50+ Awesome RV Gadgets You’ll Actually Use (Updated 2023)

So, you just bought a travel trailer, 5th wheel, or motorhome and now you’re asking yourself: what do I need so we can travel?

RV gadgets and gizmos are probably one of our favorite topics to talk about because we love to share what we actually used when we were living full-time in an RV.

From a pressure cooker to an RV mattress to a backup camera, there are a lot of accessories for full-time RVers. It’s fun to check out the top RV gadgets when getting yourself set up and ready to hit the road.

However, it can also be a little overwhelming. You want enough household items to be comfortable while you’re traveling. After all, just because it has wheels, it still needs to feel like home. You also want to carry all the tools and equipment you’ll need to maintain your RV and be safe on the road.

But, you don’t want to carry too much. Not only is it a small space, cargo weight is an important factor to keep in mind while RV’ing.

The good news is that we’re here to help! Todd did many hours of late night research for the essential must-have RV items. And now we’ve been on the road for a while so we get to update the list based on personal experiences.

Grab a glass of your favorite drink and get comfortable, because we’re going to go in-depth covering the best RV gadgets we actually used.

We’ll also list a few great camping accessories that make life on the road more comfortable.

And, of course, we used lots of kitchen tools to help us whip up tasty meals from the RV.

Even if you don’t (yet) have an RV, you may want to check out this list for a lot of the best gift ideas for RV owners.

Are you ready? Awesome. Here we go… Let’s dig into the best RV gadgets we can recommend.

Ultimate List of RV Gadgets Based on Our Personal Experience

We’ll start with some critical items. These are a must-have to maintain sanitary water, reliable electricity, and safe waste management.

Best RV Accessories: Sewer, Water, Electric

If you purchase your RV brand new, off the lot, it’s definitely not ready for you to hit the road.

Before we bought our fifth wheel, we had never lived in an RV.

As soon as we picked up our new home on wheels, we realized there were quite a few things we needed to buy before we could begin our grand adventure.

Todd did extensive research on the must-have RV accessories, tools, and equipment we needed. In fact, he wrote an in-depth article about Must Have RV Accessories for Sewer, Water, and Electric Connections.

If you’re just starting out on your RVing journey, we highly recommend you head over there and read up on the details of each gadget.

These are the items we used daily and would buy all over again with our new-found knowledge about RVing.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the must-have RV gadgets recommends for water and sewer connections:

RV SEWER HOSE KIT

RV SEWER TANK RINSER

SEWER HOSE RINSER

Incidentally, we recommend purchasing large clear plastic bins or hose bags that you can use to store the hoses. You can easily find bags specifically made for storing RV hoses. They are color coded and/or labeled to ensure you put the black, grey and fresh water hoses in the appropriate bag each time.

If you buy plastic containers to use for storage, I recommend labeling those (simply mark a large piece of duct tape with Black, Grey, Fresh Water). Also, wash them frequently.

RV SEWER HOSE SUPPORT

DISPOSABLE SANITATION GLOVES

HOLDING TANK TREATMENT

For a more in-depth article on sewer hoses, be sure to check out our guide titled ‘Ultimate Guide for Buying the Best RV Sewer Hose and Sewer Accessories‘.

If you’re new to RV living, watch this fantastic video that describes how to hook up your RV at the campsite.

DRINKING WATER HOSE

TANK RINSING HOSE

BRASS WATER CONNECTION ELBOW

WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR

HEATED DRINKING WATER HOSE

There are DIY options for heated RV hoses. Our heated hose froze because we forgot to double check the outlet was on (wow, what a mistake – you can read more about that here).

We didn’t want to spend nearly $200 on a replacement heated hose. So, Todd watched this video, then made his own heated water hose. It worked really well for us.

RV SURGE PROTECTOR and CIRCUIT ANALYZER

The RV surge protector and circuit analyzer we covered above is similar to one of the first items that Todd purchased (pictured) when we bought our travel trailer home

50-Amp MALE to 30-Amp FEMALE ADAPTER

15-Amp MALE to 30-Amp FEMALE ADAPTER

During our time of full-time RVing, we set up and tore down a lot. Probably too often. We traveled at a pace we wouldn’t recommend to others considering an RV lifestyle.

But, one perk that came from moving every few days to a week was we got really, really good at setting up and tearing down camp.

These are the products that made setting up camp a lot easier.

RV LEVELERS – ANDERSEN

The king of RV gadgets – in our opinion anyway

If you’re curious about how these RV levelers work, watch this video from Anderson Hitches

RV LEVELERS – LYNX

For more details about the Andersen RV levelers and the Lynx levelers, read our overview about the Top RV Camping Accessories for Hard-Core RVers. It provides in-depth detail for why we like these products so much.

QUALITY CORDLESS DRILL

HITCH BAR and SPRING BAR STORAGE KITS

If you’re looking for travel trailer accessories to save your back, this is it.

Watch this video Todd put together explaining the product and the easy install.

