11 Best Gadgets Every RVer or Van Lifer Should Own

Whether you travel in a Class C RV, a tiny campervan, or anything in between, the right gadgets can make life on the road a whole lot easier. From organizing your kitchen to saving time on setup and packing, smart tools can turn everyday challenges into simple solutions.

The tricky part? There are so many RV and van life gadgets out there that it’s hard to know which ones are truly worth the space. Technology and clever design have completely changed how we camp and travel, but not every accessory is essential.

That’s why we’ve rounded up 11 must-have gadgets for modern nomads — items that make travel more comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable no matter what kind of rig you call home.

1. Starlink RV

We live in a world where internet access is a must, especially those who live off-the-grid in their campers. Therefore, it’s essential to have a device that provides an internet connection no matter where you are.

Whether you want to keep in touch with family, watch your favorite show, or work on the road, Starlink’s got you covered. Starlink is a satellite internet service provided by Space X’s Starlink satellite constellation. 

We use the Starlink Mini on the Roam plan, which you can check out here. It allows you to pause service when you’re not in need of satellite internet, and you can even use it while driving!

Campers can access a fast, reliable internet connection anywhere using a small, portable Starlink RV device. This is a fantastic device to buy if you often travel to remote locations.

2. A Camper Leveler

A camper leveler is a basic gadget, but it significantly impacts the RV experience. One of the worst things about RVing is parking your RV on uneven ground and needing a way of leveling it.

Trust us, this has happened to us multiple times, and it’s never a fun experience. In these instances, you usually have to find a large piece of wood to put under the tire. However, you can solve the problem safely and quickly with a camper leveler. 

By placing a camper leveler under your wheel, you can level your RV in increments as small as ½ inches until it’s level.

3. Air Fryer

The air fryer was first introduced to the market in 2010, but it’s only in recent years that it’s taken the world by storm, and rightly so. For those living under a rock, an air fryer is a user-friendly, time-saving cooking appliance that uses rapid hot air technology to cook food faster.

It doesn’t require preheating, uses less energy than a standard oven, and is simple to use. Furthermore, an air fryer can be used to cook almost anything. You can cook anything from quick and healthy snacks to full breakfasts, dinners, and chicken.

This might seem to big if you travel in a campervan, by my friend over at Bearfoot Theory uses one in her Sprinter and loves it.

4. Tire Pressure Monitoring System

A tire pressure monitoring system is an invaluable tool for RVers, particularly those who tow, because it can quickly and reliably check tire pressure and temperature. Identifying sudden changes is a game changer because it isn’t always easy to notice a blown tire or a pressure drop.

By identifying issues before they become serious problems, you reduce the risk of further damaging your RV, breaking the law, or causing an accident. This type of system effectively diagnoses any real-time issues via small sensors attached to the valves on your tires. 

It will then alert you to the problem via a small dashboard device.

5. Collapsible Dish Drainer

Sometimes, the most straightforward gadgets are the ones we appreciate most. The collapsible dish drainer perfectly exemplifies this. Anyone who lives in an RV knows how important it is to keep things collapsible.

Collapsible items are functional and compact, helping us save space in our RVs. In this instance, a collapsible dish drainer allows us to drain dishes without taking up much countertop space.

You simply pop open a collapsible drainer when you need it, use it, and then collapse it back down to put away once you’re done. Collapsible dish drainers are ideal for draining glasses and dinnerware, and they often feature a separate utensils compartment for cutlery. 

6. Spice Gripper Clip Strips

We don’t know how we survived RV life without spice-gripper clip strips. These neat little strips prevent spices from rolling around your countertop and taking up too much space. 

To maximize your kitchen space and keep spices in place, add spice-gripper clip strips to the inside of your cupboard doors. This will keep your RV kitchen tidier, prevent spices from moving, and ensure your favorite flavors are at arm’s length.

Better still, spice gripper clip strips are easy and mess-free to install. They feature an adhesive design that sticks easily to almost any surface.

7. Keyless Entry Door Lock

One step modern RVers are taking to enter the 21st century is to swap out traditional mechanical locks with keyless entry locks. A keyless entry door lock provides more security and quick RV access while eliminating the need to carry around keys.

These systems typically include a touchpad or keypad allowing RV owners to use their fingerprints or enter a PIN code. We also find that using a keyless entry door lock makes bringing in groceries or running in from the rain easier because you don’t have to worry about finding your keys in your pocket or bags.

8. Pocket Projector And Screen

The invention of the pocket projector and portable cinema-style screen has to be one of the coolest modern RV-perfect gadgets. Picture it now: sitting by the campfire, stars overhead, and your favorite movie playing as you roast marshmallows.

We don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty awesome. The beauty of using a pocket projector is that it doesn’t take up much space while offering exceptional video quality. Once you’ve watched your favorite movie, simply collapse the screen and projector, and put them in a drawer.

Admittedly, you don’t need to buy a screen to use a projector, but we find it provides a much clearer and sharper viewing experience. 

9. Portable Solar Panels

If you boondock a lot, portable solar panels can be handy. Of course, you could install fixed solar panels on your roof, but portable panels have many advantages. 

For example, if you park in the shade because it’s hot, portable solar panels can be positioned so they still sit in direct sunlight. Furthermore, you can easily reposition them when the sun moves. 

Finally, portable solar panels are much easier to clean because they can be placed on the floor. They capture sunlight and convert it into usable electricity for your RV, which can be crucial if you live off the grid.

10. Portable Power Station

Similarly, a portable power station can be helpful if you do a lot of boondocking because it stores energy in a rechargeable battery that can power electronic devices. We use a portable power station to charge our laptops and cameras when staying off-grid, and it works a treat.

Solar-powered portable power stations are even better because sunlight recharges the battery. However, this RV gadget has one major downside: It can take up a lot of space. 

With that in mind, we recommend finding somewhere to store your portable power station before buying one. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a power station you don’t have anywhere to put.

11. iPad

The final gadget on our list is the iPad, which is the perfect solution if you want access to everything you need without having to pack a laptop. Generally, iPads are affordable now, so you don’t have to worry about the exorbitant prices.

An iPad can be used for almost anything, including work, TV, road trip planning, and reading books. We use our iPad for everything and never want to travel without it again.

It makes everything so much easier and takes up very little space. It’s also more comfortable to sit in bed with than a laptop.

There you have it, 11 gadgets every modern RVer should own. So, how many of these gadgets do you keep in your RV? If you don’t own many, we recommend picking up at least some of them because they’ll make your RVing experience much easier and more enjoyable.