Updated for 2026. Here’s the RV accessories checklist we actually pack — nearly 60 must-haves and nice-to-haves that earn their spot on a family rig.
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• Shore Power
• Best RV sewer hose kits & totes
• Clear Sewer Connector
• – RV Surge Protector
• Best RV drinking water hose & filter
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
One thing most people don’t think about before buying an RV is the accessories you’ll need.
When we first got our RV, we were dreaming about hitting the road and making memories. Then we realized we actually had a long way to go before we were ready. It wasn’t as simple as signing the papers and rolling out of the lot.
We started from scratch with zero RV accessories and had to figure out what actually mattered. There’s a lot of RV gear and gadgets out there, and not a lot of space on the rig — so every item has to earn its spot.
I still couldn’t find one clean, honest list that covered the basics for a family traveler, so I put our notes together here. Below you’ll find nearly 60 RV accessories we consider must-haves (ok, some are “nice-to-haves,” but they make life a lot easier).
- Shore Power – Shore power is what you call the main electricity hookup to your RV. You’ll need to make sure you have a cable that fits your RV in terms of either being 30amp or 50amp. Length can also vary, but I’ve gotten along well with a 30’ cable.
Check price on Amazon (Camco 50A shore power adapter) - Sewer Hoses – You’ll need to assess your setup to know exactly what you need.I have two gray tanks and two black tanks, plumbed to a front drain and a back drain. So, it takes quite a bit of hose to connect them together, plus be able to reach the drain. As you can see, I have just the perfect amount of hose for this RV Park, but could easily run into a situation where it’s farther apart and need another 5’ piece.
Here’s a great all in one kit that includes two 10ft hoses (20ft total), plus a connector, which is my next recommendation, anyway:
Check price on Amazon (Camco RhinoFLEX 20ft sewer hose kit) - Clear Sewer Connector – The clear sewer connector will help you know when your tank is clean. Put frankly: when you stop seeing brown water and solid pieces passing through, you know you’re done dumping and flushing the tank. This can obviously be done without it being clear, but being able to see ensures you’re not just guessing.Check price on Amazon (Camco RhinoFLEX clear sewer elbow)
- RV Toilet Paper – If you’re spoiled with soft, thick toilet paper at home, then I’m sorry. RV Toilet Paper is thin and scratchy. But make sure you’re using special RV Toilet Paper. Regular toilet paper will clog your system.Check price on Amazon (Thetford Aqua-Soft RV toilet paper)
- RV Surge Protector – The infrastructure at RV Parks can be quite old and janky. One bad surge of power and you could fry your whole rig. An RV Surge Protector can help prevent this.There are two main types of surge protectors for RVs.
This one is only able to be “surged” once. So essentially, it will protect you from one surge, then it’s time to get a new one. I haven’t run into any issues yet, so I actually recommend this one instead of the more expensive one I’ll get to next.
Check price on Amazon (Surge Guard 44270 50A surge protector)This one has a reset, so if you get hit by a surge, just hit the reset and keep on going. It’s quite a bit more expensive, but can also last you longer.
Check price on Amazon (Surge Guard 34830 30A surge protector) - Drinking Water Hose – You’ll want a specific drinking water hose to run the fresh water to your rig. Typically these are either white or blue, the standard colors to indicate clean, fresh water. You want to be able to know which hose specifically is for fresh water so you don’t run into any contamination issues. Here’s the exact one I use. I’ve heard a lot of people say to get 50ft, but 25ft has always been more than enough for us.
Check price on Amazon (Camco TastePURE 25ft drinking water hose) - Grey/Black Water Hose – This hose will be used to flush your tank. Since it’s going to used for connecting to your black tank, you’ll want to have a dedicated hose for this. I also recommend storing this hose in a different section than your freshwater set up, too.
