Let’s face it, not every RV tool, gadget, or appliance deserves a spot in your camper.
While some promise to make camping easier or more enjoyable, they can often turn out to be a waste of time, money, and space in your RV.
Before you load up your storage bays, I’m going to help you narrow down which tools are better left on the shelf — and what smart alternatives expert RVers recommend instead.
SKIP: RV Holding Tank Rinsers & Wands
Our extensive testing of external devices has proven that they are highly ineffective for the majority of RV wastewater systems.
In fact, we find that holding tank rinsers and wands are more effective for filling your black water holding tank than they are for actually rinsing out lingering debris.
Why?
So often, RVers assume tank rinsers and wands are working because of the satisfying hissing sound coming from the narrow nozzle tip followed by the draining water changing from brown to clear.
That’s all the proof you need, right? Well, not quite.
All this means is that the rinsing device made a river — and channel — where only some of the waste and debris is rinsed out, while the rest is left behind.
The problem with tank rinsers and wands is they lack high-pressure, struggle to reach corners or flat tank bottoms around obstacles, and only provide a light spray, rather than the volumetric rush of water needed to scour and lift stubborn waste and toilet paper from the tank.
When you opt to fill your black tank completely with clean water you can lift all of the lingering waste into the tank treatment solution and flush it out for superior results — I’ll cover more about that next.
Better Alternative: Rinsing Your Black Tank After Every Dump
Rinsing your black tank after every dump is important because waste and debris can often remain in crevices, tank ledges, sensor probes, and low points.
As the residual waste accumulates, it can lead to foul odors, clogs, and misreading sensors.
The only way to be sure you’ve drained all the remaining waste out is to routinely fill and dump your tanks.
The Best Way to Rinse Your RV Black Tank: Fill your black tank completely with fresh water and then dump. Do this twice and your tank will be cleaner than when using any holding tank rinser or wand.
You can easily fill your black tank by:
- Holding down the RV toilet foot pedal.
- Using the black tank wand (actually better for filling than rinsing).
- Using the on-board tank rinser (highly recommend using a water meter to prevent overflow).
SKIP: Gray Tank Treatments
As a seller of tank treatments, it would be obvious for us to encourage you to buy one of our products. However, we have always believed that being honest and truthful is the most important thing we can do to give RVers the best chance for success.
Because your gray tank does not usually contain solids, deep cleaning your gray tank is very easy — all you have to do is remove the grease that has built up inside the tank.
Over years of experience, we’ve discovered that the best way to clean gray tanks is with Dawn Ultra dish soap, water, and time. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones!
This means that gray tank treatments are completely unnecessary, so in good faith we can’t recommend any type of gray tank treatment product…even our own.
As a result, you should avoid wasting time and money on gray tank treatments that include:
- Bold Product Claims: Products that claim to “deep clean” gray water tanks.
- Outdated Methods: Viral techniques are ineffective or potentially harmful, including The Geo Method and the Ice & Driving Technique.
- Harsh Chemicals: Bleach, Borax, and other chemical cleaners can damage RV components.
Better Alternative: Water, Dawn Ultra Dish Soap, and Time
Regardless of your camping style, we recommend cleaning your gray tank once a week alongside your black tank.
Through years of experience with customers, we’ve found that the best product for removing gray tank grease and residue is Dawn Ultra dish soap.
The Best Way to Clean Your Gray Tank: When you combine Dawn Ultra, water, and time (you can let it sit overnight while you sleep), these simple ingredients not only get your RV gray tank cleaner than any other option but won’t cause damage to your holding tanks and seals.
For full gray tank cleaning instructions:
SKIP: RV-Specific Toilet Paper
As we learned in last month’s newsletter, the brand of toilet paper you choose is almost completely irrelevant.
Whether you choose RV toilet paper or premium toilet paper, both types will break down in water at roughly the same rate (roughly 48 hours), meaning that you don’t have to sacrifice money or comfort on RV-specific toilet paper.
Better Alternative: Your Preferred Toilet Paper & Paper-Digesting Black Tank Treatment
By using a black tank treatment that is an effective paper digester, you can reduce the time that it takes toilet paper to break down from 48 hours, and make it happen in only a few hours.
Paper-digesting black tank treatments solve the TP problem completely, meaning you can use soft, comfortable toilet paper without fear of clogs when dumping.
The Best Way to Use Your RV Bathroom: You can safely use any brand of toilet paper in your RV as long as you use an RV holding tank treatment that is capable of digesting toilet paper fully and rapidly, like high-quality, bacteria- and enzyme-based RV Digest-It Ultra.
