Camping is fun, but only when you are well-equipped with all the necessary and emergency camper accessories. In this article, we have listed some of the most important things that we may forget when packing for our next adventure.
Are you an outdoor enthusiast and an adventurer who loves exploring mother nature? If you are already reading this article, I bet your answer is yes, so let’s learn about the must-have RV accessories without which your camping or traveling is incomplete.
We often get super excited about the upcoming adventure that we miss packing the essential camping gear. It is too late when we realize we don’t have the swivel fitting to connect the RV sewage system to the RV parks. Or we packed RV accessories when we actually needed camper shell accessories.
Here is a comprehensive RV accessories list you can refer to before going on an RV life adventure. This list will help you pack the necessary camping accessories to make your trip more exciting!
Benefits of Truck Camper Accessories
Do you think you can complete an RV road trip from Washington to Texas without essential RV kitchen accessories? Of course, not. Conversely, you rent an RV with the viewpoint that it’s going to be a mini house, and you won’t need any other camper or RV accessories. We hate to break this bubble for you because there are certain complementary RV accessories that you should buy after buying or renting an RV.
RV owners can have a separate inflatable lounger to add extra seating space inside or outside the RV. Moreover, you can opt for an outdoor cooking experience after parking the RV amidst mountains.
The list varies from season to season, with an extra column for unexpected weather changes. Furthermore, camping essentials with kids is an entirely other domain.
Check-List of Camper Accessories
Let us breakdown the RV camping accessories list into major categories, including:
- Equipment: spare tire, jack, tools, RV kitchen gadgets, gas cans, lighting, recovery tools, and jumper cables
- Sleeping Arrangements: inflatable mattress, bed tent, rooftop tent, and bed mat
- Storage Space: dry storage, coolers, and water storage
- Heating: camp stove, cookware, garbage bags, and gas can
- RV Accessories: emergency kit, power inverter, hammocks, camp chairs, canopy, electric adapter, air compressor, fire extinguisher, flashlight, mobile hotspot, water pressure regulator, navigation system, first aid kit, and 12V fan
- RV Bathroom/Toilet: Soap, sponge, toilet paper, toothbrush, other toiletries, and dustbin
- RV Maintenance: Tie-downs, turnbuckles, lifting jacks, tire pressure monitoring system, stabilizer, a trailer hitch, hitch carrier, weight distribution hitch, wiring extension, leveling blocks, camper cover, tire deflator, and hitch-mount security
We must tell you that the RV camping essential list isn’t just intended for beginners. Experienced or frequent travelers can also use this list to double-check their RV gadgets.
The end goal of the camping accessories essentials list is to make your traveling experience more pleasant and relaxing. We don’t want you to freak out in the middle of nowhere about not having a first aid kit or toilet paper.
Must-Have Pop-Up Camper Accessories
Here is a quick list of some of the top must-have RV gadgets we recommend for your next camping trip.
1. Heavy Duty Leveling Blocks
The Camco44510 HeavyDuty LevelingBlocks feature ten sturdy interlocking blocks that can stack up to the required height for safe and convenient leveling of the RV wheels. Additionally, the resin of the blocks can withstand harmful UV exposure from sunlight while camping.
You can use these affordable, bright yellow leveling blocks for RV interlinking to get to the required height to level the RV. Moreover, these blocks offer compatibility with single and double wheels, the 5th wheel, tongue jacks, and tandem axles.
You can use the Camco blocks even on rough camp terrain to prevent stabilizers from being engulfed in mud or soft ground. Each block adds one inch of height, allowing you to adjust the RV height accordingly. These 7.1-pound blocks with dimensions of 8.5 x 8.5 x 1 inch come in a zippered storage bag for convenient storage.
2. RV Vent Insulator And Skylight Cover
The CamcoRV Vent Insulator And SkylightCover can fit perfectly in a 14-inch vent to block the sun’s damaging UV rays. It’s one of the essential camper accessories to regulate the RV’s internal temperature in all seasons, allowing you to keep the RV cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
The Camco vent insulator is made of soft fabric on all sides, excluding the one facing upwards. The outer side comes with a shiny, reflective material to enhance its insulation feature.