Check price on Amazon (Camco RhinoFLEX gray/black water hose) - Water Pressure Regulator – Mentioning again the infrastructure at some RV Parks, the water can be all over the place. All it takes is one blast of high powered water to blow out some of your pipes and lead to water damage in the rig. A water pressure regulator will ensure pressure doesn’t get above a maximum psi, protecting you from damage.There are two popular choices for these. There’s a fancy adjustable model a lot of RVers prefer. It shows the actual pressure and is adjustable to pare the pressure down to your specification.
Check price on Amazon (Renator adjustable water pressure regulator)This water pressure regulator is the one I started with. It’s just a standard regulator with no gauge and isn’t adjustable, but it works great, and it automatically regulates down to the 40-50psi range
Check price on Amazon (Camco brass water pressure regulator) - Chocks – Chocks are a must have for safety. You can do the under wheel kind, or the X Chocks. X Chocks are more highly recommended and hold better, but again, it’s up to your discretion, as long as they’re large enough to stop your RV from moving. A lot of people make the mistake of getting chocks that would be nothing more than a minor bump if their RV actually started to roll.Here are the most popular chocks, which are highly recommended:
Check price on Amazon (X-Chock wheel stabilizer) - Leveling Blocks – There are many different leveling blocks available, but this, in my opinion, the best set. I’ve tried several and I love these. They come in a pack of 10, and I use them under my jacks, as well as under tires when I had to level side to side.
Check price on Amazon (Tri-Lynx Lynx Levelers)
Read our RV leveling blocks guide.
- Septic Tank Treatment – You’ll need to treat your septic tank to help the breakdown of waste. If you don’t remember to use these, you’ll have a smelly RV and potentially a clogged system. You can get liquid pour in type, or even bulk powder scoop type, but this single serves the most convenient and popular.
Check price on Amazon (Walex Porta-Pak tank treatment) - RV Water Filter – You never know what kind of water you’ll have access to at your hookup, so you’ll definitely want an RV Water Filter. Some RVs have filtration systems standard, but otherwise, stick one of these on between your hose and your RV. I recommend the one with the flexible piece, as shown below, because you do NOT want your filter sticking straight out of your connection on the rig because it will be applying a lot of pressure down on the sometimes flimsy valves.
Check price on Amazon (Camco TastePURE water filter) - Hose Y – You will usually only have one water connecting at your site, so having a Y keeps you from having to switch back and forth between fresh and gray hoses. This one has quick on/off valve switches and is a heavy duty build.
Check price on Amazon (Camco brass water Y valve) - RV Sewer Hose Support – I actually thought we could get by without these at first, but on your first trip, I had to make a run to the store to pick them up. I am amazed at how many spots have the sewer dump elevated much higher than the ground when you park. These will help keep things flowing in the right direction and mitigate you having to stand there lifting piece by piece to get the hose draining properly.
Check price on Amazon (Camco Sidewinder sewer hose support) - Walkie Talkies – This might sounds silly, but walkie talkies, or two way radios, come in really handy when parking. When possible, you will want to have a spotter watching your blind spots as you park. I’ve seen a lot of people just use cell phones but there is a major issue, aside from potentially not having signal. Have you ever been able to see the person you’re speaking to on the phone? If so, you may have noticed their lips move before you hear their voice on your end. There is a slight lag in the connection between cell phones. This slight lag could be the difference between safe parking, or hitting something. When it comes to safety, especially with huge pieces of machinery like RVs, always err on the side of caution.
Check price on Amazon (Arcshell walkie talkies) - Tire Pressure Monitoring System – Continuing my rant about safety, this was one of my immediate purchases. Blowouts happen a lot. However, blowout signs can often be spotted ahead of time and you can correct the situation before something bad happens. You don’t want to risk having a blowout, heading down the road at 70mph, with your family in the vehicle and other drivers and families around you. It may be expensive, but please just get a Tire Pressure Monitoring System!I did days of research and comparing before finally settling on this one, and I’m so glad I did. You won’t regret it, either. For a closer look at the options and what to consider for a longer rig, see our RV TPMS reviews.
