Full Time RVing Essentials, Part 2

Getting started on your full time journey may be daunting, but having the proper equipment will help tremendously.

Welcome to the second installment of our "Full-Time RVing Essentials" list! We hope you found some inspiration from part one, and we hope part two is just as helpful.

When we first started on this journey, we were excited about the prospect of seeing the country, moving at our own pace, and learning new skills. But we, or at least I, had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, and quite a bit of on-the-spot learning occurred during those first few months. Of course, we're still making new discoveries every day, but now that we have a better idea of what is needed for full-time RVing, we want to share our acquired knowledge with you.

Outside Your RV

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Wheel Chocks

Wheel chocks: gotta have 'em. We started out with a different set of wheel chocks, but they were not as sturdy as we had hoped for, so we have upgraded to these ones by Camco.

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Levelers

When we first started out, we were hauling around several very heavy concrete pavers to use as levelers. Not only were were they bulky, heavy to haul, and heavy to move, but we were also worried they would damage the inside of the travel trailer or SUV while we were moving from one place to the next. So we opted to replace the pavers with these Lynx levelers. They work so much better, they are lightweight, and they are easy to set up! They come with their own storage bag, and we don't have to worry about them sliding off one another. We eventually purchased a second pack, as we have been in a couple campgrounds with really uneven lots.

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Level

Some campers come with levels; ours did not. We didn't realize this till after we arrived at our first destination and started setting up. Fortunately, we were able to borrow one for the first time, but we ordered this one that day!

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Camper Lock

If you have a travel trailer, you need a lock for when you aren't hooked up. Unfortunately, not everyone is as honest as you and I. 'Nuff said.

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Sewer Hose and Accessories

Your sewer hose is a basic "must." We opted for the 15-foot hose, and so far it has been long enough for us. It is flexible and compact, allowing for easy storage.

The Blaster connects to the sewer hose and then to the tank valve to allow you to spray your black tank out. We clean ours out every other time we flush our black tank. The Blaster also allows you to see what's coming out of the tank, so when the water looks clear, you know it's clean.

Tip: Never use your fresh water hose to clean your black tank! We have a dedicated hose that is a different color so that we never confuse it with our fresh water hose.

The Sidewinder is also a "must" for us. It allows you to control the angle and direction of the hose as it flows into your sewer connection. It also keeps the sewer hose off the ground, which helps keep it from getting damaged. We didn't have it when we started out, and dumping the black tank was a bit of a wrestling match to completely empty the hose. Oh, AND it comes with a nifty carrying handle allowing for easy transport and storage.

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Black Holding Tank Treatment

We have tried several different things to keep our black tank smelling fresh. These seem to work best. They are easy to store, easy to use (no guess work involved; just drop one in), and they help control odors. 

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Gray Holding Tank Treatment

Again, we have tried a couple things to keep our gray tank smelling fresh, and these seem to work best.

Tip: Often people will notice an odor and assume it's coming from the black tank. They will several things to treat the black tank, only to realize the smell is actually coming from the gray tank.

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30 amp or 50 amp Extension Cord

At one RV park we stopped at, our standard power connection was not long enough to reach the pedestal, and we vowed never to be caught in a situation like that again.

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Odds and Ends

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Lighter

Utility lighters are useful for... well, lots of things. But we keep several on hand primarily for our propane accessories. Most campers have a propane-fueled hot water heater. We recently switched ours to electric (more on that in a later post), but prior to that, the flame for the hot water heater blew out on a fairly regular basis, making it necessary to frequently re-light it. Some campers do come with an electric igniter; ours did not. Of course, we also use our lighters to light candles and our propane grill.

Tip: We keep track of which one we are currently using by marking it with a permanent marker.

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Regular Extension Cord

Though you may not necessarily need an extension cable inside your RV, its outdoor uses are endless. We use ours mainly for our pressure washer and utility light. And, on a couple occasions, we've used it to prepare a romantic dinner outdoors.

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Outlite Rechargeable Flashlights

For Christmas, my parents gave us rechargeable LED flashlights, and we have used them almost every single day since then. Here's what I love about this particular flashlight:
- adjustable focus, so if I want to scan the whole area around me, I can, but if I need to focus it on, say, the sewer hose because we got to our campsite after dark and have to fumble with the hookups, I can do that too
​-  water resistant, so if I'm caught in the rain, I don't have to worry about my flashlight
- strobe and SOS functions in case of emergency

​(Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

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Cobra Walkie Talkies

I always thought of walkie talkies as something for kids to play with. Apparently I'm still a kid at heart! Seriously, though, these have come in handy for a number of situations. We use them to talk to each other when Marvin is backing into a space and I am attempting to guide him (usually not very well). They work in areas with poor cell phone reception. And they would come in handy if you were caravaning. This model is made to withstand the elements, it has a great range (32 miles!), and the battery life is excellent!

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Part three is coming this week, so come back and check out the last of our basic must-haves! Also coming soon (hopefully before the month is out), Marvin's DIY projects for our tiny home!

*Please note that, while these are affiliate links, and we will receive a small commission should you decide to purchase any of these products, these are products we use and love. If you like our blog, please help support us by purchasing through the links we've provided. Thanks, all!

Palm Trees - an original photo design by exquisitDESIGNS