RV 101® / RV Education 101®

When you go camping in your RV there are items that are essential like a drinking water hose and RV sewer hoses, and there are nice to have items like a GPS designed for RVs and a portable BBQ grill. Today I want to talk about consumable items that you should always have on-hand in your RV.

In no particular order here are the top 10 consumable items we keep in the RV.

1) For starters you need holding tank treatments to treat the black water holding tank after you empty it. There are dry and liquid type holding tank treatments available. I suggest products that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Camping Tip: After emptying the gray water holding tank you can add some liquid dish soap down all the drains and run the water long enough to get the soap past the P trap, and to cover the bottom of the tank. The dish soap and water will help control odors and assist in cleaning the tank.

2) While we are on the subject of holding tanks it’s a good idea to stock up on toilet paper designed for use in RVs. This is one consumable item you don’t want to leave home without. Camping Tip: To see if toilet paper is compatible with your RV waste-water system put one sheet of the toilet paper in a glass of water. If it starts to break-down and fall apart within a few seconds of being in the water it is suitable for use in RVs.

3) Laundry soap & dish soap are must have consumable items too. Clothes are going to get dirty and need to be washed, especially if your camping trip is more than a weekend excursion. You can purchase these items at the campground store, but it is less expensive to purchase them where you normally shop and just keep it in the RV.

4) Next on my list is a well stocked cabinet of first aid supplies and over the counter medications. You never know when an accident will happen, or when somebody will get sick. If you are boondocking miles from the closest town or store you’ll be glad you have these consumable items along for the ride. If you or someone else is on prescription medication make sure you have an ample supply for the duration of your trip, and don’t forget the sunscreen too. Pet Tip: Don’t forget pet medications and pet specific first aid kit if traveling with a pet.

5) Number 5 on the list is hand sanitizer, and 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution in a spray bottle. I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the compartment where the sewer connection is made so it’s handy when I do my wastewater management chores. I keep a spray bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide in the same compartment so I can disinfect the hose bib prior to connecting my RV drinking hose to the water connection at the campground. Inside the RV we keep hand sanitizer at each sink, and Hydrogen Peroxide for general cleaning and disinfecting in and around the RV.

6) Another consumable item I always have in the outside storage compartment is a supply of disposable gloves. They are inexpensive and can be used for all kinds of chores and routine maintenance on the RV.

7) In my tool storage compartment I keep a can of spray lubricant available. It should be a dry type lubricant, like graphite, that won’t attract dust, dirt and other debris. I personally use Boeshield T9 spray lubricant for everything on the RV. It cleans, lubricates and protects whatever you use it on. Camping Tip: At least twice a year spray inside all of the lock mechanisms on the RV. This will keep the locks operating properly and help prevent them from freezing during the cold winter months.

8) Next on my list is disposable tableware. This includes paper plates, napkins, cutlery, cups and tablecloths. You can use regular tableware on most occasions, but sometimes it just easier to use disposable products.

9) I don’t know about you but I am a big fan of Zip Ties. I use Zip Ties for all kinds of things when we are on RV trips. They are fairly inexpensive and after they have served their purpose you can discard them.

10) Last but certainly not least is good old Duct tape. If Zip Ties won’t solve the problem duct tape usually will. I always keep a roll of Duct tape in my tool storage compartment where it’s easy to locate when I need it.

Well there you have it, my top 10 list of consumable items to always have in the RV. There are many other consumable products that could or should be on this list, like doggy clean up bags if you travel with pets. Responsible pet owners always clean-up after their pets. You can use this list as a starting point and add to it to devise your own special RV checklist of consumable items to keep in your RV. And remember when you dispose of consumable items recycle whenever possible.

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Happy Camping,

Mark Polk

RV Education 101 http://rveducation101.com/
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