Things to have in a RV

8th Nov 2022 RV Things

The indispensable objects in a motorhome

You have just bought a motorhome (either new or used) and you need to equip it. But with what? And within what limits?

Determine your objectives and your constraints

First of all, it is necessary to determine:

The payload you can carry.
How you will use your motorhome.
The degree of autonomy you want to reach.

The payload

Well, let's be honest, since manufacturers and sellers are not, a motorhome, even new, always exceeds its declared empty weight. The following paragraph are probably only valid in Europe.

Worse: the law authorizes the manufacturer to underestimate the declared weight by 5% (according to the NF EN 1646-2 and 92/21/CEE standards), but once in your hands and with the registration card in your name, there is no more margin possible, so the 5% is taken from your payload.

This payload also depends on the weight of the passengers. The norm gives a rule that is quite complicated, but roughly speaking, for 4 people, the conventional load mass is about 350kg. Moreover, manufacturers often audit vehicles with smaller tanks (the law requires that the tanks be filled to 90%) which is not really in good faith.

Calcultator below:

This is to be compared with the difference between the GVW total authorized weight of your vehicle and the OWL empty mass in running order (which must be higher than this conventional load mass).

In reality, the easiest way is to have your motorhome weighed empty when you buy it (either in a technical control center or on an agricultural machinery scale) and to calculate the difference with the GVW, the cold shower usually follows, you don't have much room for maneuver.

So I advise you to weigh everything you put in your motorhome.

What weighs the most in general is water (often around 100kg for 100L of reserve), gas (26kg per full bottle) then come the accessories.

Use of the motorhome

If you plan to use your motorhome to go camping, then you don't have to overfill the water tanks, nor take too many clothes.

On the other hand, if you plan to be nomadic, then all the fluids (water, gas, electricity) will contribute to extend your autonomy, and thus your comfort. In this perspective, you will naturally choose a bigger solar panel, a bigger battery and try to limit the waste of water, etc...

Similarly, if you intend to use your motorhome only in summer, you might be tempted by an air cooler (for nomadism) or an air conditioning (for camping). On the other hand, if you plan to use your camper in winter as well, then you should consider an additional heater (electric type) and/or accessories for skiing.

I have compiled a list of items according to the use you might make of them. It's up to you to sort out if it fits your needs.

The degree of autonomy

In general, in complete autonomy, the length of time you can get depends on the most constraining element. If, after 2 days, your WC tank is full, it doesn't matter there is still 50L of water in the clean water tank, you will have to empty your tanks, and you will have to refill them with water. Obviously, the more you use your WC, the more often you will have to empty it.

As an example, 2 people who only use the RV's WC will fill it in 2 to 3 days. The more you use the public restroom, the longer it will take. If you are careful, a family of 4 can last 3 to 4 days with a 17L tank for black water.

Then, a gas bottle lasts 3 to 4 days in winter in negative Celsius temperature for heating. If you go to an area with electricity (even partial, 12h/day), you can make a bottle last a week, even two. In summer, a gas bottle lasts a little less than 2 weeks for the fridge and cooking and heating water.

Water depends on your use (if you shower every day like at home, don't expect to last more than 2 days at 2). On the other hand, if you use a washcloth and limit the use of water (especially for washing dishes), 80L can be enough for 3 to 4 days with 4 people.

The electricity comes from the engine and the sun. If you move frequently, you will probably not lack electricity, but you will always be recharging your gizmos. On the other hand, if you settle on a spot for several days, in winter, your electric expenditure will probably be higher than your solar production. It is then necessary to count 3 to 4 days of autonomy for a lead battery of 110Ah.

The essentials

Safety

A motorhome is heavy and therefore quite constraining in case of mechanical breakdown. That's why I recommend you to take an assistance contract in your insurance contract. This should allow you to avoid carrying a spare wheel (count about 50kg for the wheel + transport support + jack + wrench).

It is much easier to get stuck with a motorhome than with a car, because the weight is mainly on the cell (at the back) and the carrier is a traction (at the front). A little bit of mud, snow or sand is enough, so it is necessary to have de-icing plates to increase the friction of the front wheels.

A folding shovel is also highly recommended.

Also, depending on the power of your engine, it is possible that important slopes (12 to 15%) are not passable (whereas it would be without problem with your car), which can be annoying without help to get out of a situation. In this case, a pulley block is recommended to pull your vehicle out of the area, with a tow rope.