This affordable insulator offers 2.75 inches of thickness to reflect the UV rays and regulate the RV’s internal temperature. Moreover, this reliable skylight cover has a one-year warranty to offer a long-term, safe investment.
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3. Heavy-Duty Outdoor 30-Amp Extension Cord
The Camco PowerGripHeavy-DutyOutdoor 30-Amp Extension Cord features a reliable and safe cord, which is made of 100 percent copper wiring with heat-resistant, flame-retardant PVC insulation. Moreover, the PVC sheath offers protection from outdoor elements and other wear and tear.
This durable and bendable extension cord comes with a flexible design offering high conductivity, courtesy of the 10-gauge wire construction. The Camco extension cord comes with a hassle-free power handle for safe gripping and plugging without causing any damage to the cable.
Furthermore, you can extend the cord’s length up to 25 feet to offer the desired size to reach a distant power outlet in the RV park. You can use this multi-purpose extension cord at your campsite or even an electric car charging station. Moreover, it’s compatible with most campers, RVs, vehicles, and other travel trailers.
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4. RV Cover
Your RV’s exterior might get damaged by rain, sun, snow, or sleet. To protect your investment, you can use the ULTRAGuard RV Cover from Camco. The cover best fits pop-up campers that are 14 to 16 feet long. The cover measures around 46 inches wide, 87 inches high, and 198 inches long.
The top of the cover is made using three-layered material, one microporous breathable film inner layer and two spun-bond polypropylene outer layers. The sides also consist of two spun-bond polypropylene extra-durable layers. These materials help shield against the weather and are breathable and durable.
It features zipper entry doors that provide easy access. Furthermore, covered air vents keep the unit cooler by preventing moisture buildup and billowing in heavy winds. The rear and front cinching straps help gather loose cloth, and an underneath strap system ensures a tight fit to cover your RV properly.
5. RV Sewer Hose Rinser
With the help of Camco RV Sewer Hose Rinser, you can clean your sewer Hose thoroughly. It comes with a convenient built-in shut-off valve that controls the water flow. The jet cleaning action is a unique characteristic of this sewer hose rinser. It creates a strong spray that helps to clean the sewer hose and reduce odor after securely locking into a bayonet fitting and hooking up to a water hose. It can be used as a hose cap and left in place during storage.
6. Portable Toilet
The 5.3-gallon portable toilet from Camco is ideal for leisure activities, including camping, boating, RVing, and more. On long road trips, it acts as an emergency solution. It is compact and lightweight and is made using durable polyethylene.
You can store 2.5 liters of fresh water in the top half-flush tank. The tank also has A cap that can be lifted from the top to add clean water to the flush tank. The toilet features the necessities of a “normal” toilet, including a seat, lid, and bowl.
On the opposite side, you will find the bellows-style pump that rushes water into the tank to remove waste. Additionally, the sides have locks to fasten the toilet to the waste tank. All in all, Camco Portable Toilet is one of the cool RV gadgets that helps you maintain cleanliness and sanitation standards at campsites.
7. RV Generator Adapter
The Camco Power Grip Generator Adapter enables you to convert the connection to fit your 30-amp RV and helps you connect to a generator with a three-prong locking receptacle. This generator adapter is built to last. The adapter’s unique design with non-slip grooves makes it safer and easier to plug and unplug the adapter.
It consists of a 30R-amp and a 30P-amp locking connector. This item has a 125 Volt/3750 Watt rating. Also, the adapter is ETL-listed, which complies with North American safety standards. You can use this adapter by simply plugging one end of the adapter into the power outlet on the generator and connecting the other end to the 30A power cord that comes with your RV.
8. Portable Solar Shower
The 5-gallon Advanced Elements Summer Shower is a terrific option if you want to stay clean while camping or just enjoy the feeling of taking a shower outside. A solar panel, insulator panel, reflector panel, and a water reservoir make up the efficient four-ply construction of the solar-powered Summer Shower.
