Cooking in an RV can be scary for a newbie and even some experienced RVers. When we were preparing to go full-time, I was a little nervous about how different my cooking techniques and even kitchen setup would be and how we would make it all work.

Cooking styles make a huge difference even in a sticks & bricks. We prefer to eat pretty clean-ish, primarily homemade cooking from scratch with as few processed or pre-packaged items as possible. I also have always loved to bake (so I make some exceptions here). I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could cook most meals just like we did in our sticks&bricks right in our much (MUCH) smaller RV kitchen.

We have a combination microwave/convection oven in our rig, and after learning some tricks with it, I love how it cooks/bakes. We also have a propane stove. While they are not listed here, we utilize both as much as we can in conjunction with our RV kitchen appliances.

Our top Five

We get the most out of these five RV Kitchen Appliances

I made sure to bring along our favorite kitchen tools and eliminate what we didn’t need in preparation. These are the five small kitchen appliances we have with us and could not part with…

1. Coffee Maker

While I’m not much of a coffee drinker in the mornings, Jay is. I mean, he spent 27 years in the world’s finest Navy…a coffee cup in his hand could be considered a permanent fixture.

So a coffee maker was a must for us, but we wanted something small. We tried many different options when we hit the road and ended up with this one. It makes enough for Jay to have a couple of cups and doesn’t take up much space.

When we are boondocking, and electricity usage is limited or just in the mood for a great espresso drink, we’ll heat water on the stovetop and use our coffee press.

2. Hand Mixer

I love baking, it’s such a calming (and rewarding) hobby for me, and I so wanted to bring my beloved Kitchenaid Stand Mixer with us in the RV but had to draw the line somewhere (although I do have friends that travel with theirs). So I compromised and decided to see how it went with my hand mixer instead.

Guess what….it’s been the perfect fit. We have baked so many things using it with great success. And a big plus, it’s a lot easier to clean up.

3. Airfryer

This is something we added after we hit the road, and we hesitated on for a long time. We knew we had space to store it but did we really need it, and would we use it enough?

The answer for us was and still is “Absolutely YES!”

We have found so many things we like to cook in our air fryer. From simple roasted red potatoes, french fries, crispy asparagus, or brussels sprouts to chicken wings, pork chops, and even a whole chicken. We even use it to reheat leftover pizza perfectly.

4. Instant Pot

I don’t think this one is of any surprise. Most full-timers have seen the benefit of traveling with their Instant Pot. It makes quick one-pot meals in a snap that are easy on clean-up as well.

We were making our favorite Hawaiian/Kalua Pork in our Instant Pot way before we left, and it alone was the main reason we knew we needed to bring it with us. We also use it for staples like steel-cut oatmeal and our favorite one-pot spaghetti.  It’s a must-have to add to your quick and easy RV meals.

5. Vitamix

I’d love to tell you we brought this along for healthy smoothies only. And while I guess that was the main reason we decided to bring it, we do love getting creative with our smoothies. I also use it for delicious milkshakes for our favorite fast-food dinner at home (homemade burgers, fries & fresh strawberry milkshakes). While the possibilities are endless with a fantastic high-speed blender like the Vitamix, I have also used it to make salad dressings, muffin mix, salsa, and even soup.

A tip on the Vitamix: Ours came with two pitchers. We only brought the shorter (smaller) pitcher with us to save on space. It still makes a large enough amount for all 3 of us to have a full-size smoothie.  If you have a choice in pitcher size, opt for the smaller one if you are concerned about storage space.

Plus 2 Bonus Items:

Ice Maker

Okay, so I don’t cook or prepare meals with an ice maker, but we’ve found we use this a lot!

Storing big bags of ice in our limited space freezer was not an option. Making ice in the little trays constantly made a mess (trying to get them balanced or level). We make our own ice using clean water from our Berkey and then store it in a large ziplock bag in the freezer.

Toaster

Again, this is not a massive deal in meal prep, but we use it pretty close to every day. It gets stored in a lower cabinet, so it’s easily accessible even for Caleb to toast a bagel or English muffin for breakfast. We chose a two-slot toaster to be smaller and lighter, which has worked well for us.