Check price on Amazon (EEZTire TPMS)
- Shower Head – There’s a good chance your RV came equipped with a frustratingly bad showerhead. Our first one did, too. You also most likely have a very small water heater and will camp at places with awful water pressure. It may sound silly, but I absolutely love this shower head because it addresses all of those issues. I’m no engineer, so I have no clue how it works, other than they have some patented design that actually uses less water, but creates a great pressure. It also has an on/off switch, which is very handy.
Check price on Amazon (Oxygenics handheld shower head) - Refrigerator Bars – Stuff moves while we drive. We learned the hard way to use bars to secure the stuff inside our refrigerator. One of our first trips, we parked and there was a busted drink inside from bouncing around too much.
Check price on Amazon (Camco RV refrigerator bar) - Upgraded Sink Faucet with Sprayer – A lot of RVs come with really terrible sink faucets and sprayers. This amazes me because they’re such an easy, affordable change that gives a much better feel. The sprayer in our first RV looked good, but didn’t work too well in function; if we extended the hose, it stayed extended until you got beneath the sink and pulled on the hose to retract it yourself. Here’s a great swivel sink sprayer you can probably pop in on your own in 15 minutes or less.
Check price on Amazon (Dura Faucet RV kitchen faucet) - Cabinet Liners – Again, things move a lot in transit. So, we try hard to keep stuff in place as much as we can. Cabinet liners will help you with that a bit. They won’t keep it from bouncing, but they definitely help it stick in place to avoid sliding around.
Check price on Amazon (Gorilla Grip shelf liner) - Refrigerator Fan – These refrigerators are typically small and, very powerful, or efficient. Plus, we’re taking them from turned off to turned on somewhat regularly, so they’re fighting to keep temp a lot. A refrigerator fan can help reduce your cool down time by up to 50%. Once cooled down, it helps maintain a steady temperature in the refrigerator, and prevent frost buildup. Huge potential payoff for a small investment on this one.
Check price on Amazon (Valterra FridgeCool fan) - RV Exhaust Vent Covers – Bugs love the hot air coming out of the various vents in RVs. They can get up in them and build nests, clogging up your systems. I learned the hard way when some dirt daubers built a nest that stopped my furnace fan from being able to turn. Measure your vents and then get some covers that fit appropriately.
Check price on Amazon (JIAYI RV furnace insect screen) - RV Vent Fan Covers – On some of the nice new RVs, they have rain sensing vents that will close automatically if you have them open and it starts to rain. But on most setups, you just have to remember to close them. Sometimes people can forget. Ask me how I know! 🙂 If you put a cover over your vent on the roof, you can eliminate this risk. They can even protect enough to have your vents open while driving in case you forget to close them (I did NOT learn that the hard way, but I’ve gotten close!)
Check price on Amazon (MAXXAIR Fanmate vent cover) - Headlamp – Odds are, you’ll end up doing things at night. Most of us have cell phones with flashlights, which is what I use when I’m stumbling my way around in the morning, but if you’re trying to set up at a site, or break down to hit the road, you need your hands free. This has come in extremely helpful many times.
Check price on Amazon (Foxelli headlamp) - Hand Held Vacuum – It would be awesome to have the space for a residential vacuum, but space is of the essence. Plus there is usually a lot of hard floor in RVs, so you can typically sweep most of it and then finish off with the hand held. Or for just cleaning up spot messes. It amazes me the
collection at our entrance. Here’s a great one that has a lot of power, but it also budget friendly.
Check price on Amazon (BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster) - Toothbrush Holders – With the limited space, we found these to be really convenient. It helps get your toothbrush lifted up to dry better, while making use of otherwise potentially wasted space.
Check price on Amazon (Camco toothbrush holder) - Wifi Ranger – One of those items that isn’t a necessity, but if you or your family want to be connected, I almost promise you this will be worth it at some point. RV Internet is almost always a struggle, but this can help reduce a lot of headaches by taking a weak Wifi signal and boosting it to be more powerful for you and your family. It also encrypts your data. So, if you’re doing anything sensitive online, from shopping, to paying bills, to even just using passwords on websites and apps, you could be at risk on the public Wifi. Wifi Ranger will help keep your data safe.
