50 Essential RV Hacks for a Better Camping Experience

RV Owners

We love RVing. What we don’t love are those little annoyances that turn what should be a good time into a hassle. Whether you’re relocating or settling in for a summer at your favorite RV park, there are things you can do to make your life easier, cleaner, and overall happier. Many of these camper tips were learned the hard way, through trial and error. What if, instead of learning from your mistakes, you could pick up these simple RV hacks? Whether you need motorhome, camper, or travel trailer hacks, we’ve got a bunch to share with you.

We’ve created this list of 50 RV tips and tricks to help you out. Print them or commit them to memory, then share them with other RVers to make their life easier as well!

RV Hacks

1. Drink Koozies for Glasses: One of the best camper living hacks – if you’ve ever broken drinking glasses while traveling, this one is for you. Slide koozies over them, and place them back in the cabinet to keep them nice and safe.

2. Wine Bottle SleevesProtect your wine bottles while en route with mesh sleeves. If they knock together, they won’t break.

3. Collapsible Laundry Basket for Trash: To save space, use a collapsible laundry basket as a wastebasket when camping. They can be collapsed between uses and stored out of the way.

4. Clothespins: Most people realize the benefit of keeping duct tape in their rig, but what about clothespins? They can be used for laundry, chip clips, and even securing trash bags.

5. Clothesline: Keep some clotheslines handy as well. You can use it to assist with laundry, hang wet towels and swimsuits, and tie cabinets closed when in transit.

6. Bungee Straps for Cabinets: Another option to keep cabinets closed while traveling, is to secure them with bungee straps. The 3-inch loops with a ball end are useful for cabinet doors, and the ones with hooks on the ends are great for drawer handles.

7. Dry Erase Boards: Dry erase boards have many uses. Magnetic ones can be hung on the refrigerator. Along with emergency information, you can post a checklist of things to do before heading out, a grocery list, or the WiFi password.

8. Use a Cordless Drill to Deploy Rear Stabilizers: If you have a travel trailer or fifth wheel without electric stabilizer jacks, then you are familiar with the chore of hand cranking them up and down. An easy solution is to use a rechargeable cordless drill. Simply attach a socket extension that fits your stabilizer jacks. Plug the socket into the jacks and let the drill do the work.

 9. Prevent Burned Food With a Baking Stone: Place the stone in the center of the oven (make sure it doesn’t block all the ventilation holes). The stone will absorb the heat and distribute it evenly throughout the oven. No more burned cookies!

10. Pantyhose for Hand Washing: This is one of those popular RV camping hacks that works for regular camping as well! Use pantyhose to tie a bar of soap to the water spigot. This makes hand washing easy.

Clothes being folded and organized in baskets

RV Hacks for Organization

11. Badge Clips for Hanging Items: Badge clips can be used to hang lights from your awning, among many other things.

12. Towel Rod for Storage: Use hooks to hang items from a towel rod such as cosmetics, kitchen utensils, or even decor.

13. Shoe Organizer Bed Storage: Create easy bed storage with a cut-up shoe organizer.

14. Shoe Organizer Shower Storage: Shoe organizers are one of the great RV storage hacks – they can also be used for shower storage!

15. Electrical Adapter Mounts: Keep electrical adapters organized by mounting them to the wall.

16. Peg Board: Use peg boards to hang kitchen items like pots, pans, and wine bottles.

17. Square Storage Containers: Save space by using square containers instead of round ones to store food items in your cabinet or refrigerator/ freezer.

18. Tupperware for Tissues: Place tissue boxes in plastic to keep them from getting wet or smashed.

19. Velcro for Curtains: Hold back your curtains with Velcro tabs on the ends.

20. Plastic Container for Trash Bin: Create a wastebasket out of a dry food container.

kids sitting at a table in RV laughing

Kids’ Comfort Camper Hacks

21. Press n’ Seal for To-go Cups: Keep things clean by using Press n’ Seal to turn a regular cup into a travel cup.

22. Shower Caddies for Kids Items: Use shower caddies with suction cups to hold and organize activities for the kids while on road trips.

23. PVC for Makeshift Hammock: Use PVC pipe and cloth to make a front seat hammock for the kids to hang out in.

Makeover RV Hacks

24. Syringe For Fixing Woodwork: Fix warped veneer with a syringe and some glue to fill in small gaps.

25. Vinyl Flooring: Replace current floors with vinyl plank flooring. Pre-glued and waterproof, they are easy to install.

