12 Best RV Accessories
Updated: Apr. 15, 2024
RVing can be a great way to see the country—especially if you bring these best RV accessories along for the ride
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
Take it from someone who enjoys camping in every possible manner: No matter if you’re tent camping, car camping, backpacking, RVing or towing a trailer, it can quickly turn from a thrilling adventure to dreadful affair without the right tools and gear.
Although I myself am still saving up for a true recreational vehicle, I’ve spent enough time in all kinds of camping rigs to know what’s essential, what’s a nice-to-have, and what just weighs you—or your rig—down.
Ahead are 12 of the best RV accessories that every camper should consider to make the next RV camping outing the most memorable—and comfortable—to date. (And keep in mind: The best RV accessories aren’t necessarily things that attach to your rig. Often, the best additions are simple but overlooked.)
via merchant
Best RV Fridge
BougeRV 12V 53 Quart Portable Refrigerator
If you own a Class A or C RV, you likely have an onboard fridge, and maybe a freezer, too. But for those camping in towed trailers or Class B campervans, a built-in fridge isn’t a guaranteed luxury.
Luckily, tons of portable fridges are designed specifically for RV use. I particularly like the BougeRV 12-Volt Refrigerator due to its ease of operation, chilling efficacy and compact design—and the fact that it goes for less than half the price of some of its competitors from other brands.
I chose the BougeRV 12-volt fridge for myself after hours of research when I decided I didn’t want to deal with ice chests while car camping anymore. I’m extremely happy with its performance; I’ve used it to take raw burgers to remote campsites and much more.
I wish it had an onboard battery, although I haven’t had any issues keeping it cold. I just keep the fridge plugged into the 12-volt outlet in my vehicle while driving, then switch it over to my portable generator when I’m at my destination. For RVers hooking up to shore power or using their vehicle’s generator, the lack of an onboard battery isn’t a concern, either, though BougeRV sells a battery pack separately, too.
via merchant
Best Ice Chest
Igloo BMX 52-Quart Cooler
Don’t need a newfangled fancy portable refrigerator and prefer to stick with old-school classics? I’ve got a recommendation for the best cooler for RVing, too—and it’s not going to cost you $1,000 like some options from the brand-that-must-not-be-named. (Admittedly, I think Yeti earned its reputation, but personally, I’m a budget shopper.)
Anyway, this Igloo BMX blow-molded cooler single-handedly got me through a three-month car camping trip through the American southwest in the 100-plus-degree heat of summer. With any cooler, you need to do your due diligence and pack it properly, as well as remember to drain it regularly, lest your snacks become waterlogged.
With proper packing and attention, the Igloo BMX keeps ice for up to five days in 90-degree heat. This will vary, obviously, depending on what’s in the cooler, the temperature where you are camping, and if you’re storing the cooler inside your RV or on a cargo rack on the exterior.
My only complaint is that this cooler isn’t easy for one person to move when it’s full. It’s not impossible, but not comfortable for smaller humans. Thankfully, the swing-up grips are rubber-coated for sure grip, and the locking latches prevent accidental spillage during transport.
via merchant
Best Portable Fire Pit
Solo Stove Ranger 2.0
Smokeless fire pits are all the rage nowadays. It’s easy to see why: Out of all of the possible portable fire pits, ones that purport to be smokeless are the cleanest and easiest to travel with.
Solo Stove has become synonymous with smokeless fire pits by featuring what the brand calls secondary combustion technology. This type of fire pit is constructed with a double-walled design that reroutes smoke back into the pit, where the extremely high temperatures burn off the smoke particles a second time. This effectively eliminates debris like ash, which is a typical byproduct of wood fires.
