RV Life – Initial Setup

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Setting up the RV for our first camping weekend was such a fun project for me.

I’ve always loved to camp and we were very experienced campers back in South Africa. We didn’t have a fancy setup, but even back then my love for organizing made for worry-free camping. We had a nice size tent and all the amenities that went with it. Our camping supplies and items were nicely contained in camping boxes, and each sported labelling not only on the outside but also on the inside of the lid. I did get teased about it at first, but soon all my friends were looking for similar labels and systems.

So when I got the opportunity to set up this RV, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I wrote out a list of bare necessities and started collecting items from my house.

Basic Needs – To Sleep and To Eat

To start out with, you will need some basics to be able to use your RV. Think along the lines of being able to sleep, cook and eat something in the RV. Here is my list of the items we added from the start.

For the sleeping areas I added:

• Comforters
• Pillows
• Sheets
• Throw Pillows
• Blankets

I found these cute RV-themed blankets online, and I know you will love them too!

For the kitchen:

• Plates, Bowls, Cups, and Coffee Mugs
• Pots and Pans
• Plastic Food Storage Containers
• Silverware
• Sharp Knife Set
• Cutting Board
• Cooking Utensils (wooden spoons, tongs, etc.)
• Can/Bottle Opener
• Dish Towels and Cleaning Cloths/Sponges
• Pot Holders
• Drying Rack
• Electric Kettle

Looking for RV kitchenware? I found this awesome set on Amazon, and they are perfect for RV camping. Make sure to add the bamboo drawer organizer to keep your silverware organized.

The following items are pantry staples. I try to take a picture of the pantry when we finish a trip so that I can easily look back to see what I need to get for the next trip:

• Instant Coffee and Sugar
• Salt, Pepper, and BBQ Spices
• Oil and Vinegar
• Unopened Sides (Pasta and Rice), Snacks, and Cookies

Additional kitchen items included:

• Paper Plates, Paper Towels, and Napkins
• Ziploc Bags and Trash Bags
• Placemats
• Plastic Tablecloths

You cannot go wrong with some Made in the USA placemats to bring some color and fun to the table. You can get your placemats from Amazon, and there are more than 30 fun designs to choose from!

Additional Items

Still on the inside of the RV, we added the following items to the bathroom:

• Towels (bath towels, hand towels, beach towels)
• RV Toilet Paper and Chemicals
• Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, and Soap
• Toothbrushes and Toothpaste
• Hairbrushes
• Hand Soap
• Body Lotion
• Bug Spray

Don’t forget to order your RV-themed beach towels.

General and Entertainment Items:

• First Aid Kit (must have)
• Small Flashlights
• Assorted Batteries
• General Cleaning Supplies
• Dog Leash
• Broom and Dustpan
• Playing Cards
• Uno
• Paperbacks and Magazines

I want to emphasize the importance of a first aid kit for your RV. You don’t want to be in a situation where you need to go to an urgent care for something you could have treated if only you had your own supplies. Have a look at this first aid kit from Amazon. Perfect even for taking on outdoor adventures away from the RV.

Outside Needs

For the outside of the RV, we packed the following items:

• Camping Chairs
• Folding Table
• BBQ Grill and Tools
• BBQ Casserole (a South African camping MUST HAVE)
• Lightweight Cooler for Ice

Make sure you keep the weight of your outside items in mind when shopping. You can find lightweight camping chairs online, and they are super comfortable for those lazy evenings by the fire. I also found a great (again, lightweight) folding grill table that I can recommend. Adjust the height as needed, and fold it up when you don’t.

Now, to be able to park and hook your RV up to a campsite, you need some additional items. We bought a lot of these items at the RV Store, but you will most likely find these cheaper elsewhere: