A while back, Alex did a great job outlining the 13 RV supplies you must have when you go full time RVing.

Although that was an extremely inclusive list, there are certain RV accessories that a Mom RVing full time absolutely needs to make sure that the inside of the home runs as smoothly as the outside.

The iPad (here being used by Eli) is just one of the RV accessories a full time RV Mom cannot live without...

And all the kids get home schooled properly as well.

Although these may not be “traditional” RV supplies or accessories, like sewer pipes and stabilizers…they are absolute “must haves” when going RVing for any period of time or if you take the plunge and go full time RVing like we have for the past year:

1.  The Kindle

The first RV accessory you must have is the one that both saves you an enormous amount of space while actually helping your kids learn. A two for one as it were is Amazon’s Kindle.

On our first fulltime Rving venture. I packed four (4) HUGE plastic storage boxes of books…homeschooling books, reference books, favorite books, rving books…..these boxes took up 75% of the RV’s storage space!

Best of all, you can even borrow books on the Kindle at no charge!! Check out that feature here.

You see, I was totally against the concept of my children reading electronically.  I wanted them to read real books.  Well I was wrong!!
We were just lugging around too much stuff and when we got the kindle we realized four extremely helpful features for those full time Rving families:

• Enlarging Fonts: The Kindle (and with other electronic readers) you can increase the font size which was very important to assist one of my children in reading more fluently.

• Multiple Readers: If you purchase one book (at least from the Amazon Kindle store) every member of your family can read the same book on all your Kindles and iPads at the same time!

• Electronic Dictionary: Yes we make the kids look up all the words they dont know and this feature really makes it fun to do that and it doesn’t interrupt the flow of a good book.

• Text to Speech: (soooo cool!) This is truly helpful for reading in the back while the parents are driving,  pronunciation and also for tired eyes!

Note to all future full time Rvers…save your back, open up your storage space, help your kids out and save some money….buy a Kindle and although there are multiple kinds and versions…..the Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6″ E Ink Display only costs $79 at its least expensive of all of them.

If you must have the color while reading then buy a Kindle Fire or even an iPad ( see below).

Don’t forget to get the Kindle Light and the Kindle Power Adapter too. We really like the Kindle Cover with Book Light best of all.

2.  The iPad

Nothing  beats the Apple iPad.

Although we love the Kindle, the iPad is an essential tool when RVing. We have found it to be so useful for so many different tasks, including:

• Emailing work and friends – quick emails are easy on the iPad
  

• Facebook – check in on Facebook in a second or two…but not too much time there!
  

• Doing Quick Internet research – Google searches are a breeze
  

• Blogging – blogging and writing posts are simple to do on an iPad
  

• Thousands of Cool Apps – and hundreds you can use to assist in homeschooling

• Reading Books – backlighting makes it easy to read at night and so portable! ‘Nuff said!
  

• Working – when on the road when one of us is driving or with the kids, the other can be working away on the iPad

• And tons more cool stuff….

I love to read on my iPad in bed late night or early morning when everyone is asleep. One of the coolest things about reading on the iPad is I dont need to turn on a light and wake everyone up. That’s because the screen is backlit — but NOT harsh on your eyes at all. I also love to read on the iPad in those rare times when the RV is completely silent!

Also we have never let our boys have ANY electronic video games, no Nintendo, no Wii, no Xbox etc…

So the only video games they are allowed to play are apps on our iPads, kind of old school, but it works for us. This rv accessory especially comes in handy when we need a reward for an above and beyond task accomplished or on those super loooong days on the road driving through endless plains or cornfields.

And you don’t have to get the spiffy new iPad 3, the original Apple iPad (first generation) you can still get on Amazon for nearly half the price and they’re just as good.

We have both an iPad 1 one and an iPad 2 and although the Apple iPad 2 has a few more features, the original iPad suits our needs just fine.

However, if you are hell bent on getting the best and newest, then go for it on the Apple iPad 3. The screen resolution is really unbelievable and all the extra features are very cool.

When you get one, don’t forget to get a good iPad cover, especially if you get the older iPads, because they don’t come with a case.

3. Audible.com

Audible.comhas been a lifesaver!

I recommend you get your first 3 Months at Audible for $7.49/month and purchasing some downloadable audiotapes for the long rides ahead…we  love the Joy Hakim Series called A History of The US.  Joy Hakim  makes history come alive.