This shower system quickly provides warm water, which is essential for chilly mornings. The high-quality RV shower also has a water-saving, simple-to-use on/off feature on the shower head and a large filling valve with a handy twist-off lid. In a nutshell, using the summer shower is as simple as turning on a water source and is essential if you don’t have too much space in your camping set-up.
The Summer Shower also comes with a compartment for shampoo and soap, a reflective mirror, straps for holding washcloths and other small objects, and a water temperature monitor to make your showering experience more convenient. The Summer Shower weighs around 1.25 pounds when empty and folds up for hassle-free storage, making it one of the best RV accessories for your upcoming hiking, camping, or fishing trip. You can get enclosures for showers separately.
Other Essential Camping Gear
9. Wireless RV Backup System
The Furrion Vision S 7 Inches Wireless RV Backup System offers easy installation of the waterproof camera with night vision. Moreover, the rear camera also provides 120 degrees of viewing angles. This multi-purpose camera system comes with night vision, auto wake function, and motion detection to provide the desired security when an RV is parked in an open space or an RV park.
The complete system is wireless, featuring 2.4 GHz communication, offering minimum interference. The Furrion backup system provides a seven-inch, high-resolution touchscreen display that can simultaneously show up to four camera images.
You can customize the mounting option and place it on the windshield or an interior table stand in the living area. The IP65 waterproof camera offers a high-resolution image of 720 x 480 with infrared night vision, IR cut filters, live streaming, and a wide-angle view of 120 degrees.
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10. Fifth-Wheel Jack Stabilizer Kit
The Lippert191023 JT’s Strong Arm Jack Stabilizer Kit is a comprehensive kit to offer the desired stabilization to your RV or travel trailer. It prevents both front-to-rear and side-to-side RV shaking or unwanted movement.
This sturdy stabilizer kit is designed to stabilize the fifth wheel RV to minimize chassis movement. The stabilizer bars create a triangle shape at the front and rear jacks to prevent swaying.
You can also twist the T-handle to lock the jacks securely in place. Moreover, you don’t need to weld the pieces together. Instead, use the bolt to install the C-channel, I-beam, or H-beam trailer frames. This all-rounder kit comes with a one-year warranty to ensure a safe investment.
11. Wheel Chock Without Rope
The Camco 44410 Wheel Chock Without Rope features sturdy hard plastic chocks, allowing you to keep your trailer in place. Moreover, the pair of yellow chocks are designed to withstand heavy wear.
The Camco wheel chocks are the perfect camper accessories for trailer tires up to 26 inches. Furthermore, these compact wheel chocks come with dimensions of 8 x 6 x 5 inches to offer an eight-inch ramp with a total weight of one pound each.
These chocks are made of hard plastic to keep them lightweight and portable. Moreover, the built-in UV inhibitors add to the overall durability even if the tires get exposed to sunlight. You can also use these multi-purpose chocks on dirt, gravel, pavement, and smooth concrete. You can see the visible yellow plastic even in low light.
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12. Sewer Hose Kit with Swivel Fittings
The Camco Deluxe Sewer Hose Kit with Swivel Fittings comes with pre-attached swivel fittings for convenient connection. It includes a four-in-one adapter to ensure compatibility with either three- or four-inch sewer connections.
As the name suggests, the Camco RV Sewer hose kit has a hose that you can use instantly. The package also includes two ten-foot hoses along with swivel fittings. The hose is made of high-quality vinyl to offer durability.
Storage is easy, as you can compress it to store them in a compact space. Moreover, you can also remove the four-in-one adapter to carry the hose in a four-inch square bumper. The Camco hose kit also includes an additional clear extension, allowing you to see when the water tank is without any water.
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13. Collapsible Garbage Bag Holder
The Stormate Collapsible Garbage Bag Holder is one of the essential RV kitchen accessories without which your RV traveling is incomplete. It’s a perfect combination of storage and utility with a capacity of up to 13 gallons or an extra-large trash bag.