RV Gear: Tools to Skip vs. Expert Alternatives | |||
Skip This | Buy This | ||
| Cheap, Rigid Plastic “RV” Hoses | Cheap white drinking-water hoses are stiff, prone to kinking, crack easily in cold weather, and can leach plastic taste into drinking water. | Flexible Water Hose | Flexible, reinforced polymer or rubber-blend water hoses resist kinks, stay pliable in cold weather, roll up smoothly, and are certified safe for drinking water. Note: Drinking water hoses are typically white or blue, and should be reserved specifically for drinking water to prevent dangerous cross-contamination. |
| Basic Surge Protectors | Inexpensive surge guards only protect against massive spikes, leaving your RV vulnerable to low-voltage damage. | EMS Surge Protectors | These are designed to protect the entire RV rather than what you have plugged into a basic surge protector. |
| Impact Drivers | While popular for home builds, impact drivers are too aggressive for thin RV walls (like Luon paneling) and frequently strip out screws. | High-Quality 11-in-1 Screwdriver | They save lots of space and are extremely useful because they handle multiple fastener types, and include vital square-drive and nut-driver sizes. |
| Single-Use Kitchen Gadgets | Niche tools (banana slicers, lemon press, bagel slicer) waste the already limited space in your camper. | Multi-Use Standard Tools | Opt for multi-use standard tools like a chef’s knife, a standard box grater, and a heavy-bottomed skillet. |
| Complex Water Filtration Systems | Large water filters can take up entire storage bays, add extra weight, and are more complicated to fix while on the road. | Simple Water Filtration Systems | Easily fit under a sink or on a small wall, add very little load, and are easier to fix with standard tools. |
| Non-Adjustable Water Pressure Regulators | Non-Adjustable water pressure regulators can often severely limit water volume and fail to accurately control variations in pressure. | Adjustable Water Pressure Regulators | Choose a water pressure regulator with a gauge on it. It takes the guess work out of what water pressure you are adjusting to, ideally between 40-55 PSI. |
| WiFi Booster | WiFi is often very unreliable at campgrounds and resorts, even with a booster. | Cell Booster | Opt for a cell booster that amplifies distant cell tower signals to give you independent, reliable coverage. |
| Cheap, Portable Vacuum Cleaner | Often provide poor suction, break easily, and have a short battery life. | Smaller Shop Vacuum | Small enough to fit in storage areas, often include extendible tools to help clean hard-to-reach places, and can even be used as an air blower. |
| Flimsy, Foldable Broom | Awkward to use and even easier to break due to weak plastic parts. | Good Quality Broom | Choose a strong, one-piece or threaded handle broom that will not snap under pressure. |
RV Leaf Peeping: Plan Ahead
If you’re planning an RV trip to see fall foliage, it’s important to understand that the timing of peak color can vary significantly from season-to-season. Use typical foliage timelines as a guide, but check current conditions before you hit the road.
Tips for Planning Fall RV Trips:
- Research: Check state foliage reports and independent resources like Explore Fall for updated maps and conditions.
- Book Early: Campgrounds near popular leaf-peeping destinations fill quickly, so reserve your spot well in advance.
- Prepare for Weather: Fall weather can be unpredictable, so make sure your RV is prepared for cold weather and precipitation.
- Capture Memories: Take the time for photo opportunities and consider preserving some leaves via pressing, wax paper, or glycerin preservation.
Best RV Fall Foliage Destinations by Peak Season
Following the changing colors as they move south — and down from higher elevations—is one of the best ways to enjoy peak autumn scenery.
Fall foliage timing varies by elevation, latitude, weather, and location, but these are some of the best places to see fall colors in an RV, organized by when they're typically at their most vibrant.
Late September to Early October
Rocky Mountains & Northern New England
- Colorado: The San Juan Mountains, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Longs Peak offer spectacular golden aspen displays and the peak of the elk rut.
- White Mountains, NH: Drive the Kancamagus Highway, explore Franconia Notch State Park, and stay at Saco River Camping Area.
- Green Mountains, VT: Stowe and Smugglers' Notch offer iconic Vermont foliage, with Stowe/Smugglers' Notch KOA Resort nearby.
Early to Mid-October
Northeast & Midwest
- Catskills, NY: Explore scenic mountain roads, overlooks, and colorful forests, visiting destinations like North-South Lake and Catskill Scenic Trail.
- Adirondacks, NY: Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain offer panoramic mountain and lake views surrounded by fall color. Stay at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday.
- Pocono Mountains, PA: Explore colorful forests, waterfalls, mountain lakes, Jim Thorpe, and the Delaware Water Gap.
- Door County, WI: Cruise Highway 42 and explore Washington Island while staying at Peninsula State Park or Potawatomi State Park.
- Upper Peninsula, MI: Follow the Lake Superior shoreline through forests of brilliant sugar maples and aspens.
Mid October
New England & Appalachia
- Berkshires, MA: Visit Mount Greylock and the Mohawk Trail for classic New England scenery. Prospect Lake Park makes a great RV base.
- Acadia National Park, ME: Combine vibrant hardwood forests with scenic coastal views.
- New River Gorge, WV: Take in colorful Appalachian forests and dramatic canyon views from overlooks like Grandview.
Mid-to-Late October
Blue Ridge & Ohio
- Blue Ridge Parkway: Stop at Mabry Mill, Linville Falls, and Grandfather Mountain as fall color moves down the mountains.
- Great Smoky Mountains, NC & TN: Explore Newfound Gap Road, Cades Cove, and the Clingmans Dome area during peak color.
- Shenandoah National Park, VA: Drive the 105-mile Skyline Drive, stopping at overlooks such as Stony Man and Hawksbill for sweeping views of colorful Blue Ridge forests.
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH: Ride the scenic railroad through forests of maple, oak, and beech.
Late October to November
Southern Appalachians, Ozarks & Southwest
- Buffalo National River, AR: Look for brilliant displays of oak, maple, hickory, and other hardwoods as the season moves south.
- Little River Canyon National Preserve, AL: Drive the Canyon Rim Drive for colorful forests and dramatic overlooks.
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX: McKittrick Canyon offers a surprising display of vibrant maple foliage against rugged desert peaks.
With a little planning, you can turn fall foliage season into an unforgettable RV road trip. Follow the changing colors, book your campsites early, and be ready to adjust your route when conditions change.
Have Questions About Your RV?
Contact the friendly and professional Customer Support Team at Unique Camping & Marine for answers today.
Hello campers, I’m coming to you each month with expert tips and information that benefit all types of RVers. Each piece is written, not by Artificial Intelligence, but by an Actual Individual...me!
I research each subject, consult industry professionals, and verify information with certified RV techs before this newsletter ever reaches your inbox.
Catch you down the road,
Annie
