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One of the greatest joys of traveling in an RV or car camping is being able to bring the dogs along. We loved every moment of our time on the road with our pups and this is a list of our essential dog travel accessories and camping gear along with recommendations from fellow dog owners.
Essential Dog Travel Accessories
The video below of our must have dog gadgets was filmed when we had a Class A RV towing a Jeep Wrangler. Even when we downsized to a ProMaster Class B RV most of these dog travel accessories made the cut. To learn more about traveling in an RV with your pups, check out our Guide to RVing with Dogs.
It’s worth mentioning the dog camping gear and dog travel accessories were tested and approved by our traveling dogs: Duke, the Belgian Malinois mix and Leo, the white Siberian Husky. Big or small, these camping essentials for dog are great for all sizes and breeds.
Table of Contents
1. Ruffwear Web Master Harness
One of our favorite dog camping gear items is this harness. We first used it with our dog Duke who, as he was getting older, was having some problems going up stairs or getting into the car. We’d use the harness to give him some extra support and help lift him when he would go to jump in the back of the Jeep. We also used it with Leo when we would go on a hike with Leo to help lift him up and over obstacles that he didn’t want to try and jump over. Neither dog had any problem walking with the harness on.
There are different sizes so it’s important to get the size for your dog. When Leo got older, the handle on the top of the dog harness allowed us to give him a lift when he needed it. Check out our Web Master Harness Review.
2. Air Tight Pet Food Storage Container
An air tight pet food storage container is essential when camping and traveling with your dog. This pet food container is pest-proof and good for keeping dry dog food fresh with an airtight seal. We used this to store the 40 pound bags of organic grain-free dog food that we would buy from Costco. This is especially helpful for RVers to help keep mice and other rodents out of your RV since they can’t get to the food.
Since our dogs have passed away, we gave our Vittles Vault to Joe’s mom and she uses it for Charley and Ruger, her yellow Labrador Retrievers. These dog food containers come in all sizes so make sure to get the right one that fits in your RV.
3. Dog Toys
Having a good dog toy to keep the pup entertained is especially helpful on travel days and makes it a great dog travel accessory. As first time Siberian Husky owners, we had no idea how strong and destructive Leo could be. He destroyed countless dog toys that claimed to be sturdy enough for a Husky, until we found the Kong Extreme. Not only is this toy sturdy, but it was a good mental workout for our dogs when we filled them with treats.
When we took Joe’s mom and her dog Charley cross-country for a whole summer, we brought along Charley’s Chuckit. The Chuckit with its heavy duty rubber ball was great for helping Charley work out all of her energy on long travel days. Joe has a bad shoulder so he’s not able to throw a ball but has no problem “chucking” the ball. It’s also nice since you can pick the ball up using the ball launcher and don’t have to bend over.
4. Dog Water Bowls
A good collapsible dog bowl will make your camping and RVing trips much more enjoyable. Whether staying put in the camper or going out for a hike, we always carried Leo’s collapsible water bowl with us. It’s lightweight, easy to carry and dries quickly making it one of the best dog traveling accessories.
For when you’re in the RV, a spill proof water bowl is essential. It allows you to keep water in the bowl while you’re driving and not worry about it spilling on a bumpy road. Even big RVs can have tight quarters and it’s easy to knock into stuff so this is very handy to help prevent spills if you accidentally step on it or bump it with your foot.
5. Dog Pack for Camping and Hiking
Leo’s dog pack served as a storage bag and adventure pack. When we would go on a long hike that required Leo to carry some gear, we would put the dog pack on him. When it wasn’t in use, it was a great storage pack for his toys and other essential dog camping gear. Since the Adventure Dog Pack we had is no longer available, the Ruffwear Approach Pack is a good alternative.
One interesting this we’ve found is that whenever we put this pack on a dog, they seem to go into “work mode”. There’s something about having a pack on with a little weight in it to make the dog feel like their doing something and it seems to settle them down if they happen to be over excited.
6. Heavy Duty Nylon Dog Leash
It goes without saying that a quality leash is an essential dog travel accessory. We used this heavy duty nylon dog leash for Duke and Leo. What we loved was the neoprene lined handle that made it very comfortable to hold.
Dog Travel Accessories Recommended by Fellow RVers
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this section of essential dog travel accessories and dog camping gear.
7. Hammock Seat Cover with Harness
Protect the inside of your vehicle with a good seat cover for dogs. Plus, your dog will appreciate it too! In the hammock configuration, Leo was more than comfortable in the back seat of our Jeep Wrangler. We often found him passed out in the back seat once we installed the seat cover. The version we used is no longer available, but this back seat cover is recommended by fellow RVers below.
Shane and Deanna, also known as DnSAdventures on YouTube and social media were full-time RVers for a couple years and traveled with their dog Blaze, a greyhound who retired from racing after about 3 years on the track.