With the Solo Stove Ranger 2.0, you can have your wood fire and make S’mores or hotdogs without watery eyes and clothes that smell of campfire for days on end. The Ranger 2.0 weighs just 15 pounds and measures a mere 12.5 inches tall by 15 inches in diameter. It should fit quite easily in most recreational vehicles, which solidifies its spot among the best RV accessories. It’s also stainless steel, so no need to worry about it rusting due to weather!
via merchant
Best Multitool
Leatherman Rebar Multi-Tool
Experienced RVers know that storage space comes at a premium. While Class-A folks may have room for a full toolkit, people traveling in smaller rigs may prefer a multitool to save space.
I like the Leatherman Rebar Multi-Tool, which features stainless steel construction and more than 10 tools in one convenient, lightweight package. All tools in the Leatherman Rebar are locking, and it comes with a lanyard and a sheath for safe storage and easy access.
My Leatherman multitool has come in handy more times than I can recall, and it’s saved my butt when I lost my bear-proof food container and needed to cut a piece of rope—well, in this case, bungee cord because I was not prepared with rope—to hang my food up in a tree in California.
via merchant
Best Portable Generator
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500
A true RV comes equipped with an onboard generator that you can hook up to a portable solar panel or shore power. But what if something goes wrong? What if a breaker busts or a fuse is shot?
When RVing, especially if you’re living in your rig full-time, something is bound to happen at some point. Hence, my recommendation is that every RVer gets a portable generator—at least a small one to power essentials like cell phones and your fridge.
I’ve used my Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 for months at a time, and for shorter, isolated trips, with no problems whatsoever. I keep it plugged into my vehicle’s 12-volt outlet while driving, and it maintains a charge for up to several days, depending on what I’m charging with it.
The 518-watt-hour, 24Ah, 21.6V capacity powers everything from my laptop to my cell phone to my portable refrigerator. It features three USB ports, one AC outlet, one 12-volt DC outlet and two 10A DC outputs. It’s lightweight at about 13 pounds, has an easy-carry handle, can be placed on any terrain thanks to the rubber feet. It also sports an onboard lantern, which has became one of my favorite features!
Bonus: When I’m not camping, my Jackery stays charged as my emergency power source in the case of hurricanes and tropical storms, which are common where I live. I love a double-duty product!
via merchant
Best Camp Cookware
GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper Cookware Set
I’d argue that camp cookware isn’t just one of the best RV accessories, but an RV necessity. The Pinnacle Camper Cookware Set from GSI Outdoors includes everything you need to cook and serve: four polypropylene plates, four bowls, four insulated mugs with lids, one 2-liter pot with lid, one 3-liter pot with lid, one fry pan and a pot gripper. It all fits into a welded sink/stuff sack with a handle, so you can easily store and transport this set.
The pots and pans are hard-anodized aluminum with a nonstick coating, so they’re lightweight but durable. I know not everyone likes Teflon, but to me, it makes cooking and cleaning while camping that much easier. No one wants to spend their limited travel time scraping dried-up eggs out of a pan, am I right?
via merchant
Best Camp Utensils
GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Steel Cutlery Set
While your camp cookware might be the star of the camp kitchen, you’ll need something to eat with, too. I like this three-piece Glacier Stainless Steel Cutlery Set includes a durable and rust-proof spoon, fork and knife.
I’m usually a solo traveler (well, me and my pup, but she doesn’t need utensils), so one set does the trick for me. If you travel with family or friends, you’ll need one set per person. This can get pricey, but the quality makes it worth it. I won’t use anything but stainless steel or titanium utensils due to their durability and resistance to corrosion, which is of paramount importance when you’re spending time outdoors.
via merchant
Best Compact Camp Chair
Stoic Pack Chair
You might buy any of a million and one portable camp chairs out there, many of them the same exact design as this Stoic Pack Chair. But I recommend this specific chair as one of the best RV accessories because it provides the best bang for your buck.
I’ve tried several chairs similar to this one and, as a budget-conscious shopper, I’ve found that most around this price are quick to break in one way or another—ripped fabric, warped pole, torn mesh. Other portable camp chairs are fantastic but cost $100 or more.
