Wildwood is located off of Highway 20 just before reaching the oceanside town of Fort Bragg, California when coming from Willits and Ukiah in the east. Northern California is known for its breath taking redwood trees and this campground is immersed deep within an old growth forest.
A word of caution: Highway 20 is VERY curvy coming from the east. As in, hairpin turns at 20 mph max around every corner. For the seasoned driver these can be tackled easily with a bit of patience and fรญnese but if youโve got a large rig or are not 100% comfortable driving your RV yet, I would avoid coming in on highway 20.
After driving the windy mountain road pulling into the campground and meeting Jessica at the office was a welcomed relief – she greeted us with a warm smile & checked us in. Because the campground only requires a reservation deposit at booking, she processed the remainder of our campground fees and gave us a guide to the local area – โ101 Things To Do in Mendocino County.โ She gave some local recommendations includingprincess seafood market, Glass Beach, and the sea glass museum, she then radioed for Travis & Casey.
Travis and Casey greeted us on a gator golf cart and escorted us to our site. The communicated via walkie talkie and helped us back into our spot – number 67. We were able to join the โparked it on the first try clubโ & were congratulated with a fist bump from Travis. He then showed us our utility locations and helped us get plugged in.
The gravel site was mostly level but we did use a few leveling blocks on the rear to make it perfect. Some sites had a pretty significant slope so it is probably a good idea to pack extra leveling blocks, even if you have auto levelers.
We settled into our spot easily and took a walk around the campground. It was built in the 1970s and has all the vintage charm of the era. Yellow hand painted signs made of redwood slices number the sites and point out hiking trails as well as the restrooms. There are coin operated showers in the bathhouse so be sure to bring spare quarters if you plan on using the facilities.
Around the corner from the bathhouse is a stage and communal fire pit. We were treated to campground karaoke during the holiday weekend – Disney songs were a hit with the families camping.
We enjoyed cool days under the redwoods as temperatures nearby broke 100* F. We took advantage of the on-site hiking trails a few times during our stay. There is a pond with a family of otters on the property and if youโre lucky you might get to see them.
If youโre really lucky youโll be able to meet โSpiritโ the three legged tabby cat. We didnโt ask what happened to his leg – that seemed rude – but he stopped by a few times to ask us for pets and head scratches – we gladly obliged.
Everyone was SO friendly – the staff and the fellow campers. We enjoyed sโmores one night with our neighbors across the way & spoke to many of our neighbors in passing. There are several permanent residents on the west side of the park, they have a separate entrance and are separate from the short term campground area. Trash is picked up right from your site, just set the provided can at the end of your site and the guys pick it up each evening for you – this makes sure no hungry critters get in during the night. Beware this is bear country!
Travis, who we later learned is the new owner & manager, stopped by several times throughout our stay to check on us, even bringing us firewood directly to our site in the gator golf cart. Fire wood is $15 for a whole cord of wood and your first bundle is free! Our bundle was stacked & waiting for us next to the fire ring when we arrived. We learned Travis, the owner, even personally drove a family up to town when they were having car issues late in the evening and Uber wasnโt available. The customer service, willingness to help, and attention to detail here is unmatched.
Speaking of Uber, donโt depend on ride-share or cell signal here. Cell signal is not available for most carriers. There is 4G reception with Verizon ONLY. Our verizon phone hotspots worked surprising well and we were able to get on Zoom calls and such but there was definitely no star link coverage with the large tree canopies filling the sky.
Speaking of the trees, that was the best part! We were able to camp right under the enormous redwood trees and take in their beauty right from our campsite. Many afternoons were spent by the fire watching birds flit around the redwood trees. If youโre in to the more unique creatures – banana slugs were frequent visitors; slimy but harmless – and kinda cool to watch as they slowly make their way around. These slugs are native only to the redwood forests on the west coast and are bright yellow, sometimes with spots.
Overall, we give this campground a 10/10! The over the top customer service was soooo appreciated and was a huge contrast to other places weโve camped. The redwoods provided a picturesque & relaxing backdrop, I even broke out my hammock. This is the only campground in the redwoods in close proximity to Fort Bragg & Glass Beach which is less than a 10 minute drive away. We enjoyed hunting for sea glass at this famous beach!
