Best RV Starter Kit for a New Travel Trailer
A bundled kit gets you to your first campsite with nothing missing. This is what is genuinely in one, what is not, and which two items you will replace before the season ends.
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The short answer
Buy the bundled kit for your first trip. Not because the items in it are the best version of anything — they are the basic version of everything — but because nothing will be missing on a Friday night two hours from a supply store. Then upgrade the sewer hose and the pressure regulator when you get home, which is the order they will annoy you in.
This page is part of our first-season starter kit guide. It exists because the question a new trailer owner actually asks is not “which sewer hose is best” — it is “what do I need to buy before Saturday, and have I forgotten anything.” Those are different questions with different right answers.
Our picks at a glance
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Beginner fit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camco RV Starter KitOne box so nothing is missing on night one. Every item in it is the basic version, and that is a fair trade for week one. | Having everything on day one | Strong | |
| 2 |  Camco RhinoFLEX 20-Ft Sewer Hose KitThe complete first kit: 20 ft in two sections, both fittings, and a clear elbow so you can see when the tank is actually done. | The first sewer hose to own | Strong | |
| 3 |  Camco Brass Water Pressure RegulatorThe cheapest single item that prevents the most expensive damage. Fixed preset, brass body, screws on in four seconds. | The cheapest thing that prevents the worst damage | Strong | |
| 4 |  Camco TastePURE Drinking Water Hose (25 ft)The correct part rather than an upgrade: a drinking-water-rated hose, in white so it never gets mixed up with the sewer gear. | The default fresh water hose | Strong | |
| 5 |  Camco FasTen Leveling Blocks (10-pack)The default first purchase for a travel trailer: interlocking blocks you stack into a ramp, cheap enough to buy two sets. | Most first trailers | Strong | |
| 6 |  Camco Heavy-Duty Wheel Chocks (pair)The chock that stops the trailer rolling. Not the one that stops it rocking, which is a different product, and you need both. | The non-negotiable basics | Strong |
Prices are not published here. They change constantly and a stale number is worse than no number, so every button goes straight to the current Amazon listing. #ad — these are affiliate links and photographs are stock images of the category, not of the individual product.
Who this is for
Someone who has just taken delivery of a travel trailer and has one or two weeks before the first trip. You have a hitch, a trailer, and a dealer walkthrough you half remember. You do not yet know what a dogbone adapter is, and you should not have to.
If you have already camped a season and you are replacing individual items, skip this page entirely. Go to the category roundups instead — the sewer hose, surge protector and leveling blocks pages go far deeper on each one.
The bundle-versus-separate decision
A bundled kit is one purchase covering the sewer, fresh water and pressure-regulation categories at once. Buying separately means six or seven purchases, each one requiring you to learn what the category is for before you can choose within it.
The honest arithmetic: a bundle is cheaper than the same categories bought individually, and every item in it is the entry-level option. You are trading long-term quality for immediate completeness. In week one that is the right trade, because the failure mode of an incomplete setup is not inconvenience — it is being unable to dump a tank or connect to water at all.
What the two routes actually get you
| Bundled kit | Bought separately | |
|---|---|---|
| Decisions to make | One | Six or seven |
| Risk of a missing item | Very low | This is the real risk |
| Quality per item | Entry level across the board | As good as you choose |
| Cost | Lower up front | Higher, spread out |
| What you replace first | Sewer hose, then regulator | Nothing, if you chose well |
How we choose
We do not run a test lab and do not claim to. What this site has is a lodge that hosts RV sites every weekend, which means watching new rigs arrive and get set up with whatever gear the owner brought. Which items get used and which stay in the box stops being a matter of opinion fairly quickly.
Beyond that, picks are judged against published manufacturer specifications, whether the item is currently in stock at normal prices, and whether a beginner can use it correctly without reading a forum thread first. Our full methodology is here, including what we deliberately do not do.
The picks
1. Best for Having everything on day one
Camco RV Starter Kit
One box so nothing is missing on night one. Every item in it is the basic version, and that is a fair trade for week one.
- Specification
- Bundles a sewer hose, fresh water hose and regulator
- Specification
- Contents vary by kit, so read the listing
- Specification
- One box, one purchase
What it does well
- Nothing is missing on the first trip, which is worth more than optimizing any single item
- Cheaper than buying the same categories separately
- Removes six decisions from the week you have the least idea what you are doing
The real tradeoff
- The individual items are the basic version of each category, and you will upgrade the sewer hose first
- Kits differ significantly between listings, so check what is actually inside
How it measures up
These are judgments from published specifications and what we see at the lodge, not laboratory results. How we choose.
