6 Best Pet Gates For Separating RV Living Areas Nomads Swear By

You’re trying to cook dinner, but your dog is convinced the spatula is a new toy and the floor is the best place for a nap—right under your feet. In a 200-square-foot home on wheels, sharing space with a pet requires creating clear boundaries for safety and sanity. The right pet gate is more than just a barrier; it’s a tool that makes small-space living with animals not just possible, but comfortable.

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Choosing the Right Pet Gate for Your RV Layout

RV interiors are not like houses. Doorways are non-standard widths, walls can be flimsy, and the floor plan changes every time you extend a slide-out. Before you buy any gate, measure everything—twice. Don’t just measure the doorway; measure the thickness of the wall or trim you plan to mount it against.

The biggest mistake people make is buying a standard house gate and expecting it to fit. An RV hallway might be a narrow 22 inches, while the opening to your living area with the slide extended could be over 60 inches. You need to think about how you move through the space. A gate you have to step over might be fine for a rarely used area, but it will become a major annoyance in a main walkway.

Consider the material of your walls. Most RV interior walls are thin luan plywood, which can’t support a hardware-mounted gate that a strong dog might lean on. This is where pressure-mounted gates shine, but even they can leave indentations. The key is to match the gate’s function and mounting style to the specific location and your pet’s temperament.

Carlson Extra Wide Gate: Best for Slide-Outs

Slide-outs create wonderfully large living areas, but they also create massive, awkward openings that are impossible to block with a standard gate. This is where the Carlson Extra Wide shines. These gates are designed for the sprawling openings found between a kitchen and living room in many fifth-wheels and Class A motorhomes.

What makes it work is its sturdy, all-steel pressure-mount system combined with multiple extensions. You can configure it to span openings up to 13 feet, which is more than enough for almost any slide-out scenario. The integrated "pet door" is a game-changer, allowing cats or very small dogs to pass through while keeping larger dogs contained. This simple feature can solve a lot of inter-pet drama.

The tradeoff is its presence. It’s not a subtle gate, and the bottom support bar is a permanent fixture you have to step over. But when you need to reliably secure a large, unconventional space without drilling into your slide-out trim, this is the most practical and effective solution on the market. It provides a sense of solid separation that flimsier options just can’t match.

Retract-A-Gate: The Ultimate Space-Saving Pick

In an RV, every square inch counts. A traditional swing gate takes up precious real estate, creating an obstacle even when it’s open. The Retract-A-Gate solves this problem completely by disappearing into a slim, vertical housing when not in use. For tight corridors or the top of steep RV entry steps, this is an elegant and highly functional solution.

This gate uses a durable mesh screen that rolls up, similar to a window shade. When you need to block an area, you simply pull the handle across and lock it into the low-profile brackets on the opposite wall. The space is secured. When you’re done, it retracts with one hand, leaving the walkway completely clear. There is no bottom bar to trip over, a huge safety advantage in a moving vehicle.

However, its design requires a hardware mount, meaning you have to screw brackets into your walls. This is a non-starter for some, but if you can find a solid mounting point (like a stud or reinforced cabinet wall), the benefit is enormous. Be aware that a determined dog might be able to push underneath the flexible mesh, so it’s best for well-behaved pets who just need a visual reminder of their boundaries.

Regalo Easy Step: A Reliable Walk-Thru Option

Sometimes you just need a simple, dependable gate for a standard doorway, like the one leading to your RV’s bedroom or bathroom. The Regalo Easy Step is the workhorse of the RV world for this exact purpose. It’s a pressure-mounted gate, so you don’t have to drill holes, and its all-steel construction is tough enough to handle daily use.

Its best feature is the one-handed walk-thru latch. When you’re carrying laundry or a cup of coffee, you don’t have to set anything down to get through. This small convenience makes a huge difference in the flow of your daily life. It’s adjustable for most standard RV interior doorways and sets up in minutes without any tools.

Like most walk-thru gates, it has a permanent bar along the bottom that you have to step over. While it’s relatively low-profile, it’s still a trip hazard to be mindful of. For a simple, strong, and easy-to-use barrier in a high-traffic area, the Regalo is a solid, no-nonsense choice that just works.

IRIS USA Freestanding Pen: No-Install Versatility

What if you don’t have a doorway to block? Many RVs have open-concept layouts where you need to section off a space, not a passageway. A freestanding pen, like the popular models from IRIS USA, offers incredible flexibility with zero installation required. You can zig-zag the panels to block off the kitchen, protect the driver’s cab from muddy paws, or even create a small "yard" for your pet outside.

