7 Small RV Upgrades That Make it Ready for Full Time Living 

I’ve been RVing for over a decade now. I could spend hours listing all of the amazing things I love about RV travel. That said, that isn’t why we’re here today. Instead, we’re here to talk about all the things I DIDN’T love about the RVs we’ve purchased and what RV upgrades we did to fix them. 

If you’re looking to upgrade your RV and make it a more comfortable living space, read on!

Upgrade Your Sleeping Space

The first thing I do every single time we buy an RV? Upgrade the sleeping spaces. Stock RV mattresses just aren’t comfortable, and the bedding that comes with an RV isn’t great either. Luckily, these are two things that can be fixed quickly and easily. 

Replace your mattress

Start by replacing your mattress. We like to purchase those mattresses that come rolled up in a box from Amazon. We’ve even found short queen-sized ones, which is perfect for most RV master beds. Personally, I prefer a hybrid mattress to one made entirely of memory foam, but you might find you like something else better. 

If you can’t afford a new mattress right away or if you’re trying to fit an irregular bed size or shape, consider a thick, quality mattress topper instead. This is what we’ve done for our kids’ bunks. It was nice to be able to cut the topper to size so that we could fit a bed with rounded corners or a super tiny bed. 

Improve your bedding

Some RVs come with bedding. Others do not. Either way, you’re going to want to invest in quality bedding for your rig because that stock bedding is nothing to write home about. 

I recommend:

• Breathable cotton sheets
• Moisture-wicking pillowcases
• Lightweight comforters for summer
• Extra blankets for cold-weather camping
• Supportive pillows

These simple things will make your RV bed feel like your bed and will make sleeping in the RV an enjoyable experience.

Maximize Every Inch of Storage

As you probably already realize, storage space is incredibly valuable in an RV. One way we deal with the lack of storage space is by getting rid of things we don’t need. I do a big purge once every six months or so, and anything we don’t use regularly goes. You’d be surprised how much stuff can accumulate in just a few months. 

That said, we do need to have space to hold onto the things we do need. This is where clever storage solutions come into play. The key to success? Think vertically and use organizers that make everything easier to access.

You might use any or all of the following:

• Clear stackable containers
• Pull-out wire baskets
• Shelf risers
• Drawer organizers
• Hanging closet shelves
• Under-bed storage bins
• Over-the-door organizers

The goal is to make items easy to find without unpacking half a cabinet. Once you figure out how to store everything, your RV will likely feel larger and more inviting. 

Improve Your Electrical Convenience

In this day and age, having easy access to electricity feels almost like a necessity. Unfortunately, far too many RVs come off the lot with too few outlets and no access to electricity when off the grid. The good news? You can fix that!

Install additional charging stations

Adding USB and USB-C outlets near the places you naturally spend time makes life so much easier. It took us forever to do this, but once we did, we were hooked, and we’ve done it in every RV we’ve owned since. I especially love that the outlets are wired into the 12-volt system, meaning we can use them even when we aren’t plugged into shore power. 

Ideal locations include:

• Beside the bed
• Dinette
• Sofa
• Kitchen counter
• Workstation

Switch to LED lights

Traditional lightbulbs use a lot of electricity. They’re also super hot and can add to the heat in your RV during the summer or even burn fingers. We like to change all of our RV lightbulbs to LED lightbulbs pretty shortly after getting a new-to-us rig. This is an easy enough change that makes a huge difference when it comes to electricity consumption. 

Invest in off-grid electricity 

Another game changer for us? The generator that was built into the motorhome we bought several years into RVing. Suddenly, we could camp anywhere in complete comfort. We would even stop on the side of the road to microwave lunch. 

Since that first generator, I have not gone on a single trip without a generator in tow. We have also invested in solar power systems for all of our rigs since then. Don’t want to build a whole solar system? Plug-and-play power banks with solar chargers are an option these days and are totally worth looking into. 

Upgrade Your Water System

Nobody wants to live with gross-tasting water or inconsistent water pressure day in and day out. Unfortunately, these are both problems that come along with RV camping. Luckily, they are solvable problems, and I highly recommend solving them sooner rather than later. 