TIRE and WHEEL COVERS

We both heard about and watched YouTube videos regarding the horrors of tire blowouts on travel trailers. Yikes. Also, no thank you.

So the first thing Todd did was purchase a brand new set of tires for our brand new travel trailer. Yes, it had new tires on it already, but they weren’t made for the amount of weight we would be carrying around the country.

In order to protect our brand new tires and to hopefully add one more preventative measure from getting a blow-out, Todd also purchased tire covers.

Working remotely is what allowed us to RV full-time. It’s a freedom we’ve enjoyed for several years and feel very grateful for the opportunities it offers.

While we would never venture to claim we’re RV tech experts, we do have real life on-the-road experience. So what we do here is share with you what worked for us.

These are the tools that enabled us to continue working from the road, sometimes from very remote locations. We used these almost daily on our travels:

MOBILE HOTSPOT

For most of our internet connection, we used our mobile hotspot connections through our Verizon wireless plan, which included 15 GB of 4G LTE hotspot data per device, per month.

CELL PHONE SIGNAL BOOSTER for DRIVING

The weBoost model we purchased is no longer available. It worked well for us, but it only boosted one device at a time because the phone needs to sit in the cradle to work. The newer model recommended above is similar, but it works on all devices inside the RV.

We used the booster for the first six months of our trip, then realized we needed something with a little extra oomph and something that would boost more than just one cell signal at a time.

This is where the next product came to save the day…

CELL PHONE SIGNAL BOOSTER for STATIONARY USE

It often seems like RV parks are in this weird dead zone. You can get a decent signal right outside the park, but when you pull in, that signal disappears. Before our boosters we spent more time than we would like at the entrance gate just to catch a cell signal.

We also ran into situations where our spot would have a weak signal, but the one right next to us was fine. Eventually, we learned to drive around and find a campsite with the best signal. Of course, that only works at parks that allow you choose your spot.

APPLE LIGHTNING to DIGITAL AV ADAPTER

While this product doesn’t fall under necessities, it sure is a nice-to-have!

Since we had an unlimited Verizon data plan, we could stream Netflix and other services with no problems all month long, as long as we had a good signal.

COAXIAL CABLE

If you’d like to dig a little deeper into the world of RV internet solutions, be sure to check out RV Mobile Internet.

Gadgets and gizmos for your RV kitchen is a topic I could talk to you about for ages.

Figuring out how to whip up meals in a tiny kitchen was definitely an adjustment, but I had a lot of fun finding solutions to determine what worked and what didn’t.

You will have your own learning curve based on your RV kitchen. Mine included cooking with essentially no counter space, learning that the oven temperature settings were never accurate, and juggling which appliances could be simultaneously plugged in without tripping the breaker. Fun!

But when 5 o’clock rolled around, just like in my very large house kitchen, I would pour myself a glass of wine, sometimes put on some music and enjoy preparing dinner for my family.

It was my favorite time of the day while RVing full-time. It’s still my favorite time of day in our new apartment.

As you may have seen in my post 57+ Useful RV Kitchen Accessories, a lot of what you need for your kitchen depends on your cooking style, the amount of space in your kitchen, and which built-in appliances are installed in your rig.

Since we have cover this topic in detail in other posts, we have narrowed this section down to my absolute favorite RV kitchen accessories:

SMALL FOLDING TABLE

LARGE CUTTING BOARD

The cutting board also fits perfectly over the kitchen sink, which created another flat surface where I could place meal prep ingredients, plates, or other items while I used the stove.

And yes, I even used it as a cutting board, it’s intended purpose. It is the perfect size. I can slide a pizza straight out of the oven onto the board, slice the pizza, and serve.

Mmmmm…homemade pizzas taste so good while traveling in an RV.

PROGRAMMABLE COFFEE MAKER

We love those first sips of coffee and if we are in a warmer climate, it’s a perfect time to enjoy the first cup of the day outdoors.

If it was darn cold and I would stick my head outside to take a peek and breathe in the brisk fresh air. Then, I would slip back inside and savor a hot cup of coffee surrounded by our warm RV.

INSTANT POT

I prefer the Instant Pot to the Crock Pot because of the short amount of time it takes to cook something. A crock pot didn’t make sense for us and our schedule, but it might work for you.

I also didn’t use a crockpot because I didn’t trust the consistency of the electrical service at most RV parks.

I could just imagine us returning from a long hike to find the electric was shut off and whatever was simmering in the crockpot was cold to the touch (and raw). That would have been a disaster.

DISH DRYING MAT with RACK

If you’re traveling in an RV like ours – one without a dishwasher – then check out my simple hack for washing dishes.

I had to figure out a way to wash and dry the dishes with such limited counter space. While the space may be free, using the bed isn’t really ideal for drying dishes. So, remember that large cutting board I mentioned above?

COLLAPSIBLE MEASURING SPOONS and CUPS

You don’t realize how much space items take up in your kitchen until you try to squeeze them into an RV kitchen. Even small kitchen tools like measuring cups, measuring spoons, and a colander tend to take up a lot of space.

