Essential RV Gear

Over the last few years, I’ve acquired some things that I feel are pretty essential to my safe and successful RV travel.  These are not household items, camp site bling, or basic RV items like sewer hoses, water hoses, or electrical cords, but more in the tool and gadget category.

This is not a complete or recommended list for other RVer’s.  It’s a list of the essential RV gear that I tend to use frequently on my RV and key items that I figure will save my bacon.

I’m publishing this list in the spirit of sharing the information on what I use.  I purchased and use all of these items listed.  I make no warranty as to how well they work, only that they work for me.

Safety

• First Aid Kit – I made up my own kit.  It’s got band aids, gauze bandages, alcohol swipes, pain meds, cold meds, ointments, antacids, etc.  I can get sick on the road just like I do at home.  I keep it handy near the driver seat in case I need it if there’s an accident.
• Fire Extinguisher – A no brainer, every coach needs at least to two or three.
• Flashlights – I have a bag with at least 4-5 small led flashlights.   This KJL LED Flashlight is super bright and can be used as a spot light.  This one – Mini Cree LED flashlight is also bright and easily fits in a pocket.  I keep a small mini Cree LED above my visor so its handy.  I also keep one in my back pack/bug out bag and keep one in my bike bag to use at night on my bike.  Just can’t have enough of these things.
• Emergency Beacon Lights – I carry a set of First Alert LED Emergency Beacon Lights just in case I break down on the road at night.
• Warning Triangles – I carry one of these DOT Reflective Road Warning Triangles in each vehicle

Electrical

• Klein Tools non-contact voltage tester – This is an essential item for checking for hot skin conditions, testing for current, and testing outlets.  I use it every time I plug in the RV.
• Surge Guard – I use the Technology Research 34730 30 amp Surge Guard.  It protects my rig for open grounds, open neutral, low voltage, and voltage spikes.  Electrical pedestals get lots of use and the outlets get worn.  I’ve had it work on electrical pedestals that have worn or broken outlets or a faulty breaker where its easy to have loose ground wires or poor connections.
• Camco RV 50 amp to 30 amp adapter – I’ve used this quite a bit when the 30 amp plug on an electrical pedestal is bad or worn.  I’ve also used it when a site only has 50 amp service.  Its a good back up item to have.
• 30 amp to 15 amp adapter – I use this when a 30 amp outlet isn’t available.
• Electrical connectors – I carry an electrical connector kit with a wire cutter / crimper tool.  This comes in handy if I need to replace a DC appliance or fixture (alarm, water pump, light).
• Spare fuses – I carry a selection of spare fuses for the coach and the RV.  I haven’t blown a fuse yet but have used these to help out other RV’ers who have blown a fuse.

Plumbing

• Valterra Water pressure regulator – I carry a couple of these items.  Many campgrounds have high water pressure and you need these to protect the plumbing in your RV.
• Water container – I carry a Reliance 3 gallon container to fill my water tank when a threaded spigot isn’t handy.  It comes in handy when boondocking or camping at festivals.
• Spare water pump – The water pump is one of the RV’s most critical mechanical components.  It’s fairly easy to replace but may not be easy to find one for my specific rig if it breaks while on the road.  A spare one is pretty inexpensive to carry.

Miscellaneous

• Temperature sensor – I just got a Non-contact digital temp sensor.  It’s inexpensive, small, and easy to use to check the temperature of items like tires, hubs, and electrical components that can overheat.
• Tire Pressure Gauge – My RV doesn’t have a TPMS.  I carry long stem dial tire pressure gauge that can reach the stems of my dual tires.
• Portable Air Compressor – I carry a 12V Viair Model 00088 portable air compressor that will inflate a truck tire.  It’s good to have it you notice an under inflated tire while on the road.
• Leveling Blocks – I carry a set of Lynx Levers and Lynx Caps for leveling my RV.
• Waste Cap – I’ve gone through a couple of Vaterra Black Valve Waste Caps so far when the plastic tongs have broken.  Another inexpensive spare item to carry.

To see a list of my technology gear, see my Tech Stuff page.

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