Storage of RV Kitchen Appliances

You’re probably thinking, “Where in the world do you keep all these gadgets in an RV?” I know it sounds like a lot, and it absolutely might be for some with very small RV’s or ones with no storage. But we easily fit all these items below the dinette bench seats of our Grand Design 312BHTS travel trailer (minus the coffee maker as it gets used daily and sits on the counter or stored in a cabinet for drive days), with even a little room to spare. We have other areas we could utilize as well, but this works great for us with our setup. If you have limited storage, I would absolutely recommend prioritizing what items you think you would use the most or look to see if there is a smaller option (like we did for our coffee maker and hand mixer).

Conclusion

If you enjoy cooking (honestly even more so if you don’t enjoy it), having a few small kitchen appliances with you while you’re RVing can make mealtime so much easier. While we enjoy exploring new areas and the restaurants in that area, we much prefer to eat at home most days. It is not only healthier, but it also is a simple way to save money on the road. That means more goes to our “fun budget,” which is always a win in our book!

Check out all the items we use in our RV Kitchen while full-time traveling the mainland.

Also, check out how we use the Berkey Travel Filter to make our own clean water anywhere we go.

The post Our Five Favorite RV Kitchen Appliances appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

We’ve got you covered with our travel trailer essentials list.  Jen and I spent a lot of time researching our rig and set up before leaving Hawaii.  Knowing what you need to get started can be a big task, especially if it’s your first time RVing.  There are some RV necessities you must have to travel safely and comfortably in your RV. These should be accessible when you pick up your RV or before your first outing.

16,000 Miles of Research

The great thing about the RV community is it’s interactive.  The list has changed slightly since we started but we currently use all these products with our Grand Design 312BHTS on our full-time travel adventure.

Travel Trailer Essentials List

Here is a quick rundown of each item and why we feel it’s an essential item:

1. Surge Protector – Keep power spikes and bad connections at RV parks in check.  It’s too risky “not” to have a surge protector if you’re connecting to an unknown power source.   The cost to fix an electrical system in an RV can run up very fast!
2. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) – A TPMS to us was just as important as the surge protector when it comes to RV gear. Monitoring your tires’ temperature and pressure while towing helps warn of possible issues with your tires before they happen.
3.  Shore Power Cable – Your RV should come with a primary shore cable.  If it does not, you’ll need one to connect your RV to park power poles.  Depending on your RV, you’ll need a 30 Amp or 50 Amp cable.
4. Electrical adapters – Sometimes, you’ll find yourself in odd situations to connect to power.  It’s always good to have a varsity of ways to connect.  Since we have a 50 Amp connection, we’ve included ways to connect to 30 Amp and 20 Amp power (standard home outlet).  This allows us to convert our 50 Amp power all the way down to 20 Amp.
5. Sewer Connections –  You’ll find a variety of hoses, elbows, cleaning connectors, caps, and extensions to choose from when deciding what your sewer hose system will look like.  Each rig is set up differently, so you’ll want to ask some questions upfront.  Questions like, where are the connections? Is their onboard hose storage? Is there more than one connection, etc.?  At a minimum, you’ll need a basic setup like one of these.
6. Holding Tank Biologic – It’s recommended to use a biologic to assist with odor control and waste breakdown in RV tanks. This is a place you DON’T want problems when RVing.  We use an organic enzyme called Happy Camper that has worked very well in our black and gray tanks.
7. Water Pre-filter -Reduce bad taste, orders, chlorine, and sediment from water in your RV. There are various solutions for filtering water while RV’ing, but having a baseline setup will work well enough on day one.  Pre-filters are offered in 20-micron filters all the way down to one micron.
8. Water Pressure Regulator -If the city’s water pressure is higher than the RV’s plumbing water system can handle, leaks can occur. Water Pressure Regulators help protect RV plumbing and hoses from damage caused by high-pressure city water. Regulators reduce water pressure to a safe, consistent pressure regardless of any fluctuations. This protects equipment and prevents hose failure, prolonging equipment life.
9. Water Hose – There are many different types of hoses on the market today, but as far as your RV water hose is concerned, you want to get one that is specifically safe to use for drinking water.  You should see a label or marking saying it’s safe to use for drinking. One we’ve found we really like is the Zero-G hose. They are high quality, don’t kink, easily store, and don’t weigh much.
10. Leveling System –  Leveling your RV is very important not only for your comfort & safety but also for operating your slides. Andersen Camper Levelers could almost be considered “an upgrade,” but for us, it was something we wanted on day one.  They just made it easy to get level quickly.  The baseline alternative is the Camco Leveling Blocks.  You can customize the size of the level you need with these, and they work great for smaller rigs as larger rigs can actually crush these.  We use the Camco Leveling Blocks on our stabilizer jacks to keep our landing jacks directly off the ground.
11. Air Compressor – How many tires do you need to maintain when towing?  Six, eight, or even ten??  An RV compressor is a useful tool if you travel a lot.  I’ll consider it one of the essential items for a full-time RVer and high on the “should have” list for weekend warriors.  You’ll need a compressor that can provide 80+ psi to your tires, so be sure to check the specifications before buying.
12. Wheel Chocks – A good goal to have is to keep your RV from moving once you’ve unhooked. Don’t travel anywhere without a way to chock your tires.  Wheel chocks should be positioned downhill and below the vehicle’s center of gravity.
13. Extension Cord – Lastly, a heavy-duty extension cord.  This is just good practice to get power around your rig when you need it: power tools, air compressors, auxiliary power, or any appliances you may want to run outside.