- Mobile Hotspot – Again on the topic of how to get Internet in an RV. This is a different, but also great solution that I actually see more benefit in simply bc of it being so mobile. A mobile hotspot is having a device that takes the cell signal and sends out a Wifi signal for you and your family to connect to. It’s like when you turn your hotspot on on your phone. Except this device is dedicated solely to being a hotspot, so it’s much better at it than your phone. Plus, with Verizon, you can get an unlimited data only plan that is on a month to month basis (no contract)! That means you can turn the service on when you are going on a trip and turn it off when you won’t be using it. This is really a great set up for RVers.Here’s an article I wrote that explains the best setup for RV Internet.
Hotspot hardware changes often, so instead of locking this list to one outdated Jetpack model, use our RV Internet guide for the current setup we’d pick — dedicated hotspot + a flexible data plan still beats relying on your phone alone.
- Portable Folding Propane Grill – There are a ton of great grills out there, so I set out to research the heck out of them before settling on this one. It’s been awesome! Personally, I’ve always been a charcoal griller, and I have a great kamado style grill at home, but I told Melanie I’m tempted to get one of these instead because they’re just so fast and convenient. Plus they really have enough grilling surface to cook a lot of food. This is a super popular pick for RVers due to how good it is, while also folding down to be pretty compact.
Check price on Amazon (Coleman RoadTrip LXE propane grill) - Grilling Utensils – You could always bring your set from home, but it’s one more thing to have to pack, and one more chance of forgetting. I suggest grabbing a spare set to keep in the RV, so you know it’s always there and ready.
Check price on Amazon (BBQ grill utensil set) - RV Cover – You can usually identify an older RV pretty quickly when you see one. That’s because they don’t paint them like they do cars. The paint easily fades and chalks up as it oxidizes. There’s probably no preventing this, but you can definitely slow it down. Grab an RV cover to throw on when your rig isn’t in use, if you’re storing it outdoors. You’ll need to make sure to select the right size and type for your RV, but here’s the most popular to get you started.
Check price on Amazon (Leader Accessories RV cover) - RV Wheel Covers – Tires are one of the most important things on your RV when it comes to safety, so it’s always better to treat them right. There’s a reason when you go to most storage facilities, you see people with tire covers on. Grab a set of these that fits your RV tires.
Check price on Amazon (ELUTO RV tire covers) - RV GPS – I went ahead and included this for a few reasons. I absolutely think RVers should use GPS in some capacity. Trying to navigate the old fashioned way, while driving or pulling thousands and thousands of pounds isn’t always the best situation. But, a lot of people can simply use their cell phone for GPS these days, so you may not actually need a stand alone GPS. Here is my exact recommendation:If you can use your cell phone safely, whether you mount it, or ideally, you have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, do that. It’s hard to beat Waze or Google Maps. You can even get creative; for example, if you have the mobile hotspots we were talking about, you can even mount a tablet, (I don’t believe iPads have GPS chips, so probably have to use an Android based tablet), and have a nice big screen dedicated to simply being a GPS.
Here’s a mount to achieve this setup
Check price on Amazon (Arkon tablet mount)Continuing this note, I’ve found Waze is excellent when you’re in your tow vehicle, but not really the best when you’re in your full setup. Waze will often redirect you through neighborhoods to shave off a bit of time; great, if you can maneuver well! Not so great if you’re 50 feet long! Google Maps, however, does a good job of keeping you on main roads. It also usually tells you which turning lane you need to be in, which I absolutely love. No more having to immediately push my way into a lane or miss my next turn, when I have a series of quick turns in a busy area.
If you can’t or don’t want to use your phone, there are some incredible RV GPS devices out there that are literally made specifically with big rigs in mind. Here’s a popular dedicated RV GPS option if you want a purpose-built unit.
Check price on Amazon (Garmin RV 770 GPS) - Toolset – Nothing fancy here, but you will definitely need your basics. Let’s be honest for a minute; no matter how new or nice an RV is, things will break. Being RVers, we will also probably just want to tweak things, so having a toolset with at least the basics is vital.