26. Wrap Your RV Cushions: If you don’t like to sew, use the wrapping method to re-upholster your RV cushions! If you can wrap a present, you can reupholster your furniture — just wrap with fabric and secure the back with clothespins.

27. Strip Lights: These LED strip lights will run on a camper’s 12-volt system.

28. Floor Mats or Yoga Mat: Place foam floor mats or a yoga mat under your bunk mattress. They provide insulation and comfort.

29. Spray Paint for RV Parts: Makeover your RV by sprucing the plastic parts, faded by the sun, with a bit of spray paint.

RV Tips for Keeping Clean

30. Waste Tank Cleaner: Use a ½-cup of Calgon water softener and a cup of Borax detergent to make your own cleaner for the waste tank.

31. Flea Collars for Wasps: Propane attracts wasps. Place cut-up flea collars in compartments to avoid wasp infestations.

32. Soap for Deterring Mice: Eliminate mice with a bar of Irish Spring soap. They hate the smell. Bounce fabric sheets are reputed to do this as well.

33. Pine-Sol for Flies: Keep flies away by wiping down awnings, tables, and counters with a 50/50 solution of Pine-Sol and water.

34. Shelf and Drawer Liners: Use non-slip liners to line drawers and shelves. This keeps items in place when traveling.

a Class A motorhome set up for camping

35. Reuse Plastic Containers: Don’t dirty up a bowl! Scramble your eggs in an empty water bottle.

36. Install a Clear Sewer Pipe Elbow: By installing a clear elbow at the end of your sewer hose, you can prevent a lot of potential problems. Seeing what’s going on in your hose allows you to check for undissolved toilet paper (in which case you might want to switch brands), to know ahead of time if a clog is about to happen, and to have visual confirmation that the tank is done emptying.

RV Camping Hacks for Comfort

37. Hang With Command: Use Command hooks or strips to hang anything from hats to keys to pictures.

38. Wrap Your Windows: Use bubble wrap to cover the RV windows and insulate your space during cold weather.

39. Use a Vent Cushion to Reduce Heat Loss.

40. Light Up Your Steps With Glow in The Dark Tape: A few pieces strategically placed can make a huge difference.

41. Make Awning Track Hangers From Paracord.

42. Use a WiFi Booster: Although many campgrounds provide wireless Internet, the signal is not always strong. Improve the WiFi reception in your RV with a booster.

43. Use Condiment Packets: Stock up on free condiments from fast-food restaurants. They’re free, and they take up less space than full condiment bottles.

44. Pool Noodles for Protection: Protect your head from hitting the metal awning strut, by slitting foam swimming noodles and slipping them over the struts.

45. Curtain Rod for Wet Clothing: You can hang your clothes while they’re damp if you place a suspension rod in the shower.

46. Light Up Dark Closets and Cupboards with Motion Sensor Lights: These battery-operated LED lights are easy to install and even easier to use. The motion sensing function allows you to simply open the closet or panty and immediately be greeted by a bright light.

an RV shower

47. Use an Oxygenics Shower Head to Increase Water Pressure: Replace your shower head with a low-flow, high-pressure Oxygenics shower head. This ingenious product mixes air into the water as it sprays out, providing you with a great shower while saving water at the same time.

48. Get Comfy With a Mattress Topper: A two-, three-, or even four-inch mattress topper can go a long way in increasing the comfort of your existing mattress.

49. Bring a Portable Fan: Most RVs already have AC and a ceiling fan, but you’ll be glad to have something portable on extra hot days. Place the fan anywhere in your RV to create better air circulation.

50. Use Silica Packets: Place these in tough spots that dont get enough ventilation to keep your RV free of moisture and reduce the risk for mold or mildew.

Ensure your glassware doesn’t break. Get the most out of your storage. Keep your home-on-wheels free from pests. Simple tricks like these take all of the guesswork out of enjoying your motorhome. Try them yourself, and do your friends and family members a favor, by sharing with them!

Looking for more ideas? Check out these articles:

Now that you know these amazing camper hacks, it’s time to hit the road in your RV rental with RVshare!

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