Travis & Kay have big plans for the future of the park including adding live music events on the weekend & opening a camp store. If youโre ever in the area, please check this place out and tell Travis & Kay we said hi!
Summer is quickly approaching and it’s time to be outside – cooking up the best meals on the best camping grills. Nothing beats the convenience of having a portable grill. Whether you’re cooking up some burgers, hot dogs, or even a full meal, a portable camping grill is an essential piece of equipment for any camping trip. But with so many options on the market, which one should you choose? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best camping grills.
Time to read:
3โ4 minutes
Before jumping into the blog:
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Blackstone Tailgater, one of the best camping grill options.
The Blackstone Tailgater is a versatile grill that is perfect for camping. It has a cooking surface of 512 square inches, which is large enough to cook for a large group of people. The Tailgater also features a griddle top, which means you can cook pancakes, eggs, and more.
Weber Q120 is a compact, portable camping grill that is perfect for cooking the camping necessities for a few people.
The Weber Q1200 is a compact, portable grill that is perfect for solo camping. It has a cooking surface of 189 square inches, which is plenty of space for burgers, hot dogs, and a few more small items. The Q1200 also features a built-in thermometer, which makes it easy to monitor the temperature of your food.
Coleman RoadTrip 285 is a versatile portable camping grill with interchangeable cooktops – allows for different types of cooking styles in a small form-factor.
The Coleman RoadTrip 285 is a versatile grill that is perfect for the camper who wants flexibility. It has a cooking surface of 285 square inches, which is large enough to cook for a small group of people. The RoadTrip 285 also features interchangeable cooktops, which means you can use it as a grill, griddle, or stove.
Cuisinart CGG-180T is a small camping grill for a few people. It’s extremely portable and also the cheapest on this top camping grills list.
The Cuisinart CGG-180T is a compact, tabletop grill. It has a cooking surface of 145 square inches, which is enough space to cook for a small group of people or a large meal for a solo camper. The CGG-180T also features a built-in thermometer, which makes it easy to monitor the temperature of your food.
Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 is a rugged, portable camping grill with enough cook space for a small group of people.
The Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 is a rugged, portable grill that is built to last. It has a cooking surface of 200 square inches, which is plenty of space to cook for a small group of people. The Grill2Go X200 also features a built-in thermometer, which makes it easy to monitor the temperature of your food.
Which camping grill do you like the most? Do you have a large family and need something larger like the Blackstone Tailgater? Or are you used to roughin’ it in the great outdoors and want the most rugged and tough camping grill?
No matter which portable camping grill you choose, make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before using it. Always follow safety guidelines and make sure to keep the grill away from anything that could catch fire – tents, awnings, etc. With the right portable grill, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious meals while enjoying the great outdoors.
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Our DMs are always open on social media if you want to connect, ask any questions about RV life, or just to bounce some ideas off us before you take off on your next trip.
Please consider joining the gone community by subscribing below & following us on social media. It’s 100% free, and well worth the price of admission. We’ll update you with the newest RV lifestyle stories, tips and tricks, mental wellness tips, and so much more. DMs are always open to chat, and we’ll answer any questions you have about this lifestyle – it doesn’t have to be scary! We also promise not to spam your inbox with junk – we don’t care for that either.
Want to continue reading? We’ve got plenty more blogs to binge read ๐
If you haven’t used a RV before, it can be a little intimidating. We’ve been there too (we all started as newbies!), so today we’re bringing you this RV guide for beginners to help make the process painless. After reading this RV guide, you’ll learn how to setup your campsite and all the needed utilities for a RV. This will get you out in the great outdoors and finding your next adventure in no time. We’re Matt & Bree with No Place Like Gone, and we’ve been living and traveling the US full-time in a RV for almost a year now, here are our tips for setting up an RV for the first time.
Time to read:
9โ13 minutes
Please consider joining the gone community by subscribing below & following us on social media. It’s 100% free, and well worth the price of admission. We’ll update you with the newest RV lifestyle stories, tips and tricks, mental wellness tips, and so much more. DMs are always open to chat, and we’ll answer any questions you have about this lifestyle – it doesn’t have to be scary! We also promise not to spam your inbox with junk – we don’t care for that either.
