When first started RV’ing, we loaded up some food, camp chairs, pots, and pans and then headed out. We had “camped” before so we figured we didn’t need much other than the basics.
After spending some time in campgrounds and watching others, we learned that to make life a little more comfortable, just a few items would have made life MUCH easier while on the road.
We ended up making several trips to the camping stores, Walmart, etc (because when you are on the road, let’s face it, Amazon Prime isn’t as easy as when you are at home).
Before you hit the road, make sure you have these 5 things and life will be much easier while traveling.
Folding Wagon
You seriously want one of these for transporting laundry, schlepping stuff to the beach or park, or just moving stuff around while you are at the campground. The first time I had to haul a laundry basket up a hill to the laundry room at a campground, I was kicking myself for not having one of these. Plus, they fold up for easy storage in the basement of our RV.
Patio RV Mat
Seriously – another lifesaver. This means we can shed shoes outside or even step outside without shoes on. This makes for less mess inside the RV but also creates a nice spot to sit out under the awning next to the camper. When we bought our RV, someone gave us a carpet rug for this reason, but it got wet – and well, you can imagine how lovely a wet large piece of carpet smelled when trying to roll it up and put it away. The plastic woven rugs won’t absorb water, so you can roll them up even if they are a little damp underneath without worry of mold.
Stick Vacuum
Do you know how hard it is to vacuum up your RV carpet with a shop vac? Let me tell you now – it’s not fun. Having a small, cordless “stick” vacuum was one of those items that became a must-have – especially since we have kids who LOVE to snack! One of these little bad boys is essential. Even while you’re driving down the road, they are nice because since they are cordless, you can run them without being plugged into to shore power.
Roll Up Dish Rack
These are super handy to have and easy to roll up and store out of the way. We don’t have a dishwasher in our rig, so having one of these is super nice for letting dishes dry without taking up more space to store them.
Walkie Talkies (2-way Radios)
Communication when backing up the rig, pulling out of the campsite, or even when one family member is in a different area of the campground is essential. Having 2-way radios is a MUST for any camper and make sure you have a set before you hit the road.
Well, there you have it. The 5 essentials you want to make sure you have before you take off on your next RV trip. Happy travels and stay Grateful.