- Beginner fit
- Strong — The entire reason it exists.
- Component quality
- Adequate — Basic across the board.
- Completeness
- Strong — Depends on the kit. Read the contents.
- Value
- Strong — Cheaper than the parts, and faster.
Specifications from Camco.
2. Best for The first sewer hose to own
Camco RhinoFLEX 20-Ft Sewer Hose Kit
The complete first kit: 20 ft in two sections, both fittings, and a clear elbow so you can see when the tank is actually done.
- Specification
- 20 ft supplied as two 10 ft sections
- Specification
- Swivel bayonet fitting at the rig end
- Specification
- Clear 45-degree adapter included in the kit
What it does well
- The kit arrives complete: hose, both fittings and the clear elbow, so nothing is missing at the first dump station
- Two 10 ft sections means you use 10 ft at most sites and 20 ft when you need it, instead of coiling slack
- The clear elbow lets you see when the tank has actually finished, which is the entire job
The real tradeoff
- Bulkier collapsed than a thin-wall hose, and a 4-inch bumper will not take 20 ft of it
- The bayonet fittings need a firm quarter-turn. A lazy connection is how people end up with a mess
How it measures up
These are judgments from published specifications and what we see at the lodge, not laboratory results. How we choose.
- Beginner fit
- Strong — Nothing to buy separately, nothing to work out.
- Durability
- Good — Thicker than the hose bundled with a used trailer.
- Storage
- Adequate — Twenty feet will not fit a 4-inch bumper. Plan for that.
- Value
- Strong — The category default, and deservedly.
Specifications from Camco.
3. Best for The cheapest thing that prevents the worst damage
Camco Brass Water Pressure Regulator
The cheapest single item that prevents the most expensive damage. Fixed preset, brass body, screws on in four seconds.
- Specification
- Brass inline regulator
- Specification
- Fixed preset pressure
- Specification
- Standard hose thread at both ends
What it does well
- Fits between the spigot and your hose in about four seconds and then protects the whole plumbing system
- Brass rather than plastic, so it survives being over-tightened and left on all season
- A fixed preset means there is nothing to get wrong
The real tradeoff
- You cannot adjust it and you cannot see what it is doing
- Fixed regulators restrict flow more than an adjustable one set higher
How it measures up
These are judgments from published specifications and what we see at the lodge, not laboratory results. How we choose.
- Beginner fit
- Strong — Screw it onto the spigot. There is no step two.
- Control
- Adequate — No adjustment and no gauge.
- Flow
- Adequate — Noticeably more restrictive than an adjustable unit.
- Value
- Strong — The best money-to-risk ratio on the whole site.
Specifications from Camco.
4. Best for The default fresh water hose
Camco TastePURE Drinking Water Hose (25 ft)
The correct part rather than an upgrade: a drinking-water-rated hose, in white so it never gets mixed up with the sewer gear.
- Specification
- 25 ft
- Specification
- Drinking-water safe
- Specification
- White jacket, never confused with sewer gear
What it does well
- Drinking-water rated, which a garden hose is not. This is not an upgrade, it is the correct part
- White for a reason: you will never grab it thinking it is the sewer hose
- Twenty-five feet reaches the spigot at essentially every site
The real tradeoff
- Kinks if you coil it lazily
- Stiff in cold weather
How it measures up
These are judgments from published specifications and what we see at the lodge, not laboratory results. How we choose.
- Beginner fit
- Strong — A hose, in the right color.
- Control
- Adequate — Not applicable.
- Flow
- Good — Standard diameter, no surprises.
- Value
- Strong — Buy two: one for fresh water, one for tank rinsing.
Specifications from Camco.
5. Best for Most first trailers
Camco FasTen Leveling Blocks (10-pack)
The default first purchase for a travel trailer: interlocking blocks you stack into a ramp, cheap enough to buy two sets.
- Specification
- Interlocking 10-pack
- Specification
- Stacks into a ramp
- Specification
- Carry bag sold separately
What it does well
- The blocks lock together, so a two-high stack does not shuffle apart when the tire rolls onto it
- Ten blocks covers one axle on most sites and two axles on gently sloped ones
- Cheap enough that losing one in the grass is annoying rather than expensive
The real tradeoff
- You still guess how many to stack, then pull forward and re-check
- On soft ground they sink, and nothing in the design prevents that
How it measures up
These are judgments from published specifications and what we see at the lodge, not laboratory results. How we choose.
- Beginner fit
- Strong — No instructions needed. Stack, drive up, stop.
