It’s common practice to make a packing list for your RV camper when you’re preparing for your next camping trip. More often than not, RV camper tools and supplies are something people don’t usually focus enough attention on. Top priorities are usually cooking utensils, food, clothing, toiletries, games, electronics, and so on. In fact, most first time RV campers don’t usually think to make a list dedicated to functionality. I know I didn’t! At least, not in the beginning. It took a few “life lessons” before I figured out this was actually the most important thing.
A flat tire on the way to your long-awaited destination is so simple to overcome if you have the right tools. If not, getting back on the road could be a miserable, time-consuming task. A frozen stabilizer jack or a blown taillight is easy to handle when you have the right stuff. Otherwise, you could find yourself dedicating a lot of time to repairs when you should be dedicating that time to enjoying your trip! So, I thought I would put together a packing list focusing solely on RV camper tools and supplies that will help make your camping trip a successful one!
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RV camper tools and supplies you should consider packing
Magnetic road flares: I never leave home without mine! They have been a blessing more than once. They are relatively inexpensive and should definitely be at the top of your priority list. If you don’t own a set or you’re just unsure what to buy, I highly recommend this pack of rechargeable magnetic road flares.
Safety vest: If you don’t already have one, you’ll want to invest in a safety vest. Don’t worry, they’re not expensive. You will want to make sure you pick one that is bright and reflective. Something comparable to this safety vest should be sufficient.
A good spare tire: Your RV camper should already have one. You’ll want to make sure it is in good functional condition with no visible cracks from weathering. Of course, a vital part of any pre-trip inspection is checking all the tires. Should your tire inspection fail miserably, here’s a set of 4 new trailer tires that come in a variety of sizes.
A bottle jack: Make sure your jack is rated for the weight of your specific RV camper. I have this exact 8-ton bottle jack. It gets the job done and then some!
4-way lug wrench: You will want to make sure your 4-way lug wrench is long enough to have the proper leverage, so you don’t strain your gizzard trying to break the lug nuts loose. I recommend at least a 20-inch, like this 4-way lug wrench.
Plug kit: I always keep a plug kit in my vehicle just in case I find someone’s long lost nail. It happens, and it is always best to be prepared when it does. This tire repair kit will get the job done!
12-Volt Air Pump: You’ll want one that is capable of handling truck tires, and I definitely recommend getting one that’s heavy duty if you’re investing in one. This portable, heavy duty 12-volt air compressor will get the job done.
Tire pressure gauge: You need to make sure your tire pressure gauge is capable of measuring the right PSI for your RV camper. Check your owner’s manual as well as the max PSI rating on the sidewall of your RV camper tires. For example, the maximum rating for my RV camper tires is 80 PSI so this tire pressure gauge works just fine.
A large umbrella: This is for those hot or rainy roadside repairs, trust me! I always have one on hand and have been thankful to have it on more than one occasion. This large umbrella has a decent arc and is travel friendly. However, if you’re traveling solo and you may want to look into hands-free options.
Wheel chocks: I usually just use 4×4 wooden blocks. However, I recently set up a couple campers for a tenant, and they had these nice wheel chocks. I fell in love! They’re easy to use and take up less space than my redneck blocks. They also had these wheel chock stabilizers that go in between the two tires for added safety. I highly recommend these if you’re doing a lot of RV camping!
Tool Kit: This 54-piece tool kit has all the basic things you need. I really like it! It weighs less than 5 pounds and fits nicely in the storage compartments under the camper.
Duct tape: There are many situations where duct tape comes in handy. It doesn’t hurt to toss a roll in one of the storage compartments under your camper, just in case.
WD-40: You never know when you may need something to move that’s being stubborn and won’t. For such an occasion, it’s nice to have some WD-40 or something comparable in one of your storage compartments.
Gas Leak Detector: Every time you change your propane tanks or in the event that you smell propane, you will want to have this! This is a small bottle of gas leak detector, so it is travel friendly and you’ll have it in the event of a propane emergency.
Multimeter: If you have an electrical problem while RV camping, you’ll need a multimeter. They don’t take up much space and they’re relatively inexpensive so it’s worth packing one. This multimeter should cover all your needs and then some.
Water pressure regulator: Some campsites have a water pressure of 90-PSI or more. Some RV campers can’t handle that much pressure so toss one of these water pressure regulators in your storage compartment, just in case!
Disposable gloves: When you’re using the dump station, you’ll want gloves. I promise! These disposable gloves will get the job done.
Sewer hose: Once you verify that you do in fact have a sewer hose for your RV camper, you should take some time to check it for pin holes. No one wants to get sprayed with that! Eww! Buy this new sewer hose, it’s worth the investment.
Garden hose: To hook up direct to a water source or to fill your tanks, you’ll want a garden hose. I highly recommend getting an expandable one. It’s a space saver! This expandable garden hose should more than meet your RV camping needs.
Propane & Carbon Monoxide detector: You’ll want to make sure that your propane and carbon monoxide detector hasn’t reached the end of its life and that it is fully functional. Should you need to replace it, this dual alarm will give you the peace of mind you need.
Fire extinguisher: Make sure you have a fire extinguisher in your RV camper that is fully functional and in date. It is better to have it and not need it than to be caught without it in an emergency! This recreation fire extinguisher will help protect you and your family.
RV plug adaptor: Get a couple different adaptors and toss them in one of your storage compartments. You never know what you’re going to need.
Blocks for leveling: Honestly, I just use pieces of scrap lumber from construction projects.
Extra taillight bulbs: Check the size of your taillight bulbs and toss an extra pack in your RV, just in case!
Conclusion
Make sure you pack your RV camper tools and supplies because they can be difficult to come by once you’re on the road. You’ll probably end up paying a hefty price for them also. I have a free printable checklist for you at the bottom of this post so feel free to take advantage of that! It may seem like a lot to pack, but this stuff stores quite nicely in the compartments under your RV camper.
I hope this helps you avoid some of those unfortunate “life lessons”! Wishing you many blessings and as always, Safe Travels!
