Our Wandering Pack

Embarking on full-time RV life is an exciting adventure, but knowing what to pack (and what to leave behind) can be overwhelming. After days of research and planning, we’ve put together our current packing list to help future RVers prepare for life on the road. This is what we’re bringing, but we’re excited to revisit this list after six months of full-time RV living to share what truly mattered and what ended up collecting dust.

The Essentials: Must-Have Items for Full-Time RV Life

We’ve spent a lot of time figuring out what will make life easier on the road, and these are the must-haves we wouldn’t leave without.

RV-Specific Gear

• Surge Protector – Protects your RV’s electrical system from power fluctuations. Check it out here. For Our Wandering Pack, we are living in this trailer. That means we cannot allow a potentially faulty electrical outlet, or a storm to ruin the electric of our house. It was well worth the $60!
• Water Pressure Regulator – Ensures your RV’s plumbing stays safe. Get one here. This is the one we are planning on getting. It comes with a water filter, a water pressure gauge and a storage bag for travel days. This bundle means- is the best bang for our buck at $60!
• RV Sewer Hose Kit – Because dealing with black and gray tanks isn’t optional. See the one we use.
• Leveling Blocks – A necessity for setting up camp smoothly. Grab a set here.
• Water Filter – Clean drinking water everywhere you go. Our choice here. This is a filter that helps us transform the water we get at our site and turn it into water we want to shower in, brush out teeth in, and give our pups as drinking water.

Kitchen Must-Haves

• Collapsible Measuring Cups & Bowls – Saves precious space. Check them out here.
• Instant Pot or Air Fryer – Compact, multi-purpose cooking tools. See our favorite here. The kitchen is a space that we are in together daily. We place a lot of value on making sure that meals are healthy and meet our dietary restrictions. This air fryer helps us cook everything from bacon for our breakfast sandwiches to shrimp for dinner!
• Stackable Cookware – Because storage space is limited. Find them here.
• Non-Slip Shelf Liners – Helps keep everything in place while driving. A game-changer here. These ones are ideal because they are moisture wicking too!
• Reusable Dishware & Cutlery – Durable and eco-friendly. See what we love.

Comfort & Organization

• Space-Saving Hangers – Maximizing closet space is a must. These are great. Living in this space full time means that we had to be very selective about which clothes we kept and which we didn’t.
• Collapsible Storage Bins – Great for keeping everything organized. We use these.
• Memory Foam Mattress Topper – Because RV mattresses aren’t always comfy. Upgrade yours here. We switched out our mattress so we didn’t think we would need a mattress topper. We were wrong! We need a cooling mattress topper for sure!
• Outdoor Mat – Keeps dirt from getting inside. A must-have here with all the dogs laying down outside and inside!
• Command Hooks & Velcro Strips – Secure everything without damage. Shop them here.

Boondocking & Off-Grid Necessities

• Solar Panels for your rig or Generator – Essential for off-grid camping. We like these solar panels to power the RV and these ones to power a generator!
• Portable Water Jug – Extra water storage for boondocking. We rely on this to hold our water and to transport it to our RV. This is a water filter that we really trust. We filter our water another time before we drink it!
• Composting Toilet or Extra Black Tank Treatment – For extended stays without hookups. Learn more here. We also bring a shower with us for boondocking trips!
• Rechargeable Lanterns & Headlamps – A must for dark campsites. Get them here.

What You Can Skip (At Least for Now)

While these items might seem necessary, we’ve decided to hold off on them (or have learned from other full-timers that they’re not as useful as they seem).

• Full Dish Set – We’re keeping it minimal with just a few plates, bowls, and utensils.
• Excessive Clothing – Space is limited, and laundry facilities are common.
• Bulky Coffee Makers – We’re opting for a French press instead.
• Too Many Camping Chairs – One per person is enough!
• Decorations That Don’t Stick – If it can’t handle the road, it won’t last.

Final Thoughts & Future Updates

This is the packing list we’re rolling with, but we’re excited to see what actually holds up after six months on the road. We’ll be revisiting this blog post with real-life updates on what we actually used and what we wish we’d left behind.

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Our Wandering Pack running and continue sharing our journey with you. Thanks for your support!

Have a question about RV packing? Let us know in the comments!