If you plan to change your oil yourself, and unlike a car that can stand on a jack, jackstands are necessary. Take ones with a mechanical lock (not a simple folded steel sheet), 2 tons are enough for a 3.5 ton vehicle (you never lift more than a quarter of the vehicle)

A compressor is also necessary because the pressure of the tires (5.5 bars) is not reachable by the compressors in self-service in most of the stations of France. Don't hesitate to buy a model which proposes to reach 10 bars, because the maximum pressure announced by the manufacturer is always overestimated.

As for the electrics and tools, I recommend a set of wrenches (6 / 8 / 10 / 11 / 13 / 15 / 17 / 19 / 21) and an electric tester (many breakdowns on a motorhome are due to an electric problem) as well as a tool case because everything is fragile in a motorhome and repairs are frequent.

Another useful tip, if you park on a spot, is to attach the 2 doors of the carrier together, from the inside, with a strap. This way, even if you force the lock, it is not possible to open the door, because the strap holds it.

Comfort

A basin fitted to your sink allows you to capture dishwater/food rinse water for immediate disposal after use (all the clean water you can dispose of lightens your vehicle)

A USB lighter is also a must-have if you plan to rely on more than just your stovetop piezo for cooking (or if you want to cook outdoors). Unlike a gas lighter, you don't have to deal with recharging this one, it is always functional.

USB flashlights are also necessary and can be used as a powerbank at the same time. It is convenient to have one for each person who has to move at night in the camper.

Multifunctional fans can also be used for these functions, in addition to cooling in the summer. The link below is a very quiet fan, with adjustable power and convenient to use.

Telescopic stools are also useful because they are very compact and light. They can be used all year round (as a footrest for the children during transport, but also under the camping table)

It is also necessary to equip yourself with kitchenware (and fabrics to space the utensils to avoid scratching them) and ideally with a pressure cooker (4L are usually enough), and a lid (in silicone for more lightness).

Finally, you must provide all the household linens (towels, sheets, dish towels, gloves, etc. ...) adapted to the dimensions of your vehicle.

And to refill your camper with clean water, an extendable hose is the most practical (15m are usually enough) with the different tap adapters:

Summer

Ideally, a good camping table is always useful. I recommend the ones that are rollable to the ones that have a folded in half panel because they are much more compact and light.

Also, good armchairs invite to relax. Rolling chairs are preferable to folding ones for the same reason.

Winter

If you plan to use your motorhome in the mountains in winter, it is essential to leave the grey water tank open to prevent it from freezing (even if you have a function to defrost it, it consumes battery power unnecessarily). In this case, put a basin under the tank which will freeze and will be easy to unmold:

A ladder is essential to clear the snow on your camper. I recommend you the CarBest folding ladder of 2.1m (because it fits in the length of the cargo compartment and weighs only 4kg)

An exterior windshield insulation is also recommended to limit heat loss (in addition to an interior insulation, if you have one).

An electric space heater is also recommended if you can plug in (it saves gas). Not necessary if you have a combination heater.

Summary table

Location	Price Level	Weight	Importance
Bailing plates	Stuck Vehicle	25€	approx 1kg	High
Folding Shovel	Stuck Vehicle	12€	0.9kg	High
Hoist	Stranded Vehicle	90€	8kg	Medium
Towing cable	Immobilized vehicle	20€	0.8kg	Average
Jackstands	Mechanical maintenance	50€	N/A	Optional
Compressor	Road safety	50€	0.5kg	High
Electrical tester	Safety	20€	0.07kg	High
Tool case	Security	50€	4kg	High
Extensible hose	Clean water	30€	1.4kg	High
Foldable basin	Grey water storage	12€	0.5kg	Optional
USB Lighter	Kitchen	14€	0.07kg	Optional
Utensils	Kitchen	60€	2kg	High
Pots and Pans separators	Kitchen	6€	0.07kg	High
Pressure cooker	Kitchen	70€	2.6kg	High
USB Lamp	Miscellaneous	20€	0.07kg	Medium
USB Fan + Lamp	Summer	40€	0.8kg	Medium
Telescopic Stool	Summer	20€	0.9kg	Average
Camping Table 140cm	Summer	50€	5kg	Average
Folding chairs	Summer	50€	2kg	Average
Folding ladder	Winter	100€	3.8kg	Average
Windshield protection	Winter	130€	3kg	Average
Auxiliary heater	Winter	50€	1kg	Average