For Beginners: The RV Gear You Need to Get Started

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[robertpowers]

Check out the Water Bandit, a water faucet adapter with many uses for filing RV’s and water jugs from unconventional faucets found in USFS NP and State campgrounds. Also, a few sewer adapters as some RV parks have pipes below grade, above grade and places where a typical sewer elbow attachment doesn’t fit just right.

[jburritt]

We were so blessed when we bought our 2000 Nash 24.5 5th wheel.   I recognize the man I worked with over 20 years ago and he and his wife left everything in it.  Everything we needed except a RV rug and generator.      We have since replaced the flooring and the blinds and backsplash behind the stove.  Whoo hoo.  I love camping in it.  I double pull with GMC diesel, club cab, long bed 4x4,  fifth wheel and a 14 foot UTV trailer.

[briangreen]

My wife and just brought home our Airstream International 27 FB. We purchased it extremely lightly used. I have performed exhaustive research into Airstreams and RV’ing in general which included many of your YouTube videos. I am a thinking man, but i have always benefited from observing others doing things whether it results in positive or negative outcomes. We are new to RV’ing and newly retired. It is still winter in Oklahoma and we have not gone for our first trip yet. I have been preparing by making all of the essential purchases plus getting new E rated tires for my tow vehicle including spare. We have spent many hours inside the trailer getting comfortable with all the functions and “feathering our nest “ with our preferred minimalistic style. Your videos have been very helpful in my process of being overly prepared. I simply must understand why I do things so that I can be very intentional about each and every step of the process. Your videos have been very helpful in my understanding of many aspects of RV’ing. I am still a little hesitant to make our first trip when we still have a couple of months of freezing temps, but I am getting closer to gutting it up and taking the trip and winterizing again as a part of my education. Thanks for posting videos with your experience on many different aspects of RV’ing in an Airstream.

[LisaMarli]

First aid kit. Basic tool kit. We also added an electric screwdriver/drill. Duct tape or Gorilla Tape. My side mirror got clipped and almost ripped off at the beginning of a trip. We duct taped it back on.
And we have an emergency radio. It does AM, FM, weather, a light. Hand crank. It will even charge a cell phone (very slowly). That should be a part of any emergency kit.

[jimloth]

One really simple thing I'd add - a bucket. Put it over your power tongue jack to keep the rain off any time you're parked, but especially for those of us who have to put our trailers into winter storage. Secure it down with a bungee cord if necessary. Tongue jacks aren't always as waterproof as they may seem, and ours was stone dead when we first took our rig out of storage this spring.

[jkhawk]

Good Video, two things I would add,
1. flashlights (at least 2, but the more the merrier), I have them stashed on Command hooks throughout the RV and use them in a variety of situations.
2. Quick Connect Solid Brass Quick Connector Garden Hose Fitting Water Hose Connectors, Connecting to old faucets is a bit of a gamble sometimes, and instead of constantly heading for the channel locks, just get a couple of sets and attach to your hoses. Makes set up and take down a breeze (especially for one person).
On personal note, enjoy you guys upbeat attitude, and smiles. I started RVing with my husband a while back, and the division of labor was great. He has since passed on ( still miss him everyday) and am on my own. Setting up and taking down with just one is a whole different can of worms, especially backing up.

[wesleypipelayer]

Wd hitch with sway control. Special key ring with lanyard, to ensure you don’t lose your trailer keys. Someone else said “road atlas”, and I agree fo sho. Also must have flash lights and especially head lamps, for this “night ops”. And I would certainly add a “hide a key” mounted on your truck, with one truck and one trailer key. And an emergency money stash, in case of wallet loss or theft. And at least a dozen other things

[vindivergilio]

Not an essential. But a definate security item I told you about in another video. We have a 17ft boat and a few yrs ago, there was a rash of thefts of boats and utility trailers right out of peoples driveways in our town. I was looking thru a muscle car magazine one night and came across an add for a GPS unit that sounded like it wouldn't stop or even deter a theft, but aid in a rapid recovery of your trailer if stolen. The gps unit, which is literally the size of a 'D' cell battery, is wired to the trailer's lights and is hidden inside the frame rail. As soon as the wires are plugged in, the unit is activated and will send the gps coordinates of where the trailer is to either your smart phone or laptop, and is accurate within 6 feet! It also has a built in 2 hr battery so it keeps transmitting after being unplugged from the tow vehicle. Our system is made by Cobra Electronics but there are other companies that make simular systems out there. It's good piece of mind that your trailer will be recovered before it is damaged. Oh..we also have another gps unit "well hidden" on our boat itself.

