If you’ve been RVing longer than 20 minutes, you already know this lifestyle isn’t all campfires and sunsets. It’s also flying mustard bottles, sewer mishaps, and wondering where the heck you packed your gloves. After 30+ years on the road and making every mistake twice, I’ve gathered some hard-earned tricks that’ll save you time, money, and blood pressure points.
Let’s dive into the hacks that actually make a difference.
1. Use Tension Rods in the Fridge
Ever opened your fridge after a drive and had half your groceries hit the floor like a food fight broke out while you were cruising? Yeah, me too.
A couple of cheap tension rods can hold your shelves in place and keep your salsa from becoming a carpet stain. Just wedge them in across each shelf before you roll. Bonus: you won’t have to play What’s That Smell? two days later.
2. Pad Your Slide-Outs with Pool Noodles
Slide-outs are great. Until they take a chunk out of your head.
Cut a pool noodle lengthwise and wrap it around the corners of your slide-outs and awning arms. Not only does it protect your noggin, but it also makes your campsite look like a kindergarten wrestling ring. Safety first, style never.
3. Don’t Plug In Without a Surge Protector
Campground power pedestals are a gamble. Sometimes they’re fine. Other times, they’re sketchier than a Craigslist RV with a duct-taped window.
A quality surge protector protects your rig from bad wiring, brownouts, and lightning strikes (ask me how I know). It’s not cheap, but neither is replacing your microwave and AC in the same week.
4. Build a Dedicated RV Tool Kit
If you don’t already have one, stop reading and go fix that.
You don’t need a rolling mechanic’s chest, but a solid RV-specific toolkit should include at a minimum:
- Zip ties (aka duct tape’s overachieving cousin)
- Rubber mallet
- Adjustable wrench
- Channel lock pliers
- Screwdrivers
- Allen Wrenches
- Multimeter (for those “Why won’t this thing turn on?” moments)
- Duct tape (obviously)
Throw it in a bag or bin and stash it somewhere easy to grab. Future you will thank you when the door falls off at a rest stop.
5. Yes, You Need a Clear Sewer Elbow
Look, I know it’s gross. But if you’ve ever dumped your black tank and thought it was empty, only to have a “surprise” later… you get it.
A clear sewer elbow lets you see what’s coming out so you know when it’s actually clean. It’s like watching a horror movie — disgusting but informative.
6. Don’t Blow Out Your Pipes — Use a Water Pressure Regulator
Not all campgrounds are created equal. Some have water pressure high enough to power-wash a tractor.
Hooking up without a pressure regulator is asking for leaks, burst pipes, and angry shouting in a bath towel. Get one that’s adjustable and easy to read. It’s a cheap way to save thousands.
7. Monitor Your Tires with a TPMS
RV tires don’t give you a warning before they blow — unless you’ve got a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
Whether you’re towing or driving a motorhome, these systems tell you what your tires are doing in real time. Trust me, you don’t want to find out you’ve got a flat because your trailer is drifting into the next zip code. I them on the rig and my TOAD and sleep better because of it.
8. Pack an ‘Arrival Bag’ — and Keep It Handy
Here’s what always happens: you park, get out, and realize your leveling blocks, gloves, chocks, and flashlight are all buried under 400 pounds of folding chairs and firewood.
Avoid the circus. Keep a small duffel or bin stocked with your arrival essentials. First thing out of the bay, last thing back in. You’ll look like a pro, even if you’re still faking it.
9. Freeze Your Meals Before You Leave
Travel days are exhausting. The last thing you want is to play Chopped: RV Edition after a seven-hour drive.
Instead, prep and freeze some meals ahead of time. Chili, lasagna, burrito bowls — anything you can nuke or reheat in a pan. Label ’em, stack ’em, and thank yourself when you’re too tired to function.
10. Use Milk Crates in the Storage Bays
Storage bays are great — until they turn into bottomless pits of forgotten gear.
Milk crates are the unsung heroes of RV organization. They stack, they slide, and they keep your stuff where you can actually find it. No fancy mods, no fancy price tag. Just good old-fashioned square storage that works.
Wrap-Up: Travel Smart, Not Stupid
These aren’t Instagram hacks. They’re real-life, tried-and-tested RV travel hacks that’ve saved my bacon more times than I can count. Use them. Adapt them. Tattoo them on your slide-out if you must.
You can find examples of the items mentioned in this post (and many more) on my essential gear page
See you on the road.