New RV Owner Checklist: 15 Accessories You Need Before Your First Trip
By Salem Hassan — Co-Founder, Searchshop · 30+ years in RV & marine dealerships· April 4, 2025· 1 min read· Updated Mar 9, 2026
Salem Hassan has spent more than 30 years building and operating dealerships across the RV, marine, and powersports industries. He founded Suncoast RV in 1994 and later owned Travelcamp RV in Jacksonville for a decade…
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Every new RV owner eventually discovers the same things — usually in a campground parking lot, in the dark, 200 miles from home. The surge protector they didn't buy. The water pressure regulator that would have saved their water lines. The leveling blocks that would have meant a good night's sleep instead of rolling to one side all night. This list exists so your first trip is a good one.
We've organized these 15 items by priority — safety-critical first, comfort upgrades after. The whole list costs under $600 if you choose the mid-range options. The alternative — finding out why each item matters the hard way — costs significantly more.
Safety First (Items 1-4)
These four items are non-negotiable before you hook up at your first campground. Skip any one of them and you're accepting preventable risk.
1. 50-Amp (or 30-Amp) Electrical Management System (EMS)
This is the first purchase we recommend to every new RV owner, without exception. A proper EMS monitors campground power for open neutrals, reversed polarity, low voltage, and surges — and disconnects your RV before any of these faults damage your appliances. Our Best 50-Amp RV Surge Protectors guide covers the top options in detail. Budget $189–$339 for a portable unit. The Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X and Southwire Surge Guard 34951 are the two most trusted options.
2. Water Pressure Regulator
Campground water pressure can run 80–100 PSI; your RV's plumbing is rated for 45–60 PSI. A $15–$25 brass pressure regulator between the pedestal and your hose limits incoming pressure before it can blow a fitting, burst a hose, or damage your water heater. Camco and Valterra both make reliable brass regulators. This is the cheapest critical safety purchase on this list — there is no reason not to own one.
3. Carbon Monoxide and Propane Detector
Most modern RVs come with combination CO/propane detectors installed, but older units may have expired sensors (detectors have a 5–7 year lifespan marked on the back). Check the expiration date on every detector in your rig before your first trip and replace any that are expired. Kidde and MTI Industries make RV-rated combination detectors for under $40.
4. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
A tire blowout at highway speed can flip a trailer or cause a motorhome to lose control. TPMS gives you advance warning of a slow leak or heat-related pressure change before it becomes a blowout. Our Best RV TPMS guide covers the top options. Budget $89–$249 for a reliable system. The TireMinder TM-77 is our top pick; the Tymate M12-3 is a solid budget option.
Water and Sanitation (Items 5-7)
The campground water connection is your daily interface with plumbing. These three items make it safe, clean, and functional.
5. RV Water Filter
Campground water is technically safe but frequently tastes of chlorine, smells of sulfur, or carries sediment. An inline water filter ($20–$40 for entry-level, $400 for premium multi-stage) makes a noticeable difference in daily water quality and protects your tank and appliances from sediment. Our Best RV Water Filters guide covers options from the basic Camco TastePURE XL ($29) to the full-timer favorite Clearsource Premier ($399). Start with the Camco for your first season.
6. Fresh Water Hose (Drinking-Water Safe)
Never use a garden hose for RV fresh water — the materials aren't food-safe and will give your water a plastic taste. Buy a white or blue drinking-water-safe hose rated specifically for potable water use. Camco TastePURE and Craftsman both make good 25-ft options for under $25. Buy two — one for fresh water connection, one as a spare for washing down. Store them separately from your sewer hose (never mix the two).
7. Sewer Hose Kit
Your RV came with a sewer connection, but most don't include a quality hose kit. The Camco RhinoFLEX ($45–$65 for a complete kit with elbows, caps, and carrier tube) is the Amazon best seller in this category for good reason: the transparent elbow fitting lets you see when your tanks are fully empty, and the 15-ft or 20-ft length covers almost any dump station configuration. Buy the complete kit, not just a hose.
Leveling and Stability (Items 8-9)
An unlevel RV is uncomfortable for sleeping and can affect your refrigerator's operation. These two items solve the leveling problem quickly and cheaply.
8. Leveling Blocks
Camco Leveling Blocks ($25–$35) or Lynx Levelers ($25–$40) are interlocking plastic blocks that stack to raise one or both tires as needed for a level campsite. Stack them up, drive onto them, and your RV is level in 10 minutes. Every new RV owner needs at least one set. Many experienced campers carry two sets for more drastic unlevel sites. These are the first thing you'll reach for every time you set up camp.
9. Stabilizer Jacks
Travel trailers and fifth wheels include corner jacks, but many older units have manual jacks that are slow to operate. Electric scissor jacks ($40–$80) speed up the stabilizing process significantly. Stabilizer jacks don't level your RV — use leveling blocks for that first — they prevent the bounce and sway motion when people move around inside. BAL and Lippert are the most reliable brands.
Power and Connectivity (Items 10-12)
Keeping your devices charged and staying connected are increasingly important for both work-from-the-road and safety communication.
10. 30-to-50-Amp Adapter (Dog Bone)
If you have a 50-amp RV, you'll eventually arrive at a campground that only has 30-amp service available. A 30-to-50-amp dog-bone adapter ($15–$25) lets you plug your 50-amp cord into a 30-amp pedestal — with reduced available wattage, but functional. This is a cheap insurance item that will save you at least once per camping season. Buy one before your first trip.
11. Extension Cord (30-Amp or 50-Amp Rated)
Sometimes the pedestal is farther from your site than your shore power cord reaches. A 25-ft 30-amp or 50-amp rated extension cord ($40–$80) saves the situation. Never use a household extension cord — they're not rated for the current draw of an RV A/C and are a fire risk. Buy a proper RV-rated cord with the matching amperage to your rig.
12. Cell Signal Booster
Campground cell coverage is improving but still unreliable in rural areas, national parks, and anywhere near mountains or canyons. A weBoost Drive Reach RV ($499) or Drive X RV ($349) dramatically improves signal strength for all carriers. If you work remotely from your RV or just want reliable communication for safety, a cell booster pays for itself on the first trip where you'd otherwise have had no signal. Our connectivity guide covers the full range of options.
Comfort and Convenience (Items 13-15)
These three items round out the checklist with the upgrades that make campsite life comfortable and organized.
13. RV Mat (Outdoor Rug)
An outdoor mat or rug under your awning defines your campsite's living area and keeps dirt from being tracked into the RV. Look for a polypropylene reversible mat that can be rinsed clean. Sizes range from 8x12 ft to 12x24 ft — measure your awning reach before buying. Camco, Faulkner, and Lippert all make good options in the $50–$120 range.
14. Wheel Chocks
Every RV should be chocked on both sides of at least one tire when parked, especially on any incline. X-chock locking wheel chocks ($25–$35) screw between dual or tandem tires to prevent any rolling motion. Regular wedge chocks work for single-axle trailers. Chocks are a safety item, not just a comfort item — they prevent the RV from rolling if a stabilizer jack fails or the hitch ball develops play.
15. Toilet Chemical Treatment
Black tank odor is the least glamorous aspect of RV ownership and the one that surprises first-timers most. A tank treatment chemical (Thetford Aqua-Kem, Camco TST, or Happy Campers Organic) added after every dump controls odor by breaking down waste and controlling bacterial activity. Use 4 oz of treatment with 2–3 gallons of water in the black tank after every dump. Start with this routine from day one and black tank odor will never be an issue.
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