Did you know that more than 40 million Americans regularly go RVing? RVers often travel long distances through unfamiliar places while exploring and making memories. Often those traveling in or with an RV are carrying heavy loads, so it’s crucial to be prepared for the unexpected. 

Part of being prepared is putting safety as your first priority if you routinely travel in a motorhome. One of the ways to do this is to ensure you know what’s needed in an RV emergency roadside kit. After all, accidents happen, tires blow out, engines blow, wiring unravels, and plenty more mishaps can befall you, so there’s no telling when you’ll need an RV emergency kit. 

Fortunately, if you’re an outdoor enthusiast interested in renting an RV from a company like Cruise America or who owns an RV, you’ve come to the right place. In our blog, we’re going to share six items you need to include in your RV emergency roadside kit if you’re planning a trip in the near future. 

6 Items You Need In Your RV Emergency Roadside Kit

We know that many items can be included in a roadside emergency kit. Yet, we want to share six must-have necessities (besides a first aid kit) you need to be safe while traveling in your motorhome. Each of these items will keep you safe and help you navigate any type of mishap that leaves you on the side of the road to or from your destination.

1. Road Deflectors

They might be somewhat expensive, but purchasing a premium-quality set of roadside deflectors is important. These emergency items are otherwise known as “traffic triangles.” They will ensure you’re seen along the road before another vehicle crashes into your motorhome. 

With road deflectors, you can keep yourself safe by circumventing an accident from occurring if another driver doesn’t see you pulled over or in the middle of the road, preventing damages and injuries. They will also get you noticed if you need help and are stranded. 

2. A Reflective Vest

When you’ve broken down on the side of the road, the last thing you need is to be invisible to oncoming traffic. Luckily, with a reflective vest added to your RV emergency kit, you won’t have to worry about other drivers not seeing you. You’ll also be visible to emergency vehicles that may be on their way to assist you. 

Additionally, you needn’t worry that these vests will only help at night as you’ll be able to be seen easily during the day. So keep one in your kit and reduce your chances of injury or fatality on the road. 

3. A Solar-Powered Phone Charger

Countless people love taking motorhomes off the grid and into the wilderness, away from developed campgrounds and services. Unfortunately, although this comes with many spectacular sights and activities, one can find oneself in a predicament where a motorhome battery runs dead or the unit, or car runs out of gas. 

In these situations, it’s crucial to have a solar-powered phone charger that you can use to keep your battery charged to call for assistance. Keeping one of these chargers in your RV emergency roadside kit will let you keep a constant charge of your phone since you won’t run out of a power source (the sun). 

However, when choosing a solar-powered phone charger, make sure it’s powerful enough to charge your devices. Usually, any charger that is rather over 7 watts is sufficient, but try to get a more powerful one if possible. 

4. A Tool Kit

Every RV emergency roadside kit needs a tool kit with all the tools you could need. These tools include a hammer, electrical tape, a flashlight, duct tape, silicone, screwdrivers, a wrench, and fuses to repair your motorhome. There should be enough tools in your kit to get you to a nearby service station so that they can look at the problem and fix it. 

Your tool kit might look a little more comprehensive if you fancy yourself a DIY enthusiast. This is especially true if you plan on fixing anything that breaks well enough on your own not to need to take it to a professional. 

5. A Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is one of the handiest items in your motorhome roadside kit. Of course, we hope you never have to use one, but it’s crucial to have one for your safety and to prevent damage to your RV and possessions. 

Additionally, according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), most RVs must store a class B rate fire extinguisher near their motorhome exit in case of fires. Yet, it’s an excellent idea to keep multiple fire extinguishers in your RV, specifically in the bedroom and kitchen, as these areas have more electrical outlets and appliances. 

6. An Air Horn

Despite what you might be thinking, adding an air horn to your RV emergency roadside kit is one of the absolute best decisions you could make when traveling in your motorhome. 

This is because an air horn is incredibly helpful during an emergency when you need to call attention to yourself and need aid. It is also handy in alerting traffic if you’ve had an accident and your rig is in the middle of the road. 

Why Not Rent Or Buy An RV From Cruise America? 

If you’re considering what items you need in an RV emergency roadside kit, you’re likely looking to rent or buy your own, so why not consider Cruise America? At Cruise America, we have an extensive range of big and small motorhomes available that you can rent with numerous discounts. 

We also have a wide variety of quality pre-owned RVs you can buy directly through us. So, look at what we offer and contact us here soon so we can help pair you with an RV rental that will let you hit the open road and make happy memories.