One of the most significant advantages of opting for the Stormate garbage bag holder is its folding functionality to convert into a 14.5 x 11.5 x 2 inches to facilitate portability. This highly functional garbage bag holder comes with a lid to ensure hygiene and sanitation in the RV. This reliable RV kitchen accessory comes with a money-back guarantee of 30 days, so you have enough time to evaluate its usability.
14. Portable Phone Laptop Charger and Car Jump Starter
The HALO Bolt 58830 mWh Portable Phone Laptop Charger allows you to charge your smartphones, tablets, and power banks, courtesy of the two USB 2.4V charging outputs. Not only that, but you can also charge your laptop with its universal laptop charger. It is one of the essential RV gadgets because it can provide enough power to jump-start the car, boat, lawnmower, and motorcycle.
That’s why it serves as an all-in-one emergency kit, including LED flood light, battery jump-start, jumper cables, carrying pouch, AC wall outlet, and two USB outlets. It’s a versatile power bank with 58,830mAh power with three 5,300mAh batteries which make a total power capacity of 15,900mAh. Moreover, the 65W power output is enough to charge a laptop within an hour.
15. Camping Cot with Air Mattress
The Coleman Camping Cot Air Mattress is an affordable stand-in for a standard bed. It comes with a frame to lift the mattress to a height of 22 inches. Moreover, it includes two built-in side tables with cup holders to ensure a comfortable sleeping experience. Depending on your preference, you can choose to unfold the steel frame or lay the mattress directly on the floor.
The Coleman air mattress boasts a supporting coil mechanism to offer a solid mattress-like feel. Additionally, the air-tight system prevents leakage after you inflate it. This reliable mattress offers a weight capacity of 600 pounds and can accommodate a height of six feet. You can use an external pump to inflate it quickly without requiring additional tools to assemble it.
16. Pop-Up Privacy Tent
As the name suggests, the GigaTent Pop Up Pod Changing Room Privacy Tent offers a six-foot privacy tent to serve as a camping bathroom, outdoor shower, or changing room. This sturdy tent is made of premium-quality polyester with a water-resistant coating to serve as a soft rain shelter. It comes with a flexible steel frame to provide additional support.
You can fold it down within seconds to a compact size of 20 x 20 x 2 inches with a weight of just three pounds and store it in a carry bag. The GigaTent privacy tent comes with two double-sided zipper pulls for convenient entry and exit. Moreover, it includes sewn-on loops to drive stakes through and offer the required balance in inclement weather. You can also use guy lines in case of extra windy weather.
17. Inflatable Lounger
The Uniq2U Inflatable Lounger offers a waterproof and anti-air leaking design to provide comfortable back support. It doesn’t require any external pump. Instead, whisk it through the air to inflate, and that’s it. The Uniq2U lounger turns into a pillow-shaped hammock design, ideal for camping and traveling picnics. It is essentially a multi-purpose air couch that serves as a picnic blanket, hammock, and pool float. This easy-to-store lounger comes with a carry bag to facilitate portability.
18. Portable Gas Camping Stove
The Coleman Gas Camping Stove offers a cooking power of 20,000 BTUs. It comes with two adjustable burners with precise temperature control. Furthermore, it features pressure-control technology to provide consistent performance in all kinds of weather.
Weighing in at 12 pounds, the Coleman stove comes with dimensions of 4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7 inches. The Coleman camping stove offers a run time of one hour on a 16.4 oz propane cylinder. You can adjust the valves to control the temperature.
Additionally, it comes with wind-blocking panels to shield the burners in windy weather. You can easily fit two ten inches pans simultaneously. This reliable stove has a limited warranty of three years to ensure a safe investment.
19. Personal Water Filter
The Life Straw Personal Water Filter for Hiking is one of the essential and fun RV accessories to filter up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water. It can remove 99.9 percent of waterborne bacteria and 99.9 percent of waterborne parasites.