If you have any questions while reading this RV guide, make sure to shoot us a DM on social media with the below links:
Below are the basic steps of RV set up, from pulling in to the campground to roasting those s’mores. Keep reading for a detailed description of each step.
Arrive at campground
Find site number
Park in site
Level
Release slides (if you have them)
Hook up your utilities
Electricity
Water
Sewer
Enjoy camping!
Arriving at the Campsite
Our RV parked in a campsite in SoCal.
Once you get to the campground you’ve decided to stay at, you’ll have to find where your campsite number is.
Generally, numbering starts from smallest to largest and increases the further you drive. Go slow and pay attention to directional signs. Once you find your campsite, park in front of it but make sure you aren’t blocking the road. You’ll want to hop out to walk the perimeter of the campsite before parking.
Look for where the utilities are located in the campsite (electricity, water, sewer) but keep in mind not all campsites will have all three. Confirm where the utilities hook up on your RV or camper (typically on the driver’s side).
Check and see whether it’s easier to pull-in or back-in to the spot, typically you can tell by how the campsite is angled against the road – the utilities will also help determine this.
Park Your RV With This Guide
If you aren’t by yourself, you’re in luck (for many reasons). The person with you should hop out so that they can help guide you into the spot. Parking an RV takes teamwork! This is especially important when you are guiding your RV back into a spot. Instead of shouting throughout the campground, it’s best if you get on the phone to communicate directions with each other.
Backing up a trailer is no easy feat for a newbie – it takes practice AND patience.
Once backed into the spot, give yourself a pat on the back! If you managed to miss hitting anything, give yourself another pat on the belly … it’s dinner time! Well, first you have to hook the RV up to power, water, and all of the other things but you’ll be bbq’ing in no time.
RV Leveling Guide
You’ll want to make sure the RV is level so that you don’t trip, get hurt, or feel wobbly. There’s also other benefits behind this like water and propane flowing properly as well. If your fridge runs off of propane it is especially important to be level to prevent damage to your appliance.
If you’re renting a RV or camper, you might not have the right equipment to level. Make sure to check with who you have rented fromif to confirm they provided leveling instructions.
Auto-Levelers
One type of auto-leveler.Another type of auto-leveler.
If you have auto-levelers, you are the luckiest of all. You would know this because they are a huge deal in the world of RVs. With auto-levelers you can press a few buttons and be leveled within a minute or two. That makes things easy, right?
Jack Stands
With automatic jack stands, you can press the buttons to maneuver the jack stands down onto the ground to help you level and support your RV. If you have manual jack stands, you’ll have to use an impact drill or lever to turn the jacks to the proper height on each side.
Leveling Blocks
10-pack of Camco leveling blocks. Click the image above to be taken to the blocks we recommend on Amazon.
We use leveling blocks because we’re cheap, woo! With these, you’ll have to pull up onto the blocks and check your levels a few times until you get it right. The blocks interlock and stack just like legos, nothing fancy here, folks.
Quick Guide to Slide-Outs
Slide-outs are a great way to gain additional space in your RV’s floor plan. Many rigs have 2-3 slide-outs and there’s also some without any. We live full-time in a 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail 23XG which is a model with no slide-outs.
Our motorhome: 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail 23XG in Jacksonville, FL.
You’ll want to make sure that how you parked allows adequate room for the slide-outs on each side. This will mean that you can not be parked too close to trees or any other obstructions.
Insider tip: Typically you’ll have to leave the engine running of your motorhome to operate the slides, whereas campers and travel trailers do not have this problem.
By finding the slide-out control panel (probably located in the interior of the entrance to your RV) you can operate the slide-outs with the buttons. Make sure that you don’t hear any crazy or weird noises as they are extending out.
Insider tip: You can also open the windows so that you can watch as the slides come out. This will give you extra views to watch any trees or potential danger objects.
Utilities Guide for RVs
Electrical Hook-up
We’re going to have a crash course on RV utilities. Make sure you have all the proper RV accessories and necessities if you are new to camping so that you don’t have any issues when you get to the campsite.
For the renters: if you’re renting, you should have a water hose, sewer hose, power cord, and potentially other accessories with your RV. Make sure to check with who you’ve rented from to confirm what came with your rental.