[georgekane]

A headlight....you know, that strap on nerdy looking headband that you can get at Harbor freight, Home Depot etc. I have done professional maintenance in the past, and this gives you hands-free light where ever you turn your head. Even the cheap one is better than none. Or you can opt out for a small flashlight that fits between your teeth. You choose.

[hiwattstack]

Battery operated boom box, a construction site generator, , whoopie cushions for visitors, a specially designated pot for simmering sauerkraut outdoors during your entire stay, a baseball hat that says "zombie hunter" and this is a must: my wife's tee shirt that says "I'm with stupid".
All serious aside, you all are great and we love your videos, thank you so much for the excellent insight and sharing the good and the bad. Lessons well remembered for the less experienced like us. (only kidding about the hat). <smile>

[allens]

Maybe not essential, except I don't know how I managed without it. A Tire Pressure Monitor. Wireless gizmos on the tires and a little monitor in the truck show the temp. and pressure of each tire. Now you know if you need to add air, and better, if you're losing air FAST! Mine is a TST, but there are several brands. Worth it!

[joeswishful]

A gate valve to install at your dump nozzle and a clear connector so you can see what you are dumping. An extra section of sewer hose. An extra drinking water hose and a spare hose for flushing your black tank after dumping. A level. A limb lopper in case you need to discretely lop of a limb that would damage your RV roof. A broom to sweep off slides before retracting. a couple of plastic buckets just because. A garbage bag with extra rags and towels. A multi-meter and a battery charger in case your converter fails. A cordless drill with the necessary heads to manually retract your slide should the motor(s) fail. Some Eternabond tape or some sealant to repair roof damage. Several cases of you and your spouse's favorite wine and folding chairs. Some lighters to light fires. The Swedish bikini team and the Jamaican bobsled team!! Last, but not least, a freightliner tractor to tow it all.

[marniewright]

After several years of enjoying your channel -- and waffling over whether to get an Airstream -- this "beginner's RV gear" video was the game-changer for us. It simplified things so clearly and helped us stop over-thinking it all . . . and we just bought our Airstream! And as a thank-you gift, we used your Amazon storefront to buy all the accessories. :)

[larrym.garrison]

Hey EVERYONE, very important, "find or create" a complete RV pull away checklist---stairs folded up, antenna folded down, vents folded at least halfway, ect.... Oh, and do a kid and dog count. Nobody wants to do a 50 mile turn around. Don't ask.

[stevekiemele]

AstroTurf doormat; screwdriver that fits all screws, including square drive ones.

[brandonjohnson]

In places with low water pressure, having too long of a drinking water hose can be a bad thing. Any hose reduces pressure due to the resistance. To avoid buying two hoses, I bought a 50', cut it at 15', and put new fittings on so I have 3 different lengths in 1. I've found the 15' to be plenty 90% of the time, occasionally the 35' is required, but only once have I needed all 50' due to a very odd site configuration.

[kiczr]

A check list for packing up camp and departing.

[OurJourneyInMyles]

I am going to have to remember not to bring in my sewer hoses onto the couch anymore for adjustments and cleaning! That never did really feel like the right thing to be doing. You guys have been at this way longer than our 2 Awesome! :)

[georgereiss]

You definitely need a level. Even if the trailer has levels mounted on it a torpedo level is a quick and cheap double check, also handy it a tree branch knocks off one stuck to the camper.

[AcmeRacing]

A couple of cheap blue tarps don't take up much space but they can be a handy short-term solution for a leak. A small tool box with a few basics like wrenches, screwdrivers, channel-lock pliers, and vise grips is essential too. You're not going to do a major overhaul on the road, but being able to do quick minor fixes can save your trip. Whether your RV is old or new, stuff is going to break.