RV Accessories Worth Buying and Regretting

[RVMan22]

After our first few trips I had the hard realization that there is a huge difference between what RV youtube experts say you need and what actually benefits you on the road.

For example, one of our most disappointing purchases was an outdoor camping rug ($$$) that looked amazing online. Well, we got two uses out of it, soaked in rain and the thing made tracking dirt everywhere an inevitability. It just rides in the storage compartment taking up space now.

Curious what other members have discovered over the years.

What's one piece of equipment or accessory you regret buying?

What's one item that turned out to be where more useful than you would have anticipated?

What's a top "recommended" item that you feel is overrated?

Impulse purchases welcome...lol

 

[John From Detroit]

Useful: Oil filter change wrench.. You may not even know how to change an oil filter
But you know that big flexilble "Stinky Slinky" The connectors ... Same size wrench works way better than the "Camco" tool. which by the was was the "most regrated"

 

[8Muddypaws]

Printed camp guides and maps. Waste of money. We use Apple and Google mos, Allstays, RVParky, Park Advisor and yelp.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

The woven RV mats are key to reducing mess. Water flows through and reduces dirt tracked into the RV. An inexpensive leaf blower cleans it off. Light and easy to fold up and store. Slam dunk.

Not a full regret but I'm still looking for the problem that blackstones solve. A camp stove and a griddle is simpler and more versatile.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[CharlesinGA]

The large WalMart patio mats are great. Polypropylene, like ski rope is made of. Large, nice looking, easy to fold.

BLACKSTONE GRIDDLE was a disappointment.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

What is useful often depends on your camping style and personal tastes. Things that are useful or highly desirable for "glamping" are going to be much different than a more minimalist style. The useful accessories for wilderness camping are going to be different than those for a full service resort campground.

Some folks (like me) are more skeptical than others and thus less susceptible to clever advertising campaigns. Beware of ads that begin by trying to convince you of a problem so they can sell you a solution for it. Whether you actually have that problem or not. And whether it is an effective solution or not. And don't rush to buy something simply because you see it mentioned in a lot of internet posts. "Going viral" is rarely an indication of true worth.

 

[Firstime RVer]

The woven RV mats are key to reducing mess. Water flows through and reduces dirt tracked into the RV. An inexpensive leaf blower cleans it off. Light and easy to fold up and store. Slam dunk.

Not a full regret but I'm still looking for the problem that blackstones solve. A camp stove and a griddle is simpler and more versatile.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Couldn't agree more about the mat, but are very happy with our blackstone, no flare ups, and it does everything that we want in a single package, no griddle or fry pans, and very simple cleanups.
I would recommend a simple induction cook top as a handy adder.
Just my $.02 FWIW
Safe travels and all the best.

 

[SMR]

Not a full regret but I'm still looking for the problem that blackstones solve. A camp stove and a griddle is simpler and more versatile.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Same here with the Blackstone, DW wanted one and it rarely got used. It's on Craigslist now.

 

[Kirk]

For example, one of our most disappointing purchases was an outdoor camping rug (

We did buy one of the more expensive ones and our experience was like post numbers 4 & 5. We used ours a lot, but there are places where there is good lawn that using one for more than a day or two will damage the grass, so we didn't use it then.

What's one piece of equipment or accessory you regret buying?

A folding picnic table with benches. We bought it to go fulltime in the RV and after about 2 years we gave it away.

What's one item that turned out to be where more useful than you would have anticipated?

A combination sewer hose/fitting wrench,

What's a top "recommended" item that you feel is overrated?

Any RV cover that you put on and take off.

 

[RayIN]

What is important, or not, to you is whether you boondock or not. I like my 120V SharkKinja pellet grill smoker, obviously not for boondocking. DW doesn't even like to stay overnight in a rest area or PFJ RV parking spot.

 

[TheBar]

Not a full regret but I'm still looking for the problem that blackstones solve. A camp stove and a griddle is simpler and more versatile.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Not just Blackstone griddles, but consider choices of RV also.

Conspicuous spenders/braggers are compensating for their undersized physical equipment.

 

[rjshiflet]

We purchased a woven RV rug once upon a time and found that a large percentage of the places we go to camp don't want them used for fear of killing the grass. So, like others, it rode along for years and was never used until one day we finally unloaded it. It hasn't been missed.

Mixed feelings on the Blackstone - when we use it, it's great. But, we don't use it often enough to justify it.

Our rig has a built-in gas grill that is OK, except if the wind is blowing over 5 mph (which is almost always).

I did recently purchase something I absolutely will never be without - the Camco Locking Elbow. It securely locks into the sewer for no spills, and visibility to see when the water is clear.

Oh - and our fifth wheel tripod is invaluable.

 

[PancakeBill]

The woven RV mats are key to reducing mess. Water flows through and reduces dirt tracked into the RV. An inexpensive leaf blower cleans it off. Light and easy to fold up and store. Slam dunk.