An electrical surge protector is highly recommended. Click the image to see the one we use from Amazon.
You’ll want to hook up your electrical surge protector and flick on the 30A or 50A breaker depending on what your RV or camper is. You’ll find this out by which cord you have – it’s either 3-prongs or 4-prongs.
50A with four prongs (far left), 30A with three prongs (middle), 15/20A is a house electrical outlet (far right).
Do not hook up your RV or camper power cord yet! You should only be putting an electrical surge protector to the power pedestal (a sophisticated word for “electrical hook-up”).
Flick on the 30A or 50A depending on your cord, and check if the power is all green lights and safe to use. Otherwise, bring up any grounding issues or faulty electrical problems to the campground staff immediately.
Once your surge protector gives you an A-O-K, it’s time to move on to the power cord. Flick off the 30A or 50A breaker (depending on which one you turned on) to connect your power cord to the surge protector. After, connect the other side of the power cord to your RV electrical connection port. Now is time for the power – flick the corresponding breaker from back on.
Water Connections
A water pressure regulator is recommended to protect the plumbing in your RV. Click the image to see the one we recommend on Amazon.A water filter guarantees you’ll have cleaner water coming into your RV. You’ll want this if you plan to drink the water. Click the image to see the one we recommend on Amazon.
You’ll want to start with turning on your water spigot at the campsite to verify that it works. Let it run for 20-30 seconds to remove any sediment and water that may be settled down in the pipe. Now you can turn it back off.
It’s time to connect your water pressure regulator. One end of the water hose will then connect to the water pressure regulator, and the other end to the water connection on your rig (another word for RV). Be sure to look for the connection that says “city connection” or something similar and NOT “tank fill” – otherwise you’ll be filing your fresh water tank only!
Now you can jump for joy because all you have remaining for this section of the RV guide is to turn on the water and hope for plumbing to do its job. If you notice any leaks or spraying, turn off the water and try to tighten the connection where you saw an issue. Usually this is a simple and quick fix.
Sewer Connections
Remember, not all campsites will have all of these utility connections. Sewer is the least common to see, but many places that are more expensive do have a hook-up for this. If you want to know what van life is actually like, you may end up with poop on you at this point. Just warning you now so that you are prepared for the inevitable.
You’ll want to put one end of the sewer hose aka stinky slinky (lol, it literally is one though) to the waste connection on your RV. This will be a black plastic valve somewhere under the RV near the other utilities at the rear.
MAKE SURE THE SEWER VALVE HANDLES ARE CLOSED! There should be two of them and both should be closed or you will end up with a mess on your hands.
After connecting to your RV, place the other end of the poop slinky (I coined this term) down into the campsite sewer connection on the ground. From here you can let the tanks fill and dump once or you can let the gray drain while you’re parked. If you opt to leave the gray open (sink and shower waste) be sure temperatures won’t be dropping below freezing. Whether you dump once or leave the gray open, you have to leave the black tank (toilet and poop) valve closed and only dump it when you’re ready.
Insider tip: When you go to leave, you’ll always drain the black tank first and then the grey tank after because the sink water will help wash down the poop hose and any potential clogs.
Our new camping merch will level you up from RV beginner to RV pro.
Get to Camping!
That’s basically it … you’ve made it through this RV Setup Guide for Beginners. It wasn’t that bad, was it?
There’s plenty more to learn about this lifestyle, and we want to share it all with you. But the very best way to learn about it – go on a camping trip yourself!
And, we really want to hear about your adventure. If you’re reading this guide, that means you’re probably about to go somewhere awesome very soon. So, where are you camping? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Where Will Your Next Adventure Be After Reading Our RV Guide?
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DM us on social media (with the buttons below) if you have any questions or feedback about the blog today!
When most people think of California they think of sunny LA, the glitz and glam of Hollywood, or the Golden Gate Bridge. And those things are great, don’t get me wrong, but did you know that California is also home to over 1,000 dairy farms? These farms produce about 4.8 million gallons of milk each year. In fact, in 2021, California dairy farmers produced 1/5 of the entire milk supply for the US. Thatโs a LOT of milk. And paired with Oreos … now I’m getting off track.