Install a quality water pressure regulator

Campground water pressure is annoyingly unpredictable. Unfortunately, super high water pressure can damage your RV plumbing system. For this reason, and to help ensure relatively consistent pressure to your faucets, I recommend investing in a water pressure regulator. These are super inexpensive, small and lightweight, and easy to install. A no-brainer, really. 

Use a drinking water filter

In my opinion, a water filter is a must-have for all full-time RVers. There are several different ways to filter water. We found that the Berkey-style gravity filters were our favorites. You could also choose a Britta-style water filter pitcher, an inline filter that connects to the water hose outside, or one of the fancy filtering systems that lives under your sink. No matter which you choose, you’re sure to appreciate the cleaner, better-tasting water. 

Upgrade the shower head

I said before that the first thing I replace in every RV is the mattress. The second thing I replace? The shower head. RV shower heads are notoriously terrible. They leak, they don’t provide good water pressure, and they use entirely too much water. By installing an Oxygenics shower head, we get better water pressure, more control over the spray, and we use less water, which is especially handy while boondocking. 

Improve Climate Control

One of the best things about RV camping is that you can camp comfortably all year long. That said, when you’re living in your RV full time, you discover pretty quickly that keeping your RV at a comfortable temperature when the weather is extreme is not as easy as you may have been led to believe. We always did a few upgrades to help with this. 

Install vent covers

Roof vent covers are amazing because they allow us to keep our roof vents open and roof fans running, even when there is rain or heavy wind. Obviously, this is most useful when we’re boondocking and need breeze flowing through the RV. That said, we have also used this feature a lot during the winter when we need to reduce the moisture in the air while cooking or showering. 

Bonus: Adding the special vent pillows to your vents when they aren’t in use helps block unwanted sunlight and keep heat at bay during the hottest days of summer. 

Upgrade window coverings

The blinds that come in many RVs are not great at insulating the windows. By trading out the factory-installed window treatments for blackout curtains or thermal shades, you can improve the insulation in your RV, making it easier to maintain a comfortable temperature. We always installed honeycomb shades and found that they did a good job. Many RVers also like to put Reflectix in the windows to improve insulation. 

Seal air leaks

The weather stripping found around your RV door and compartment doors does a lot of work when it comes to keeping your RV comfortable. Unfortunately, the stuff tends to get worn out, and when it does, it doesn’t work very well. The good news? It’s super easy to replace, making this a worthwhile task. 

Create a Functional Kitchen

When you’re just in your RV on the weekends, the functionality of your kitchen doesn’t matter too much. That said, if you’re in the rig full time and using your kitchen every single day, kitchen organization and functionality turns into a big deal. Here’s how we made our RV kitchen more usable. 

Upgrade the faucet

Like the shower head, I like to replace the kitchen faucets in my RV. The factory RV faucets just feel flimsy, and I know if I left them in, they’d be broken in no time. Besides, I like to install faucets with the pull-down sprayers because they make it easier to fill pots and my Berkey filter. They also make washing dishes a more pleasant experience. 

Improve cabinet organization

Yes, I already mentioned organization once, but it’s so important in the kitchen specifically that I feel like it deserves mention here as well. Cooking is just so much easier when everything has a designated place. 

Useful organizational tools include:

• Spice organizers
• Pot lid racks
• Drawer dividers
• Pull-out pantry baskets
• Dish drying racks
• Magnetic knife strips

Invest in the right kitchen tools

Having the right tools for the job is super important when cooking in a tiny RV kitchen. Collapsible tools take up less space. Small appliances like an Instant Pot and Air Fryer help make cooking more efficient and ensure you don’t heat your tiny home up in the summer. We also appreciated our Corelle dishes, which gave us the feel of “real” dishes, but never broke during travel. 

Personalize Your Living Space

Last but definitely not least, you will want to upgrade your RV to make it feel like home. Stock RV decor isn’t really anybody’s cup of tea, and personalizing your space will make you feel more comfortable in your home on wheels. 

There are lots of little things you can do to make your RV feel more welcoming and cozy. 

You can use:

• Area rugs
• Decorative pillows
• Throw blankets
• Family photographs
• Framed artwork
• Small plants
• Decorative baskets

All of these things are easy enough to acquire and make a huge difference. 

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