Not a full regret but I'm still looking for the problem that blackstones solve. A camp stove and a griddle is simpler and more versatile.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

I resisted buying a Blackstone, our daughter even offered to buy us one. We had a big stove and a griddle. Then I used my gdaughters when we were visiting. I now own 2 one set up in backyard cooking area (alongside a smoker and a gas grill), and a smaller one to take campng. One thing that won me over is the fact the cooking surface doesn’t move around as my griddle would on the stoves. I have a single burner butane/propane burner for the coffee pot outside.

 

[gwinger]

Useful: Oil filter change wrench.. You may not even know how to change an oil filter
But you know that big flexilble "Stinky Slinky" The connectors ... Same size wrench works way better than the "Camco" tool. which by the was was the "most regrated"

+2 on the wrench. Harbor Freight has one that works well. I did put some heat shrink over the nubs though.
Stops it from slipping.

 

[Firstime RVer]

Having read the posts to this thread, it seems to me that it all depends on what your planned menu includes, and what your personal taste dictates in terms of a menu.
We tried a small propane fired grill and it did work for what we wanted to prepare. Wind and flare ups caused most of the problems. Not only that but the griddle we put on the grill was ok, at best and just ended up being another thing that we had to pack.
When we got our single burner Blackstone, we found that it handled most of the foods we preferred, and was easy to clean up. It conserved water not having to clean a griddle or pans. We also carry a single "burner" portable induction cook top that really augments the variety of items we like and couldn't be happier, as it does everything that suits our preferences. Having said all that, we do use our gas stove when it suits our purpose.
My advice is that you should Choose What Works for you.
Safe travels and all the best.

 

[Goat-REDW]

Full width handle on the inside of the screen door.

 

[gwinger]

I have never even considered a Blackstone. It's like using a giant frying pan.
We used to carry a small charcoal grill. I like the flavor the smoke introduces to the food.
Now we have a small propane grill. Not quite the same as charcoal but still has the flame cooked flavor.

 

[RV_Lee122]

Best? $25 Walmart charcoal grille

I used it so much I am now on the hunt for an actual good quality one. Pull it out of the trunk, use it, later on dump the ash and put away. Simple and no mess, easy to store.

Get a charcoal chimney, fill up, 2-3 pieces of crumpled up newspaper in the bottom and light, super easy and no petroleum product needed (or near your food!)

The other I use often would be the solar lights you can stick into the ground around your site. Set and forget!

 

[DutchmenSport]

It took years to figure this out because we thought it was so "cool"... and that was all the outside night time lighting and yard ornaments.

Like I said, it took us years to figure out how much time it took to put all that stuff up and take it down, clean it, and repair it all.

The older we got, the more of a hassle it was putting up all that junk.... for wat? To show off for the neighboring campers how utterly "cool" and "hip" we were that we had all this "stuff" to display and show off! Oh my!

Eventually, we changed regarding our "show off" outside cooking accessories. Cleaning black soot off of stuff over the campfire, and cleaning grease off a splattered up BBQ grill was more of a pain than it was worth. Putting dirty and greasy cooking implements in storage in the camper was not going to happen. Through cleaning eventually resulted in getting rid of all that stuff too.

Today ... no outside lighting. The awning light is good enough.... when we turn it on. Cooking is simplified on an electric flat griddle and an electric skillet. Gone are the days of cooking over a fire, unless it's hot dogs on a stick!

Again, these changes did not happen overnight. It took years for sensibility to become reality, and foolishness turned to better wisdom.

Today, we camp simple. The more simple, the less junk, the less clutter, .... the better.

 

[gwinger]

It took years to figure this out because we thought it was so "cool"... and that was all the outside night time lighting and yard ornaments.

Like I said, it took us years to figure out how much time it took to put all that stuff up and take it down, clean it, and repair it all.

The older we got, the more of a hassle it was putting up all that junk.... for wat? To show off for the neighboring campers how utterly "cool" and "hip" we were that we had all this "stuff" to display and show off! Oh my!

Eventually, we changed regarding our "show off" outside cooking accessories. Cleaning black soot off of stuff over the campfire, and cleaning grease off a splattered up BBQ grill was more of a pain than it was worth. Putting dirty and greasy cooking implements in storage in the camper was not going to happen. Through cleaning eventually resulted in getting rid of all that stuff too.

Today ... no outside lighting. The awning light is good enough.... when we turn it on. Cooking is simplified on an electric flat griddle and an electric skillet. Gone are the days of cooking over a fire, unless it's hot dogs on a stick!

Again, these changes did not happen overnight. It took years for sensibility to become reality, and foolishness turned to better wisdom.

Today, we camp simple. The more simple, the less junk, the less clutter, .... the better.

Yes, less is more. Our outside lighting consists of the awning light and a motion activated step light for those late walks.
No need to look like a carnival.
Outside cooking utensils are hot dog forks and pie irons.