RV REFRIGERATOR BARS

When your RV is on the move, nearly everything inside shifts and moves around like crazy.

You know what I’m talking about. When you open the cupboard or refrigerator after being on the road and something falls to the floor and splatters. This happened to us with pesto! Well, at least it smelled yummy. It’s important to secure your items – especially glass jars – before your is rig is in motion.

CAST IRON SKILLET

I mean, what’s a camping trip without a cast iron skillet? In all seriousness, this is an important RV gadget for the kitchen, both indoors and outdoors.

SWIVEL SPRAYER for FAUCET

We’ve covered what you need for sewer, water, and electrical connections.

We’ve covered a few cool RV gadgets needed for your RV set up process and we’ve talked about RV kitchen accessories that are my favorites and get used daily.

Now it’s time to chat about those fun RV accessories and gadgets that aren’t really a necessity but help make RVing a lot more fun and relaxing.

PROPANE FIRE PIT

One thing we were all looking forward to when we made the decision to full-time RV was how much more we would be outside.

I think we all had visions of sitting by the campfire every night, with our favorite drink in hand, looking up at the stars, soaking in the silence of the night. This scenario does come true. But, only on occasion and certainly not as often as I anticipated.

One reason is due to burn bans set by many campgrounds. Another common reason is when there was no fire pit at the site. Of course, there are also times when we simply don’t want to wake up smelling like campfire smoke.

While staying with our friends in San Diego, they gifted us this Camp Chef fire pit and it was the gift that kept on giving. We used it a lot. And as you can see, it’s set atop an outdoor rug. That’s because with propane, you don’t need to worry about flying sparks created by wood fire.

This is one of our favorite non-essential RV accessories. It’s very cool and we think RVers will be glad they have one.

POP-UP PORTABLE GAZEBO

We wanted something that would expand our living space, while also protecting us from insects.

If you’re in a similar situation – searching for a little more elbow room – consider a mini-splurge on a pop-up portable gazebo. It’s amazing what a little bit of extra space can do for a family or couple traveling together.

Although we were at first hesitant to purchase it because storage space is so minimal, it actually packed up small enough to store in the pass-through of our travel trailer. It worked out perfectly.

This is definitely another one of the best RV gadgets we bought while on the road. It has allowed us to spend countless hours soaking up the outdoors.

TELESCOPIC EXTENSION LADDER

We realized pretty quickly into RVing that having access to our travel trailer roof was incredibly important.

Todd used this ladder over and over to check on the roof, brush off the slide out before pulling it in, repairs and more.

OUTDOOR CAMPING RUG

ZERO GRAVITY CHAIR

CAMPING HAMMOCK

Here are a few RV must-haves that fall under the safety and care of you and your rig category:

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System – This is something that gave us a little extra peace of mind. We have a TireMinder TPMS. There is also a newer version that’s solar-powered.

• Portable Air Compressor – This is another must-have for tire care and safety.

• Electric Mini Dehumidifier – RVs hold a lot of moisture, which can cause all kinds of unwanted things to happen. Use a dehumidifier to prevent costly repairs.

• Headlamp – A headlamp is really useful when looking for something outside the RV after dark. It’s great to have for inside the RV in the event of a power failure. The headlamp is also a great accessory if you’re doing work under the camper or in small dark spaces. We have used headlamps while camping and for night hiking.

Whether you’re a full-time RVer or a weekend warrior, decorating your rig and making it feel like a home is important. Here are a few of my favorite accessories for sprucing up your space.

• Peel and Stick Tiles – Our friends who we traveled with to PEI and Nova Scotia introduced me to these. They are perfect for brightening up and modernizing the kitchen and bathrooms in your RV

• Collapsible Ottoman – This collapsible ottoman is used every single day. It adds extra storage, gives us a place to kick up our feet and makes the place look and feel like a home

• Over the door hook – Having a place to hang towels or coats helps make your space look and feel less cluttered. We hung our winter coats on ours in the winter and lightweight jackets in the summer and spring

• Large Command Hooks – These hooks came in handy and stayed put to hang our towels in the bathroom

• Battery Operated Fairy Lights – I hung these on our curtain valances and had them programmed to come on at around 4 o’clock every afternoon. Ours were on a 6-hour timer, so they went off at the perfect time every night. Once I added these, it really stepped up the cozy factor of our travel trailer at night.

---

If you’re looking for some fun gift ideas, here are a few items your RVing friends would love:

• State Sticker Map – A fun way to track and show all the states you’ve visited
• Portable Gas Grill – This is the perfect grill for RVers because it can be used on a table. Or, because it has a telescoping stand, it can also be used on the ground. This alternative setup is great because a lot of RV parks do not allow grills to be used on top of the picnic tables.
• Portable Propane Fire Pit – As we mentioned above, this was gifted to us from friends. It’s one of our favorite items in the RV.

And that’s a wrap for our list of favorite RV Gadgets, Supplies, and Equipment. These are the items we actually use and would not want to do without.

We truly hope this list and the explanations helped you prepare for your RVing adventure.

PIN THIS