Some RV accessories are really nice to have and then there are the must-haves. These
are the essentials you need to hook up your RV to electric,
water, and sewer, properly set up your RV at your campsite and bathroom necessities.
Because if you have a bathroom you need these things. And I put this all together in one easy,
time-saving, and money-saving RV must-have checklist. I'll leave all the information so you
know how to get your free checklist in the video description below and I'll also tell you more
about it at the end of this video. And first on the list are the things that you need for hookups.
Starting with number one a sewer hose. If your RV has a bathroom you're going to need to empty your
black and gray tanks. Your black water tank holds sewage and your gray water tank holds used water
from your sinks and your shower. And you empty both of them with the sewer hose. It's rare that
my husband and I camp at a campground that does offer sewer hookups so we dump our tanks at a
dump station. So all we need is a sewer hose to dump our black and gray tanks. However,
if you're going to be camping at RV parks that do offer sewer hookups then I suggest buying a kit
that contains a sewer hose and also a connector. You will need this connector to screw into the RV
park sewer connection. You will also need a sewer hose support because most RV parks require this.
Number two on the checklist is disposable gloves. You will wear these when you're connecting and
disconnecting your sewer hose. Because you don't want to be touching your really really dirty sewer
hose. I suggest keeping a box of disposable rubber gloves handy at all times. RV accessory
must have number three. You need a dirty water hose to rinse out your dirty sewer hose.
Before you store your sewer hose away it is best to rinse it out first. To do this you'll use a
dirty water hose. Some dump stations provide a hose for this purpose but many don't. We'll talk
about water hoses that you'll use for your fresh water tank next but it's important that your dirty
water hose is a different color than your drinking water hose so you can clearly identify them.
You don't want to get these mixed up. We are just getting started. But first, if you want to buy any
of the RV accessories that I'm showing you that I use or that I suggest on Amazon I'll leave all
that information in the video description below. And of course, all this information will be on the
RV must-have accessory checklist. Number four. Next, let's talk about drinking water hoses.
You will need a special drinking water hose to connect to water hookups at your campsite or if
your campsite does not have water hookups you'll use it to fill up your freshwater tank at a dump
station or any other potable water source. Your drinking water hose must also be labeled
drinking water safe. I'd also recommend buying one that's BPA-free, lead-free, and Phthalate
free. Because these are harmful chemicals. And drinking hoses come in a variety of lengths.
So what length is best for you? Many RVers use one 50-foot water drinking hose while others
choose to use two 25-foot drinking water hoses. When filling my freshwater tank at a dump station
a shorter hose works perfectly. But there have been times when using water hookups at a campsite
I have been glad that I did have a longer hose because the water spigot was a distance away.
And I found that my 35-foot hose has worked great at the campsites that I have been at.
Next up are the RV accessories you must have to hook your RV up to electricity. Number five. To
connect your RV to an electric hookup at your campsite you'll need an electric power cord.
And your RV probably came equipped with one. If not you'll need to purchase one. But first,
you need to determine if your RV is set up for 30 amp or 50 amp service. If your RV did not come
with a power cord then you can find this information in your owner's manual. If your
RV did come with one you can determine if it's a 30 amp or a 50 amp by looking at the cord prong.
And can you see the prongs on this one? There are three prongs so this is a 30 amp power cord. A 30
amp cord has three prongs and a 50 amp cord has four prongs. And it's important that you always
hook up to the same amperage that your RV power cord uses. Most campgrounds have 30 amp hookups,
some have 50, and others offer both. So, if your RV is set up for 50 amps it's smart to purchase a
50 amp to 30 amp adapter so you don't unexpectedly find yourself unable to hook up to power. Number
six on your RV must-have accessory checklist is a surge protector. An RV surge protector or
surge guard protects your RV from bad power. When hooking up to campground power you never
know if you're getting a safe current or not. And a surge protector notifies you or stops the power
when there's a problem. Plugging into bad power can definitely be a costly mistake because this
could damage your appliances and your electrical system. A surge protector evaluates what's going
on with the power and alerts you if there is any problems before you hook up to your RV. And this
is important because if there are problems you do not want to connect your RV to the outlet.
