RV Gear for your Adventures
From necessities like water and sewer hoses to nice-to-haves like quick drying towels, here's some of our favorite RV gear.
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RV Hookup Gear
Some of our favorite gear for the main utility hookups for an RV: sewer, water, power, and cable.
Zero-G Drinking Water Hose
At 50ft, this hose is long enough for almost every campsite, while being soft and flexible enough to pack away easily.
Camco Hose/Cable Storage Bag
I use one of these for our 50 amp electric cable, and its held up well. I like that the bag contains any rain or morning dew so it doesn't get the storage compartment wet.
RhinoFlex Sewer Hose
This hose is a good balance of cost and durability. This is the most common hose I see at any given campground.
Cable TV Cord
Any coaxial cable will do, but this one is a bit heavy duty and colored for higher visibility. It should last a bit longer for RV use.
TPMS - Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Tire blowouts are serious business. We have a TPMS by TST. Its a reliable unit with a strong signal that updates quickly. The display screen battery lasts us months between charges. The included suction cup mount clings securely to the windshield.
We recently replaced our trailer tires because the TPMS showed that our trailer's rear passenger-side tire was running about 10 degrees hotter then the other tires. On inspection, I could see the tire was losing its shape. It was probably just a matter of time before it stranded us on the side of the road.
TST 507 Full System with Flow-Thru Caps
We have the older version of this TPMS. This TST system with flow-thru sensors is meant for metal valve stems, which are usually on higher-pressure tires on large fifth wheels. They lock on and don't have to be removed to add air. These will work on motorhomes too, but the pass-through feature makes them taller, which I've heard doesn't work well on some dually rims.
TST 507 Full System with Standard Caps
Identical to the other 507 but with regular valve stem caps that need to be removed to add air. They can lock on to prevent theft, but require the special wrench (included) to remove them. If you do not lock them, they are as easy to remove as the plastic caps already on your tires. We recommend the pass-thru system if you have metal stems, and this set for everyone else.
Power Protection
When dozens of RVs plug into the same mini-powergrid and run ACs at full blast, your rig can see major power fluctuations. The power posts at campgrounds also get a workout with multiple people connecting and disconnecting weekly. Outlets can break, and they aren't always fixed the right way.
Protect your RV and all the expensive electrical gear in it with an RV surge protector. These units will tell you if the campground wiring is bad and block surges from entering your rig.
Power Watchdog Surge Protector with Auto Shutoff, 50 Amp, Hardwired
Power Watchdog units protect your whole trailer from surges and poorly wired campgrounds. The bluetooth app will also allow you to monitor your energy usage.
I installed one of these hardwired units in our RV. Most dealerships will install these, but if you have experience running household electric, this can be a DIY project. The advantages of a hardwired unit include having one less thing to think about while hooking up and its much harder to steal.
Power Watchdog Surge Protector with Auto Shutoff, 50 Amp, Portable
Power Watchdog units protect your whole trailer from surges and poorly wired campgrounds. The bluetooth app will also allow you to monitor your energy usage.
I installed the hardwired version of this unit in our RV. The advantages of a portable unit include saving time/money on installation and being able to move it to your next RV.
Power Watchdog Bluetooth Surge Protector, 30 Amp, Portable
Plug in the Power Watchdog surge protector, turn the power on, wait to make sure everything lights up green. If so, the campground post is working correctly. Shut off the power, plug your rig into this surge protector, and power back up knowing you're protected.
The more expensive Power Watchdog units will automatically shut off power if they detect issues with incoming power. If you have expensive electronics in your rig, we recommend stepping up to the better units.
Power Watchdog Ground Neutral Plug for Generators
The Power Watchdog and other RV surge protectors will throw alerts of an improper ground while using a generator. The units with auto-shutoff capability will block generator power from entering your RV. The solution is to stick this plug into one of the generator outlets to clear the fault.
Power Adapters
Your RV probably came with a proper electrical cord, however it won't work for every situation. You'll run into 3 different types of RV-compatible outlets (50, 30, 15), so picking up 2 adapters should allow you to use your cord in many more places, from moochdocking at a friends house to a campground with a broken outlet.
30 amp to 50 amp Dogbone Adapter
A must if you have a 50 amp RV. You will eventually end up at a park that only has 30 amp hookups, or has a broken 50 amp outlet. This adapter allow you to plug into the 30 amp outlet. Some power is better than no power.
Note that 50 amp cords have a fourth wire. This allows them to carry 50 amps twice for a total of 100 amps, or 3 times more power than a 30 amp cord. When using this adapter will only be able to use one A/C and need to avoid using multiple high-draw appliances at the same time.
50 amp to 30 amp Dogbone Adapter
A must if you have a 30 amp RV. You will eventually end up at a site that only has 50 amp hookups, or has a broken 30 amp outlet. This adapter allow you to plug into the 50 amp outlet.
50 amp is more power, but your trailer will only bring in what it needs. 30 amp RVs are built with a 30 amp circuit breaker to prevent too much power from entering your RV.
30 amp to 15 amp Household Outlet
When moochdocking or using a small generator, this adapter will convert your 30amp cord to a standard 3-prong house plug.
50 amp to 15 amp Household Outlet
When moochdocking or using a small generator, this adapter will convert your 50amp cord to a standard 3-prong house plug.
Trailer Gear Recs
Zero-G Drinking Water Hose
At 50ft, this hose is long enough for almost every campsite, while being soft and flexible enough to pack away easily.
RhinoFlex Sewer Hose
This hose is a good balance of cost and durability. This is the most common hose I see at any given campground.
TST 507 TPMS
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems offer you piece of mind while towing. TST units show both pressure and temperature, alerting you to tire problems before they become a major situations.
Lithium-capable Battery Charger
Lithium batteries need higher current to fully charge. Lots of similar units are just built for lead acid batteries.
Interior
Turkish Bath Towel
100% cotton bath towel. These are light weight and dry very quickly in the RV compared to a fluffy bath towel. They also fold and/or roll very small so less storage space is needed for extra towels. They come in a variety of colors, so each family member can choose his/her favorite color.
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