TMTM

cookelma/istockphoto

Cheapism is editorially independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site.
cookelma/istockphoto

RV Regrets

When a recreational vehicle on its own isn't exactly a necessity, accessories fall fairly low on a list of needs. Items that can help with RV maintenance are likely worth keeping, but go much beyond that, and you will learn the hard way what’s useful or worthless. Here's a quick list of items that shouldn't come anywhere near your rolling dream home.


Related: Bucket List RV Trips to Take Next Year

photosbyjim/istockphoto

Solar Power in General

Solar equipment for an RV not only costs hundreds to thousands of dollars, but likely isn't going to work how you hope. "A solar system isn't going to allow you to camp off-grid in the same way you do at an RV park with full hookups," RV Miles says. Appliances and air conditioning are a huge power drain and won't work as intended. For staying the occasional night in a Walmart parking lot, carry an extra RV battery instead. 


For more great RV articles and travel tips,
please sign up for our free newsletters.

Camping World
Amazon

RV Awning Mat

It is what it claims to be: A $45 mat you put beneath an awning and RV stairs to keep from tracking dirt inside. It's basically like staking down a very flat tent that covers only a portion of the space you'll be tromping around on — and yet another thing to worry about when breaking camp. A good doormat works just as well and requires far less space and maintenance.

Amazon
Amazon

Countertop Ice Maker

Not only is this yet another thing you're going to have to winterize, but it's going to take up a lot of precious counter space. Unless you're the designated margarita station at your favorite RV park, save yourself the $120 and either invest in bags of ice or stick with trays. 

Sun Brite

Outdoor TVs

There are entire companies built around selling televisions designed for outdoor use. They'll also charge thousands for the privilege, which can come as a bit of a shock to people who can rig up outdoor TVs for hundreds or less. You don't really need an outdoor TV for an RV at all, so don't buy if you aren't confident you'll use it regularly. 

Amazon
Amazon

Screened Tent

The entire point of RV life is not having to pitch tents. While it might be tempting to spend $90 or more on a screened tent to keep bugs at bay, simply affixing a screen room to RV awning is a much tidier solution — though most are substantially pricier

Scharfsinn86/istockphoto

Walkie Talkies

Like headsets, walkie talkies seem like a fine idea for life on the road and a decent way to keep in contact at the campground. But unless you're traveling regularly to spots without phone reception, this is going to be a luxury made redundant by the device you carry around in your pocket each day.

Lippert

Smart Controls

Want to level your RV, retract your awning, monitor your waste tanks, move your slide-outs, and turn on the air conditioning, all from your phone? A whole lot of new RVs come with the Lippert Components OneControl installed, but it's still very much a luxury item. If you're hooking up an RV with this system, you aren't roughing it

Amazon

Throw Pillows

Outdoor throw pillows can add a nice hint of color and flair, but also take up precious room. In many cases, you're already sleeping in a bed that doubles as a dinette or couch. Adding throw pillows at $40 a pair is only going to clutter your minimalist RV existence. 

Home Depot

Retractable Clotheslines

They aren't the most costly item out there, starting at $15 at Home Depot, nor do they take up a whole lot of space. But if you're staking down an awning, you already have line available for hanging damp towels or clothes. You don't need to cut off shower or kitchenette space just to air out laundry. 

Amazon

Expensive Mattresses

Glamper Life says they're worth the splurge, but they are just that: a splurge. Even a cheap mattress can run you $200 or more, and it's worthwhile only if you have a bed that remains a bed for longer periods. If your RV's bed space doubles as other furniture and you aren't using it as a residence, it's best to use what you've got. 

Amazon

Miniature Tools

Small tools can be a sore subject. "A 3-inch long wrench won't give you the torque you need to tighten something,” RV Miles says. "A miniature hatchet can hardly cut a carrot, much less split a log." Space may be at a premium in an RV, but tools aren't somewhere you want to skimp. Instead of going small, consider multipurpose tools and adjustable wrenches. 

sshepard/istockphoto

Oven

A decreasing amount of RVs actually have ovens, which don't tend to work very well but do make a small living space incredibly hot. Some RVs come equipped with microwave ovens, and users often bring along a multipurpose item such as an Instant Pot ($85 and up on Amazon) to handle pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, and steaming. You can't bake cookies in it, but were you going to do that in the RV anyway? 

