RV & Motorhome Best Sellers: The Power Leads, Steps and Bike Racks Kiwis Are Buying Now

With Labour Day weekend around the corner and summer not far behind, a lot of Kiwi caravan and motorhome owners are moving past the roof-and-pump checks and onto the fun stuff: getting power to the van, making it easier to get in and out of, and taking the bikes along. We went through our real orders from the last 90 days to see which RV & Motorhome gear people are actually buying. These are genuine recent best sellers, not a wish list.

1. Southern Alps Caravan Extension Lead 16A 15m – $59.99

Powered sites rarely put the outlet right next to your door, and this lead is one of our steadiest RV sellers for exactly that reason. It's a heavy-duty 16 amp extension lead with 16 amp plugs and a thick, flexible blue cord, giving you 15 metres between the site mains outlet and your caravan or motorhome. It complies with NZ electrical standards. More power gear lives in Electrical & Solar.

Shop the Southern Alps 15m Extension Lead

2. Gas Bottle Locker (Fibreglass) for 4kg LPG – $664.39

This is a New Zealand-made fibreglass cabinet that holds a standard 4kg LPG bottle in a caravan, motorhome or boat. The interior is sealed and vents to the outside, so gas can't build up inside your living space, and the front is lockable with a key. It's designed to meet NZ gas regulations for RV installation. The interior measures 370 x 260 x 290mm (H x W x D), the cutout is 390 x 280 x 290mm, and the exterior is about 480 x 370 x 290mm. Check those numbers against your space before you order. See more in Locker & Utility Doors.

Shop the Gas Bottle Locker

3. Thule Manual Sliding Step 400mm – $399.00

If someone in the family finds the caravan doorway a big step up, this is a tidy fix. It's a manual Omni-Step that slides out to give you a sturdy 400mm-wide platform, then tucks back under the chassis when you're done. A click system locks it in the open or closed position, so it stays put when you're driving and when you're standing on it. It needs no power or batteries, and the brackets have four mounting positions to suit different chassis heights, which makes it a popular retrofit. Check the product page for current availability. Browse Steps & Ladders for more.

Shop the Thule Manual Sliding Step

4. Thule Caravan Superb E-Bike Rack (Standard Frame) – $902.00

Our headline pick for anyone who tours with bikes. The Superb mounts on your caravan's A-frame and is built for e-bikes, carrying two bikes up to 60kg in total (30kg per rail). You can extend it to a third bike with a kit sold separately. The whole rack tilts with the bikes still on it, so you can still get into your front storage, and an adjustable tilt-stop protects the car. The platform locks, and the bike holders lock with a key. More in Thule Bike Racks.

Shop the Thule Caravan Superb E-Bike Rack

5. Trojan Plunger Coupling 3500kg 50mm – $350.00

Before any big trip, it pays to look at the coupling. This heavy-duty Trojan plunger coupling is rated to 3500kg and fits 50mm balls. In 50mm mode it complies with NZ standard 5232-1993. An anti-rattle screw cuts down play between the coupling and the ball, so the tow is quieter with less wear. There's a padlock provision for security when the trailer's parked, and it mounts with four 12mm high-tensile bolts. It works alongside electric or driver-operated brake systems. See the range in Trojan Non-Braked Couplings.

Shop the Trojan Plunger Coupling

Also popular

Roof sealing is still on plenty of to-do lists. Eternabond Roof Seal Tape, White 2" x 15.2m ($129.99) has an aluminium backing and MicroSealant layer that seals seams, tears and flashings, with no extra sealing needed. More options are in Eternabond Tapes & Sealants. And if 15 metres won't reach, the Southern Alps 25m Caravan Extension Lead ($87.55) keeps selling as well.

Ready for the long weekend

The pattern this time is clear: people are setting their vans up to actually use them, with power to the door, an easier way in, safe gas storage and room for the bikes. Whether you're heading off for Labour Day, planning a summer loop of the South Island, or running a van in the Pacific Islands (we export across the Pacific, so get in touch if you're outside New Zealand), have a look at our RV exterior, interior and appliances collections for the rest.

Browse our full range at actionoutdoors.kiwi