Gear & Apps You Need Before Your RV Journey

I remember it like it was yesterday... Trying to make a decision on gear, equipment, and products we had no clue if we would ever actually use. We reached out to others we knew and let them wheigh in on what RV Gear was NEEDED.

That isn't the only thing we did. We also watched what felt like hundreds of YouTube videos giving their advice on the gear we needed before traveling full-time in an RV.

So we ended up buying what we thought we needed and were given a few key pieces of equipment from our friends, Chris & Darrol. But as we started to travel full time I realized there were two elements I hadn't thought of.

#1: Every time you stop to camp it takes time. And the more time you spend setting up the less time you get to enjoy the place you are camped at.

#2: Making the experience enjoyable for all involved. If you have the right gear, the setup doesn't turn into a debate, argument, or a day of silence from your significant other.

So, after a few months, Kate and I sat down, then stood up and walked around our RV and put together a list of gear, apps, and products that make living on the road much easier.

Plus, we recorded an entire YouTube video on this topic! Check it out!!!

Trailer Accessories

Level Mate Pro: If you like running around your RV looking at a level to ensure your rig is square then this product is not for you! But if you can handle a little technology, then the Level Mate Pro might save your marriage.

I can level the RV by looking at my phone.

1st. level your rig.

2nd. instal Level Mate Pro

3rd. Throw your level away... (Just Kidding)

When you pull your rig into your campsite, pull out the app and it will tell you where your rig needs blocks if any. Pretty cool product that will be on every RV I own!

Impact Drill: Those stabilizer jacks are a pain in the butt, but when you can simply drill them into place it saves you time and your back.

And don't forget you need the special socket for the stabilizer jack. I think we found it on Amazon for less than $8.

X-Chocks: Chris and Darrel gave us a pair of these, and originally, I thought they would just live in a storage bin and never be used. But I was dead wrong, these have a couple of purposes.  

1. The Sway... You know, when you get into a trailer, it has that slight rock. Yup, that goes away immediately. 
2. Roughhousing... Chase is 5, so he is gonna act like a 5 year old sometimes. 
3. Up On Blocks... Not all campsites are level. We were at a Jellystone, and to get the rig level, we had to sit on 6 blocks—about 8 inches off the ground. There was no way we would be able to chock our tires on that side of the rig. But installing the X-Chock gave me peace of mind that we wouldn't roll down the hill. 

Anderson Blocks: Have you ever tried to level the trailer by blocks. One is not enough but two is way too much??? The Anderson Blocks make life so much easier. These were a gift to us from our Friends Chris & Darrel and I would dream not bringing them with us on our travels.

When setting up the RV you just slide them under your tires and back up or pull forward onto them until you are level. Then they come with these triangle blocks that act like chocks!

Let's Talk Fuel...

Our truck is great... Kinda.. But pulling our trailer, we only get about 10-12 miles per gallon. Plus, our gas tank is only 26 gallons, with no hopes of adding a bigger one. We feel like we drive from gas station to gas station.

For this season, we drove across the lower 48, mostly on Hwy 20 and Hwy 40. We discovered the Loves Gas Station/Truck Stop was the most inexpensive fuel, and they are littered all along the way. We downloaded their App, and they were easy to find. Plus, you get $0.10 off each gallon. That might not sound like a lot, but when you put 3500 miles on your truck, it really is a lot.

Oh... I almost forgot. Most of the Loves have a dump stations.

Must Have Table & Grill

The one thing I wasn't really big on is Cooking.

I don't get all excited about grills, stove tops, or air fryers. But Kate does. She was so excited about getting a Blackstone and when she first bought it I thought it was a fancy pan.

Well, I was dead wrong. The Blackstone is an absolute must. For our family of 3, the 17inch single burner is perfect. It fits great in the RV and doesn't take up too much room.

But you might be wondering what type of table we use. This is probably the coolest table I have ever seen. It rolls up and stows away nicely in this canvas bag. I am pretty sure I will never lug around those giant white tables again.

The one we have is the Coleman Aluminum rolling top.