The LifeStraw water filter is an affordable alternative to iodine tablets. Moreover, it’s a lighter solution to filter water than heavyweight purifiers, with a weight of just two ounces.
It’s a straw-shaped filter that you can insert directly into the dirty water from the lake. As the water travels through the straw, it is purified before reaching your mouth. This easy-to-store water filter comes with a BPA-free sealed bag, measuring around 9 x 1 x 1 inch.
20. First Aid Kit
Do not let a jammed fishhook, slipped knife, or a bad fall spoil your weekend in the backcountry. The AMK Sportsman 200 Medical Kit has enough first aid supplies for a group of four people on a camping trip lasting up to four days.
Make sure to include this medical kit with your fishing gear, hunting gear, snowmobile backpack, ATV bag, or archery equipment. The clear zipper pockets labeled by injury make it easy to quickly find what you’re looking for in an emergency. The external kit map makes it easy to locate the items you need in an emergency, and the reflective design makes this first aid kit visible even in low light.
21. Camping Tent
The Coleman Skydome Camping Tent allows you to spend more time with family and friends on your next camping trip thanks to its quick setup, which takes less than five minutes. Its nearly vertical sides provide 20 percent more headroom than a conventional Coleman dome tent. There is plenty of room to spread out inside the spacious interior.
Additionally, a wide door design makes it simple to carry items like sleeping bags, air beds, and other equipment in and out. Even during rain showers, you and your equipment won’t get wet as the WeatherTec system’s inverted seams and welded corners keep the tent dry.
All in all, this small, two-person tent is a fantastic option for car camping or backpacking excursions. Skydome tents come in various sizes (ranging from two to eight people) and can be ordered with or without Dark Room technology.
22. LED Headlamp
The Energizer Black LED Headlamp is practical and hands-free, keeping you always prepared. This headlamp is perfect for hiking and camping adventures. The headlight features a pivoting head, adjustable strap, and IPX4-rated water-resistant body.
This small, lightweight headlamp flashlight can help you see up to 85 meters in front of you on the highest setting, thanks to the 360 lumens of the LED light. With VisionGuard technology, it gradually increases the intensity of light to protect your vision.
It also offers seven practical modes, including red night vision for outside activities. In short, this LED headlight will serve all your needs, whether you need additional light for a home project or during a camping trip in the dark.
23. Mosquito Repellent
The portable and lightweight Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller is vital for every camping trip. It is designed for explorers and offers hours of mess-free, scent-free mosquito protection.
The Backpacker offers easy and portable mosquito protection creating a 15-foot zone of protection from these pests without any wires or batteries. The mosquito repeller is fuel-efficient, running for 90 hours when connected to a 4-ounce fuel canister or 360 hours when connected to a 16-ounce canister.
Mosquitoes can be a big issue during camping as their itchy bites, and constant buzzing can ruin a good time. Until recently, the only methods for battling mosquitoes were torches, lotions, sprays, citronella, and DEET. But now, Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller has become a more effective and reliable method of controlling mosquitoes.
24. Indoor-Safe Portable RV Radiant Heater
Being cold the entire time while camping in the winter is no fun, but a small space heater can quickly help to warm up your RV or camper. With 4,000–9,000 BTUs of heat, the Mr. Heater space heater can warm up a small area in a few minutes.
It contains many safety features that help prevent propane leaks or fires. And it is entirely safe to use inside your pop-up camper. This RV gadget directly connects to a propane bottle and is one of the best options for heating enclosed spaces, such as large tents up to 200 square feet. A fold-down handle is added to the finely engineered design to give this heater optimum output while maintaining a small footprint.
25. Canvas Repair Tape
Canvas Repair Tape is one of the best RV accessories for pop-up campers that you must carry on all camping trips. Pop-up canvas is prone to tearing for several reasons, but repair tape makes it easy to quickly mend any tears and keep your camper’s interior dry.
Although this tape is made for quick fixes, it is incredibly strong and will keep water out of your camper for a long time. The waterproof and weather-resistant clear repair tape is 3 inches wide and comes on a roll that is 30 feet long.