Check price on Amazon (DEKOPRO tool set) - Torque Wrench – Wow, I talk about tire safety a lot! You’ll want to regularly check your wheel lug nuts for torque, to ensure they haven’t rattled lose. Plus, if you pull with the Andersen Ultimate Hitch, you need a torque wrench to install or remove the hitch sufficiently. Here’s an excellent one I use.
Check price on Amazon (TEKTON torque wrench) - Bed Sheets – Totally Melanie’s domain, but she sure picks some good ones. You can always just reuse your bed sheets from home, but for convenience, it’s nice to have your own set of RV sheets.
Check price on Amazon (Amazon Basics bed sheet set) - First Aid Kit – Even if you’re glamping, you’re still out in nature and run the risk of injury. Even if it’s nothing major, just need a band aid for a scraped knee for your kid, it’s always good to have a First Aid Kit. Here’s an excellent one that’s packed full of useful items, but compact enough to be stowed away easily.
Check price on Amazon (Tripworthy first aid kit) - Collapsible Hamper – Collapsible anything is useful with the limited space. Collapsible hampers are awesome, though. Here’s the one we recommend.
Check price on Amazon (Collapsible mesh laundry hamper) - Gas/Fuel Can – If you have a generator, this is a must. If you don’t have a generator, I still recommend it. I travel with a 5 gallon fuel can in the back of my truck for those “what if” moments. There have been times we were out west, cruising along just fine, then all of a sudden we find ourselves headed up into the hills/mountains, plus the head wind or cross wind is nailing us, and I just watch that fuel gauge dropping faster. The gas stations can be few and far between out there as well. It’s always good to prepare for the what if.
Check price on Amazon (No-Spill gas can) - Bubble Level – Being in an unlevel RV is no fun. It can also damage your equipment, like the refrigerator, and make your pipes not flow properly. Always ensure your RV is level. If you have slides, sliding them out when unlevel can twist and bind them, too. I started with just a normal construction level and I’d go check the kitchen counter and floor for level, but then I installed a bubble level outside, by my jack buttons, and it was a game changer!
Check price on Amazon (Hopkins bubble level) - Camping Mat – Maybe it’s just us, but our shoes get dirty! The worst has been when we stayed at the beach and no matter what you do, there is always some sand on your shoes. This rug helps grab the dirt, sand, whatever, and lets it fall down in it’s cracks. It’s done wonders for helping keep the floors clean inside the RV.
Check price on Amazon (Reversible outdoor camping mat) - Portable Tankless Air Compressor – Are we back on tire safety again? Having a Tire Pressure Monitoring System is awesome, but if you can’t do anything about it, it’s only half the solution. Between RVs and their tow vehicle, there are a lot of tires to consider. Odds are, you’ll need to put air in them at some point. Having the ability to do that quickly and easily is important. Make sure you have a compressor with high enough PSI. Here’s the top recommendation.
Check price on Amazon (PORTER-CABLE air compressor) - Portable Ice Maker – We started out using ice trays and eventually found ourselves just not using ice because it was a pain, and took us valuable freezer space. We saw some people parked next to us using a portable ice maker and loved the idea! They’re super handy and affordable. Definitely a great addition in terms of convenience factor.
Check price on Amazon (Vremi countertop ice maker) - Folding Camping Chairs – Odds are, you’ll want to spend some time outdoors, grilling, hanging out, watching the kids play, whatever it might be. You need a place to sit. Here are some super comfortable chairs that aren’t priced out of this world.
Check price on Amazon (Coleman camping chair) - Folding Table – Not everywhere has a picnic table, plus counter space is just handy. Here’s a great foldable table to grab.
Check price on Amazon (Coleman folding table) - Propane Firepit – It seems like more and more places do not allow burning open wood fires. A huge part of camping is sitting around a fire and enjoying nature. This propane firepit is excellent. It gives you a chance to still enjoy that sitting around a campfire feel. The kids can roast their marshmallows. Highly recommended!
