What do you need to pack for an RV rental trip? Start with the basics you would bring on any vacation, like clothes, toiletries, and food. Then add household comforts like bedding, towels, and kitchen items, plus a few RV-specific pieces such as a drinking-water hose and leveling blocks. Here is the good news for first-time renters: much of the technical gear often comes with the RV. Before you buy anything, ask your owner what is already on board so you only pack what’s missing.
Key Takeaways
- Many RV rentals come stocked with kitchen gear, hookup equipment, and setup tools. Confirm what is included before you buy anything.
- Pack in three layers: everyday travel items, household comforts, and RV-specific camping gear.
- A drinking-water-safe hose, a water pressure regulator, and the right electrical adapter keep your hookups safe and simple.
- Leveling blocks and wheel chocks make setup easier and help appliances like the refrigerator run correctly.
- An emergency kit belongs in every RV, on every trip.
- RVshare delivery rentals can arrive set up at your campsite, removing most technical items from your packing list.
What Does an RV Rental Usually Come With?
One of the biggest differences between renting and owning is that a lot of the gear you might expect to buy is already in the RV. Owners want their rental to be ready to use, so most units come with the equipment needed to connect at a campground and get settled. The exact contents vary from one RV to the next, so the listing and your owner are always the final word on what is included.
Use this table as a starting point, then confirm the specifics with your owner before your trip.
| Category | Often included with the rental | Usually up to you |
| Hookup equipment | Drinking-water hose, pressure regulator, electrical adapter, sewer hose | Nothing, in most cases |
| Setup gear | Leveling blocks, wheel chocks | Nothing, in most cases |
| Kitchen | Pots, pans, dishes, basic utensils (varies widely) | Groceries, coffee, spices, trash bags |
| Bedding and bath | Sometimes included, sometimes not | Sheets, blankets, pillows, bath towels |
| Personal items | Not included | Clothing, toiletries, medications |
| Outdoor comfort | Sometimes camp chairs or a mat | Personal comfort and entertainment items |
Every RV you rent is different. If you’re not sure whether something is included, message your owner and ask for a list of what comes with the unit. Delivery rentals often arrive with hookups already connected, which means even less for you to handle.
What RV-Specific Gear Do First-Time Renters Actually Need?
If your rental already includes the items below, you can cross them off and move on. If it doesn’t, or if you rent often and want your own set, here is what each piece does and why it matters.
1. Water and Electric Connection Equipment
The main upgrade RV camping offers over tent camping is electricity and running water at your site. To use them, the RV needs a few connection pieces: a drinking-water-safe hose (this is different from a garden hose and safe to drink from), a water pressure regulator that protects the plumbing from high campground water pressure, and an electrical adapter that matches the RV’s amperage rating, usually 30 or 50 amps.
If you plan to camp off-grid, sometimes called boondocking (camping without water, electric, or sewer hookups), you will not connect to shore power or a water spigot. In that case, fill the fresh water tank ahead of time and charge the batteries. Shore power refers to the electrical hookup at a campsite that the RV plugs into.
Most rentals include these connection pieces, but confirm before you leave, because a garden hose from home is not a safe substitute for a drinking-water hose.
2. RV Sewer Hose
Emptying the holding tanks is part of RV life, and a good sewer hose makes it clean and quick. Nearly every rental includes one, so renters rarely need to buy one.
If you do want your own, a quality sewer hose kit typically runs about $40 to $80, with premium kits costing more. It is worth choosing a sturdy one, since a weak hose is exactly where problems happen. This is one area of camping where spending a little more pays off.
3. Leveling Blocks and Wheel Chocks
Campsites are rarely perfectly flat, and an unlevel RV is more than an annoyance. It can affect how the refrigerator runs. Leveling blocks let you raise one side of the RV so it sits even, and wheel chocks keep a parked RV or trailer from rolling.
Larger Class A motorhomes often have built-in automatic leveling systems. Smaller motorhomes and towable trailers usually level manually, with blocks placed under the tires. It is a simple job, and rentals typically include the blocks and chocks you need. This is one more item you should confirm with your owner.
Of course, if you’ll be off-grid camping or boondocking, you won’t be hooking up to shore power and water… but you’ll still need to fill your water tank ahead of time and make sure your batteries are fully charged. In any case, these items are definitely RV travel essentials you don’t want to leave without!
4. Emergency Kit
Every RV packing list should include an emergency kit. Safety comes first.
The exact contents depend on your trip and travel style, but every kit should include road flares and a basic tire repair kit. Many rentals include emergency basics, so check what’s on board and fill any gaps.
5. Outdoor Items and Patio Furniture
Camping is about spending time outside, and a comfortable outdoor space makes that easier. Camp chairs, an outdoor mat or ground cover to keep dirt out of the RV, and a portable grill for sites without one all help. Some rentals include a few of these, but usually personal comfort items are for you to bring.
Expert Tip
Before your trip, message your owner to ask: What comes with the RV, and what should I bring? A five-minute conversation prevents the two most common packing mistakes: buying gear you already have and not bringing essentials you assumed were included. Owners do this all day and are glad to help first-time renters feel prepared.
Common Mistakes First-Time Renters Make When Packing
- Overpacking household items – Storage is limited. Pack lighter, more compact versions of what you use at home or pack fewer items that can multitask.
- Buying gear the rental already includes – Sewer hoses, leveling blocks, and hookup equipment usually come with the RV. Confirm before you shop.
- Forgetting bedding and towels – These are often not included. Ask, and pack your own if needed.
- Bringing a garden hose for drinking water – A regular hose is not safe for drinking water. Use a drinking-water-safe hose.
- Skipping the emergency kit – Check what’s on board and add items if needed, rather than assuming it’s complete.
What Renters Say
One Trustpilot reviewer said, “They provided everything you need, other than bedding, clothes and food!” And that’s how RV rentals usually work: the RV comes stocked with the equipment, and you bring the personal items. It is a helpful way to picture your own packing list.
Frequently Asked Questions About Packing for an RV Rental
Most rentals include the equipment needed to connect and set up at a campground, such as a water hose, pressure regulator, electrical adapter, sewer hose, leveling blocks, and wheel chocks. Kitchen items and bedding vary by owner. The listing and your owner will confirm exactly what is on board.
You almost never need to buy a sewer hose for a rental. If you rent often and want your own, a quality kit typically costs about $40 to $80.
Sheets and towels are sometimes provided in an RV rental, but not always. Bedding and bath towels are among the most common items renters need to bring themselves, so ask your owner before you pack.
The size of the electrical adapter you need depends on the RV’s amperage rating, which is usually 30 or 50 amps. The rental typically includes the correct adapter, so confirm it’s with the unit rather than buying one yourself.
Items first-time renters most often forget include bedding, towels, and everyday kitchen extras like coffee, trash bags, and dish soap. These are easy to overlook because they are not part of the RV’s built-in equipment.
Yes, you can often get an RV delivered. Many RVshare owners offer delivery rentals, where the RV is dropped off and set up at your campsite. That removes most of the technical items from your packing list.
Now that you know what to pack and what usually comes with the RV, the next step is finding the right one. You can browse rentals on RVshare to find the right fit for your first trip.
