What You Actually Need Before You Hit the Road (And What Can Wait)

Intro

When we first started RV travel, it was really easy to feel like we needed everything right away. We started with the chairs and cute rugs. We bought the WallyWorld RV to go box of essentials and set sail.... easy right? But the truth is, most of it can wait — and a lot of it you may never actually use, and the starter kit may fail you terribly.

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.

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Quick Take

• What we currently use: Surge protector, water pressure regulator, water filter, SnapPads
• What didn't matter right away: Most accessories we thought we needed — fancy trash cans, grill stands, the campfire percolator, the mini ice machine
• What we'd do differently: Start simple and add as needed

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The Story

Here's the reality…

When we first hit the road, we thought we needed to be fully stocked with every RV accessory out there. It didn't take long to realize that most of it just sat unused, while a few key things ended up being absolutely essential.

We realized pretty quickly that skipping the basics can lead to expensive mistakes fast.

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What We've Personally Used

We're not listing everything out there — just what we actually use over and over that makes a difference.

Surge Protector (Watchdog)

• Why we chose it: Campground power can be unpredictable
• What we liked: It monitors everything and shuts down before damage happens
• What we didn't like: It's one more thing to set up, but worth it
• Best for: Anyone plugging into campground power

Water Pressure Regulator

• Why we chose it: Water pressure varies everywhere
• What we liked: Simple protection that prevents plumbing damage
• What we didn't like: Nothing major — it's just a must-have
• Best for: Every RV setup

Water Filter System

• Why we chose it: Not all campground water is clean or tastes good
• What we liked: Helps protect tanks, pipes, and fittings from debris and hard water
• What we didn't like: Needs occasional replacement
• Best for: Long-term RV use and full-time travel

Not using a water filter doesn't just affect taste and smell — hard water and debris can actually cause damage over time to your pipes, fittings, and tanks.

It's also a good idea to regularly sanitize your tanks and use a treatment to keep everything clean and running properly. We'll go deeper into that in another post.

SnapPads

• Why we chose it: Leveling setup gets old fast without them
• What we liked: They stay attached — no placing blocks every time
• What we didn't like: Initial install takes a little effort
• Best for: RVs with leveling jacks

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Important Note

We're not promoting everything we've ever used, and we're definitely not listing every product out there — these are just the things we've actually used over and over that make a difference.

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Honest Take

If I'm being honest…

Most of the stuff we thought we needed at the beginning ended up being unnecessary. The essentials matter way more than having everything.

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Things We Learned

• You don't need everything on day one
• Bad power and water can cause expensive damage fast
• The right basics save you stress immediately

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Final Thought

At the end of the day…

Start with the essentials, get comfortable, and then add more later if you actually need it.

If you're just getting started, this is exactly where I'd begin.