Our Purchases: RV Living
In preparation for living, working and staying healthy on the road, I spent countless hours researching, comparing, ordering, troubleshooting, testing and returning products. It was literally my part time job for almost half a year. And to this day our arsenal of "stuff" continues to evolve as we spend more and more time on the move.
If you'd like to benefit from all of my sweat, blood and due-diligent tears, here's your chance.
On this page you'll find almost every single item we've ever purchased that relates to RV Living.
If it's here, that means we were satisfied with it and it ended up being useful in some way.
If it didn't really work for us, or it downright sucked, you won't see it here.
From one-off cool little knick knacks (like these embroidered Abarth seat-belt cushions) to full blown project master part lists (like the ones here) everything on this page has our stamp of approval.
Plus, any time you actually click a link and make a purchase, you're helping to support ATSWG by earning us a sweet commission!
Win. Win. Win. - Michael Gary Scott
(NOTE: This list is a constant WORK IN PROGRESS so if you don't see what you're looking for, have specific questions, or even find a link that's no longer working, feel free to shoot us an email at atswego@gmail.com or submit a message HERE and we'll get back with you as soon as we can.)
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Vehicles
12V/120V Portable Air Compressor
KOBALT 12 Volt/120 Volt Dual Power Air Compressor / Inflator
We received this as a gift many years ago and we still use it to this day. We keep this in the Fiat and also use it to inflate our bicycle tires.
RV-Safe Tire Inflator with 60ft hose
VIAIR 450P-RVS Automatic 12-volt Portable Tire Inflator – 130 PSI – 100% Duty Cycle
Used to keep our RV and truck tires topped off (can handle the 110 PSI needed on our rig). Also includes 60ft of air hoses so we can reach every tire with ease.
Digital Tire Pressure Gauge
Digital Tire Pressure Gauge with Backlit LCD and Flashlight
We use this primarily on travel days for quickly confirming the pressure of all 12 of our tires (6 on the rig & 6 on the truck) before hitting the road.
Extended Reach Dual Head Air Chuck
Milton 1/4″ FNPT Extended Reach Dual Head Air Chuck
This allows us to better reach the tire stems on both the inner and outer tires on the rear of the dually. We’re able to add air without this, but it takes a bit longer and we get a lot dirtier.
Portable 1000 Amp Jump Starter
Schumacher 1000 Peak Amp Lithium Ion Jump Starter
We keep this in the Fiat. If the car battery gets too low, this allows us to start without needing a jumper vehicle. We’ve used it many times in colder weather and it works great.
Portable 600 Amp Jump Starters
EverStart 600 Peak Amp Lithium-Ion Jump Starters
We keep two of these in the truck (just because we had extras from old vehicles). If our dual truck batteries are a bit too weak, one of these attached to each gives us a slight chance to start without needing a jumper vehicle. If the truck batteries get super low though, these are useless.
Booster Jumper Cables
Booster Jumper Cables – 4 Gauge x 20Ft with Carry Bag
We keep a set of jumper cables in both the truck and the car.
Trickle Charger / Battery Maintainer
NOCO GENIUS2D 2-Amp Direct-Mount Onboard 12V Battery Trickle Charger / Maintainer / Desulfator with Temperature Compensation
We installed this in the Fiat so we can plug it into any outlet and keep the battery healthy if the car were ever to go unused for extended periods of time.
Trickle Charger / Battery Maintainer
NOCO GENIUS10 10-Amp Direct-Mount Onboard 12V Battery Trickle Charger / Maintainer / Desulfator with Temperature Compensation
We installed this in the F-450 so we can plug it into any outlet and keep the dual batteries healthy if the truck were ever to go unused for extended periods of time.
Battery Charger Terminal Accessory
NOCO GC002 X-Connect M6 Eyelet Terminal Accessory For NOCO Genius Smart Battery Chargers
We added this on to the NOCO GENIUS10 so we could permanently connect the charger to the F-450’s battery system.
2" Front Mount Hitch Receiver
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver – 2″
We installed this on the front of our F-450 primarily so we could transport our bikes on travel days when the bed and rear hitch are inaccessible.
Hitch Mount Bike Rack
Swagman XTC2 Hitch Mount Bike Rack
We use this rack to transport our bikes on the front of our F-450 primarily on travel days when the bed and rear hitch are inaccessible.
Roof Rack Steel Bars (Part 1)
Thule SquareBar Steel Load Bars (Set of 2)
These are the horizontal bars of the roof rack system for our Fiat 500. The 47″ inch bars fit just perfectly.
Roof Rack Universal Feet (Part 2)
Thule Traverse Foot Pack (Set of 4) Black
These are the universal feet of the roof rack system for our Fiat 500. We need these along with a custom fit kit.