- Stability once set
- Good — The interlock is what keeps a stack honest.
- Speed to level
- Adequate — Trial and error. You will pull forward twice.
- Value
- Strong — The least money you can spend and still do this properly.
Specifications from Camco.
6. Best for The non-negotiable basics
Camco Heavy-Duty Wheel Chocks (pair)
The chock that stops the trailer rolling. Not the one that stops it rocking, which is a different product, and you need both.
- Specification
- Wedge chock, sold in pairs
- Specification
- Molded grip handle
- Specification
- Works on any axle count
What it does well
- This is the part you are practically obliged to have, and it costs very little
- Works on any trailer, any axle count. There is no compatibility question
- Bright color means you notice them before you drive off
The real tradeoff
- Stops rolling, does nothing about rocking
- Plastic wedges skate on wet concrete if you do not seat them properly
How it measures up
These are judgments from published specifications and what we see at the lodge, not laboratory results. How we choose.
- Beginner fit
- Strong — Push it against the tire. That is the whole method.
- Stability once set
- Good — Against rolling, yes. Against rocking, no.
- Speed to level
- Strong — Instant.
- Value
- Strong — The cheapest genuinely essential thing on this site.
Specifications from Camco.
What to check before you buy a kit
Kits sold under near-identical names contain genuinely different things. The listing photograph is not the contents list. Three checks before you click:
Does it include a pressure regulator, and what kind
A plastic inline regulator and an adjustable brass regulator are not the same product. The plastic one drops your flow to a trickle and cannot be adjusted; the brass one holds a set pressure and still gives you a usable shower. Many kits include the plastic version. That is fine for week one and is the second thing to replace.
Sewer hose length
Fifteen feet reaches at most sites. Twenty feet reaches at nearly all of them. If the kit ships a 10-foot hose, plan on buying a 20-foot one — see what size sewer hose you need for why the short one strands you.
Whether the fresh water hose is drinking-water safe
A garden hose is not. Drinking-water hose is marked as such and is usually white or blue rather than green. If the kit does not say explicitly, assume it is not and buy one that does.
What to buy in what order
If you would rather build the kit yourself, this is the sequence that matches when you will first need each thing:
- Sewer hose and a clear elbow — the only job with no workaround at all.
- Drinking-water hose and a pressure regulator — the regulator protects the plumbing behind your walls.
- Surge protector — before you plug into a pedestal for the first time, not after.
- Leveling blocks and chocks — the first job at every site.
- Disposable gloves and a headlamp — both used more than anything else on the list.
Our travel trailer essentials checklist is the printable version of this, organized by the moment you need each item rather than by category.
Questions people actually ask
Is an RV starter kit worth it, or should I buy everything separately?
Worth it for a first trip. A bundle costs less than the same categories bought individually and guarantees nothing is missing, which is the real risk in week one. Every item in it is the entry-level version, so expect to replace the sewer hose and the pressure regulator within a season.
What is not included in an RV starter kit?
Almost never a surge protector, which is the most expensive omission because a miswired pedestal can damage every appliance at once. Also usually missing: leveling blocks, wheel chocks, disposable gloves, a sewer hose support, and a headlamp.
How much should I budget for first-season RV accessories?
We do not publish prices because they change constantly and a stale number is worse than none. Plan in categories instead: hookup gear (sewer, water, regulator), electrical protection, leveling and chocks, and the small consumables. The surge protector is typically the single largest line item.
Do I need a special toilet paper for an RV?
You need tissue that breaks down fast in a holding tank. Rapid-dissolving supermarket tissue does this and costs supermarket money. See our comparison of the two realistic options on the RV toilet paper page.
Can I use a garden hose for fresh water?
No. Garden hose is not rated for drinking water and will affect the taste at minimum. Drinking-water hose is labeled as such and is usually white or blue rather than green.
Sources
Read next
First-Season Starter Kit
RV Must-Haves for Beginners
The first-season shortlist, ordered by when you need each item: leaving the lot, arriving, hooking up, the first night, the first dump.
First-Season Starter Kit
Travel Trailer Essentials Checklist
A first-trip checklist for a new travel trailer, grouped by utility with the commonly forgotten items called out.
Sewer & Water
Best RV Sewer Hose for a First Travel Trailer
Complete sewer hose kits compared on length, wall thickness, fittings and storage, for someone doing this for the first time.
Power & Surge Protection
Best RV Surge Protector for a First Travel Trailer
Surge protectors and full electrical management systems compared, with the low-voltage problem explained properly.
Reviewed September 25, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.