These lightweight plastic or wire panels connect to form a configurable barrier. You can make it as long or as short as you need by adding or removing panels. The non-skid rubber feet help keep it in place on slick vinyl or laminate flooring. When you don’t need it, it folds down flat for easy storage under a dinette or in a pass-through storage bay.

The major limitation is stability. A large or determined dog can push a freestanding gate out of the way. It’s a visual and psychological barrier, not a high-security one. But for small to medium-sized pets, or for simply creating a "no-go zone" without damaging your rig’s interior, its versatility is unmatched.

Evenflo Position & Lock: A Simple, Secure Fit

There’s beauty in simplicity. The classic wooden pressure gate, like the Evenflo Position & Lock, is often overlooked but remains one of the most useful tools for an RVer. It’s lightweight, inexpensive, and incredibly easy to move from one spot to another. This is the perfect gate for temporarily blocking a narrow hallway while you clean or securing the main door while it’s open for a breeze.

Its mechanism is dead simple: you expand the wooden gate until the rubber bumpers on each side press firmly against the door frame. These non-marring bumpers are key—they won’t scuff or dent the delicate wall panels common in RVs. Because there’s no complex hardware, it fits in a huge range of narrow to standard openings.

The obvious downside is that it’s not a walk-thru gate. You either have to step over it or take it down completely every time you want to pass. For this reason, it’s not ideal for a main thoroughfare. But for temporary containment or for blocking off less-used areas, it’s a cheap, effective, and RV-friendly solution.

North States Superyard: Heavy-Duty Containment

If you have large dogs, multiple pets, or a pup who sees regular gates as a mere suggestion, you need to bring in the heavy artillery. The North States Superyard is less of a gate and more of a modular containment system. It’s a series of tall, sturdy panels that can be configured as a massive freestanding pen or stretched out as an extra-long barrier.

You can use the Superyard to completely wall off the front living area of a fifth-wheel from the kitchen, or to block the entire cab of a Class A. It’s also fantastic for creating a safe, spacious outdoor play area for your pets at the campsite. The panels are durable and designed to withstand the elements, making it a true indoor/outdoor solution.

The tradeoff for this level of security is size and weight. The panels are bulky and take up significant storage space when not in use—a major consideration in any RV. It’s overkill for a chihuahua, but if you need to confidently contain a 100-pound dog who has learned how to defeat lesser gates, the Superyard provides peace of mind that’s worth the space it occupies.

RV Gate Factors: Pressure vs. Hardware Mounts

The single most important technical decision you’ll make is choosing between a pressure-mounted and a hardware-mounted gate. This choice directly impacts the integrity of your RV’s walls and the security of the gate itself. Understanding the difference is not optional.

Pressure-mounted gates work by creating tension against the opposing walls or door frame. You simply tighten them until they’re held firmly in place by pressure.

• Pros: No drilling, no holes, no permanent damage. They are easy to install, remove, and relocate. This makes them the default choice for most RV applications.
• Cons: They are not as secure as hardware-mounted gates. A powerful dog could potentially dislodge one. Most also have a bottom bar that can be a trip hazard.

Hardware-mounted gates are physically screwed into the wall studs or door frame. This creates a permanent, structural connection.

• Pros: They are far stronger and more secure. This is the only safe option for the top of stairs (like the loft in a toy hauler) and the best choice for containing very strong or determined pets. Many, like retractable gates, don’t have a bottom trip bar.
• Cons: You must drill holes in your RV. Finding a solid mounting point (a stud, not just the thin wall panel) is critical and can be difficult. An improperly installed hardware mount can cause significant damage by pulling out of the wall.

Your decision framework should be simple. Use a pressure-mounted gate wherever possible to protect your walls. Only upgrade to a hardware-mounted gate if you have a specific safety need (like stairs) or a pet strong enough to defeat a pressure mount, and you have confirmed a solid place to anchor it.

Ultimately, the best pet gate isn’t the most expensive or the most popular; it’s the one that solves your specific spatial problem without creating new ones. By matching the gate’s design to your RV’s unique layout and your pet’s personality, you can create a safer, more harmonious home on the road. Don’t be afraid to use different types of gates for different areas—versatility is the key to successful small-space living.