View our Travel Trailer Essentials list on Kit.co

Conclusion

After 16,000 miles of traveling, I can say this list is “seasoned” and complete.  Some may debate whether the TPMS and air compressor are “necessities,” but I prefer to have them than not for the safety of my family, rig, and peace of mind when on the road.

Feel we missed something?  Want to contribute to our baseline list?  Please send us a message – we would love to hear from you!

The post Travel Trailer Essentials for your RV appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

At any given time, one vessel is in operation 24 hours a day.  Additional vessels are added when needed, during peak hours and holidays.

If you have the chance to do this with your RV, I say go for it.  Save time on your drive and let someone else clock the miles for you!

Vehicles should not exceed 80,000 pounds and have a maximum length of 65 feet, a maximum height of 13.5 feet, and a maximum width of 8.5 feet.

To view current ferry wait times and live cameras, visit the Houston Transtar website. To receive updates and the latest news regarding the ferry, follow Galveston Ferry on Twitter.

source

The post Take your RV on the Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

We got our first flat ON OUR WAY to take our RV in for a tire rotation. Muphy’s Law got us!  We hit a massive spike in the road “three minutes” into our trip and started losing pressure.

Luckily our TPMS saved the day as we were warned of the pressure loss right away. After a few deep breaths, we pulled over and got into a large parking lot.  After that, it was a tire change, as anyone would expect.

Lessons learned in our first tire change:

Don’t let the events distract you from being safe.

The spare on our RV was “under” the rig and required our hand crank to access.  Make sure your hand crank or whatever you need to access your spare is easily available.  Also, be prepared to tap into your athleticism to get it out from under your rig!

Set the parking brake on your tow vehicle or chock your RV tires.  You don’t want anything to shift once you start getting wheels off the ground.

We own a Rapid Jack and thought that would be all we needed to change tires.  Do NOT rely solely on the “rapid jack” to be the only source of lift to change a tire on all trailers. While it did make it very easy to get the tire up, I still needed a jack to lift the tire fully off the ground.

I did not have a jack (I know), so the owner of CHUCK’S AUTO & AC REPAIR in Merritt Island, FL let me borrow his floor jack for the extra lift.  I hauled that 100 lbs. jack across all four lanes of Route 3.   We were back on the road in under an hour. Thank you, Mr. Chuck!

Lastly, You can use the axile tube to get some lift if needed.  I still wouldn’t recommend using the tube as the single point of the lift for your entire rig, but using a combination of the Rapid Jack and a floor jack appeared safe enough to change the tire.

We finally made it to the tire shop, but instead of a rotation, we just got a new tire and decided to replace the other three tires a few months later.  I now have access to two five-ton bottle jacks and the Rapid Jack to get the lift I need wherever we are.

