Even with all of the comfort and convenience your RV brings, you can still take it up a notch with some glamping gear. Why not add a little sparkle? Aftermarket upgrades and accessories go beyond the bare necessities to add a touch of luxury to your next camping trip.
Glamping gear takes your campsite from basic to beautiful. The good news is that you can elevate your experience, no matter your budget. Plus, you don’t have to buy everything all at once. Start with the upgrades and accessories that bring you the most joy or add the most ease to your camping journey, and go from there. Pretty soon, you’ll have an RV and campsite setup that matches your lifestyle and personality.
Here are 10 great RV aftermarket upgrades and glamping accessories for your exterior. View the full list of products and companies who make them.
1. Slide Toppers
- Water and debris, if left on top of your slide-out, can cause damage and lead to interior leaks. Luckily, there’s an easy solution: slide toppers. These rolling awnings automatically glide out with your slide, protecting it from the elements. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, so you can add a bit of design to your exterior if you want some visual appeal.
- Product Examples: Carefree of Colorado, Dometic, and Lippert
2. Cell Phone Booster
- Some people go camping to get away from the external world, but if you want or need connectivity, invest in some communication upgrades, especially if you’ll be working from the road. Cell phone boosters can enhance weak cellular signals in areas with poor reception, allowing you a stronger connection for phone calls and internet data. These require an external antenna to be mounted to your RV exterior (usually on the roof) and some equipment to be installed inside.
- Product Example: weBoost
3. Satellite Internet
- Like cell phone boosters, satellite internet can boost your connectivity. While many RVers travel with mobile hotspots, satellite internet offers some advantages, including faster speeds, unlimited data, and more coverage. If you’ll be camping in remote areas or other places where cell signals are weak, satellite internet may be the way to go.
- Whether you’re working from the road or streaming your favorite shows while glamping, satellite internet can keep your data zooming. The satellite dish can either be permanently mounted to your RV exterior (usually on the roof), or you can use a portable model that is set up and taken down with each use.
- Product Example: Starlink
4. Sun Shade
- While exterior RV awnings can provide great shade, they aren’t as helpful as the sweltering sun sinks toward the horizon. Consider adding a sun shade extension, so you can enjoy the great outdoors on your glamping trips without the glare. These extendable screens help you and your pets stay cooler, even on warm summer days. Plus, they add extra privacy to your campsite, giving you more room to relax outside of your rig.
- Product Example: Carefree of Colorado
5. Screen Room Awning Extension
- Have you ever tried to enjoy your time at your campsite, only to find yourself being swarmed by mosquitoes or pelted by rain? Take your sun shade to the next level and extend your living space by adding a screen room extension to your RV awning.
- Not only do these help you stay cool on bright days, but they also add protection from rain and bugs. These extensions can fully enclose the area under your awning with screens. Some even offer privacy panels to help block more sunlight and prying eyes. Your pets will also appreciate it!
- Product Example: Lippert
6. Pop-up Shade Room
- If the screen room awning extensions are out of your budget or look like a hassle, consider getting a pop-up shade room. RVers swear by the ease of setup with the toss-and-go models available today. In just a minute or two, you can have an outdoor living space that protects you from the sun, rain, and bugs. Plus, these shade rooms come in a variety of sizes and fold flat for easy storage.
- Product Example: Carefree of Colorado
7. Outdoor Kitchen
- Some people love cooking deluxe meals at the campground, while others want to do anything but cook. If you aren’t already a campground gourmet, maybe you are simply missing the right setup. Investing in an outdoor kitchen can help you move from holding hot dogs over open flames to cooking a truly tasty meal on a deluxe grill or griddle. Today’s outdoor kitchens offer amenities like shelves, storage, sinks, spice racks, and more.
- Product Example: SylvanSource
8. Outdoor Grill, Griddle, or Pizza Oven
- A good grill or griddle can convert your camping menu into a glamping menu! Whether you prefer to cook with traditional charcoal flames, on a propane-heated grill, or on a flat cast-iron cooktop, there’s a grill or griddle out there for you. Or, you can keep the cooking even simpler with a pizza oven. Who doesn’t love pizza?
- Take the time to explore all of the options to see which one best fits with your lifestyle. If you want your grill to match your “glamp-site” decor, you can even find cute ones in a variety of colors.
- Product Examples: Blackstone and Weber
9. Bike Rack
- If your glamping adventures include biking, consider adding a high-quality bike rack to your RV. There is a wide variety of models with an array of features, allowing you to find the right fit for your family. Consider how you prefer to attach the bike rack to your RV, how many bikes you plan to transport, and the weight of your gear.
- Product Example: Lippert
10. Upgraded Firepit
- Of course, your glamping outings will likely involve some time under the stars, relaxing by a campfire. While most campsites come with a basic fire pit, there are many easier ways to fan your flames. If you don’t enjoy the mess and time involved with building a traditional fire, consider getting a propane fire pit to get your campfire going with a click of a button. Smokeless fire pits are another option. While you still have to build a fire, they offer a longer, cleaner burn. Plus, they make it easier to get the kindling cracking.
- Product Example: Camco Manufacturing