The Stoic Pack Chair hovers around $30 and features tough polyester fabric with a polyurethane coating for all-weather protection. I particularly like that the frame of the chair is made of aluminum, so it’s incredibly lightweight at less than 3 pounds. It folds up into a small cylinder and can be stored virtually anywhere. Plus, it’s comfy—the most important feature of a chair! Altogether, It’s the perfect chair to set up when you get to camp and want to hang outside of the RV.
via merchant
Best Portable Stove
Coleman Cascade 3-in-1 Camp Stove
I’ve used the same Coleman camp stove for several years, but the moment it peters out, I’m upgrading to the Cascade 3-in-1 Camp Stove. No longer a simple two-burner portable stove, the Coleman Cascade features two removable cooktops—one cast iron and one aluminum—that sit on top of the burners. Now, instead of just a gas stove, you have a dual griddle at your fingertips!
This stove’s burners can fit pans up to 12 inches in diameter, and it can run for an hour at its full 12,000 BTUs using a 16-ounce can of propane. The build features wind guards, so you can cook outdoors in any weather without the flame flickering out. For transport, it all fits securely into a protective nylon back with a handle for ease.
via merchant
Best RV First Aid Kit
Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series
Wherever you’re going, don’t go without a first aid kit. Every traveler should have, at a minimum, a basic medical kit to care for common wounds, including splinters, blisters, scrapes, burns, and cuts; bug bites and stings; and allergic reactions.
Adventure Medical Kits make several first aid kits, but I recommend the Mountain Series Medical Kit for frequent travelers. This set keeps you prepared for any mishaps that might occur during outdoor recreational activities.
It comes in several sizes to meet your specific needs: Day Tripper Lite, Hiker, Backpacker, Explorer, Guide, and Mountaineer. The packs range from coverage for one person for one day in the woods all the way up to coverage for 10 people for up to 28 days.
I have the Hiker kit and keep extra suppliess at home, so I can replenish it when anything gets low.
via merchant
Best Water Jug
Scepter 5-Gallon Water Jug with Scepter Spout
All RVs, no matter what type, have a finite amount of water available, unless you hook up to shore water. I’ve learned from years of camping that it’s always best to bring more water than you think you’ll need, no matter where you go. This is especially true for people who travel with pets.
I use the Scepter 5-gallon (20-liter) water container with the compatible Scepter spout. It’s made of extremely durable, food-grade, BPA-free plastic that’s molded seamlessly to be leakproof. The spout isn’t necessary, but it makes it easier to get water out of the container, especially when it’s full to the top.
Despite the container’s generous 5-gallon capacity, its slender, rectangular shape makes it easy to store. You can lay it down to slide it beneath furniture or turn it upright to slip into a tall, narrow opening. It’s the definition of the best RV accessory!
via merchant
Best Water Filter
Grayl GeoPress
Speaking of water, if you don’t want to follow the above advice and bring extra water, at least keep a water filter on hand in case of emergencies.
I use the Grayl GeoPress, which is a water bottle with a native filter inside. On shorter backpacking trips, I’ve used the Grayl as my primary water container, scooping up water from various natural sources along the route.
Grayl claims that the GeoPress is capable of removing common viral and bacterial pathogens, including hepatitis A, norovirus, rotavirus), E. coli, salmonella and shigella, as well as protozoan cysts including amoebae, cryptosporidia and giardia. I’ve never once been sick after using the Grayl GeoPress, so I believe it. It also removes any sediment in the water.
This style of water filter is “passive,” meaning you barely have to do any work. The bottle holds 24 ounces of water, and the filter can purify those 24 ounces in just eight seconds. You can then drink right out of the bottle, or pour the filtered water into a bigger container if you’re trying to collect more.
You can buy replacement filters separately; it’s recommended to change the filter after 65 gallons of water have been filtered through it.
It’s also not a bad idea to keep some water purification tablets in your RV. I always bring iodine tablets when I’m headed out for a camping trip.
Originally Published: June 06, 2023