In all, I can’t say it was too bad, and I feel pretty lucky how this first flat tire experience played out.  I’ve heard and read horror stories about blowouts or when tires damage RV’s, and I’m glad we did not have to deal with that.  I truly believe our TPMS saved us, and we don’t go anywhere without it.

Stay safe!

The post Getting our First Flat in the RV appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) campgrounds offer great RV camping opportunities centered around water recreation. They offer thousands of recreation areas at over 450 lakes and waterways. USACE provides fishing, boating, hiking, and of course, camping opportunities that anyone can enjoy.

You can get RV camping information for USACE/COE campgrounds online, but it can be time-consuming. To find USACE/COE recreation facilities, start by going to the USACE/COE Administered Lakes map on the USACE website or Recreation.gov. From those sites, you can click on the state you wish to find RV camping information. The map on the USACE website shows recreation areas, and there is a drop-down menu of lakes. Choose a lake, and an information window will be displayed for the region selected with facility information and driving directions. You can also find additional information in books/ebooks available for Army COE Park Camping.  Good luck with picking your Army COE Park to visit!  We bet you’ll love it!  

The post Camping at United States Army Corps of Engineers Sites appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

If you haven’t heard of Harvest Hosts and you own an RV – we must show you some of the cool places we’ve gotten to stay as members!  They include a museum, farm, winery, car dealership, distillery, and more!

What is Harvest Hosts?

Harvest Hosts is a membership program that provides access to a network of wineries, farms, breweries, museums, golf courses, and other unique attractions that invite self-contained RVers to visit and stay with NO OVERNIGHT FEES!  You pay an annual fee and you’ll have FREE access to all hosts for ONE YEAR!  Harvest Hosts’ members are exclusively invited to stay at thousands of exciting locations around North America and experience new opportunities to explore and enjoy the RVing lifestyle. The company’s goal is to provide meaningful experiences for RVers and hosts alike.

The membership cost is minimal and is quickly recouped with one or two nights’ stay in an RV Park.   Save up to 15% off your first-year membership by signing up with this link.  Use the CODE “HHFRIENDS15 “

Finding a Host

Once a Harvest Hosts member, you’ll have access to a dashboard like the one below with over 2300 hosts to view. Hosts are easy to find along your route as you can enter departure & destination, use manual location, or select by state/region to find a host you may want to visit. The “within miles of the route” feature allows you to travel deep into the countryside or stay close to the main highway by selecting between 5-120 miles of distance off of your planned route.

You can also filter what type of businesses you would like to stay at under the preferences, length of RV, and see if your host is willing to accept pets. All very intuitive and regularly updated.

It’s super easy to stay at your first host!! Once you select a host, you’ll see a card pop up with some necessary information, photo and address. If you click the card, it will take you to a page with more detailed information such as how to contact the host, the number of spaces, and any particulars the host asks of travelers.

That’s pretty much it.  You’ll find yourself in some really unique locations, supporting small businesses, and enjoying the unique experiences many of these hosts provide.

The membership asks visitors to follow some simple common courtesies outlined below (from the Harvest Hosts website).

Harvest Hosts Etiquette Reminders:

• Call the number directly on the Host Page and ask for the contact person listed.  The phone numbers listed on the page are often different from the main business number because they are a direct number to a specific person.
• Support Your Host.  The easiest and most common way to do this is by purchasing to say “Thank You” for sharing their property with you.  However, it could also be by volunteering your time to assist the owners with something around their property.  For golf courses, you may find you don’t have time to shoot a whole round of golf, but most locations have great options for dining, making for a quick dinner upon arriving, or breakfast before you head out in the morning.
  • Write positive reviews on Social Media and the Harvest Hosts website.
• Be Considerate! Always call ahead unless the hosts’ page says otherwise.
  • Ask before using your generator and if you are parked near the Host’s neighbors or other RVs, please use it sparingly and only between the hours of 8 am and 10 pm.
  • Please keep your pet on a leash (unless told otherwise by the Host) to ensure their safety and to be respectful.
  • Don’t ask to stay longer than one day.  If the Hosts invite you, then do so and enjoy!
  • Arrive during the designated hours.  If your plans change, call the host and let them know.

