New RVer Wants to Know What Essential Items Needed

[The Fossil]

We've just purchased a new American Eagle 42' coach and need to know what items (non food) are a must to have before leaving home that will be helpful along the way, i.e. hose lengths, cords, etc... We feel overwhelmed but are anxious to get going too.

Ready in KY

[utmtman]

I would recommend a tool box with some house tools as well as a few minor mechanical tools, allen wrenches, claw hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, and adjustable wrenches. Also fire extinguisher. Jack and blocks. Pots and pans, dishes whether paper or plastic or even ceramic. Same with plastic ware or other silverware accordingly. Maybe some tire chocks and some kind of a mat for wiping your feet. I would have to think to come up with some more.
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Lee and Fran
Holiday Rambler Vacationer
While traveling down lifes paths, stop to smell the flowers.

[TannerBee]

Binoculars, hiking shoes, bikes, portable grill. My wife takes along a shepherd's hook and puts out a bird feeder occasionally. Couple of books, all those magazines you haven't read for five months. Fishing pole and tackle. Gin and tonic for me, rum and Mt Dew (w/cherries - yuk!) for her. Walkie-talkies are great for positioning at the fuel pump and campground. Extra AA batteries. Don't forget the camera!
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Floyd and Tanner
Coachmen Santara 35
Rock Hill SC

Time is either spent or invested.

[porscheracer]

Electrical adapters for 50A to 30A and 30A to 20A. Plus both a normal 50' heavy duty extension cord and a 50' 50A extension cord (expensive, but invaluable if you ever need it). A small electrical multimeter and a battery filling funnel.

Two water hoses (assuming your coach doesn't have one built in) - one white one and one of another color. Use the white one ONLY for filling the tanks and the colored one for everythig else. Keep the white one surgically clean.

Sewer hoses and extenders to give you a total of at least 25' (or 5' beyond the tail of your whole rig, whichever is shorter). Plus some sort of ramping system to keep it from going up and down along the drain path. Many older campgrounds were laid out with only travel trailers in mind, and the sewer dumps are often at the far end of the space. That can get tricky, especially with a toad. Hand soap/sanitizer, rubber gloves (I prefer disposable), and paper towels to stay in the wet bay - for those nasty jobs.

Start out with every campsite catalog you can find and then pare them down. And be sure to join at least one of the camping clubs if you're going to be hopping about much. Research them to see who has the best selection in your travel area. A KOA membership is not bad, IMHO - but some people find their campgrounds too expensive. They're kinda like McDonalds - nothing special as a rule, but usually at least tolerable. And a Flying J RV card - gets you cash prices (or close) for CC purchases . . . worth from $3 to $6 per visit at today's rates.

You'll probably overstock the house to start with and then pare down as you get used to it. We just took another whole drawer and cabinet shelf's worth of stuff off, and it's our 3rd year with this particular rig.
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Norm & Janet
'08 Winnebago View 24H / '09 Escape XLT AWD toad
'05 Winnebago Vectra 36RD / '03 Dakota QC 4x4 toad, or a 24' trailer with another car;
Probably somewhere in NA - or maybe on another continent.

[retired and happy]

A white hose for potable water and another color hose for other purposes. Weather radio. Maybe some duct tape. Depending on your needs, maybe a length of coax cable for tv connection to campground setup. Cleaning materials for dishes and clothes.
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Ken
Judy and our Special Angels
1996 37' Itasca Suncruiser
6x12 cargo trailer
2003 EZGO golf Cart

[tantamount]

[porscheracer]

[The Fossil]

Thanks to all for the suggestions...we are looking forward to it.

Ready in KY

[babe1002]

At 42', you can take pretty much anything you want!

[dixsan]

Don't forget a small sewing kit, first aid kit, good windshield washing brush and cleaner, step ladder, small assorted nails/screws, rechargable hand vac, bucket, camp shovel and hatchet and assorted bungee cords.
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DixSan in Idaho
36 ' Dolphin
03 Baja

[DXSMac]

I bought a portable power station from Costco. It's ugly fluorescent green, but it works! If you are dry camping, you can power small appliances up to 300 watts (don't use it for hair dryers). The best thing about it is that is also has an air compressor. I use it to give quick pumps in my tires. If you pull a toad, you won't need this big thing; instead, you can get a smaller compressor that plugs into your cigarette lighter and you can pump air into your RV tires. I have one of those, too. I use it before I take off (because I leave my car at home: I'm too chicken to pull a car).

If you have pets, bring the pets! They are such a joy to have! My cat was traumatized on the first RV trip we took. I think poor kitty thought I was trying to get rid of him. He went from, "I rule and I run the show" to "Oh please please, I'll cuddle all you want....." (he normally does not like to cuddle). Now he knows the drill, he rides in the carrier, and he has his "special nap spots" in my RV. If you bring your pets, bring their "comforts of home," too. I carry a cat climbing pole and an "arch of bristles" that kitty loves.

JJ
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Please check out my blog on RV'ing without a tow car:

http://rvingtoadless.blogspot.com/

Feel free to leave me any comments.

[24n48fan]

Everything mentioned above is great advice. You may want to try out your new rig at a campground near by. You can learn how to use all the bells and whistles it has to offer. Also have a pad of paper and pen for things you want to add to your coach that you didn't think of. If you really get into a jam, you are still close to home. I have made lists that I can print up for each trip so I know I have everything with me. I bought a cheap toaster, mini food processor, cutting boards, collapsible strainer, pots and pans, bowls, measuring cups and spoons that I leave on the coach. The coach has its own set of sheets, towels and pillows. Broom and dust pan. I always keep a supply of paper and plastic products on board. Dish drainer. Corkscrew.
Outside...mat, chairs, portable fire pit, grill, small tables. I enjoy my hammock (it's collapsible).
Enjoy and good luck!
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Mary & Jim
38' 2005 Fleetwood Expedition

[vincee]

This is my first year RVing, but a couple of things I have learned is to have several fresh water hoses in shorter lengths. Seems New York State parks water spigots are a distance from where you will be lining up your rig. Found this out by accident going to Wal-Mart for a 25-foot hose and they had only 10 footers. Bought 3 and glad I have varying lengths now (with what I already had onboard) for each campground. Also, my DW and I find invaluable a large patio mat that fits under the awning. Nice to walk around barefoot on and gives your campsite a sense of style, if you will. Fold up tables that fit in a bag like typical bag chairs take up a lot less stowage space than folding type. Wal-Mart has a nice rectangular one for $29.99. Electric griddle or fry pan and crockpot. Learning to depend on them more than propane grill or galley stove because the propane you would use for either costs additional $$$ whereas you are being charged for electrical hookups at the campground anyways so you might as well get the most for your $$$. My final input ( I know I said I have a couple, but we are having a blast learning all of this ourselves this year) is tie-down stakes and straps of some kind (cam buckle works well) for your awning. I bought mine at Target in the pet section that you would use for a dog for half or less than official awning tie-down systems and they are longer too if you park in sandy soil and need to dig into the ground further for them to grip.

Good luck and enjoy all the adventures you are about to experience!