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New RV Shopping List

So you or someone you know has a new RV. How exciting. If it is used you may get some of the products below but I hope that this would then just serve as a helpful checklist. When I sold my last trailer I passed on all the accessories so the below is what I need to go get myself. Explanations on what/why are added. I’d appreciate it if you dropped me a note if I have missed anything!

If you are interested, I put all the products below into an Amazon New RV Shopping List

#1 – A Good Sewer Hose

I really don’t enjoy dealing with the waste. It is still a job that needs to be done. I’m one thrifty person that will say to you “Don’t cheap out on your RV Sewer hose!”. The LAST thing you want is for a cheap hose to break or come disconnected while you are unloading pee and poo.
I recommend you watch the movie “RV” with Robin Williams and you will see what I mean.
I like this RhinoFLEX hose a lot. I have purchased a couple of travel trailers and the first thing I’ve done is throw away the cheap hose they come with. This RhinoFLEX kit is quite likely more than you will need but it is great value. I really like the clear elbow and the sani connector.

#2 – A Torpedo Level
Having a good torpedo level is very useful for checking the level of the RV before putting slide out or setting everything up. It is small and light. I like the magnetic side and find it useful to stick it to the trailer frame. This Craftsman Torpedo level on Amazon is just perfect and that is why it gets such great reviews.

Note that if you have manual stabilizers, it will impact the level of the rig. You still use this level to double check.

If you have automatic leveling stabilizers this torpedo level will still be useful when you want to confirm. I love mine and use it every trip.

#3 – Water Pressure Regulator

The water pressure at campgrounds and RV parks will fluctuate. You never know what you are going to get and a spike in pressure could lead to some costly plumbing repairs. So consider this as insurance to protect you internal plumbing. It will regulate, or limit, the water pressure coming in to your rig. I have always used a Camco Water Pressure Regulator on my RVs so I don’t have any horror stories to share. So far so good!

#4 – Wheel Leveling Blocks
I put this in at 4 because you could survive with just some blocks of wood. However, wood will always be less than ideal as it will not stay put and eventually you will be rockin’ in your trailer.
These Anderson Leveler wheel chocks are loved by many and will hold your rig after helping with the task of making things level.
The one thing about most of these chocks that I don’t like is that they have a lot of holes in them where spiders make webs and this makes them dirty looking. I’ll figure a solution for this some day.

#5 – 90 Degree Connector for Fresh Water Connection
Without this your fresh water hose will hang straight out and will be prone to get knocked around, bend and kink. Connect this 90 degree connector to your fresh water intake and it will be easy to connect the water pressure regulator and your fresh water supply line hose.

#6 – Holding Tank Treatment Tabs
Even if you are only allowing your residents to tinkle and have no poops, the holding tank will still stink.   Dropping in a treatment tab is a cheap way to limit odor and maintain your black tank.

Tip: Add water to your toilet bowl and don’t fully flush.   Let some water build up.  Then drop in a tab, wait about 10 minutes for it to dissolve, and flush. If you buy a larger bag you can get these down too under $2/packet. However, I recommend just getting the 10 pack. It will last you 10 trips and you don’t have to carry around 50 packets.

#7 – Air Blowout Adapter
While the RV Antifreeze is necessary for drains. If you have an air compressor that you can use this to bd the water, it saves time when you de-winterize. It also will require less RV Antifreeze.

#8 – RV Antifreeze
If you happen to live in an area that gets a real winter where temperatures drop below freezing then you will want to get some of this. Certainly to put in the drains but if you don’t use an air compressor to clear your pipes, you will want to buy a couple jugs of RV Antifreeze to run through your plumbing. To do this, you pour them in to your fresh water tank and run the pump until this red fluid comes out of your faucet. Do this for each faucet! When you un-winterize it will be a process of dumping all your fresh water tanks, filling with water, emptying again and do this a few times until you can’t see the red/pink antifreeze.

#9 – Snap on Trailer Mirrors
I have used these snap on trailer mirrors for years and really like them because:
a) They are easy to install
b) They are quick to install
c) They provide great visibility
d) They protect the factory mirror

#10 – Hot Water Anode Socket
So eventually you will need to check and maybe replace the anode in your hot water heater. These anodes will eventually wear down. RV Aluminum Anode Rods extend the life of your RV water heater by attracting corrosive elements in the water. This will protect the tank and elements from corrosion.
I typically am replacing mine every 2 to 3 years. This Camco Socket is very useful to remove the anode. I use this with my Milwaukee Impact Driver (Love this set) which makes it all light work.

Check out my Amazon New RV Shopping List with all of the above listed for your ease of use.

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