Roof Rack Custom Fit Kit (Part 3)
Thule Roof Rack System Fit Kit
This is the custom fit kit for the feet of the roof rack system for our Fiat 500. We needed Kit 1611.
Roof Rack Short Roof Adapter (Part 4)
Thule Traverse Short Roof Adapter
This allows the roof rack system to work on the extremely short roof of our Fiat 500. This was by far the hardest piece to find in stock.
Roof Rack Locking System (Part 5)
Thule One-Key System Lock Cylinders
This allows us to adds locks to all of the feet of our roof rack system to help deter theft. We technically only needed a 4 pack but went ahead and got the 6 pack so we’d have a couple extras with the same key.
Upright Roof Mount Bike Rack
Swagman UPRIGHT Roof Mount Bike Rack
We use this to transport our bikes on the roof rack without having to remove any wheels. This is our favorite bike rack and the one we use most often. It’s stable even at 70mph+ speeds and big enough to hold a 29″ mountain bike.
Fork Mount Rooftop Bike Carrier
Swagman STANDARD Fork Mount Rooftop Bike Carrier
We’ve used this to transport our bikes on the roof rack but it does require us to remove the front wheels. The benefit of this is a slightly more stable ride. Although this is a good rack, we still prefer the convenience of the upright version.
Combination Cable Bike Lock
Master Lock Combination 6FT Cable Bike Lock
We use this as a theft deterrent by locking our bikes and rack to the front tow hook of the truck when they’re mounted. We also carry this with us when exploring so we can secure the bikes if we need to leave them.
Front & Interior Dash Camera
Vantrue N2 Pro Dual 1080P Dash Cam – Front and Inside with Infrared Night Vision – 24hr Motion Detection Parking Mode – Auto Accident Record
We have one in each vehicle. Not only does it record the interior and exterior of the vehicle during driving, but it also detects and records any motion inside and out while parked, providing an additional layer of security monitoring.
Dash Cam Permanent Hardwire Kit
Vantrue 11.5ft Mini USB Dash Cam Permanent Hardwire Kit
We used these kits to wire the dash cam power cords directly to our fuse panels so they don’t need to be plugged into a 12v socket and the cords are hidden and out of the way.
Dash Cam GPS Antenna
Vantrue Dash Cam GPS Receiver Module – Mini USB Port – Suction Cup Mount
This allows our vehicle location and speed data to be attached to all footage, which may prove helpful as evidence in the case of a possible accident.
MicroSD Memory Card for Dash Cam
Samsung PRO Endurance 128GB 100MB/s (U1) MicroSDXC Memory Card
This is the memory card we use for both dash cams as it’s designed for heavy continuous usage situations like recording simultaneous front and back 1080p clips 24/7.
Smoke Colored License Plate Tag Covers
Smoke Colored Polycarbonate Flat License Plate Shields
We use these on both the F-450 and Abarth for a cleaner, darker look on the license plates.
Abarth Seat Belt Cover
Carbon Fiber Sport Abarth Seat Belt Cover Shoulder Pad Cushion
We use these to keep the seatbelt off of AK’s neck in the Fiat.
Wiper Blade Replacements
AERO Voyager Premium All-Season OEM Quality Windshield Wiper Blades
These are the best replacement wiper blades we’ve found thus far for both the 2019 F-450 (22″ x 22″) and the 2019 Fiat 500 (24″ x 14″).
Reflective Triangle Kit
Warning Triangle Kit – DOT Approved 3PK – Reflective Road Safety
We keep these in the truck in case we need to pull over on the road for a substantial period of time. We’ve also used them for increased visibility while overnighting in a parking lot so we aren’t accidentally hit.
LED Roadside Emergency Flares
LED Emergency Road Flares – Roadside Safety Beacons with Strobe Light, Magnetic Base & Upright Stand
We keep these in the truck in case we need to pull over on the road for a substantial period of time and need increased visibility at night or during bad weather.
Roadside Emergency Tire Repair Kit
Universal Heavy Duty Roadside Emergency Tire Repair Kit
We keep this in the truck as another “just-in-case” item. It can be used for an emergency tire repair if we were unable to use a spare for some reason.
Glass Breaker with Seat Belt Cutter Tool
Car Emergency Escape Tool 2-Pack with Safety Hammer, Window Glass Breaker & Seat Belt Cutter
We keep one of these in each of the vehicles as a just-in-case item. It can be used to break glass and cut seatbelts in an emergency situation.
Steel E-Track Tie-Down Rails
2ft E-Track Rails – Black Powder-Coated Steel – 2000lb WLL – 6-pack
We installed six of these across the garage floor for attaching all straps and wheel chocks to, for a total working load limit of 12,000lbs. Total overkill for our 2600lb Fiat 500 Abarth.
Wheel Chock Tie-Down Kit
Erickson Wheel Chock Tie-Down Kit
We installed only two chocks from this kit, which are used soley for chocking the back of the front wheels of the Fiat and for a strap attachment point. We didn’t use the included straps or the front chocks.