You can use it to repair canvas awnings, tents, sails, boat covers, and more. Overall, having this tarp tape handy will help you mend any damage that arises and stop it from getting worse.
Tips to Consider When Buying Camping Accessories
Camping can be very exciting and is a great way to spend your time away from home in nature. However, your journey can be uncomfortable or shortened if you do not pack the necessary camping accessories. Here are a few quick tips that you can go through before purchasing camping equipment for your upcoming RV trip.
1. Have a List Handy
Give yourself enough time to determine what you’ll need before you leave for a great camping trip. Spend time making a list of the accessories you’ll require for camping. This will ensure you do not overlook the essential items for a successful camping trip.
The last thing you want to do is buy RV gear without a strategy and risk purchasing items you may not need.Creating a checklist will help you ensure that you only buy the necessary equipment.
2. Cost
Let’s discuss why it is crucial to compare prices before purchasing any camping gear. The cost of various brands of camping equipment varies. Although a higher price may indicate better quality, it could also suggest that you are merely paying for the brand name.
In the end, you must consider your camping equipment budget. Make a list of the things you’ll need to go camping. The cost of each item on the list should then be added to determine what you can afford.
If you wish to save money, consider researching dupes of name-brand products. You might find some high-quality products that are much more affordable because they do not carry a brand name. You could also cancel out some of the things on your list, but make sure not to do so without first considering whether or not the items are essential, especially in an emergency.
3. Customer Reviews
You must go through online reviews before making the final purchase when buying things like cooking equipment, a sleeping bag, a torch, a tent, or other RV supplies like a portable solar blanket for the outdoors.
Such reviews are vital because there are several products online, which can make a buyer feel overwhelmed by the selection process. You can read online reviews to check which are the highest-rated products and steer clear of inferior options. Overall, reading reviews enables you to quickly learn pricing and quality details, further assisting you in creating a budget per your financial situation.
4. The Location and Time of the Year
Where and when you’ll be camping is one of the most crucial factors to consider when purchasing camping supplies. The weather, fauna, and accessible activities depend on your campsite location and the time of the year.
Keep in mind that even in the summer, the mountains are much colder, particularly at night. If the weather at your campsite is chilly, you should invest in warmer clothing and sleeping equipment.
If the campground has frequent rain showers, you should purchase rain gear and make sure your tent is water-resistant. If you want to keep your tent and camping space dry, it could be beneficial to pack a sizable tarp. Experts will tell you that there is nothing worse than getting wet and cold in the mountains. You do not want to spend the entire day in your tent or sitting by the fire, or possibly getting sick.
5. Functionality and Necessity
Determine what you’ll need based on requirements and functionality before purchasing any camping gear and trekking equipment. This is about being practical and pertains to your camping preferences and the activities you’ll be doing outdoors.
Camping in a camper or an RV differs from camping in a tent. If you want to cook, roast s’mores, and remain warm, you’ll have to cut logs and build a fire. This implies you should invest in the following items:
- Fire-starters (lighters, matches, flint, and steel)
- Machete, hatchet, or knife.
Furthermore, if you intend to go fishing, you must pack lures, tackle, and a fishing pole. Also, do not forget to pack a sizable first-aid kit when you go camping.
FAQs
Why do you need camping accessories?
Camping equipment keeps you safe and prepared. Certain items like first aid kits, mosquito repellent, and flashlights will keep you safe when you’re out in nature and exposed to the elements.
You might want to make provisions for additional animal and bug visits depending on the time of year you are setting up your tent.
How to pack camping accessories?
To keep items divided and organized inside your camping storage space, use transparent camping containers, plastic storage bins, ziplock bags, or even old coffee containers.
Do not forget to pack straps to secure the boxes inside your camper.
What to avoid keeping in a tent when camping?
Do not leave scented items, trash, or food inside your tent. Make sure to avoid leaving food unattended.
In broad daylight, chipmunks, squirrels, and birds can easily steal food, and other creatures may come out to hunt at night.
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