At our recent farm stay through Harvest Hosts we got to meet one of the families behind a 45+ year old dairy operation in central California – the Van Foekens!
Ken & Susie Van Foeken – dairy farmers (one of their many occupations).
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Ken and Susie bought the land for their farm in Hilmar, California in 1976. Ken was just 21 years old at the time and the two had just tied the knot. Talk about an adventure! The Van Foekens have now had a successful dairy operation for over 45 years.ย
Some of the ladies that call the Van Foeken family dairy home.
Talking to Ken, it quickly became clear that the dairy isnโt the only legacy theyโve built over the years. Not one to ever meet a stranger, Ken greeted us with warmth and showed us around his immaculate property which includes a custom-built wood-working shop where Ken often enjoys spending his mornings wood working.
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See below for some of Ken’s recent creations:
He also restored a vintage barn on the property with his son, it has quickly become a “party barn” and community hub. The barn even hosted prom for a local high school early on in the lockdown of 2020. When we arrived, Susie and Ken were busy pruning plants and getting ready for another community party on Sunday.
The Van Foeken Party Barn.
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Susie’s BEAUTIFUL succulents in front of the Party Barn.
Our Luna girl enjoyed playing on the lawn with the Van Foekenโs Doberman, Jersey, until sunset. Sheโs aptly named for the jersey cows that they milk twice a day, every day.
Our Luna, tired after playing too hard.Luna enjoying the heck out of the dairy farm.Jersey, the Van Foeken’s Doberman.Luna girl is tired & happy after a long day.
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Harvest Hosts is a unique camping program that allows you to stay at farms, wineries, breweries, museums, and more across the US for one annual fee. If you have a fantastic host like Ken was for us, you may even get a behind-the-scenes tour of their operation & learn something new. If you use our affiliate link (click here), you can get 15% off of your Harvest Host annual membership.
Camping doesnโt always have to be woods and bonfires – sometimes it can be a window into someone elseโs daily life that creates moooo-emories to last a life time. ๐
Ken and Susie Van Foeken’s Dairy Farm was a LOVELY Harvest Host location in central California.
Hey Folks – Thanks for Reading! What Did You Think?
We’d love to hear from you! Message us on social media – we’d love to hear about your next Harvest Host stay.
Please consider joining the gone community by subscribing below & following us on social media. It’s 100% free, and well worth the price of admission. We’ll update you with the newest RV lifestyle stories, tips and tricks, mental wellness tips, and so much more. DMs are always open to chat, and we’ll answer any questions you have about this lifestyle – it doesn’t have to be scary! We also promise not to spam your inbox with junk – we don’t care for that either.
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If you’ve ever bought a RV (brand new or new-to-you) then you know that not everything comes included – especially RV niceties. Expect to be searching Google for RV accessories near me a lot! Even brand new models need customizing to fit your liking. It’s similar to buying a house or renting an apartment, you’ve got to make it feel like YOUR home. Even if you LOVE everything about your RV there are a few additional things you’ll need to purchase before you hit the road.
Amazon has taken our shopping habits and injected them with steroids. We can buy literally anything from the comfort of our own homes. The Amazon fairies make it so simple to click on the app and start shopping; their engineers know the algorithm and know exactly what you want. Thereโs plenty of things recommended by the algorithm to buy for your RV; these range from accessories, necessities, RV niceties, and doo-dads. But with millions of options, what do you actually need?Glad you asked, here’s some of our favorite Amazon buys for RV life.
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RV Niceties, Necessities, & Accessories on the Amazon Shopping List
Here’s the link to the Amazon wishlist that I’ll be referencing throughout this blog if you’d like to see it for yourself. You can easily purchase through this link (nope, we won’t get paid if you do), or you can click any individual item below as you’re reading to add it to your Amazon cart. Let’s jump into the RV niceties!
RV Necessities:
Water Pressure Regulator: This bad boy is a must. Occasionally when camping, you will find campgrounds that have extremely high water pressure (we’ve seen 100+ psi). This is way too high for an RV. High pressure is a death sentence for your cheaper plastic and PVC piping in your RV. It is recommended to have your water pressure around 40-50 psi. A water pressure regulator reduces the pressure down to a level that is safe for your camper.
