Downsizing from 2,000 sq. ft. to less than 300 sq. ft. means space efficiency. Here are some RV essentials we purchased to prepare for the great adventure in such a tiny space.
RV Essentials for the Kitchen
I like to cook, and I cannot wait to see what kind of fun new meals we can whip up while we’re traveling. But let’s face it, many kitchen appliances are not intended for small spaces. I mean, who needs a six qt. crock-pot when you’re cooking for two? That only means leftovers – which will take up precious refrigerator space. I snagged these kitchen goodies from Amazon before we even bought the RV.
bella Kitchen Gear
First, let me explain that I’ve had a bit of a love affair with bella kitchen products for several years. The toaster that we are throwing away when we leave this place, is a bella – and I bought it for $10 in 2013 when we moved to Minnesota. It’s nearly 12 years old. When I learned that bella has a line of products called the “Fit Anywhere Kitchen,” my heart my have fluttered a bit.
9 Piece StoreMore Cookware Set by bella
We know that RV kitchens often run short on storage space. I need a pots and pans set with a smaller footprint. So the first purchase in my RV essentials list was this stackable, nesting set from Bella. It’s a bonus that they also come in this beautiful plum purple and are incredibly affordable.
Absolutely nothing sticks to the surface of these glorious pans, which take up the cupboard floor space of one large skillet.
bella 2-Slice Slim Toaster
Naturally, with a former bella toaster that lasted more than 12 years, I wanted to replace it with another bella toaster. This little gem boasts the same gorgeous plum color, and a slim design to take up the least amount of space possible. Counter space is precious real estate in an RV, so this was a must-have purchase.
Coffee Gator Moka Pot
If you’re like me, coffee is an essential part of your morning. Sadly, a countertop coffee pot with a glass carafe isn’t the best design for traveling. Besides the fact that the glass breaks, camping may not always involve electricity. I want coffee, whether I’m off-grid with cloudy skies and no solar power, or not.
The Moka Pot by Coffee Gator allows me to make coffee with no electricity needed.
RV Essentials: Utensils and Dinnerware
When stocking up your RV for full-time living, it’s important to remember your house is going to be bouncing around on wheels. Glass is probably not the best choice. So, 90% of our dinnerware – must be replaced.
Unbreakable, Wheat Straw Plates
The last thing I want to do is find a cupboard full of broken stoneware after a long day of traveling. So wheat straw plates were the first purchase I made for new mobile lifestyle.
While these plates aren’t recommended for the microwave (we can use paper plates for that anyway), these plates will never break.
Silicone Kitchen Utensils
You know, sometimes the best part about purging is replacing the things that are old and worn out. While there’s nothing sexy about buying new kitchen utensils, these are things that you simply need to have and must replace from time to time.
While not having a dishwasher is somewhat of a setback, at least I can own utensils with wooden handles.
RV Essentials Must Include Storage Containers
A keystone of any well-organized kitchen is storage. Keeping your pantry items organized, sealed and fresh is critical while traveling. Bags of snacks come open, cereals go stale, and baking ingredients can end up all over the place if you’re not careful. To avoid spilled flour mess that looks like a pound of Columbian bam-bam exploded in your kitchen, you must have well-sealed containers.
Camping Must-Haves
Overmont 6QT Camp Dutch Oven
During our stint in Colorado, I practically became famous for my cinnamon rolls. I don’t want to give up my favorite morning delicacy, but instead, I’m looking forward to putting a little twist on the recipe by making them over an open campfire in this beautiful, 6 Qt. Dutch Oven by Overmont.
Not to mention, there are numerous other items we can make over the fire, from soups and stews to campfire lasagna. A dutch oven is an essential cooking tool for off-grid camp living.
Clothes Line
You know what else we’re not always going to have access to? A laundromat. But clean clothes don’t have to be a luxury. Believe it or not, you can hand-wash items in your sink and hang them to dry with a portable clothes line.
RV Essentials For the Dogger-Doo
Our dog absolutely lives to travel. Seriously, he loves it. The first time I knew we had a travel dog was when we drove 12-hours straight through to Iowa and he laid in the backseat of the car without so much as a whimper. He’s fabulous on the road and we cannot wait to take Bocephus for the road trip of lifetime.
But traveling with an animal also takes special consideration. Here are a few essentials we bought for Bo.
The Backseat Apartment
Our new truck is a crew cab, which means it has a spacious backseat, but we want it to be as comfortable as possible for Bo, and we want to protect the truck from Bo, too. So with this lovely little purchase, we basically turn the truck’s backseat into an efficiency apartment made just for the dog.
The Doggie Ramp
Like us, Bo isn’t getting any younger. He’s going to be 11 years old this year, and he’s starting to slow down a little. While he can still make the jump into the back of the car, jumping up into our truck may be another battle. So, just to be prepared, we will start training him on a ramp.
Travel Water Bowl
Everyone who owns a dog knows that if you plan to take them anywhere, you have to plan for water. But carrying around a bowl isn’t always convenient or easy. Fortunately, they make snazzy little travel bottles like this one that come with a built-in water dish.
A Growing RV Essentials List
I’m certain that this is only going to grow. After we pick up the RV and start to get situated, there are several other items that I’m sure we’ll add to this list, such as security and anti-theft devices… maybe even a little covert surveillance to keep the riff-raff out.