Hosts are very generous to allow members to stay overnight, so please do not take advantage and remember that the success of the program lies with each of us always being considerate.

Save up to 15% off your first-year membership by signing up with this link.  Use the CODE “HHFRIENDS15 “

Want to learn how to boondock like a pro?  Harvest Hosts is a great way to learn how to test your boondocking setup, gear, and systems before you hit the road.

The post RVing Adventures with Harvest Hosts appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

Electrical safety is critical when connecting your RV to shore power. A few precautionary steps can increase your protection from accidents or injuries while potentially saving you from costly repairs if done correctly. Here are some steps we suggest to increase your safety when connecting an RV to shore power.

1. Always inspect the post, your cords, and connections.

• If the post is not stable, rocks easily, or looks to have burn marks around the plugs, do not plug-in.
• If your cord has cuts, kinks, or the prongs are damaged, service those items.
• If something at the site needs fixed call maintenance, never try to fix someone else’s electrical issue on your own!

2. If breakers are present, verify all switches are in the “OFF” position.  

• Plugging into an outlet with a 30 or 50 amp plug while energized could cause a short or a spark. Especially if the connectors are large, awkward, or need a lot of pressure to make a good connection. If you can de-energize the power, then do so. If breakers are not present, then be sure-handed and connect while you’re in a good working position.
• Keep in mind with electricity, “A loose connection is a bad connection.”

3. Connect your surge protector and verify a good connection.  

• I’ll assume most RV’ers have surge protectors, but I know some do not, and that’s a personal choice. However, I highly recommend protecting your RV investment from power post electrical problems with an RV surge protector.
• Most RV surge protectors will indicate a problem with the power post by showing a display. Here are a few examples below of light/led indicators:

• As you can see in the images above, several power pole issues can be identified by merely using a surge protector, and that’s why they’re worth the money.

SIDE NOTE: After visiting over 60 parks, I can confidently say my surge protector identified at least four instances where connecting directly to the power post could have damaged components in our RV. That percentage is a little high to not have one if you ask me.  

After a ton of research, we chose to go with the Southwire Surge Guard 34950. Although it cost slightly more than the average RV surge protector – the features it offers are worth it. They have both 30 and 50 AMP models.   

Quick note:  While most RV surge protectors are available at Amazon or Camping World, consider buying from an RV specialty site (frequently at a lower price) such as TechoRV.  You’ll get access to their supplemental product information guides on RV products and specialized technical support.

Southwire 34930 Surge Guard 30A - Full Protection Portable with LCD Display Black

Southwire 34930 Surge Guard 30A - Full Protection Portable with LCD Display Black

$199.21

in stock

7 new from $199.21

as of April 20, 2026 3:43 pm

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Amazon.com

Southwire Surge Guard Portable 30-Amp 120-Volt Wireless Communication-Capable Surge Protector

Southwire Surge Guard Portable 30-Amp 120-Volt Wireless Communication-Capable Surge Protector

$237.00

$283.14

in stock

3 new from $237.00

as of April 20, 2026 3:43 pm

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Amazon.com

Southwire Company LLC 44380 Surge Guard 30A Portable , black

Southwire Company LLC 44380 Surge Guard 30A Portable , black

in stock

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Amazon.com

4. After verifying a good connection, turn the power OFF. Say what???

• While it may not make sense, we still need to make another connection to the RV itself. Turning off the power will reduce the same danger discussed in step 2.
• If breakers are present, you can turn those off.

5. Make your connection to the RV and turn the switch on.  

• Ensure the plug has been firmly inserted, twisted and the coupling tightened down so no significant movement can happen. Again, a loose connection is a bad connection.
• At this point, the surge protector should do “its thing,” and your connections should be safe.
• Check the readout for any errors and if all indications are green/good.  You’re done!

RV Safely!

The post Safely Connecting RV to Shore Power appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

Boondocking baby steps! We are off the grid! After waving off a horrible RV Park we’re in a State Park with no sewer, water or power for the next 48hrs! Will we survive?

Check out our boondocking tips post and our off-the-grid gear page!

Source

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