We’ve also compiled some lists of important RV Parts and Additional Must-Have Accessories for your
camper so that you are better prepared and less likely to be caught unaware
when you are out in the field. In those articles, you will find some of the
most critical RV accessories and supplies that you should keep with you, some
of which you should even keep as spares, because of how important they are when
you are out in the field. Critical accessories like spare toilet paper, holding
tank treatment, leveling blocks, spare hoses, water pumps, softeners, and treatments
are well represented in those articles. Check them out to get some more
information on some of the most important RV supplies that you can keep,
without which you would not want to be. Many of the most important of them are
in there.
In this article, we’re going to aim to present
you with some more important camper accessories that you could probably go
without but would probably make your trip much better. Check out our list of
these following important camping accessories that can make you a lot more
comfortable when you’re off the road and in camp.
Water
Filters
We’ve covered the importance of RV water
softeners and pressure regulators in our blog before, and these accessories can
help extend the life of your appliances and preserve the value of your RV.
Water filters won’t necessarily offer you that, but they will make your stay in
camp a lot more enjoyable.
Let’s face a fact - you won’t really know where
your water is coming from in camp, or how it has been kept and treated. The
safe thing to do is to invest in a water filter that you can get relatively
inexpensive and bring along with you. That way you can always give your water a
little extra treatment before you drink it or use it in your cooking.
Fire
Extinguisher
The importance of carrying a fire extinguisher
with you in your RV is not, as you might expect, for the purpose of controlling
a campfire, although that is an acceptable ancillary use. The reason you should
never be without a fire extinguisher in your RV is because it can protect you
against surprises and fires that might arise due to cooking.
You just can’t make up for the lack of a fire
extinguisher. Give yourself and your family an additional layer of protection
and carry one with you when you go out on the road.
Cooking
Supplies
The necessity of cooking supplies should be
somewhat self-explanatory, but if it isn’t let it be known that you can’t cook
in camp without them. We can’t give you a comprehensive list of the cooking
essentials that you need because we don’t know what your needs are in cooking.
That’s something you’ll need to figure out for yourself, but you might want to
bring along anything you would reasonably need in your kitchen at home.
Cups,
Plates, and Paper Towels
Just as you’ll need pots and pans and other
cooking utensils and equipment in your camper kitchen, you’ll also need to
bring along stuff you need to eat on and clean up. You can’t drink without cups
and you can’t eat without bowls and plates. Make it easy on yourself and be
prepared with some of each of these, along with plenty of paper towels (and
real towels) so that you don’t get blindsided by a deficiency. You might not
think of cups and plates as camper
supplies but without them, dinner will be a bit tough to serve.
Compressor
As we have mentioned previously in our blog, you
probably need a TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring system, in order to keep tabs
on the pressure and temperature of each of your tires so that you can avoid
problems like a blowout. Keeping your tires properly inflated will also help
prevent uneven wear and help you maintain proper control of your RV or camper.
Why have a compressor, then, if you have a TPMS
to help keep any changes in front of you and forestall a problem. Well, if you
are out on the road and suddenly get an alert that your tires are
underinflated, and you are far from help, what can you do? If you have a
compressor, you might be able to bring your tires up to the pressure for which
they are rated. That way, in the best-case scenario, you can complete your
trip, and at the very least you can get to a shop where you can get help or
service.
Battery
Charger
A battery charger is one of those things that
every home needs because if you walk outside one day and your car won’t start,
there’s a decent chance that it just needs a charge. That’s why you need a
battery charger at home and not in the truck, because there’s nowhere to hook
up on the road, most of the time.
If, however, you bring your RV into a camp where
there are power hook ups, and bring a battery charger with you, then you can
charge your battery right there in camp in the event that it ever goes dead on
you.
Portable
Power Pack
A battery charger can help you out if your
battery ever goes dead on you in camp because then you can charge it and be
back on your way. What good would a battery charger do you if you were really
off the grid when you were camping and had no access to power?
Well, if you had brought along a portable power
pack, you would be able to jump your camper, get back to a power source and
then be able to charge the battery. A portable power pack is worth its weight
in gold in a number of scenarios, and if you ever find yourself out on the road
and away from power, you’ll be glad you kept a (charged) portable power pack
somewhere in the camper. Honestly, it’s a great thing to keep in the trunk of a
car as well.