There are many surge protectors on the market but this one has served as well for three years.
Next are the RV essentials that you need to set up your RV at your campsite. Nut first
if you're finding this video helpful I'd be so grateful if you'd hit the thumbs up button
located right below this video. That's your way of letting me know. So thank you so much.
RV chocks are number seven on your checklist. RV chocks secure your RV by locking the wheels in
place. So when hitching up, unhitching, and when your RV is parked it's critical you always have RV
chocks or wedges in place. The only time that they should not be used is when you're towing your RV
down the road. It would only take a fraction of a second for your RV to start rolling and
to get out of control. You do not want this to happen to you so always make sure that your RV
chocks are in place. Number eight on your RV must-have checklist is a bubble level. A bubble
level will be your best friend when you're trying to get your RV level at your campsite. There
are three main reasons that having a level RV is really important. Number one. You need to support
the weight of your trailer. If your RV is not level you are going to be putting stress on parts
of your RV and this could cause damage. Secondly, your RV refrigerator needs to be level to function
properly, and third is for comfort especially when you're sleeping. There are many types of bubble
levelers that you can use. Brett left this comment on my video about how to set up your trailer at
your campsite. And he said another handy device is the Levelmate Pro or similar and the corresponding
app. I have not used the Levelmate Pro so it's really nice to get feedback about the
things that have worked for you. So thank you, Brett. I will include this app in the checklist.
You gotta love modern technology. By the way, I love reading your comments. I love learning
about your tips and tricks so keep them coming. Leveling blocks are an RV must-have accessory.
If you do not have an automatic leveling system. And the number nine on your checklist. They help
you level your RV. You place them behind the wheel of your RV and drive up on them until you have the
right height to level your RV side to side. Think of them as mini ramps for your tires to rest on.
My husband made ours and they are wood blocks with a beveled edge so driving up on them is easy.
Depending on how level your camping spot is and some of them can be pretty unlevel will determine
how many leveling blocks you'll need. And stackable blocks are another popular way to
level your rv and I use them as stabilizer blocks to help support the stabilizer jacks. So they're
good for both purposes. Or instead of stacking up leveling blocks, you can purchase curved ramp-like
levelers that many RVers really like to use. Both options will be on your RV must-have checklist.
Number 10 on your RV must-have checklist are jack pads and they're also known as jack blocks.
Jack pads or blocks are placed underneath your RV's jack to prevent your jack from sinking into
the ground. So they're very important to have. They are also helpful because your jack doesn't
have to extend as far down which is really nice if you have a manual jack. Again we use a piece
of wood but if you prefer to buy your jack pads on Amazon these are the ones I recommend. If you want
to learn more about leveling and setting up your RV or your travel trailer at your campsite I have
a video that shows you step by step how to do just that. And I'll leave a link to that video below.
Next on the list are your essential RV bathroom accessories.
And number 11 on your checklist is a holding tank treatment to prevent any nasty bathroom odors
from stinking up your RV. There are many RV bathroom odor treatments on the market
but my favorite is Happy Camper because it's an organic, biodegradable holding tank treatment
that doesn't use any harsh chemicals. Not only does Happy Camper reduce odors which
is especially important in a small camper but it also reduces buildup of scum, sludge, and clogs
saving us from dealing with things that we'd rather not have to do. If you know what I
mean. Happy Camper has definitely made my small camper happier. Right, Princey?
Okay here's a very important question for you. Did you know that you should never use the same
toilet paper that you use at home in your RV? And that's why RV toilet paper is number 12 on
your must have checklist. I wasn't aware of this when I first bought my Little Guy Max trailer.
Toilet paper specifically designed for RVs dissolves quickly and it breaks down easier
than what you use at home so it won't clog up your black tank. And that would not be good.
So now I'm sure you understand why using toilet paper specifically for an RV is important. So
enough said about that topic. As promised I have created an RV accessory must have checklist just
for you. So you know exactly what you need to make your first RV camping trip a success.
Just go to RandisAdventures.com/must-haves and I will leave that information right down here
and of course in the video description below. So go to RandisAdventures.com/must-haves.
So go there now to download your checklist. I
really appreciate you watching and I can't wait to see you next Thursday.