What Do I Need to Get Started?

You just bought a RV and the dealer gave you a long grocery list of items that you didn't know weren't included with your camper. Bonus points if there is a RV store at the dealership where a salesman tries to sell you all these items.

When we bought our camper in June of 2021, they gave us a long list of items to buy. I remember there more than 20 items on the list. As RV newbies, it was frustrating trying to determine what we needed and what they were just trying to sell us on.

Here's what you really do need when you first buy your camper (assuming full hookups, non-boondock):

Drinking water hose

This is essential to get water from the campsite into your camper. Any one will do, but the best one is the Zero-G.

The Zero-G is just more flexible, lighter weight, and easier to stow away. When we were starting out, the RV store saleswoman sold us on a heated water hose. It's not necessary. Here's what you're going to do if you find yourself in the below freezing situation: fill up your freshwater tank and use the water pump. Simple as that.

Water filter

The water quality at campgrounds and RV/trailer parks is often not good. You really will need to filter it. I've never seen a camper hooked up to any other water filter other than this one from Camco.

Sewer hose

You will be needing to empty your tanks at some point. The best brand is this Rhino Flex, but it really doesn't matter what brand.

RV black tank treatment

Unless you and your whole family had Covid and really can't smell at all, please treat your tank. It makes a huge difference. We use this pink one from Camco.

RV toilet paper

Normal TP does not break down in RV tanks, even with the treatment. I did an experiment, and the flimsiest, cheapest single ply did not break down like the RV TP did.

I'm no toilet paper snob but the brand does matter on this one. The best RV toilet paper is the one from Scott. It has superior softness and it's not as thin as other RV toilet paper, and it still breaks down nicely.

The Scott RV toilet paper is hard to find in store, I get ours off Amazon.

Leveling blocks

Any leveling blocks or pieces of wood are enough, more is better. I guarantee your site will not be perfectly level, and also having the blocks under your rig helps distribute the weight on the jacks.

Wheel chocks

Any will do, but you do not want to skip this one. Wheels like to roll :)

Other items you might highly consider:

Surge protector

I personally have never visited a campground where there was issues. However, the one time you do have an issue, there will be a big problem - a 100% preventable problem. But, surge protectors are expensive.

This is the one we have by Surge Guard, $80 on Amazon.

This is the best one, from Watchdog, $218 on Amazon.

Water pressure gauge

If you're planning on hooking up to water, this really isn't optional. The alternative is using your water hose and filter to fill your freshwater tank. Which, you could easily do. You don't have to hook up to water to have water in your RV.

There are two types of gauges: ones that are also a regulator, like the one pictured above, and ones that only report what the pressure is. Ones with the regulator give you the option to increase or decrease the water pressure coming into your RV.

You might want to be able to increase the pressure, but more often I find us decreasing the pressure. You would want to decrease the water pressure if it's too high because it could burst your pipes.

If you go with a gauge that doesn't have a regulator, and the pressure is too low or too high, no problem. Here's what you'll do: fill up your fresh water tank. Problem solved.

Sewer hose rinser

Sewer hoses get dirty and it's nice to be able to clean and flush it out it mess-free.

A "dogbone"

This converts your power from one amperage to another. Our 5th wheel is 50 amp, and we have a dogbone that converts 50 amp to 30 amp in case we ever need to hookup to 30 amp. Yes, we have had to use it. Sometimes you book a campsite and it's all they have available. Sometimes your boyfriend books a campsite and forgets to ask :)

I will say RV parks and trailer parks can usually accommodate 50 amp rigs, while campgrounds may have only limited 50 amp spots.

Thank you very much to my 2 subscribers.

This photo from Justin and my recent trip to the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth, TX is for you!