It’s been a month since I wrote the post about RV gadgets worth trying for inside the rig. Thanks for all the comments here and on social media. Readers told me they were going to try the hot water bottle and several ordered the door handle. Any others? Are you ready for more? Today, it’s a similar list but focused on RV gadgets outside the rig. Some I may never try while others I’m certain I will.

Inflatable Hot Tub

The first, and so far, only, time I’ve seen one of these, I did a double-take because my brain couldn’t compute what my eyes were seeing. I even walked closer to make sure the round covered tub outside an RV really was what it looked like.

Yep, there is such a thing as a portable inflatable hot tub. Who knew?

Later, I talked to the guy who couldn’t say enough good things about it. He takes a dip every evening. It has jets which you can turn on just like a real hot tub. He said it folds down smaller than you think it would, enough to fit in a green lawn garbage bag.

And when I asked how much it was, I got the biggest surprise of all. I was sure he would say something over $1,000. But, no, he paid less than $400.

So, if you like hot tubs (and unless you stay at the RV resort parks, you usually won’t find them in campgrounds), this might be the RV gadget outside the rig for you.

Strong Back Low Gravity Chair

At the Oliver rally last year, a fellow owner turned me on to these. Now, before I tell you about the chair, let me tell you that, at one point, I had eight (yes, the number after seven) camp chairs, including an Adirondacks plastic chair that wasn’t foldable. Seriously! I’m one person.

It was hard but after a year, I was able to reduce my chairs to four, including the Adirondacks chair which I loved so much. Two of the ones I have are the typical camp chairs that fold in on themselves and don’t take up much room. Then I have a rocking camp chair (which is awesome) and a regular deck chair that both fold up. Both have decent sized frames and though they fold up flat(ish), they still take up some space.  

I tell you this because I liked the STRONGBACK chair so much that and I’m pretty sure, at some point, it’s going to get added to my chair menagerie.

I didn’t think much of it when she pulled it out of the back of her tow vehicle–just another camp chair–but she insisted I had to sit it in to get the full effect. Woah! She was right. I was so surprised. A camp chair with really good back support and super comfortable. I could see reading an afternoon away in one.

They come in a low-to-the-ground beach version as well as a more standard chair height. I tried the beach chair version. They also come in five colors, and the prices for the various colors differ as much as $20 so pay attention to that if you are on a budget.

Yes, you’re going to pay more than the $6.99 summer beach chairs you see piled up in big box stores but comfort and supporting your back is worth it.

Portable Fire Pit

More and more, I see RVers with Portable Fire Pits. They are great for a fast, easy fire. They look and feel (though don’t sound) like the real thing. Most of them come with a lid or storage bag which makes them easy to store and carry. You hook them up to a propane tank. Some RVers carry a small separate propane tank while others are easily able to tap into their RV’s propane tank.

Though they aren’t the same as a crackling real fire, they offer many advantages. First, you can often use these in places that don’t allow fires. Second, you don’t have to buy wood, gather sticks and fuss with getting a fire started. Third, when you turn off the propane, the fire is completely out. Fourth, they are fairly compact so only take up about as much room as a bundle of wood. Fifth—and, let’s be honest, maybe the most important—you can use the fire to make s’mores, same as a regular fire without the ash.

RV Gadget: Unique Water Hose

Thanks to reader, Ken, for this suggestion. It’s called a Teknor Apez Company Zero-G RV and Marine Hose I just ordered it because my previous water hose is about to be repurposed as a drain hose for my gray water. More on that conversion project with a step-by-step guide soon.

Ken said it’s a great water hose and, best of all, super compact. It fits in a gallon-sized Ziplock bag. I reviewed the Q&A section in Amazon. Several people asked how it held up under the constant pressure of being hooked to an RV with the water open. And every reply indicated it was fine and no one reported a problem.

The one thing you may want to note is that while the packaging says, “drinking water safe,” it does appear to be made with BPA. One reviewer said they called the company to ask if it was BPA-free and the response was, “we don’t claim it’s BPA-free.” That’s not a deal-breaker for me as I fill up a jug from the spigot (which is where a hose splitter comes in super handy) rather than using water from my RV sink for drinking. It might be for you.

Portable Tank Dump

This gadget might be right up your ally if you are a boondocker who finds herself having to leave a spot due to full gray and/or black tanks. Enter: the portable waste tank holder. To me, they look like hard luggage with big plastic rollers. They are the shape of luggage then have between two and four wheels, depending on the capacity, and a handle that looks like a child’s red wagon. 

The ones I found range in capacity from six gallons up to 42 gallons.

If you were at a state campground that didn’t have sewer hookups but that had a central dump station. This would be quite a handy gadget because you’d roll the filled portable dump tank to it. A couple of trips and your tanks would be empty and you’d have gotten a little exercise for the effort.

I’m not as confident about the convenience and ease if you are boondocking. Water, you might know, weighs roughly eight pounds per gallon. Add to that the weight of the tank itself, the larger ones weighing about 40 pounds. And I wonder how’d you get a full portable dump tank lifted up into the vehicle you had to drive to a dump station.

Gutter for RV’s Windows

If you want to reduce the water running down your windows in a rainstorm, you can add small gutters above them. They will catch the water running from your roof and reroute it so it falls to the ground from the edge of the windows.

A product I’ve seen recommended and know several Oliver owners who have used it is Essentials EZE RV Gutter. It comes in a roll and if you let it warm in the sun, it will unroll which makes working with the stuff easier. It comes with an adhesive back (first clean the area, then swipe with alcohol) but many people also secure it with E6000 glue which is a craft glue. The guidelines say they can’t be used on textured surfaces.

The product comes in 10-foot rolls. I know an Oliver needs two rolls but not sure about other rigs. You’ll want to measure the width of each window then add another foot or so. Be sure to allow plenty for each window. You’ll want to go the length of the window, round them down, then cut them off. This product comes in white or black.

Collapsible Cooking Pot

I admit, I love the idea of these but that I haven’t been able to wrap my around them working well. This, despite the fact I’ve actually witnessed how great they work.

Thanks to reader, Joyce, for reminding me about these. She’d purchased a collapsible strainer which I’d recommended in a previous post and that triggered my memory about these. Last year at an RV rally, a friend of mine who didn’t have her RV yet decided to attend as a tent camper. She and her husband arrived on a shared motorcycle so storage was a big issue for them. One of her space-saving tricks was collapsible cooking pot which I’d never heard of until I saw hers.

They collapse flat just like my strainer. The collapsible side is BPA-free silicone while the bottom is a metal surface. I’m linking to the set my friend had which included a skillet, pot and kettle. But there are tons to choose from. Of course, my friend also had collapsible bowls and mugs to round out their cooking needs. These links are to a brand called Sea to Summit. I watch a lot of hiking videos and hikers seem to like the brand.

Outside RV Gadgets: Your Turn

Do you have any outside RV gadgets on your list that you want to try?

Links to Other RV Gadgets Posts:

• RV Gadgets Worth Trying Inside the Rig
• Best RV Kitchen Appliances
• Best RV Kitchen Gadgets
• 9 Most Used RV Gadgets Under $10
• More RV Gadgets Under $10

To see products recently purchased by readers or to browse and shop at Amazon, follow either of these links. Huge thanks for your support.

• Dark Towers by David Enrich
• Solimo Incontinence Protective Underwear
• Reusable Storage Bags Gallon-Size, 10-Pack

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