Amazon

Wi-Fi Boosters

You may need to spend most of your time connected, work from your RV, or stream a lot of television to feel justified spending $750 on an extender for RV park Wi-Fi. Most should get by on a portable Wi-Fi router for $100 and up available on Amazon. 

Amazon

RV Cover

This might seem like a good idea, especially during the winter, but RV covers can trap moisture and cause a lot of damage to a vehicle's exterior. Canopies and shelters start at $700 on eCanopy

Camp Addict

Camping Memberships

On paper, discount RV clubs such as Passport America, Good Sam, Happy Camper, and Thousand Trails seem like fine ideas. But if you're new to RV life and don't know where you like to go or what you like to do, you're locking yourself into a yearlong membership good only at certain campsites a few months out of the year. While the National Parks Service Senior Pass isn't the deal it once was, $80 for a lifelong membership for those age 62 or older is still a bargain.

Amazon

Automatic Leveling Kit

If you want a remotely controlled automatic leveling kit, expect to pay $3,000 or more. A set of leveling blocks for an RV costs as little as $35. Leveling takes some work, but probably not enough to justify an extra $2,965.

REI

Camp Gadgets

Most of the little camping knickknacks you'll see in stores are meant for tent camping. Items such as egg holders and stove kits are for people eating out of coolers and cooking over campfires. You are not those people. Get some actual kitchen utensils. 

Amazon

Wood Burning Camp Stove and USB Charger

You're only so "off the grid." Spending $150 on a camp stove that turns the energy you create burning sticks into power for a smartphone is not only unnecessary, but an insult to backpackers who actually use such stoves to trek into areas RVs wouldn't dare. 

Amazon

Motorized Awning

It's a nifty feature, but is it worth almost double the price of a manual awning? It depends largely on how capable or lazy you are, but for a majority of RV users, a power awning will seem like a luxury.

Amazon

Electric Griddle

The idea of morning pancakes at the campsite has a certain romance, but most RVs will have a range … making a griddle somewhat superfluous if you're already carrying around pots and pans. Yes, it may be just $44 and seem nice and slim, but even the folks at Glamper Life consider it a luxury

Amazon

Grill Tables

The upside: more prep space at your grill. The downside: lugging around a 19-pound, $99 table. Either get a grill with more prep space or sidle up to the camp table and tell everyone to make themselves scarce until dinner is done. 

Amazon

Cheap Hoses

Inexpensive hoses end up being really costly in the long run — especially those used to dump waste. "Cheap hoses are the worst RV accessories and often crack easily when you accidentally step on them, so buy a hose that can be identified as more durable," RV Favorites says. A 20-foot hose that fits in your RV's rear bumper and has a transparent view piece for checking flow should work just fine at $42 on Amazon.

Walmart

RV Towels

They're cute, they're on theme, and they're $18. So why are your RV towels worthless? Well, dish towels in general don't tend to be the most absorbent, rendering them little other than décor in RVs. Microfiber towels are $15 for 24 at Walmart and may not have cute little trailers or sayings on them, but will clean a lot with little effort. 

Walmart

RV Toilet Paper

You need toilet paper that dissolves easily and doesn't take up space in a sewage tank. But most conventional toilet paper will fare just fine in an RV, Russ and Tina DeMaris tell Camping World. If you have doubts, take a jar, fill it with water, put a few sheets of paper in and shake. If it starts to dissolve after shaking, you're good. That's no small deal, as Walmart sells 4 rolls of Scott quick-dissolving paper for $3.50, but 8 1,000-sheet rolls of regular Scott for more than a dime cheaper per 100 sheets. 


Related:Is Buying an RV Through Costco Worth It?