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Electrical Surge Protector: Another must-have. You can not safely hook up your camper straight to shore power. Shore power (or power pedestal, or electric box) is the in-ground power that you connect your RV to at the campground, these typically have both 30amp and 50amp hookups. If for any reason the power pedestal was to fail, that current will travel directly into your home on wheels and fry some serious bacon. Let’s not do that … okay?
Unique RV Digest-It Holding Tank Treatment: RVs go hand-in-hand with poop jokes, and for good reason. If you aren’t properly treating your black tank, you will have a (brown) mess on your hands – pun intended.
Scared of having your own holding tank mishap? Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one. We have heard plenty of horror stories of people going to dump and the unfortunate things that occur at the dump station including the dreaded sewer shower. Unique’s products are literally the $h**t! pun intended.
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They make everything liquid so you don’t have to worry about clogs, poop pyramids, or issues at that dump station. All you have to do is drop a pod in with some water each time after you use the dump station. Unique works its magic and you don’t have to worry.
This is a 10/10 product and works the best out of several tank treatment products we’ve tried – seriously buy some TODAY. We don’t have any affiliation with them but we would happily be a brand ambassador for them!
Sewer Hose Kit: Camco makes a LOT of great products for RVs. Make sure you keep them in mind when browsing parts because they are a reputable brand. I am in no way affiliated with them, but maybe one day they’ll hit me up too. Opting for a kit with a clear elbow will making dumping MUCH easier, allowing you to see if there are any issues and when your tank is empty. Be sure to get a second hose – sometimes the ground sewer connection is far away and sometimes your first hose may get punctured and unusable – a backup is always a good idea.
RV Sewer Hose Caps: You MUST have an extra one or two of these handy. If you’re in a class C like us, or any other rig with low clearance, it’s inevitable that you’ll hit a bump and crack or lose your cap in the process. It’s also possible that you lose one at the dump station.
You just never know; so, grab an extra for less than $10 and be prepared. Before we bought this one with the included tether, we lost our cap in a parking lot. We hopped out to grab it and before we could, we watched as someone krrrrunccched our cap with their car tires … lol, RV life.
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RV Accessories:
Portable Ceiling Fans: These are a life saver, especially in spring and summer. Which is probably when you want to be camping anyway, right?! So, just go ahead and order two or three right now. You can’t go wrong with these fans as they can make it feel much cooler when temperatures outside begin to climb. This brand is USB powered which is an added bonus for times when you may be running off of house power and are conserving energy – no need to crank that noisy generator! This is one of our favorite RV accessories for the summer!
Outside Patio Rugs: Do you want to track all kinds of dirt, sand, and mud into your RV? Well you won’t have to if you have a nice outdoor rug. These will help you keep the outdoors outdoors and dramatically cut down on the amount of dirt getting tracked into your RV. They will also help keep your campsite clean for those of you that like to walk barefoot outside.
This is the one we recommend because it’s the one (even the same pattern) that we use! It’s survived almost a year on the road and is showing minimal signs of use. They also make cool ones with LED lights made into the perimeter of them if you’re feeling fancy.
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Outdoor String Lights: Want your campsite to be a shining star in the night sky? Well you can with these string lights! Not only do the Edison style bulbs look awesome, but they also are outdoor and weather-rated. String these between trees at the campsite, along the ground, or from your awning to illuminate your space.
Just be sure to turn them off when you go to bed so you don’t keep anyone up with your lights. And believe me, the campground police will not be happy with you if you leave your lights on all night shining in your neighbor’s window. If you want to make sure won’t forget to turn them off, consider using a Christmas light timer like this one.
RV Vent Shades: These are great for keeping the heat out of your roof vents. In the spring and summer temperatures outside soar and you’ll feel it getting warmer inside your RV too. Block out the sun and heat coming in from your roof vents with these. They attach with velcro so they are removable and foldable if you want partial light. They are also reflective and come in a variety of colors. Grab one for each of your roof vents (we have three!) – you can’t go wrong with these RV accessories.
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Wheel Chocks: You place these under your wheels when you get parked in a new camp site so that you don’t roll away – literally. You can also use a brick, a block of wood, or a freakin’ rock if you really wanted to. PLEASE please be sure to use your chocks if you’re parked on ANY type of incline – but they’re always a good idea regardless.
