Road Trip & RV Essentials Checklist: What to Buy Before Your First Trip

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A first trip in a motor home or travel trailer is exciting, and it goes a lot smoother when the basics are already packed. Most of what new RV owners end up buying in a hurry at a campground store falls into a few groups: hooking up sewer, water and power; getting level and staying put; propane and fire safety; tires; and the same emergency gear every road trip needs. This checklist walks through each one in plain English. It's a shopping guide, not a substitute for your RV's owner's manual, so when the manual and this page disagree, go with the manual.

1. Sewer hookup: the gear nobody forgets twice

Your RV has holding tanks: a black tank for the toilet and a gray tank for sinks and shower. You empty them at a campground sewer hookup or a dump station using a sewer hose. A good kit includes the hose, a clear elbow so you can see when the water runs clear, and fittings that lock onto your RV's outlet. Many owners also carry a spare length of hose and a hose support that keeps it sloped downhill.

Dump-station etiquette: wear disposable gloves, connect the hose before you open any valve, empty the black tank first and then the gray tank so the soapy water rinses the hose, and close the valves before you disconnect. Use the station's rinse water, never your drinking-water hose, and leave the area as clean as you found it for the next RV in line. Only dump at approved stations.

2. Fresh water: a separate hose and a pressure regulator

Keep a hose that is labeled for drinking water and use it only for fresh water. Store it capped or with the ends connected so dirt doesn't get inside. Campground water pressure can vary, so many RVers put a pressure regulator between the spigot and the hose to help protect the RV's plumbing. Some regulators include a gauge so you can see the pressure.

3. Shore power: surge protection and the right adapter

At a campground, you plug into a power pedestal. RVs commonly use either a 30-amp or a 50-amp plug, and pedestals don't always offer the one you need. A plug adapter (often called a "dogbone") lets you connect anyway, but it doesn't add power, so you may need to run fewer appliances at once. A surge protector or electrical management system (EMS) plugs in between the pedestal and your cord and checks the power before it reaches your RV. Match the amp rating to your rig.

4. Getting level and staying put

A level RV is more comfortable to sleep in, and many RV refrigerators and slide-outs work best when the coach is close to level. Leveling blocks go under the tires on the low side; check the weight rating against your RV. Wheel chocks keep a trailer or motor home from rolling. Chock the wheels before you unhitch a trailer or start leveling, and remove them before you drive off.

5. Propane, carbon monoxide and fire safety

Most RVs use propane for the stove, furnace, water heater and sometimes the refrigerator. Treat it with respect:

• Have a trained attendant fill propane tanks, and turn off propane appliances and pilot lights before refueling the RV.
• Check hoses and connections for leaks with soapy water and look for bubbles — never with a flame.
• Test the RV's propane (LP) and carbon monoxide alarms before every trip, and replace them by the date the maker lists. Keep a working smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher where you can reach them.
• If you smell propane, shut off the tank, put out any flames, get everyone out, and don't flip switches until the smell clears. Call for help if it doesn't.

If you bring a portable generator for camping without hookups, run it outside, away from doors, windows and vents, and follow campground quiet hours and generator rules.

6. Weight, height and tires

RVs are heavy, and tires and brakes are built for a certain load. Find your RV's weight ratings on the manufacturer's label (and your tow vehicle's and hitch's ratings if you pull a trailer) and stay within them. If you're not sure what your loaded rig weighs, many truck stops have public scales. Know your RV's height too, and watch for low-clearance, weight-limit and road-restriction signs.

Check tire pressure when the tires are cold, before you drive, using the pressures on your RV's tire label. Look at the tire date code as well; older tires can fail even when the tread looks fine. A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) shows pressure and temperature on a screen while you drive.

7. Seeing behind you and finding your way

Backing a motor home or trailer into a campsite is easier with a backup camera, but a spotter outside who you can hear or see is still the safest way to do it. Agree on hand signals before you start. RV GPS units let you enter your RV's size and weight so routes can avoid low bridges and restricted roads; still obey posted signs, since maps can be out of date. A paper road atlas is a good backup where there's no cell signal.

8. Road-trip emergency gear for any vehicle

Whether you're in a motor home, a pickup or a sedan, the same small kit can turn a breakdown from a crisis into an inconvenience: warning triangles or flares, a jump starter or jumper cables, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, water, and a phone charger. In winter, add a blanket, an ice scraper and some traction aids. Pull as far off the road as you safely can, turn on your hazard lights, and call for help if you need it.

9. Comfort and convenience on the road

Long drives are easier with a phone mount for hands-free navigation (set your route before you start), a car charger, a cooler for food and drinks, and a cushion for your back. Take a break at a rest area every couple of hours, and swap drivers if you can.

Finding dump stations, campgrounds and stops on the way

Our 🚐 Road Travel & RV page has two free locators. Type a town or ZIP, or leave it blank for "near me," to open Google Maps searches for RV dump stations, RV parks and campgrounds, RV repair, propane refills, RV-friendly fuel, RV storage, RV dealers and free overnight parking — plus rest areas, gas stations, EV charging, towing, auto repair, motels, truck stops and scenic overlooks along your route. Always call ahead to confirm hours, fees and whether a site fits your RV.

A quick first-trip checklist

1. Sewer hose kit, gloves, RV toilet paper and tank treatment.
2. Drinking-water hose and a water pressure regulator.
3. Surge protector or EMS, and a 30/50-amp adapter if your RV may need one.
4. Leveling blocks and wheel chocks.
5. Test propane, CO and smoke alarms; have a fire extinguisher; check propane connections with soapy water.
6. Know your RV's height and weight ratings; check tire pressure cold and look at tire dates.
7. Backup camera or a spotter, plus GPS and a paper atlas.
8. Roadside emergency kit, jump starter, first-aid kit and flashlight.
9. Read the owner's manual sections on hookups, propane and slide-outs before you leave.

The bottom line

You don't need every gadget for a first RV trip, but you do need a way to empty the tanks, clean water, protected power, a level and chocked rig, working propane and CO alarms, good tires, and a basic emergency kit. Pack those, practice hooking up in the driveway once, and the rest of the trip is about the road. Browse all of it in our 🚐 Road Travel & RV section.