By Gail Marsh
I recently wandered a little deeper into a Dollar Tree store than I normally do. I was surprised and delighted at the bargains that would be useful to RVers. The aisles are full of little finds that make life easier on the road. Don’t believe me? Read on.
Not your mother’s dollar store!
I remember when dollar stores first popped onto the scene. My recollection is that these “everything’s a dollar” stores carried off-brands and discontinued items, along with discount paper supplies.
Times have changed at Dollar Tree. First, “everything’s a dollar” is now “everything’s $1.25 or $1.50.” Unless it’s marked even higher, like in the Dollar Tree Plus aisles. Many items now are usually $5 or less, but you will occasionally find some items for $7—the top price I’ve found at my local Dollar Tree store.
With the shift in price strategy came a change in product offerings. The chain expanded into larger frozen-food sections, more national-brand items, and bigger assortments in automotive, home storage, travel-size toiletries, and more.
The same can pretty much be said for Dollar General stores, which are often located in towns too small for a Wal-Mart or other big box retailer.
What you’ll find
If you enter your local Dollar Tree store today, you can find many useful items that support the RV lifestyle. Here are a few examples.
Hint: Remember that not all Dollar Tree stores stock the exact same items or price all items the same. You should still compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
The automotive aisle
Small, useful automotive items often sit near the cleaning supplies and accessories. I found trusted brands like Armor All® wipes and name-brand vent-clip air fresheners that help keep the cab and cockpit smelling fresh between long hauls. These items are compact, inexpensive, and ideal for storing in a glove compartment.
I also spotted STP® oil treatments, antifreeze, and other name-brand automotive items, along with cleaning sponges and soft-bristle brushes for cleaning.
Frozen and refrigerated sections
More and more Dollar Tree locations now carry refrigerated and frozen sections that hold everything from single-serve pizzas to vegetable mixes and microwavable meals. You can score name-brand frozen items, like Celeste personal pizzas, Banquet meals, Hot Pockets, Michelina’s, and other familiar brands. The best part is that you’ll pay a fraction of the typical grocery price, making them great for nights when you want a fast, no-fuss meal in the RV. Keep in mind, availability varies by store and by week.
Snack, pantry, and canned goods
Besides frozen meals, the center aisles often have name-brand snacks, canned goods, and pantry basics. You may find deals on canned beans, tuna, crackers, spices, and even certain brand-name condiments.
Shopping at Dollar Tree is a handy way to refill your RV pantry without needing a full grocery run.
Note: Calculate the price per ounce if you’re comparing value.
Travel-size personal care items
If your RV cabinets are already a Tetris puzzle, the travel- and trial-size personal-care aisle is a real blessing. Dollar Tree regularly stocks travel tubes and minis from major brands, like travel-size Colgate and Crest toothpaste, travel-size deodorants, small shampoo bottles, and more. These are perfect for weekend trips, and the smaller containers take up a lot less space than full-size products.
Note: If you prefer full-size products, you can also find your favorite name-brand items at Dollar Tree.
Detergent and RV humidity control
My favorite find at Dollar Tree has to be the laundry detergent. I can purchase Tide in a small or regular size container, both at a very good price.
Another good find is the store’s Damp Rid knock-off humidity control product. They work just like the name brand and help keep our indoor RV humidity at a comfortable level.
Note: I always put three or four inside our rig when it goes into storage. There’s never a musty or damp odor when we take the RV out again.
Storage and organization
Storage space is the currency of the RV lifestyle. Dollar Tree carries a surprising range of storage solutions, like clip-lock food containers, clear plastic bins, collapsible closet cubes, and stackable baskets. These all work well for pantry organization, under-bed storage, and quick separation of tools and parts.
Hint: Some seasonal or viral storage finds sell out fast, so if you see a size or shape that solves a problem in your rig, grab it.
Why a little digging pays off
A quick stop for a snack can turn into a 20-minute savings session. Savings are sometimes worth the search, especially when you factor in how much space and convenience a few right-sized items save you in your RV. If you treat each trip as a tiny treasure hunt, Dollar Tree can be a surprisingly rich source of RV-ready bargains.
Do you shop at Dollar Tree when RVing? Tell us about your favorite find using the comments below.
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RVDT2785
We used to shop at Dollar Tree, especially for travel size items. Unfortunately, our local stores are now so cluttered it’s difficult to find an open aisle. Surprising the fire department hasn’t closed them.
I shop at Dollar Tree for my favorite salad dressing. Same as and less expensive as the big stores.
Dollar Tree is my second favorite store, Aldi is number 1.
One of the first stops on the way out of town.