11 Must-Have RV Accessories: A Complete Guide for RV Living

What are the must-have accessories for RVing?

There’s a lot of cool stuff out there, some necessary and some simply occasionally useful or convenient.

But the must-have accessories are those you absolutely can’t do without (or you really wouldn’t want to). 

Below, we’ve put together a list of the # must-have RV accessories to help you get the most from your travels and ensure you’re prepared for anything.

11 Must-Have RV Accessories and Gadgets

It’s hard to put together the perfect list of must-have items, but one thing is for certain: every single item on this list is invaluable when you’re on the road RVing. 

These are our 11 must-have RV accessories:

1. Cell signal booster

A cell signal booster allows you to reach nearby cell tower signals from further away.

They don’t replace the need for cell or internet service or a hotspot, but they’re invaluable for ensuring you’re able to stay connected even when you’re pretty far off the grid. 

If you work from the road like many RVers do, a cell signal booster is an invaluable accessory that you should be without.

2. WiFi temperature and humidity monitor

A temperature and humidity monitor is vital if you travel with pets.

Each year, pets pass away in their owner’s RVs because they stepped away for a short time on a hot day and their RV became unexpectedly hot. 

With a temperature and humidity monitor, you’re able to easily monitor the internal climate of your RV while away, ensuring that your furry friends always stay safe. 

Check out our top picks for the best RV pet monitors in our guide: 3 Best RV Pet Monitors: Top Picks of 2024. 

3. Portable generator

If these were ordered by important, a portable generator might be at #1 on the list.

A portable generator is vital, especially if you boondock. Being able to function almost fully off-grid isn’t possible without a good generator.

You can check out our top picks for best portable generators in our guide here: 7 Best Portable Generators for RV’s and Camping [2024 Guide].

4. Portable solar panels

Even more powerful than a generator alone is a generator + solar panel combo, which compliment each other and allow you to function almost completely off-the-grid. 

A good set of portable solar panels can just about power you during a day in the sun, removing the need to always be connected to an electrical hook-up of some kind. 

Check out our picks for the best portable solar panels here: 7 Best Portable Solar Panels for RVing and Camping.

5. Portable air compressor

Tire pressure is important to keep an eye on. If pressure dips too low on any of your tires, it can cause an accident leading not only to damages but potential injury.

This becomes even more important if you boondock, as uneven ground is more likely to cause tire damage.  

A portable air compressor allows you to refill the air in your tires from wherever you are, making refilling far more convenient than trying to pull into your nearest gas station.

6. Loctite Ultragel Super Glue

Sounds like a strange one, but once you hit the road you’ll see that quick fixes and manual repairs are a part of RV life.

Things like sealant and super glue might seem like janky fixes, but sometimes all you need is a quick fix to seal something or keep things in place. 

Loctite Ultragel Super Glue is one of many brands that work for those purposes, but it’s super dependable, incredibly strong, and water resistant.

7. Surge protector

Surge protectors (like this Watch Dog 30 Amp EPO) help protect against, well… electrical surges. 

What makes them so useful is that they protect against the very real risk of running into faulty electrical pedestals at campsites. 

One faulty pedestal and your entire electrical system could be done for, resulting in a very hefty RV repair bill and lots of stress and inconvenience. 

Surge protectors are inexpensive and easy to use, so it’s another one of those items that’s easy to acquire but offers invaluable protection. Check out our article to learn why we recommend an EPO over a Surge Protector!

8. Stackable storage bins

A simple accessory but one which is infinitely useful, stackable storage bins can be used to store just about anything and anywhere.

Including your:

• Bedroom storage
• Cabinets
• Even your basement storage

You can also get clear stackable storage bins, which make finding everything way easier. No more searching storage containers for minutes just to find one small item.

Find more great storage ideas in our guide on the best RV basement storage ideas.

9. Counter bins

Some RV bathrooms have ample cabinet storage. However, many don’t, so you might find yourself placing a ton of items on the countertop.

If that’s you, and it peeves you every time you set out and all your restroom items fall across the counter, meet your new best friend: the counter bin.

A counter bin allows you to take all those extra toiletries, shower products, and medicine items and bring them together into one neat place without the risk of them sliding around or falling onto the ground.

10. Water sensor

Water leaks are rare, but can cause an incredible amount of damage throughout an RV.

A water sensor, like this Govee WiFi water sensor, allows you to set up automatic notifications to your phone when water is detected anywhere it shouldn’t be throughout your RV. 

They’re incredibly useful, surprisingly affordable, and don’t require a recurring subscription like many other monitors. 

11. Portable Fire Pit

A portable fire pit might sound at first like a nice-to-have, but it’s much more than that.

Consider: you can use a portable fire pit anywhere that fires are banned. Pretty handy, right?

Not only that, it doesn’t give off the smoke that a campfire does. And, if you’ve boondocked or camped in a while, you know that smoke fire gets into everything.

Not only that, they’re incredibly easy to store and port making them super convenient. 

What Are Your Must-Have RV Accessories?

Did we miss something that’s been invaluable to you on your RV journey?

Everyone’s travels are different and we all have different needs.

We’d love to hear about some of your favorite must-have gear!