Other favorites are:

• David McCullough’s books are some of our favorites…and more classic books than you could ever possibly listen to in fifteen cross country trips!

• How to Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie – why isn’t this taught in school? As this classic book states, 85% of your succcess in life depends on how you interact with other people. In our case, we still have a few things to learn here. One of the best books on a subject that ever roadschooler (or traditional schooler) should read!

4.  The Trusty GPS

We’d be LOST without our trusty GPS while RVing full time…need I say more?

We highly recommend the Garmin nüvi 2455LMT as it is easy to program, has traffic monitoring in it and has multiple voices to keep the kids entertained.

We have our guide is an Australian and we call him “Brett”…for absolutely no apparent reason.

The kids and we always crack up when we miss a turn and Brett gets obviously upset and blurts in his mechanical Australian accent “recalculating”…endless hours of fun.

Most importantly, Brett gets us to where we want to go. And when you’re hauling a 6 ton behemoth fifth wheel, you don’t want to take the wrong exit or get lost…that could spell disaster.

The Garmin nüvi 2455LMT GPS has been a lifesaver for us.

5. Netflix

Netflix is a mom’s best friend for those nights when you just want to watch a chick flick and all the guys are watching sports or war movies!
You can get it on the iPad, which makes it a “movie for one”…a great escape for the full time RV mom.

Plus, the Netflix subscription is really cheap and you can get it for less than $10 per month when you click here.

Totally worth it!

Just think of all the space you save by not lugging all your DVDs on the road with you. That unto itself is worth the $10 a month!

6.   Mattress Foam Pads

Although, the foam mattress cover is not an electronic device like some the other RV accessories listed above, this is an absolute MUST for saving your back in the not so comfy RV mattresses.

You can certainly opt for upgrading this RV accessory and replace the mattress with one like the Sleep Number Bed for an RV, but the cheapest and easiest solution is to just get a mattress cover. Although we are mattress snobs, to a certain extent, this really works just fine and best f all is one tenth of the cost of a new mattress.

Of all the RV accessories we recommend this one is especially important for MOMs!  Since we have a full sized mattress, I like the Perfect Harmony Mattress Topper – Full, but if you have a Queen bed, go for the Perfect Harmony Mattress Topper – Queen.

And a must have considering your mattress sits on a plywood board in most RVs!

Where To Buy RV Accessories That Mom’s Need Most

When you’re shopping for RV accessories, Camping World has a great selection of these as well as has tons of other small RV accessories (links provided here). They are a trustworthy and reputable vendor to find many of your RV accessories.

We have long recommended Amazon.com (links provided here as well) as their customers service is amazing, returns are easy and the vendors they deal with pass a rigorous testing to be qualified to sell on Amazon. With either store, you can’t go wrong.

Both Camping World and Amazon.com ship out your RV accessories quickly and the customer service is top notch. We have even ordered supplies in advance, gave a forwarding shipping address of our next RV stop and then picked up the RV accessories when we got there.

How cool is that!

So that is the top 6 RV accessories a Mom must have (and for the Dads out there, seriously consider these as well to keep the wife happy ), although for you Dads, please refer to Alex’s post on RV supplies for more of the outdoor “manly” RV supplies that you must have.

Please SHARE this post with your friends on Facebook as there are so many people who are looking to both RV full time as well as just go RVing who would really benefit from these RV accessories that every RVer must have….especially Mom!

Me using some of my favorite RV supplies

Ever since I started RVing, people have asked me for tips on which  RV supplies I like the best.

I am not an RVing expert, but after RVing full time for nearly three months and being responsible for:

RV maintenance

RV security

RV sewer duty

RV trash duty

RV setup and RV breakdown duty

….and just about any other RVing duty my mom and dad can think of…

I feel I am somewhat qualified to give at least a few good RV supply tips!

When you are RVing full time there are certain RV supplies that you have to get the for the RV to work properly. If the RV doesn’t work properly, your neighbors might think you’re stinky, smelly or loud…but that doesn’t have much to do with this blog post!

After all I am 10 and I get a little bit silly sometimes!

So I have listed 13 absolutely essential RV accessories (my Dad helped me with that word )that you must have when RVing full time like us.

Here they are:

1. Chocks

Good RV chalks are very important so the RV doesn’t start rolling down a hill. If that happens, then your very expensive RV is wrecked and you don’t have a place to sleep.

Wheel Chocks are also used to stabilize the RV so it doesn’t sway when you walk in it. They are important needless to say!

