Essential RV Items for your RV Checklist by Mark J. Polk of RV Education 101

This is pretty basic information, but I thought we would discuss what you will need to pack in the RV before you leave on a trip. The reason for reviewing this is because of the basic items I forgot to take along on a Cub Scout camping trip. For instance bug spray! Mosquitos are still around in N.C. in October. I also forgot what was probably the most important piece of equipment,a camera. Fortunately another Dad and son we made friends with are going to send us copies of pictures they took.... The RV dealer probably gave you an RV starter kit when you purchased the RV. This is usually made up of the basic essentials and in many cases is not sufficient for what you may encounter.

For example if the starter kit included a 10-foot sewer hose you will be disappointed when you discover you need a 20-foot hose to reach the campground sewer connection. And it's probably not a heavy duty sewer hose either, in which case it will probably last for one or two trips.

Now this checklist is not all-inclusive, but it will provide you with what I refer to as the essential items to get through just about any situation you may run in to.

Essential Items for your RV Checklist:

An RV Education 101 video for the type of RV you own.
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Potable RV drinking hose- these hoses are labeled safe for drinking water and are normally white in color. It's a good idea to have a 10-foot and 25-foot hose. They should be used for
drinking water only.

Green or black garden hose- You should take an ordinary green or black garden hose for cleaning the RV or flushing the holding tanks and other purposes. Many of these hoses use lead in the manufacturing process and are not safe to drink from. The color will help distinguish between the two.

Water pressure regulator- this will protect your RV water system from high water pressure that is common at some campgrounds. Always connect the regulator at the source of the water to regulate it before it even enters the hose.

90-degree elbow connector- if you do not use an external water filter at the city water connector on the RV it is a good idea to connect the elbow there to prevent the hose from kinking.

Water filtration system- I highly recommend some type of water filtration. Either under the counter to a faucet for drinking water, or an external filter that filters all water going into
the unit.

Sewer hose- it is a good idea to have a 10-foot and a 20-foot (heavy duty) sewer hose.

Sewer hose connectors and adapters- you will want to have connectors on the ends that hook up to the RV and to the campground sewer. You will also want adapters to connect the two hoses together if you need additional length. There are several kits available to make these various connections.

Sewer hose donut- this is usually plastic or rubber and is used to get a good seal where the sewer hose attaches to the campground sewer. It is included with some sewer hose kits that are available.

Electrical adapters- depending on your unit you will need adapters that will allow you to plug in to the service provided. There are adapters that go from 50-amp to 30-amp, 30-amp to
20-amp etc. Check with your RV dealer.

Extension cords- Ideally you want an extension cord that is designed for RV’s with the same gauge wire and ends that match the RV and the campground.

Spare blade fuses- check the amperage of fuses in your RV and carry spares.

Spare bulbs- identify the type of bulbs used in lights and carry spares.

Holding tank chemicals- there are numerous chemicals available for your RV. Experiment with some until you find what you like. The black water tank needs to be treated each time you dump the tank. Avoid using chemicals that use formaldehyde and other products that are damaging to septic systems and dump stations.Many dump stations are closing down due to this.

Gloves- you'll want to have gloves for some jobs like dumping the holding tanks. Disposable gloves work well.

RV toilet paper- always use toilet paper designed for use in RVs. It breaks up and dissolves in the holding tank chemicals preventing clogs in the holding tank and the RV sewer system.

Wheel chocks and stackable levelers- you always want to chock the wheels and you will need some type of blocks to level the unit.

Striker- it is always a good idea to take a striker to assist in lighting LP gas appliances that don't have built in igniters.

Flashlights

Extra batteries- take spare batteries for flashlights, smoke alarms, clocks and other items.

First aid kit- you never know what may happen. You will want a good first aid kit available at all times.

Fire extinguisher- RVs come with fire extinguishers but if you buy a used RV you may not have one. It is also a good idea to have a fire extinguisher in the tow vehicle.

Don't forget the bug spray and camera!!

Remember, this list is not all-inclusive but it's a very good start. Eventually you can tailor this list to suit your needs.

Check out our "Checklists for RVers" e-book that has over 25 checklists designed specifically for RVers.
http://www.rveducation101.com/ebooks.htm?siteID=0

Happy Camping,

Mark

RV Education 101 is a North Carolina based Company that produces educational videos on how to use and maintain your RV. Mark Polk, the owner, started in the RV industry as an apprentice technician in the early 1970's. After retiring as a CW3 from the military (where Polk was an automotive maintenance technician, and was in charge of some very large maintenance operations throughout his career) in 1996, he got back into the industry he had a passion for. Polk has an extensive background in RV sales, service and management. He felt so strongly about educating the consumer that he left his position as an RV Sales Manager in 2000 to devote himself full time to his company. Mark’s program includes instructional videos and other materials to make your RVing lifestyle even easier. Mark also provides the RV Savvy segments for the RVTV program and can be seen on the Outdoor Channel. You can order Mark's complete line of RV Education 101 DVD's, videos or e-books from http://www.rveducation101.com or http://www.rvuniversity.com

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