E-Track Moveable Wheel Chocks
Erickson E-Track Moveable Wheel Chocks
We use two of these for chocking the front of the front wheels. Since these can easily be removed with the push of a button, it allows us to have full clearance for both doors in the garage area when the chocks are not in use.
E-Track Ratcheting Straps
Erickson 2″ x 12′ Ratcheting E-Track Logistic Straps – 1166lb WLL
We use one of these on each tire, for a total working load limit of 4600+lbs. Plenty of capacity for the 2600lb Fiat 500 Abarth.
E-Track Roller Idler
Erickson E-Track Roller Idler Fitting Assembly – 1100 lb. WLL
These are necessary to allow the straps & ratchet to sufficently clear the bumpers. We use one of these on each strap for a total working load limit of 4400lbs which is plenty of capacity for the 2600lb Fiat 500 Abarth.
Yellow Torque Detection Marker
Vibra-TITE Viz-Torque Tamper Detection Marker – Yellow
This bright yellow marker, when applied to the head of each E-Track fastener, allows us to visually check if any have moved since they were last torqued, indicating possible loosening.
Pair of Aluminum Ramps
Pair of Aluminum Ramps with Punch Plate Surface – 12″ Wide x 3’ Long
We use these for providing additional clearance for the front bumper of the Fiat when loading it into the garage. Once the front wheels have cleared these ramps, we pause to remove them and then complete the loading process.
Rubber Tarp Straps
Rubber Tarp Straps with Steel Hooks – 15″, 21″ & 31″
We use these for securing the patio rails and the rear glass doors when we’re loading and unloading the Fiat. This set has the perfect lengths so they hold the doors tight and stable, even in the wind.
Quad Lock Phone Case
Quad Lock Case for iPhone 12 Pro Max
This case allows us to use all of our Quad Lock mounts, including the Fiat 500 mount and our bicycle handlebar mounts.
Quad Lock 1" Ball Adaptor Mount
Quad Lock 1″ Ball Adaptor Mount
This allows us to use our Quad Lock case in combination with our RAM Mount to securely mount our phone in the Fiat.
RAM Mount Arm
RAM Mount Medium Arm
We have this mounted in the Fiat and we use it in combination with our Quad Lock system to securly mount our phones.
RAM Mount Plate
RAM Mount 1″ Ball Plate
We have this mounted in the Fiat and we use it in combination with our Quad Lock system to securely mount our phones.
100ft 10-Amp Extension Cord
100′ Outdoor 10-Amp Extension Cord
This is our general purpose extension. We carry this in the truck as it can be used with the built-in 400 watt AC outlet. We also use this if we ever need to connect either the truck or the Fiat trickle chargers to the RV to maintain their batteries.
Soft Roll Up Tonneau Bed Cover
TruXedo Pro X15 Soft Roll Up Tonneau Bed Cover
This cover is low profile, minimizing the amount of space we lose between the bedrail and bottom of the 5th wheel and it folds up small so it doesn’t block our view out of the rear window, and it allows our FuelBox to open freely.
Fuel Tank Tool Box Combo with Pump
FuelBox Combo Fuel Tank & Tool Box with Transfer Pump
This holds enough gas to fill up both our 30 gallon generator tank and 30 gallon aux tank on the RV. With all three gas tanks filled we have a total capacity of 120 gallons, which can last us a good week while boondocking in the high 90’s and up to a month or more in cooler weather. The onboard pump and hose allow us to easily fill the tanks and even the Fiat if needed.
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System)
TST FLOW THRU TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System) with 4 to 12 Sensors
Allows us to monitor the pressure and temperature of all tires on the RV and truck in real-time and alerts if there are any issues.
Reese 5th Wheel Hitch
Reese M5 Fifth Wheel Hitch with 27K LB Capacity
This is an updated version of our Reese hitch with similar specs and capabilities. They no longer make the model we’ve been using since 2019.
Chemical Guys Ceramic Quick Detailer
Chemical Guys HydroSpeed Ceramic Quick Detailer – 16oz Bottle
After spraying off my vehicles with plain water, I use this to remove water spots and it leaves a hydrophobic mirror finish every time.
Chemical Guys Silk Edged Microfiber
Chemical Guys Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towel
I use this first with the HydroSpeed Detailer to remove water spots and light dirt / dust.
Chemical Guys Edgeless Microfiber
Chemical Guys Happy Ending Ultra Plush Edgeless Microfiber Towel
I use this last to remove any remaining detailer and fully dry the surface to a mirror finish.
Which category would you like to see?
Day-One Necessities
Maintenance
Safety
Security
Tools
Water & Sewer
Office
Add-Ons & Upgrades
Vehicles
Replenishables
Miscellaneous
Projects & Mods
< Back to Lists