2. Level

To get the RV level, one of the most important things in your tool box is a good level.

Also, if you need to move the RV in a certain spot you use a leveler. If you don’t have one all sorts of bad thing happen. For example your refrigerator many not work right and may get broken.

The one that we use is the Stanley FatMax Magnetic Level because you can put it on the back bumper and its magnetic so it sticks there!

3. Sewer Hose 

The sewer hose you get with your new RV really stinks! I guarantee you it will crack and leak as soon as you start using it. And you will step on it and break it just like I did (but I didn’t mean to).

To drain the sewer you don’t want to have a full black water tank spill out on you! To prevent this from happening, you want the hose to reach so you can you don’t bother your neighbors.

I recommend RhinoFLEX 5′ Extension Hose with Swivel Fittings, because it is so tough it won’t break. It is really tough. I have stepped on it many times and it has never broken. My dad has stepped on it too and he is heavier than me and it STILL hasn’t broken.

4. Disposable Gloves 

When you are dumping out the black water it is really gross! So you need really good RV Sanitation Gloves that won’t break but you can throw away after. These gloves are really tight on your hands so they keep out poop and all kinds of gross stuff.

This is what they look like:

The are the best kinds of disposable gloves I have found.

5. Extra Water Hose

You need to get an extra water hose because it really stinks when the town water hookup is too far from your RV. If it doesn’t reach, then you might have to re-park the RV. This is where you could use a garden hose.

To prevent this, always have an extra water hose on board!

6. 30 or 50 Amp Extension Cord

When you arrive at the RV park, set up and then try to plug in your electric cord but the electric box is too far away, this is a pain too. What can you do?

You could re-park the RV. Or you could have and extra extension cord just in case.

If you cannot get the electric into your RV, you would have to use your battery, but this gets drained quickly. So have an extension cord, they come in either 30 or 50 amps.

The one we use because its really tough is the Heavy Duty 30-amp 10 Electrical Cord with Handle.

7. In- line Water Filter

So you don’t spend a fortune on bottled water, you should always have an in-line water filter to get the water clean.

Its easy to hook up, just add it to the end of your water hose at the town water hookup.

We use the TastePURE CX90 Ceramic Water Filter because the filter lasts a long time and the water tastes great!

8. Inside Fan

If you need to dry something inside the RV, its good to have a fan. Also, think of a hot day and you do not have air conditioning, you need a really good fan.

I would recommend the Lasko 42-Inch Wind Curve Fan with Remote because it kept me cool all summer and it helps to dry my clothes sometimes.

9. Good Tool Box

You must have a good toolbox to fix stuff with. Stuff always breaks in an RV. Many people have a tool box back at home, but its good to get a tool box just for your RV.

You need the following tools:

• Wrench

• Hammer

• A really good 18-Volt Li-ion Drill

• A good knife

• Pliers Set

• Hatchet (for chopping up firewood)

• All-in-One Screwdriver

There are probably more tools you need, but those are the most important.

10. Lighter

When you’re RVing full time, you make lots of fires both to cook dinner and to keep away the bugs, so you need a good lighter to light all this with. Sometimes I use my flint, but when its wet it doesn’t work too well. You can also cook s’mores on an open fire too!

Plus you may need a lighter to light the stove in the RV too. I really like the Comfort Grip Lighter, it rocks!

11. Stool

In most RVs, the cabinets in them that are really high. I am almost five feet tall, but I still have a hard time getting stuff down from the higher shelves.

Get a Collapsable Stool to get stuff in cabinets. Also make it folds up so it can be portable and can fit in a closet.

12. RV Spare Tire

If you get a flat in your RV tire, make sure you have an extra wheel just in case! We nearly popped a wheel and were glad we had a spare tire just in case.

13. Jack

If you pop an RV tire, you need a heavy jack so you can lift the RV if you have a flat tire. I would recommend at least a 30 Ton Jack if you have a fifth wheel RV.

It would really stink to be on the side of the road with a flat but no way to fix the flat!

Just check the jack specs to make sure it is powerful enough to lift your RV.

We have the Torin T93007 30 Ton Hydraulic Bottle Jack. We haven’t had to use it yet, but it lifts 30 tons so we’re in good shape!

So that is my list of RV supplies you definitely need. Please feel free to click on any of the links or images on this page to get any of them for yourself.

And when you do click on any of the links or pictures on this page and you buy anything, I make a small amount of money!