X-scissor jacks: For you peeps with fifth wheels and travel trailers, you’ve probably got two wheels on each side of your trailer, or maybe even three. With a scissor jack, you can anchor two neighboring tires to each other which will not allow them to roll you away. Wowzers!
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RV Niceties:
Hydra Hide Gloves: Why do I recommend these bad boys? Because, they will keep your hands clean from any potential “brown problems” while also allowing you to get a good grip on your connections at the dump station. Some people like to use disposable gloves, like the doctor’s office uses, but you literally throw away money that way. Piling up disposable gloves in the trash is not good for the environment, is costly, and they are prone to tearing – ew. We highly recommend getting these affordable RV niceties.
Weboost for RV: Have you ever been camping and had no cell signal?Welcome to the club, most RVers have. Having no cell signal is a very “typical” camping experience – especially when staying in state or national parks. These parks can be extremely remote – protected lands don’t have cell phone towers on them. This baby is expensive, but it’s worth it. A Weboost takes what little amount of signal there may be available in the airwaves, converts it, and them amplifies it back out to your devices to be a usable signal. We have had great luck getting signal in remote places with zero bars up to 3 bars or so. Worth it!
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RV Water Filter: This is almost a necessity, but you don’t technicallyyyyy require one. Most of all, these filters ensure the water coming into your RV is clean and safe – you never know who was camping in the space before you. Hopefully it wasn’t the guy using the city water connection to flush his tanks, yum brownwater backwash. I understand that some people think all water is water, and they’re allowed to feel that way, but I don’t.
Doo-dads & RV Niceties
Stick-on Wall Hooks: These might seem dumb at first, but you’ll thank me later. These little hooks peel and stick on just about any surface and can hold decor, baskets, fans, lights, etc. We’ve used about 20 throughout our RV and they are easily removed without causing damage. Imagine what you can hang with these RV niceties.
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Fuse Assortment: RVs have complex electrical systems that include fuses and breakers. RVs have traditional house-style breakers, but they also have car-style breakers aka fuses. You never know when a 10 amp fuse will blow. Sometimes a fix is as simple as swamping out a fuse for your lights or water pump.
Sewer Hose Seal: You can place this little doo-dad down into the ground sewer connection before you hook up. Then, you place your elbow or waste connection inside this fitting. Basically, it is a cone shape that tapers down so that you guarantee your sewer hose will fit any ground connection and will stay secure. Not all ground connections are universal, this allows you to adapt to multiple sizes.
Leveling Blocks: These are must-have RV accessories. There’s a billion different colors and sizes of these things, but what matters is that you get a ton of them. We have 40 blocks total for when parked on major inclines. Since our RV doesn’t have a leveling system or jack stands we rely heavily on these. Those with leveling systems or stabilizing jacks will not require nearly as many.
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Cabinet Tension Rods: After you drive down a windy road to a campsite, park, and open your cabinet doors – what happens? Everything falls out in an avalanche because it was shaken up during the drive. These tension rods can be inserted into smaller (medicine-sized cabinets) to hold everything in place from falling out. They also make large sizes for bigger cabinets.
BONUS Section!
Want to see a few bonus RV niceties for your rig? Keep reading!
Other Camping & Unique RV Accessories:
Clear Storage Bins: You’ll learn that keeping a small fridge clean is quite a task. Organizing the fridge is the best start, so grab some clear storage bins on Amazon with this link or at your local TJ Maxx. These also go great in cabinets and other small spaces.
Dish Drying Rack: In such a small place, it’s hard to find a place to dry your dishes. After washing, plop them down on this drying rack suspended over your sink to dry.
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Extension Cord: You’ll need extra outlets, there’s not nearly enough within your small space. You’ll need to charge phones, laptops, video game consoles, cameras, etc.
Outlet Extender: These things are quite handy … they basically take your two normal outlets and convert them into 5 outlets + USB + LED light on there.
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What Did We Miss?
Did we miss your favorite RV accessories, doo-dad or thing-a-ma-bob? If it didn’t make the list, please write our PR team and complain. Kidding, please don’t do that. I am the PR team. What other tips and tricks do you have? Please drop a comment below so we can talk about it!