Check price on Amazon (Outland Living propane fire pit) - Portable Charger – RV manufacturers are doing a much better job these days, but most RVs don’t have many power outlets, so they quickly get used up. I like having a battery pack ready to go, so I can just charge up from my pocket, or in my backpack and not worry about my phone being tethered to a wall. It’s also great for Theo, when he wants to get some tablet time on the couch and the plug doesn’t reach there.
Check price on Amazon (Anker PowerCore 10000) - Dehumidifier – Humidity can be one your RVs worst enemies. Stuff can warp and mold easily. We really noticed this on our month long trip in Florida at the beach. Here’s a great, compact dehumidifier we highly recommend.
Check price on Amazon (Eva-dry mini dehumidifier) - Odor Eliminator – There just tends to always be a smell in an RV. Not always a bad smell, but it’s just a small space without much airflow, so things can be stuffy and stagnant. Spread these out around your RV and/or your car they’ll work on purifying the air and getting rid of the smells.
Check price on Amazon (Bamboo charcoal odor bags) - Small Bungees – You will probably have a lot of hoses and wires hanging around. I’ve been guilty of not organizing these the best, but it really looks good and helps for quicker clean up, too.Here’s a look at my set up before I got these bungees. Not awful, but definitely could be better.
Now, here’s the set up that inspired me to get these. Everything is so nice and tidy.
Check price on Amazon (Cartman bungee cord assortment) - Car Power Inverter – When you’re cruising down the road, there is the potential of having several devices needing to charge up. Maybe your kids have tablets or other devices to keep them entertained on long hauls.
Check price on Amazon (BESTEK 300W car inverter) - Streaming Stick – TV can also be a frustrating thing when at camping spots, so we usually find ourselves relying on streaming. If you don’t have a smart TV installed in the RV, you may want to get a streaming stick that gives you the smart TV features. I’ve used Chromecast, Fire TV Stick, and Roku. It’s all a matter of preference. Personally, I like Roku. Next up would be Fire TV Stick. I’m not an Apple user, but I’ve heard great things about Apple TV, as well. One of the cool things about Apple TV is also the ability to pull up a stream on your phone and then shoot it over to your Apple TV. If you have an unlimited data plan on your cell phone, this can come in very convenient.
Check price on Amazon (Roku Streaming Stick) - Sink Strainer – Odds are your RV doesn’t come with a garbage disposal, so you’ll need a strainer to ensure you aren’t dropping food bits down the drain and potentially causing clogs or rot issues.
Check price on Amazon (Kitchen sink strainer) - Power Strip – Newer RVs are better accommodating our electronic lifestyles, but most RVs still don’t have enough outlets, or outlets in the most usable spots. Power Strips are great additions. Depending on the amount of plugs you need, I like strips with USB for charging phones and tablets without taking up a full outlet space.
Check price on Amazon (USB power strip) - Dogbone Adapters – You may find yourself pulling into an RV Park with only an option of 50amp or 30amp, while your rig needs the opposite. A wishbone adapter can help ensure you’re always prepared to plug in, no matter what. I even carry one that adapts all the way down to 120V in case I find myself needing to plugin to a wall for some reason. This obviously wouldn’t power AC or anything big, but we could get some lighting.If you have a 50amp RV, here’s a 50amp to 30amp converter.
Check price on Amazon (Camco 50A to 30A dogbone adapter) - Command Hooks – These Command Hooks get popped on all over our RV. Whether we need to make a coat hanger, a key hanger, a place for towels, whatever, Command has the fix.
Check price on Amazon (Command large organizing hooks) - Febreze Vent Clips – RVs are a small, tight space. This means they can stink up pretty easily. Melanie likes to pop these Vent Clips in around the RV and it keeps it smelling fresh.
Check price on Amazon (Febreze vent-clip fresheners)
There you have it — our definitive RV accessories must-have list, refreshed for 2026. We’re always finding new gear that makes family RV life easier, and we’ll keep updating this page as we go. Got something you love that we missed? Drop a comment and tell us.