire pit. It comes equipped with an automatic ignition. You can rotate the gas control knob and produce a single spark to set the flames ablaze. There’s also a cover that can be placed on top of the fire pit to prevent any sparks from getting out.

18. Grill

A barbecue grill is one of the essential accessories for all camping experiences. A grill can help you quickly make burgers, steak, or ribs, wherever you may be. However, most grills are quite large and heavy. If you’re traveling in an RV, you need to make sure that your RV grill is small in size, portable, and extremely lightweight.

You can get either a charcoal or propane grill. A charcoal grill is the favored option because charcoal is easily found in supermarkets and is quite cheap. They do produce a lot of residue that makes the grill difficult to clean. Propane grills are a lot cleaner, the gas is eco-friendly, and it’s easy to clean up after cooling because of a lack of residue. However, propane tanks are expensive and also deplete quickly.

Recommended grill: Weber 54060001

The Weber 54060001 is my favorite RV camping grill on the market. It’s a liquid propane grill that comes with a single steel burner. It has the capacity to deliver up to 12,000 BTU of heat per hour and a cooking surface of 280 square inches. It also comes fully assembled so there’s no need to install or configure it. Simply take it out of the box and start using!

19. Portable Folding Table

When camping, it’s often convenient to use a portable folding table for a number of reasons. You can keep your cooking accessories and grill on the table to prepare dishes. You can later set chairs around it and enjoy a meal together instead of having to eat uncomfortably sitting on an uneven ground.

When you’re traveling in an RV, it’s important to get an extremely compact version. These portable tables can usually be folded down the middle, or rolled up, and the legs can be retracted into the table top.

Recommended portable folding table: Lifetime 4428

My preferred foldable camping table is the Lifetime 4428. It weighs only 19 pounds and can be set up at three different height settings — 24 inches, 29 inches, and 36 inches. It can be folded in half and comes with a carrying case with a handle for enhanced portability.

20. Camping Chairs

Camping chairs are extremely portable and lightweight and can be folded up and stored when not in use. They are perfect for carrying to a camping or picnic ground since they give you a place to sit down comfortably. Most camping chairs also come with cup holders and pouches in which you can keep necessities.

Recommended camping chair: STRONGBACK Elite

The STRONGBACK Elite is the best camping chair on the market because it’s lightweight and reasonable while also offering ergonomic support. It comes with a strong lumber support, making it ideal for people with bad backs. It also comes with a backpack-style carrying case so you can easily transport it on your back.

RV Creature Comforts

21. Laptop Stand

There isn’t a lot of space in RVs to keep a proper study desk. If  you have to work on your laptop, you likely do so in uncomfortable positions or while seated on your bed. However, with a laptop stand, you can work efficiently wherever you are. Even if you are seated on your bed, a laptop stand can prop your laptop up such that you can type a lot faster than you usually can. I personally carry my work with me wherever I go, so a laptop stand is extremely useful.

Recommended laptop stand: Roost Laptop Stand

The Roost Laptop Stand is made of quality construction that can hold up the heaviest of laptops. It comes equipped with rubber insets that hold the laptop in place without damaging its skin. Furthermore, it weighs only 5.8 ounces and has folded dimensions of 1.2 x 13 x 1.3 inches, making it ideal for RV use.

22. Signal Booster

When traveling around, you often end up in places with limited cell phone connectivity. You might be in the wilderness, in some campground, or in some other location with poor cell phone connectivity. In such situations, the only way to gain connectivity is to use a signal booster.

A signal booster is a device that uses an antenna to either enhance the radius of your cell phone’s signals or strengthen the signals currently received by your cell phone. In doing so, it can strengthen your connection and make sure that you will be able to talk to people over the phone clearly. You can also use it to gain access to a better cell phone internet data connection.

Recommended Ssgnal booster: weBoost Drive 4G-X RV 470410

The weBoost Drive 4G-X RV 470410 is my favorite signal booster because it can strengthen 4G LTE and 3G signals by up to 32x. I have used this signal booster in the remotest of locations, and it has helped me completely negate all instances of dropped calls and gives me a heightened internet speed.

23. Mattress

RV Mattresses are meant specifically for use in RVs. They are usually smaller than regular mattresses and come in a range of sizes based on the RV type. They may also be available in atypical shapes that are lighter than regular mattresses. You should select an RV mattress based on the type of bed frame available in your specific RV,

Recommended mattress: PlushBeds 8″ Natural Latex RV Mattress

The PlushBeds 8″ Natural Latex RV Mattress is my favorite RV mattress because it’s made of 100% natural latex foam. I can be assured that no toxins have been injected into the mattress, and there’s no off-gassing of harmful chemicals. The natural latex material is quite lightweight and I felt it hit the right spot between firmness and softness.

24. Awning

An RV Awning is a roof, shade or cover that provides additional shelter on the outside of an RV. It either encompasses the whole RV and protects it from rain and snow, or it’s a canopy attached to the RV that enhances the RVs livable space because you can place chairs underneath and gain some seating under the shelter. Some RV awnings are stationary while some are retractable.

Recommended awning: SunWave Awning Fabric Ocean Blue Fade

The SunWave Awning Fabric Ocean Blue Fade is a retractable awning made of 15oz waterproof vinyl material. It’s completely waterproof and provides complete protection from the sun and wind.

25. Battery Pack

In today’s world, we use a large number of electronic devices on a regular basis. We need to keep our tablets, laptops, and cell phones charged at all times. Furthermore, if your RV group consists of several members, that’s a large number of devices in need of constant charging. It might not always be possible to find sockets to charge your devices. And even if you do, you cannot carry your devices around anymore.

If you use a battery pack, you can connect and charge all your devices whenever you want and wherever you are. Furthermore, if you’re camping, you can connect your cell phone to the battery pack and still continue moving. It goes without saying: a battery pack is absolutely essential hiking or camping.

Recommended Battery Pack: RAVPower 26800mAh Portable Charger

The RAVPower 26800mAh Portable Charger is an extremely powerful portable charger rated at 26800mAh. The battery pack can be charged through the Type-C port within just 5 hours. Furthermore, once completely charged, it can charge an iPhone about 10 times before needing a recharge.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you figure out the most essential accessories for your travel trailer. All the accessories mentioned here have been thoroughly vetted and are designed specifically for use in RVs.

Now you can go ahead and turn your RV into a true mobile home!