Congratulations! You finally bought your first RV or travel trailer. It’s a big step in any adventurer’s life, but it’s definitely worth the investment. Just imagine how many memories you’ll be able to make!

But before you hit the open road, it’s important to have the right gear to ensure your first camping trip doesn’t frustrate you too much. What they don’t tell you is that when you buy an RV or travel trailer, it doesn’t automatically come with everything you need for smooth adventuring.

If you don’t feel like reading me ramble about camping gear (which I tend to do), here’s a quick rundown of the basic equipment and gear you’ll need before your first camping adventure in your RV or travel trailer:

Now, these are the bare essentials. As long as you have these three things, you’ll have all you need to scrape by. Of course, there’s plenty more gear out there to help you enjoy a successful first trip. So, if you want more detailed information about what you’ll need to make your trip smooth and simple, read on (and learn from our mistakes)!

Water hookups

What’s the best thing about having a travel trailer or RV over tenting it? Well, obviously the real bed and protection from the elements, but running water is definitely up there!

Before you head out on your trip, you’ll need a water hose to transport water from the spigot in your campsite into your trailer or RV. It might be tempting to grab your regular old garden hose from your backyard, throw it in your new camper, and hit the road. DON’T DO IT!

It’s important to get a water hose that’s designed for potable water. Regular PVC garden hoses contain harmful materials like lead, making it unsafe to consume the water in your trailer. Even if you don’t drink it and only use the tap water for things like washing dishes and brushing your teeth, it could still be harmful.

When shopping for a new camper water hose. Make sure it says something like “for potable water” or “Lead and BPA free” in the description.

We use the Camco Drinking Water Hose for our trailer, but there are tons of options out there.

Pro tip: Most drinking water hoses are white (but not all)

Technically, all you need is a water hose to supply water to your camper, but there are a few other water-related pieces of equipment to make your camping adventure a bit simpler:

Pressure regulator – Most camper pipes are rated for around 40psi. A regulator will help ensure you don’t blow any pipes in your trailer and have to clean up a giant, expensive mess.
Water filter – You never know if the campground takes good care of their water supply. Get a water filter, so you can be confident the water going into your trailer is nice and clean with protection from bacteria, odors, bad taste, sediment, and chlorine.
Splitter – It’s always nice to have an extra outdoor spigot. Connect your camper to one side and leave the other open for an outdoor water option that won’t fill your gray tank.

Not sure how to hook up your camper’s water line? That’s okay; we can help! Check out this blog for the juicy “deets.”

Electric hookups

Most new travel trailers and RVs come with a 30- or 50-amp electrical connection, depending on the model. Typically, larger units will use 50-amps, while smaller ones stick with 30. Our 25-foot travel trailer uses a 30-amp connection.

Since your camper will probably come with an electric cable, you won’t need to buy one. Hooray! You can save some money! If you got a used unit, you might need to purchase a separate electric cord:

But, like anything camping-related, there’s always more equipment that can help you make your electric hookup easier.

The different amperage connections all have different connection types. A 30-amp cord won’t fit into a 50-amp plug, and vice-versa. And never ever, ever try to plug into a socket that’s above your camper’s amperage rating. But if you have a 50-amp camper and pull into a 30-amp site (or one that has a standard 15-amp wall socket), that doesn’t mean you have to go without power for the duration of your trip.

It’s always a good idea to carry a few electrical adapters in your trailer or RV, so you’re ready for any electrical situation that might come your way. With an adapter, simply plug your regular camper electric cable into the adapter, and then plug the adapter into the power source.

Note: If you’re running off a power supply that’s lower than your camper’s amperage rating (for example, a 30-amp trailer plugged into a 15-amp wall outlet), you might not be able to run all your appliances simultaneously. You have less power to work with, so you might start tripping breakers if you turn on too much at once.

Here are the essential camper power adapters you should carry:

30-amp camper adapters

If you have a 30-amp camper, here are the adapters you’ll need to be ready for any power situation:

30 to 50 amp adapter – Safely run your 30-amp trailer on a 50-amp supply.
30 to 15 amp adapter – Power your 30-amp trailer or RV from a standard 15-amp outlet. This is ideal if you camp (or store your unit) in a backyard. Just run an extension cord from a regular old wall outlet to power your camper.
30 amp locking prong adapter – Some 30-amp power sources, like generators, use a locking plug to hold the cord in place (they tend to shake around a lot). Use this adapter to make sure your plug doesn’t fall out and your camper doesn’t lose power.

