6 Best RV Towing Accessories for Safer Travel Nomads Swear By
Enhance your road safety with 6 essential RV towing accessories. Discover must-have gear for stability and control that seasoned travel nomads swear by.
That white-knuckle feeling when a semi-truck blows past you on the interstate, making your entire rig shudder, is a rite of passage for new RVers. It’s the moment you realize you’re not just driving a truck; you’re piloting a land-yacht with the aerodynamics of a brick. The right equipment transforms that moment from terror into a non-event.
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Why Towing Safety Accessories Are Non-Negotiable
You’re pulling a house on wheels. Let that sink in. The forces at play—crosswinds, road grades, sudden stops—are immense and unforgiving. Without the right gear, you’re essentially gambling with physics, and the house always wins.
These accessories aren’t flashy upgrades or luxury add-ons. They are the seatbelts, airbags, and anti-lock brakes of the towing world. They represent the fundamental systems that keep your tow vehicle and trailer working together as a single, stable unit instead of two massive objects fighting each other down the highway.
Ignoring this equipment is the biggest mistake I see new nomads make. They spend a fortune on the perfect rig and interior decor but skimp on the very things that will get them to the campground safely. Think of this gear as an investment in every future trip you plan to take. It’s the difference between a relaxing journey and a stressful, dangerous ordeal.
Equal-i-zer 4-Point Sway Control Hitch System
Control trailer sway and distribute weight with the Equal-i-zer hitch. This system accommodates up to 12,000 lbs and includes a standard shank (ball not included).
A standard ball hitch is just a pivot point. That’s a problem. It allows the trailer to sway side-to-side, a terrifying motion that can escalate into a total loss of control. A weight distribution and sway control hitch is the solution.
The Equal-i-zer system is a classic for a reason. It uses steel bars under tension to redistribute a portion of the trailer’s tongue weight from your truck’s rear axle to its front axle and the trailer’s axles. This levels out your entire rig, restoring proper steering control and braking performance to your tow vehicle. More importantly, it builds in friction at four critical points, actively resisting the sway before it can even start.
Imagine a passing semi-truck pushing a wall of air against your trailer. Without sway control, the trailer yaws sideways, forcing you to correct. With the Equal-i-zer, the rigid, high-friction connection dampens that force immediately. The trailer tracks straight. The only real tradeoff is the noise—it groans and creaks, especially in tight turns, which is just the sound of it doing its job. It’s a small price for rock-solid stability.
Tekonsha P3 Proportional Brake Controller
Gain precise control with the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 proportional brake controller. Its internal inertia sensor automatically adjusts braking power, while the easy-to-read LCD display provides real-time diagnostics and alerts. Store up to five custom settings for different trailers or drivers.
Your truck’s brakes were designed to stop your truck, not your truck plus a 7,000-pound trailer. A brake controller is the device that tells your trailer’s electric brakes when and how hard to engage. But not all controllers are created equal. The P3 is a proportional controller, and that distinction is critical.
A cheap, time-delayed controller sends a pre-set amount of power to the trailer brakes after a certain delay. It’s clunky and can feel jerky. A proportional controller like the P3 has an internal accelerometer. It senses how rapidly your tow vehicle is decelerating and applies the trailer brakes with the exact same intensity, at the exact same time.
The result is smooth, synchronized, and powerful braking. In a panic stop on the highway, this is the difference between coming to a controlled halt and having your trailer try to push your truck into a jackknife. The P3’s clear digital display also provides easy-to-read diagnostics, so you always know your connection is solid and your brakes are ready to perform. It’s one of the most important safety devices you can have in your cab.
TST 507 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Enhance your RV safety with the TST 507 Series TPMS, featuring a 3.5-inch color display and four flow-thru sensors that alert you to low/high pressure, leaks, and high temperatures. This expandable system monitors multiple vehicles and offers easy sensor management, backed by USA support and a three-year warranty.
RV tire blowouts are not rare. They are notoriously common and incredibly destructive, capable of tearing out plumbing, wiring, and huge chunks of your rig’s underbelly in seconds. The cause is almost always a slow leak or an overheating tire that goes unnoticed until it’s too late. A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is your early warning system.
The TST 507 system uses sensors that screw onto each tire’s valve stem (on both the trailer and the truck). These sensors wirelessly transmit real-time pressure and temperature data to a small monitor you keep in your cab. You set a baseline pressure, and the system will scream at you if a tire drops below a certain PSI or, just as importantly, rises above a certain temperature.
