When we first got ready to start our RV lifestyle, we ( by we, I mean me) went a little crazy with shopping.

If it was collapsible, stackable, or designed for RV’s I thought I HAD to have it.

After a few months in our RV and a lot of boondocking, I have found some things just do not work for the RV life, while others are perfect for this lifestyle.

Let me tell you what I bought, what works, what doesn’t, what kind of works, and what I would do again.

Note: Some of the links in this are affiliate links. If you click on them and do a little shopping, we may make a commission off of your purchase.

Kind of works- A rectangle oven baking stone.

If you have been in any RV Facebook group, you know people praise adding a pizza stone to your RV oven.

It helps distribute heat and prevents your food from burning so easily.

I agree that it does help.

However, this baking stone is too small, even for a RV oven. It slides around the oven during transport. Where the stone is positioned, food cooks great! Where the stone doesn’t reach, food burns. It is a constant battle and I am still searching for the perfect fit.

I do recommend buying a baking stone or pizza stone but measure your oven first. You want one that will cover as much as possible.

Update! I placed the baking stone inside a metal cookie sheet. It was just what we needed to make our oven work well enough to bake bread.

More tips for using your RV oven can be found here!

Works- Collapsible Kitchen Colander

This thing is amazing!

I wish I had had one back in our sticks and bricks. It collapses down to less than 2 inches thick.

It is big enough to hold an entire pot of spaghetti noodles, with no spillage.

It has small holes that prevent food from getting through. It washes clean easily. Is there really any more to say about this product? I absolutely would buy it again.

The only catch is, it is a two pack. I did not need two of them, but I did gift one to a family member. She uses it in her sticks and bricks all the time. It is perfect and inexpensive.

It even comes in fun colors, if you want to be a little different or coordinate your kitchenware.

Update! 1 year in and I still use these. I have no complaints with them and would happily purchase them again.

Works- Unbreakable Stackable Bowls and Plates.

I know a lot of RVers use Melamine dishware. It is unbreakable and comes in beautiful designs.

However, they are not heat safe.

After doing a little research, I read that the melamine can leach into food, if they are used in the microwave or with hot foods.

That was not something I wanted in my family’s food.

The Amuse Home dishware comes only in plain colors. They aren’t as pretty, but they are microwave safe and BPA free. For that peace of mind, I was willing to give up the beautiful plates and bowls.

Update! We actually switched to Corelle dishes. Nothing was wrong with these plates, but they are plastic and after a while they started to get scratches on their surface and I was concerned about cleanliness. If you do not cut food up on your plastic plates you can probably avoid these issues.

Works- Adhesive Toilet Paper Holder

I do not know who designed these RVs without putting in a toilet paper holder, but we need to have a chat.

You can’t stick the roll on the counter, there is not space. You don’t have a tank to sit the roll on. Floor space is a limited option.

So, what do you do?

We opted for a toilet paper holder that sticks on the wall.

I even sat on the toilet seat (I was completely clothed) and picked the best location to stick it.

It has a brushed stainless-steel look was a perfect match to what I was looking for.

Let me tell you though, once you stick this thing on the wall, it is stuck!

It does not come back off. We have taken our RV on some deeply rutted, washboarded roads and that thing did not budge.

Absolutely worth the money!

Update! 1 year in and I still love this thing. My toddler has pulled on it many times and it is not budging. We placed it that first day and have had not a single issue with. I absolutely would purchase again.

Works- Adhesive Paper Towel Holder

Similar to the toilet paper issue, is the paper towel issue. There is no counter space for a counter top holder, but with a toddler and 2 dogs, paper towels are a necessity.

We had to have a way to access them quickly and easily.

I chose to stick ours under the one cabinet in our kitchen.

It holds the paper towels up and out of the way.

It works great.

I love it, but the adhesive does not seem as strong as the toilet paper holder.

It has not fallen down or anything, but the adhesive on this is clear and I can see it pulling away some. I just rub it back down, and we are good to go. They did send an extra adhesive, just in case, but I have not had to use it yet.

I like the way this paper towel roll holder does not stick out and make a statement.

It just does it’s job and blends in with the surroundings.

Update! 1 year in and I never had to replace the adhesive. We actually went papertowel free in our home, but it still works to hold some washcloths up out of the way and ready for use.

Does Not Work- Magnetic Knife Holder

I really wanted to be able to get my knives off the counter and out of the way.

A magnetic knife holder seemed perfect.

However, this thing was not even big enough to hold 1 knife safely. It was tiny! Even too tiny for a RV.

I am not sure what they were thinking with this thing.

It could be useful in the bathroom cabinet to hold bobby pins or something. I wish I had kept it for that, those things are always all over the place.

However, unfortunately, I did not think of that in time. If you try it out and it works will you let me know?

Kind of Works- Silicone Collapsible Storage Bowls

These things seemed perfect for the RV life.

They nest inside of each other and collapse down.

You have 3 bowls, with lids that take up less room then 1 Tupperware container.

So, what earns them a kind of works tag?

The lids do not stay latched on.

Who makes a bowl, with a lid, if the lid does not secure down well?

I still use them, because I prefer not to be wasteful, but they are not on the buy it again list.

Update! I still have these a year in. The lid still does not secure down and it is so frustrating. The insides of them also stain if you put anything with a tomato base inside of them.

Works- Collapsible Dish Drying Rack

Are you noticing a trend with collapsible items?

I told you I had a problem, however this one was a good buy.

This dish drying rack collapses down to about an inch thick and I just stand it up with my cookie sheets when not in use.

It is a fairly decent size, with 4 square slots to hold silverware and these little nubs that stick up to hold dishes in place.

It does not have a drainer board, so everything drains straight down, but that is ok with me.

I just stick it on my dish drying mat out of the way and I am good to go.

Update! We still have this one and use it every day. The only complaint I have with it is that it does not drain efficiently. Sometimes water just pools in the bottom of it and very slowly drains out. It is frustrating but nothing I can’t work around.

Works- Command Hooks

Would a RV must have list be complete without Command Hooks?

I highly recommend buying them in bulk.

You will use way more than you think.

I have them on the bedroom wall to hold hats, belts, and bags. In the bathroom, to hold towels. In the kitchen, to hold measuring cups and spoons up out of the way. Next to the front door, to hold keys, dog harness, dog leashes, flashlights, head lamps, umbrellas, and anything else I think we may need to grab on the way out the door.

They also make picture hanging strips, which is what I have all of our décor hung with.

Command Strips are essential to RV life. Buy them! You wont regret it.

Update! Just buy the biggest pack you can. They are so handy and essential to life.

Works- Pot and Pan Protector Pads

These are something I never thought about, until I spotted them at Ross one day.

It was like a lightbulb went off.

Of course, I needed these!

I have a nesting pot and pan set from Bass pro (see below) and these fit right in between the pans to keep them from rubbing the non-stick finish off when nested together.

I also keep them between my ceramic casserole dishes to keep them from breaking during travel.

They are absolutely worth it, especially if you move often like we do.

Bonus item, since I already mentioned it

Kinda works- Bass Pro Nesting Pot set.

It does its job.

It nests together, and it cooks food.

But, I would not buy it again.

The pots are thin and lightweight, which means they dent and bend easily. They don’t hold up well to being banged around on travel days.

Also, the lids don’t sit on them very well and they can’t travel with them on. They kind of just get slung around.

I do most of my cooking in my cast iron pans anyways, but I needed something for boiling and spaghetti sauce. (I was taught no tomato goes near cast iron.)

I thought these would be perfect.

But they aren’t, and they were kind of expensive.  

I do still like the idea of a nesting pot set, but I would not buy these again.

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