50-amp camper adapters

For big 50-amp campers, here are the adapters that’ll help you be ready for any situation:

50 amp to 30 amp – Plug your 50-amp camper into a 30-amp outlet.
50 amp to 15 amp – Power your 50-amp camper with a regular 15-amp wall outlet.

Sewer hookups

“It” happens. And when it does, it needs somewhere to go! When it’s time to empty your black water tank (the gross one), there are a few things you’ll need to make the process as straightforward and absolutely mess-free as possible.

Most importantly, you need a good sewer hose. Find one that’s made of quality materials and features swiveling elbows, so you don’t have to fight with kinks at the dump station. As gross as it may sound, a transparent elbow is also helpful. That way, you can tell when the tank is empty and it’s time to unhook.

We prefer the Camco RhinoFLEX RV Sewer Hose Kit. It comes with all the elbows and attachments you need for a plug-and-play dump station experience. The collapsible design also makes it easy to make the hose a nice, straight line between your camper and the dump station, no matter how close or far away you park. Plus, it makes storage a lot easier, too.

Although the sewer line is really all you need, there are a few more little things you can grab to make your dumping experience as pleasant as possible:

Disposable gloves – Throw a box of gloves in your camper storage. You never know when you’re going to have to touch something “icky.”
Sewer hose support – As the saying goes, “crap rolls down hill.” If you’re in a site with a full sewer hookup, make sure your hose has a nice gradual downward slope with a hose support. Then, you won’t have to constantly lift and drain your hose manually, which isn’t very fun to do.
Sewer tank rinser – Hook this up to your camper and blast fresh water back into your black tank to clean out both the tank and your sewer line. It’s the best way to keep everything clean and smelling fresh. If your RV or travel trailer already has a black tank flush, you won’t need this.

Camper parking equipment

Buying a camper is a big investment. You don’t want it to roll off into the woods, never to be found again—especially if you’re in it! So, it’s always, always, always important to carry the right safety equipment to make sure your travel trailer or RV stays put once you get into the the perfect campsite.

No matter what kind of camper you have (even if your RV has a park gear and brake), it’s important to always use wheel chocks. Before you start setting up camp—and especially before unhooking your travel trailer from the tow vehicle—put wheel chocks firmly in front and behind both sets of tires to make sure it stays in place.

While there are plenty of cheap plastic options out there, we suggest you use heavy-duty solid rubber wheel chocks. They don’t cost much more than the cheap plastic versions, and they’ll hold up to a lot more abuse.

When we upgraded our trailer to one that was slightly bigger (and heavier), it actually crushed our original cheap plastic chocks! If the trailer wasn’t still hooked up to the safety chains on the truck, it would have rolled right through our garage!

Trust us; get the good rubber chocks, so you don’t have to worry about your trailer or RV running away on you, even on steep slopes.

Wheel chocks are essential for safety, but there are a few other pieces of equipment that can help make your stay in the woods a bit more comfortable once you park your camper:

Scissor chocks – If your camper has dual rear axles (typically travel trailers), scissor chocks are a wonderful way to prevent rocking as you move around inside the unit. They hold the camper in place by completely locking the tires, so there’s no chance of movement. We use them on our trailer, and they’re strong enough to hold the trailer in place on even super steep grades!
Level – A simple bubble level is a great tool to carry in your camper. It can help you make sure the camper is, well, level when you set up. You don’t want your “soda” to slide off the table before you’ve taken a sip! They also make sticky levels you can attach to the unit, but we find they don’t stay attached for too long. We prefer the old-school style.
Leveling blocks – Sometimes, the campsite isn’t as level as you hope. Leveling blocks are a great tool to keep your RV or travel trailer nice and flat, no matter what the site looks like. Put them under your wheels to level side to side, or put them under your stabilizer jacks to add a little extra clearance.
Power drill – If your camper has manual stabilizers, save yourself some time and energy with a power drill. Instead of cranking each stabilizer by hand, a power drill can put them down much faster with the pull of a trigger! Don’t forget the Jack Socket Drill Adapter!

Enjoy your new camper!

Owning a camper opens all kinds of travel possibilities, but it can also be a lot of work. With the right gear, you can transform your first travel trailer or RV trip from a headache-filled “trial and error” experience into a well-prepared wilderness adventure.

If you think we missed anything that should be mentioned, let us know! We’d love to hear your thoughts. What kind of gear do you wish you knew about before taking your RV or travel trailer out on the road?