An overheating tire is a ticking time bomb, often indicating a failing bearing or a dragging brake. A TPMS lets you see the problem developing, giving you time to pull over and address it before it becomes a roadside disaster. Checking your tires with a manual gauge before you leave is great, but only a TPMS can tell you what’s happening at 65 miles per hour.
Dometic Milenco Grand Aero Towing Mirrors
Extend your view with the MILENCO Grand Aero 3 Towing Mirror pair. Featuring longer 41cm arms, these convex mirrors offer a superior field of vision for wider caravans and RVs, ensuring safer towing.
Your truck’s factory mirrors are designed to see around your truck, not around a massive eight-foot-wide box attached to it. Without proper towing mirrors, you have a blind spot large enough to hide another vehicle. This makes lane changes a terrifying guessing game.
The Dometic Milenco Grand Aero mirrors are consistently ranked as the best for a reason. They clamp securely to your existing mirror housings, providing a stable, vibration-free view. Unlike cheap strap-on mirrors that flap in the wind and offer a distorted image, the Milencos use high-quality automotive glass and an aerodynamic design that stays put at highway speeds.
This isn’t about convenience; it’s about fundamental awareness. Being able to clearly see if a car is lurking alongside your trailer before you signal for a lane change is a non-negotiable part of safe towing. These mirrors provide that critical field of vision, effectively eliminating the most dangerous blind spots.
Furrion Vision S Wireless RV Backup Camera
Get a clear view behind your RV with the Furrion Vision S wireless backup camera. This system features a high-resolution, waterproof camera with infrared night vision and a 4.3" anti-glare monitor for easy parking.
Backing a 30-foot trailer into a tight campsite with verbal directions from a partner can test the strongest of relationships. More seriously, it’s incredibly dangerous. You cannot see low-lying obstacles like posts, fire pits, or—worst of all—children and pets. A backup camera completely removes the guesswork.
The Furrion Vision S is a robust wireless system designed for the harsh RV environment. The camera mounts high on the back of your rig and pairs with a monitor in your cab. The connection is stable, and many systems double as an "observation camera," meaning you can leave it on while driving to see what’s happening directly behind you on the road.
This tool is transformative. It turns a stressful, two-person job into a calm, one-person task. You can see your exact distance from the utility pedestal and perfectly place your rig on the pad the first time. It’s both a safety device that prevents costly crunches and a sanity-saver that makes arrival day infinitely more pleasant.
Proven Industries Model 2516 Hitch Lock
Secure your trailer with this heavy-duty lock, designed for select 2 5/16-inch couplers. Featuring hardened steel construction and a unique key system, it offers robust protection against theft and tampering. Made in the USA.
Your on-road safety is paramount, but your security when parked is just as important. A travel trailer is a tempting target for thieves, and a standard coupler pin lock can be defeated in seconds with a pair of bolt cutters. Your home on wheels deserves a more serious defense.
The Proven Industries lock is less of a lock and more of a steel vault for your trailer’s coupler. Made of thick, hardened steel, it completely encases the hitch mechanism, making it impossible for a thief to hook up to it. The puck-style lock is virtually un-pickable and shielded from cutting tools.
This is the kind of security that provides true peace of mind. When you have to leave your trailer at a campground to go explore for the day, or when it’s in a storage lot for the off-season, you know it’s protected by more than just a token deterrent. A determined thief will see this lock and simply move on to an easier target.
Final Pre-Trip Safety and Equipment Checks
All the best gear in the world won’t help if it’s not used correctly. Technology is an aid, not a replacement for diligence. Every single time you tow, a simple walk-around routine is the final layer of safety that ties everything together.
This routine takes less than five minutes but can prevent a catastrophe. Before you pull out, a quick physical check confirms what your gauges and monitors are telling you and catches anything you might have missed during the hitching process. It becomes muscle memory.
Your pre-departure checklist should always include:
- Hitch: Is the coupler fully seated on the ball? Is the latch locked and secured with a pin?
- Chains & Cables: Are the safety chains crossed and connected? Is the breakaway cable attached to the tow vehicle frame (not the hitch)?
- Lights & Brakes: Have a partner confirm your brake lights and turn signals are working. Manually activate the trailer brakes with your controller to ensure they engage.
- Tires: Do a quick visual inspection and verify pressures with a quality gauge, even if you have a TPMS.
This simple process is the mark of an experienced RVer. It’s the habit that ensures every piece of your safety equipment is ready to do its job, letting you focus on the road ahead.
Towing safety isn’t a single product; it’s a system where each component plays a critical role. Investing in this gear isn’t about fear, it’s about confidence. It’s what allows you to relax and enjoy the journey, knowing you’ve done everything possible to make it a safe one.