One of Blaze’s favorite hobbies is sleeping, so keeping him comfortable while they traveled was very important. Shane and Deanna’s favorite dog gadget for the truck is his hammock that keeps him safe and secure on the backseat of their F350. It is easily cleaned and most importantly keeps him from slipping down in front of the backseat when he needs to move around or during any quick stops.
8. Pet Temperature Safety Monitor
Sarah Kuiken is a freelance writer traveling in a Grand Design Imagine travel trailer with her Siberian Husky, Orion. For the two of them, the absolute must-have gadget when RVing is a pet temperature safety monitor. Sarah mounted a sensor inside her travel trailer, and the unit will alert her via a mobile app if the temperature inside the trailer gets too high. We’ve all heard of horror stories of power outages or failed air conditioners, and never want to put our dogs at risk, so this monitor gives her peace of mind.
The dog safety temperature monitor relies on a cellular signal from AT&T to communicate with my phone, though, so if Sarah is outside of reliable cell range, she keeps a close eye on the weather and never leaves Orion in the trailer unattended if it will be a hot day. Of course, Sarah says that, “the best part about RVing with him is taking him with me on adventures!”
You can contact or follow Sarah and Orion at flourishwriting.com.
9. One-Piece Roto-Molded Dog Kennel
Jason and Emma Walsmith are a married couple who share a spirit of adventure and enjoy incorporating travel into their entrepreneurial lifestyles. They spend 1/2 the time on the road traveling in a Storyteller Overland MODE 4×4 Sprinter van, with their two dogs, Pepper who is a 10 year old Gordon Setter and Potter who is a 3 year old English Setter. As you might guess, Jason and Emma are “Setter people.” You can find them on Instagram @Falkorvan.
They upgraded standard plastic dog crates to two Ruffland “backseat” Kennels. The Ruffland Kennels are made in the USA (South Dakota) and while they are much more expensive than your standard dog crate they are also a big upgrade in safety and build quality.
The features they appreciate are the kennels one piece, roto molded construction that adds rigidity and strength as well as efficiency of space. They chose the backseat model that are designed to sit back to back in the backseat of a vehicle but fit perfectly and free up space in their van’s garage. The kennels feature a rattle free/reversible door that works well for packing strategies. The kennels are sturdy so they feel comfortable stacking bags and gear on top of them.
10. K9 Cube Doggie Go-Bag
Matt and Lara are both healthcare professionals with a passion experiencing the outdoors. Anytime they can include their pup Cima, a three year old female Samoyed, on adventures, they bring her. Currently, they’re traveling in a 06’ Honda Element AWD with Westfalia style Pop-Top made by Ursa Minor. You can follow Cima’s adventures on Instagram @cima_the_samoyed.
Think of this as a doggie go-bag. Any trip they have all of Cima’s things ready to go on a moments notice in there. Makes for a simple solution to declutter a small vehicle and bring 1 thing for her. Has a food grade storage container, collapsible bowls attached, room for toys, first aid kit, poop bags, etc. This is also what they grab if she’s having a doggy sleepover at a friends house. Additionally it’s great that Mountainsmith is a local Colorado company, with rad people based in Golden where they live.
11. Wireless Temperature & Humidity Sensor
Kenny & Sabrina traveled full-time for over four years in their Winnebago Vista LX 27N Class A RV with their Mt Feist dog Belle and you can find them on Instagram @movingforwardadventures.
Temp Stick is a small wireless device that measures the temperature and humidity in the RV and can send them alerts to their phone wherever they are. They like that it allows them to connect to any of their hotspots, because they use two Verizon and AT&T hotspots depending on the area they are in and the Temp Stick has no service fees. Sabrina is a pulmonary/critical care physician doing locum work which means they travel based on her work, this puts them in hot climates in the summer and having the Temp Stick in the RV gives them the peace of mind needed that Belle is safe in the RV and that their cooling system is working properly.
Hope you found this list of essential dog travel accessories helpful!
Do you leave AC run when you leave in van?
Hello, I have been following you for awhile and have been fascinated with the anchor device used for Leo’s leash when relaxing outside. I have looked and cannot find anything like it. But, I also wonder how it keeps him from running off since it does not look heavy at all. I have a large dog (80 lbs.) that when focused on something has selective hearing. He can be difficult to control and I need a very heavyweight, portable restraint system for him. Would love to know more about what you use. Thanks!
Hey Lynn – we use a 10lb kettle bell that you can find at any store that sells exercise equipment. If Leo really wants to he can take off with it, but it slows him down more than enough for us to grab him.
The dog you had with you on the hc1 video is a gorgeous dog. What’s the breed? Thanks, Linda 9725229626. I love your work.
Hi Linda. Not sure what breed the pup is. You can always contact Happier Camper and ask them. The pup belongs to the owner of the company.