What Not To Do

When we first started RV travel, it was really easy to feel like we needed everything right away, but the truth is most of it can wait and a lot of it you may never actually use. There are a few things, though, that we quickly realized aren't optional if you want to avoid headaches and expensive problems. If you buy nothing else, start here.

A surge protector is one of the biggest ones — campground power can be unpredictable, and one bad pedestal can cause serious damage. We use the Watchdog because it monitors everything and shuts down before anything goes wrong. That photo above? That's a campground pedestal we actually encountered. Wires everywhere, a bug zapper balanced on top, cords running across pine needle-covered ground. This is what we're protecting against — and your Watchdog will catch it before your rig does.

Beyond the pedestal, keep an eye on what's coming in from the sky. Lightning storms roll in fast, especially in the south and midwest. Unplug and disconnect if you see one building — no surge protector is a substitute for common sense.

And then there's the unexpected: the big camping group that just pulled in, with everyone plugging into the same breaker. Voltage drops. Brownouts. Your Watchdog will see it, alarm, and shut off before your AC compressor takes the hit.

A water pressure regulator is just as important because pressure varies everywhere, and too much can mess up your plumbing fast — this is simple protection you don't want to skip. We also always run a basic water filter because not all campground water tastes great or comes in clean.

And if you're using leveling jacks, SnapPads make life a lot easier since they stay attached and you don't have to deal with placing blocks every time you set up.

We're not promoting everything we've ever used — these are just the things we've actually used over and over that make a difference. Start with these, get comfortable, and then add more later if you need it.