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RV

What to pack, and what to leave at home

A working list of equipment that earns its weight, and the things that are usually regrets.

Short answer

Pack to the weight budget first, not the wish list. Everything you bring comes out of the payload, and every high, heavy item changes how the rig handles. The equipment that pays for itself is the equipment that prevents damage or solves a problem in the field: a water hose, a wastewater hose, a level and a set of wedges, a spare belt, a decent first-aid kit.

Verify before you rely on thisRules, limits and specifications change. Check with the official authority or the manufacturer for your vehicle, country and model year.

The short answer

Pack to the weight budget first, not the wish list. Everything you bring comes out of the payload, and every high, heavy item changes how the rig handles. The equipment that pays for itself is the equipment that prevents damage or solves a problem in the field: a water hose, a wastewater hose, a level and a set of wedges, a spare belt, a decent first-aid kit.

Essential and non-negotiable

For a towable: a properly rated hitch, safety chains crossed, a breakaway lanyard, a 7-pin or 12-pin lighting socket, wheel chocks, a jack and a spare wheel. For any rig: a fire extinguisher, a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm with recent test dates, a level, a set of levelling wedges, a water hose with a pressure regulator, a wastewater hose, and a torch that is genuinely bright.

Comfort that is worth the weight

A good camp chair and a table you can actually use for dinner are the two items that change the quality of a trip more than anything else on this list. A folding water container and a way to fill it solves the problem of arriving with a nearly empty tank. A kettle that runs on the same gas as your cooker saves waiting for a mains socket. And a decent blanket matters more than any gadget in a cold month.

Usually regrets

Half a wardrobe, a full crockery set, an iron, a large television, and every small appliance you can plug in, because in most systems there is not enough power to run them all at once. If it is heavy, it also came out of the payload, and the weight ends up somewhere the handling did not expect.

Regional extras

In cold countries, an insulation kit for the fresh tank and the pipes plus a heating source with a timer. On alpine routes, chains and knowledge of when they go on. In desert and outback regions, far more water than seems reasonable, a serious sun shade, and a way to recover if you get stuck. On islands and in ferry routes, a booking confirmation for the vehicle and a printed copy of any permit.

Checklist

  • Fire extinguisher, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm
  • Level, levelling wedges, wheel chocks
  • Water hose with pressure regulator and wastewater hose
  • Safety chains and breakaway lanyard for a towable
  • Lighting socket and spare fuses of the correct rating
  • Spare wheel, jack, handle and wheel brace
  • Spare drive belt, hoses and basic tools
  • Folding table and two robust chairs
  • Folding water container and filling accessories
  • First-aid kit with any personal medication
  • Offline maps and a charged power bank
  • Insulation for tanks and pipes if travelling in winter

Questions

The questions this guide raises, answered directly.

What should every RV have?

A working smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide alarm, a fire extinguisher, chocks, a level, a water hose with a regulator and a spare wheel.

What is the biggest packing mistake?

Bringing heavy, bulky items you never use, which both costs payload and eats the storage you intended to need.

Do I need a pressure regulator on the water hose?

Yes in most places. Mains pressure can exceed what the plumbing is rated for, and the regulator is a cheap way to prevent joint failures.

Sources and verification

Source
SourceFire and safety guidance published by emergency services
SourcePlumbing component ratings from manufacturers
SourceOperator checklists published by RV clubs