Mats
If you haven’t ever used an RV mat before, then
don’t fall into the belief that it’s just a regular mat with no specialized
function. A mat is a mat, and an RV mat is an RV mat. They’re designed to be
placed underneath the shade of your RV awning or outside your RVs living area
to help prevent you from tracking dirt, mud, and sand into the interior of your
RV.
It doesn’t sound very specialized, but they are -
most of them are very lightweight and are designed to allow particulate matter
(see: dirt) to pass through one way but not come back up through the weave the
other way. That means if you’re on a sand surface, for example, sand will
filter through the mat but not come back up; therefore, by using one, you can
really limit the amount of dirt you track into the RV.
Tables
There’s no trick here; this is straightforward.
The interior of your RV probably has a kitchen table, so you don’t need to
bring along a table for that purpose, but if you ever plan on bringing the
party outside under the awning, then you will be happy that you brought along a
folding table.
A folding table is lightweight and discrete and
will fold up out of the way. You’ll forget you even had it until you had a need
to break it out, and then you’ll be glad you brought it. By the way, you’ll
probably want to bring along a set of folding chairs so you can actually use
the table.
Inflatable
Mattresses
A folding table and folding chairs will improve
your ability to enjoy the outdoors while you take your RV out on the road, but
an inflatable mattress will make you more comfortable in camp. You don’t
absolutely need one, but if you bring along a lot of people on the trip and
decide later that you need some extra sleeping space, you’ll be glad you
brought it. At the same time, it’s also something helpful to bring along if you
bring a tent and you decide that you want to sleep outside for a night or two,
or hike away from the camper and set up camp under the stars.
Bug Spray
One of the banes of camping is the perennial
onslaught of biting insects, and even worse is the fact that it can’t really be
predicted. Many outdoor camping trips have been ruined by the coming of gnats,
mosquitos, deer flies, green heads, ticks, or other biting insects.
Sometimes, you can escape a plague of insects by retreating inside the camper, but for those nights when you really just want to enjoy the outdoors, you can lean on bug spray. It will keep you comfortable, keep the bugs away, and enable you to spend more time in the great outdoors. It’s also very affordable to throw a few bottles in the camper somewhere, but there are serviceable alternatives. If you don’t want to use bug spray, you can also get some citronella candles or other non-topical repellents.
A Grill
A grill isn’t a necessity, but it sure will come
in useful at some point down the road. There are times when you might prefer to
do the cooking inside or even outside over a real fire, but if you’re ever in a
park somewhere where open fires aren’t allowed, you’ll be glad you picked up a
grill and added it to your collection. You can easily find some small gas
grills that fold up and can be easily stowed out of the way. You can get a lot
of enjoyment from one without having to part with too much space or money.
Roof Tape
Roof tape is one of those things that you might
never think of in advance but will be eternally grateful for if you ever have
the need to use it. Simply speaking, RV roof tape is strong, waterproof,
typically UV resistant tape that you can apply to your RV’s roof for an instant
seal that will not only stop leaks that are occurring but will prevent them in
the future. An RV is in constant motion and so it can be pretty hard to predict
leaks. Keep a roll of RV roof tape handy and you’ll be glad that you did.
Tire
Covers
Tire covers are really more important as camper supplies for long term outdoor
storage of your RV than specifically for use as a camp accessory, although you
can definitely cover your tires with them if your RV will be in camp for a
while. Tire covers help protect your tires from damage due to UV exposure. They
are remarkably useful for preserving the integrity of your tires, so use them
if you can.
Tools
Finally, we have the invaluable addition of
“tools” which is very nonspecific. What we mean is that you should keep a
toolbox with some small essential tools. Make sure you have some screwdrivers,
a hammer, some scissors, twine or tape, and other basic tools and essentials
for making quick repairs on the fly. Be as basic or comprehensive in putting it
together as you choose, but you should definitely bring one along.
There you have some more must-have camper supplies that you’ll be glad you brought along, either because they will increase your comfort or make your time afield more practical. There are a million more things that you might want to bring along with you, but you can start with this article, and the other two we listed at the top for a list of basic necessities. Of course, if you’ve never gone out before, you can always contact our team at 866-332-7881 and we’d be glad to make sure you don’t leave home empty-handed.
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