Any money I make goes to my college fund…so I can’t spend it on Nerf guns though

Oh well!

Also, please hit the “Share” button on the side of this post and share this with your friends on Facebook. It can help them get good RV supplies too!

If you’re RVing full time around New York City, then chances are you wouldn’t have a lot of connectivity issues.

But when you’re rving in places like Hungry Horse, Montana, these are spots not exactly known for their spectacular 4G cell service….

So because of that we have multiple backups to make sure we stay connected and are able to work even in the most remote locations.

RVing Full Time and Staying Connected

Unless you’re independently wealthy (we unfortunately are not), you have to figure out a way to pay the bills while you’re out on the road RVing full time. A few years ago, after getting The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris from Jen for our 9th wedding anniversary, I was inspired to start an online business with the ultimate goal of leading the “location independent lifestyle”…which is perfect for RVing full time.

Since we both work from home with our respective businesses, full time RVing was a perfect way for us to see the country, educate our kids, fulfill our travel dreams while continuing to work at the same time.

But when you work from the road, chances are pretty good that you have to stay connected to the Internet. As they say in the online world: no connection, no business.

Although it is an awesome device, the iPhone 4 will only will take your so far. There are going to be plenty of times when you’ll need to connect from your laptop or your iPad to get business done, not to mention stay in touch with friends and family to send cute pictures of the kids mugging in a big ear of corn….

So here are a few ways we recommend staying connected while RVing full time:

1. Get Wi-Fi at the RV campsite

If you are living the connected life, a major thing to consider when you are booking your RV campsite is ask the RV campsite about amenities like Wi-Fi. Since we both work on the road RVing full time, we made sure every site we booked had WI-FI, either paid or free. Whatever the cost is at the RV camp site, its totally worth it, so I would recommend getting it.

When you are booking your RV campsite though, make sure to ask them how strong the Wi-Fi signal is at your site. We learned this the hard way on our first RV campsite. So make sure you ask to get a RV campsite that has a strong Wi-Fi signal.

2. Get More Than One Aircard

The two biggest wireless carriers, AT&T and Verizon both have holes in thier coverage no matter where you do in the United States.

Although Verizon is ten times superior as far as coverage goes, we did find some spots where the AT&T signal was actually stronger than the Verizon signal (go figure). So as a result, we highly recommend getting at least two laptop wireless “sticks” as they are called.

We recommend both the AT&T GSM USB aircard or the Verizon USB AirCard.

Like I said, the Verizon wireless card will be more reliable, but you should have both just in case. Its that important email or proposal that you need to send out at the very last minute and then you realize you have no signal is the exact wrong time to realize you only have one wireless card. So get both the AT&T GSM USB aircard and the Verizon USB AirCard just in case!

3. “My-Fi” Is Your RVing Full Time Best Friend

When we first started RVing full time we used the Verizon AirCard a lot. But soon after we started, I found myself  using a different device to get online which I found even more reliable called “My-Fi”.

“My-Fi” is different than WI-FI in that its a way in which you can pull in an outside cell signal into your RV using a small  transmitter. Its about the size of a deck of cards and it looks like this:

The one we use (pictured above) is a Samsung 4G Mobile Hotspot through Verizon and it works super well. The signal is clear and reliable and we have been really happy with it.

Although it relies on the outside Verizon wireless signal to get its signal, it seems stronger than the Verizon wireless card most of the time.

4. Consider the Satellite Dishes (If You Can Afford Them)

One last way to get an Internet signal is go through either DirectTV or the Dish Network. These Internet signals are always bundled with the TV packages and are really expenseive. I have heard they are reliable, but I wouldn’t recommend them as we have not tried them.

We did look into the pricing for both systems; but between the equipment you have to purchase, the time to set it up at every RV campsite and the size of the transmitters, it just wasn’t worth it. That’s why we stuck to the wireless cards and the My-Fi.

However, feel free to check them out here though.

The RVing Full Time Connection

So when you are RVing full time and you absolutely need to stay connected, make sure you have multiple ways to do it. We receommend multiple backups for wireless signals, one from the RV park, the My-Fi and the two wireless carriers. It may seem like overkill, but when you get out on the road full time rving, you’ll quickly realize that it isnt overkill at all, in fact its just essential RV accessories for your survival.

Fell free to Share this post with your friends on Facebook by clicking the “Share” icon to the left. And as always, please comment below, we’d be happy to help you full time rv in any way we can!