My RV Christmas Wish List
There are those RVing accessories that are needed like sewer hoses, leveling blocks, and tools. Then there are those that we would like to have. They are sure to enhance our RVing experience but usually cost a little more than may be practical to spend. These I add to my wish list and hope Santa is good to me. Last year I was pumped to receive a Progressive Industries Surge Protector which I hardwired into the RV and has served us well. Having RVed a few years full time now my list has really grown. Here are the top ten items on my RV Christmas Wish List. Maybe this list will give you some ideas for your own RVing wishlist.
1) Fan-Tastic Vent Fan
Ever since I first started traveling in our fifth wheel I have heard about how good the Fan-Tastic fans are. They are supposed to move a massive amount of air without the excessive noise. I saw them demonstrated at several RV shows and was impressed. The one I have my eye on is the model 6600R. This model comes with a remote, automatic temperature settings, rain sensor and is reversible. It draws between 0.2 – 1.9 amps which would be ideal to cool the rig while dry camping. The remote would be a handy feature because I’d like to have it in the kitchen area where the ceiling is close to 8 feet high.
2) Memory Foam RV Mattress
Our OEM RV mattress that came stock in our Keystone Cougar RV is pathetic. The springs stick through and make for an uncomfortable sleep. We have made it tolerable by purchasing a 2-inch foam topper, but it would be nice to have a replacement memory foam mattress. The LUCID® by Linenspa 10″ Memory Foam Mattress seem to have good reviews and is very popular. Most importantly it is available in a “short Queen” size perfect for our RV. I’ve heard that memory foam can be ho,t but this one says they use open cell technology to overcome that.
Open cell technology allows air flow, keeping the mattress cool and comfortable
3) Propane Camp Fire
The early propane campfires had a loud hissing to them that turned me off them, but now they seem to be a lot quieter. We have sat around them socializing a few times lately and it was nice to have the warmth and fire without all the smoke and mess. I would love to have one for boondocking out in the desert where the nights get cold. It would be great to stay up and watch the night sky without freezing. Our neighbor this summer had the Camco 58031 “Little Red Campfire” and worked like a hot damn.
4) LED Replacement Lamps for the RV
LED Replacement lamps are high on my list. They have come down in price quite a bit and come in many color temperatures. Last winter at the Quartzsite RV show there must have been a dozen vendors selling them. I’ve talked to many fellow boondockers who say they really help the RV batteries last a long time between charges. I’m also wanting to upgrade the RV running, signal and brake lights to LED Type as they are much brighter than the OEM bulbs.
5) Specialized RV GPS
We do pretty well navigating using our Ipad but a dedicated RV friendly GPS unit like the Garmin RV 760LMT Portable GPS Navigator would be sweet! It has several features for RV navigation built in.
- Large 7″ high-resolution touchscreen display: 800 x 480 pixels; WVGA TFT color display with white backlight
- Includes free lifetime map and traffic updates – Provides RV-specific services and vendors, repair shops, truck stops and a comprehensive list of nationwide repair and tow facilities (including those offering after-hours road service)
- Specialized RV routing based on customizable restrictions including height, weight, width and length
- Cautions and advisories include risk of grounding, lateral wind, narrow road, sharp curve, steep hill, tree overhand and state borders
- Voice-activated navigation means RV 760LMT responds intelligently to your verbal commands. Just talk to it. Comparable with Garmin wireless back up camera
Anything that can help us save fuel and arrive safer is a great thing in my book. That places this GPS high on my list.
6) 3100 Watts Champion Inverter Generator
When I saw the new 3100 watt Champion on display at the Quartzsite RV show I was sold. It would be perfect for us. At 3100 watts, we could basically run anything in the RV. I have and love my 2 champion 2000w models but it would be great to have all the power in a single package. The unit has an economy mode where it runs nice and quiet until extra power is needed say for a microwave, then it revs up to put out the juice. Also, it has a standard 30 amp RV power socket so I could plug my RV power plug straight in with no adapter needed.
7) Replacement Shower Head
We are fairly satisfied with the standard RV shower head, especially after I added the Valterra Water Pressure Regulator, but I’ve heard great things about the Oxygenics brand of replacement shower heads. Many RV folks swear by them. They say you get a better shower with good pressure but use less water. That would be good for boondocking where water is precious and not to be wasted.
8) Tire Pressure Monitor System
With so many stories of blowouts and overheated bearing issues with trailers, I’d love the extra peace of mind of having my tire pressure and temperature monitored at all times. I’ve been looking at the TireMinder TMG400C after watching a YouTube video by Mark Polk of RV Education 101.
9) Cell Amplifier and Antenna
While exploring remote boondocking locations, National and State Parks we are often on the fringe of cell coverage. I’ve read up on all the solutions and feel the best bet for us is from a company called Wilson Electronics. They have a package kit tailored for RVs called the “Wilson Electronics 841295 SOHO Ambulance and RV Cell Phone Booster Signal Amplifier Kit”.
10) Portable Indoor Propane Heater
When dry camping out in the desert it can be a tad chilly. Running our big propane furnace draws down our RV batteries and eats up the propane. A better solution would be a portable propane heater designed for indoor use. The Mr. Heater Buddy pumps out the heat without a fan and can be hooked up to an external 20 lbs. cylinder for up to 110 hours of run time.
Well you can see my RV Christmas wish list is getting long! Hope Santa is good to me this year. What’s on your list. Let us know with a comment below.