You’ve finally arrived at your favorite campground, and you’re ready to set up your home away from home. Setting up camp doesn’t have to be cumbersome. In fact, with an RV setup checklist, it can be a smooth ride that takes you from travel mode to camp life in an instant.
Now, how exactly you set up your campsite is up to you. You may decide to add some notes to this checklist, and that’s fine by us. Make it your own!
This checklist hits the major points that every RVer needs to take care of before the relaxation begins.
Your Essential RV Setup Checklist
Forming a habit of adhering to a systematic setup process helps you avoid frustrations and turns this task into a simple, efficient routine.
#1: Choose the Right Spot for Your RV
Before you even get to your campsite, be sure you’ve booked the proper campsite for your size and type of RV. Note that not all campsites can accommodate RVs over 40 feet. Because it’s better to be safe than sorry, check with the campground to confirm your spot will fit your camper. While you’re at it, you’ll also want to check the distance to hook-ups (and other site amenities).
- Confirm campsite dimensions with the campground
- Confirm distance to hookups
#2: Position Your Camper Properly
When you first roll into your campsite, the excitement of a new adventure can be electrifying. However, before you start enjoying the RV life, make sure to evaluate your site thoroughly.
First, ask yourself: where are the hookups? You’ll want to park close enough for your chords and hoses to reach. (While there are extensions you can use, it’s easier not to.)
Next, are there obstructions that might get in the way of your slide-outs and awnings? Avoid those when backing up.
When parking, you want to find the flattest spot that’s within reach of the hookups (and far enough away from any obstacles).
If you need help parking your camper, check this out. In the meantime, be sure to check off these to-dos.
- Assess your site
- Locate hookups and potential obstacles
- Find flat ground
- Park your RV
#3: Secure and Level Your RV
Once you’ve parked, you need to break out the RV chocks (Check out this list of 2024’s best RV wheel chocks). These handy plastic accessories keep your trailer or camper from accidentally rolling away–with you still inside.
Pro tip: For dual axle trailers, X-chocks like these are best. Place them between the two sets of wheels, and they’ll prevent the trailer from rolling forward or backward.
Be sure to place your chocks in front of and/or behind your wheels before you disconnect your trailer from the tow vehicle.
Then, lower the stabilizing jacks and level your camper front to back and side to side. (From one RVer to another, do yourself a favor and keep a yard or meter level in your pass-through storage for easy access).
The longer level works best because it tells the continuity of the length of the level, whereas a shorter level can only tell you the continuity of that smaller length.
Here’s how to level your camper properly.
- Position wheel chocks
- Place support blocks
- Disconnect the trailer
- Lower the stabilizer jacks
- Level the camper
#4: Hookup Your Camper
Once you’ve leveled your RV, it’s time to connect your lifelines. That’s your water and electrical connections (and sewage and propane, where applicable).
Let’s start with the power cords. Here’s how to connect to power:
- Before plugging in, switch off the breaker at the power supply box to protect against electrical surges.
- Plug a surge protector into the pedestal
- Plug in the RV power cord
- Switch on the pedestal breaker and check the power
To hook up your RV’s water supply, you will need to:
- Use a drinking-water-safe hose.
- If you prefer, install an inline filter to ensure the water is safe and flowing properly.
- Connect the hose to the campground’s water supply hookup.
When hooking up your RV to the sewer, follow these steps:
- Connect your RV sewer hose to the waste outlet on your RV. Then, connect the other end to the campsite’s sewer connection.
- Open both the black and gray water discharge valves.
Now that your RV is secured and your essential lifelines are connected to shore power, you have the option of dividing your checklist into two parts for a more efficient setup. One person can work on the interior setup, while the other can focus on the exterior setup.
#5: Interior Setup
Once your RV is secured, unfold the stairs and walk inside. Naturally, some things may have shifted during the journey. Fix what has fallen out of place and then proceed with the following…
- Check water and electricity to make sure they’re functioning properly
- Extend the bump outs. After ensuring there are no obstacles and extending the bump outs, set up any furniture that was folded and secured during travel, such as the dining table, chairs, or foldable bunk beds.
- Power on essential appliances. Namely the coffee maker.
- Distribute/rearrange any gear that was packed over the axles, moving it to the proper rooms
- Check electrical connections to entertainment centers that may have come loose during travel.
- Connect your router or extender for internet access. Technology can greatly enhance your camping experience. From providing entertainment to keeping you connected, it’s important to ensure your tech equipment is functioning properly.
- Check the battery voltage on the control panel
- Troubleshoot converters and inverters as needed
Of course, the amount of indoor setup depends on your RV and your style. You may want to add “open windows,” “organize shower door,” “unpack belongings,” or “make beds” to your set-up checklist–but that’s, ultimately, up to you.
#6: Create Your Outdoor Space
Yes, you’ve parked and hooked up your RV utilities. But now it’s time to set up a comfortable outdoor living area, perfect for unwinding post-adventure. Outdoor furniture not only adds a comfort element–but also gives you extra storage space and allows you to inject your own personal style into your campsite.
Pro tip: If you’re in an area that is prone to severe weather, you may need to break down your outdoor living room quickly. To prepare for any incidents of severe weather, keep your pass-through storage available for your exterior accessories. Easy access to your pass-through storage will make the take-down process easy.
- Protect yourself from the elements: If your camper doesn’t have an awning, there are several pop-up canopies and tents that you can extend over your outdoor dining spaces and use as conversation areas. Some of these canopies come with mosquito netting, too (like this one), which is a huge plus if you plan on camping in the south. Many RVs come with the option of adding an awning to one side.
- Roll out the welcome mat: Having a large outdoor rug defines your space and reminds people to wipe their feet before coming inside, cutting down on the dirt that enters your camper.
- Set up your camp chairs and end table for afternoon drinks. If you’re the creative type, you might want to bring a hammock along for all of your outdoor reading and sketching.
- Add outdoor lighting: Should you need extra outdoor lighting, consider hanging a string of warm lights. Keeping the lighting warm allows your eyes to adjust to the darkness more easily.
#7: Invite the Neighbors Over!
You’re all set! With your RV fully set up, it’s time to shift focus to one of the most enjoyable aspects of RV camping…your neighbors!
Camping means living in close quarters with other folks who enjoy swapping stories over the campfire (almost as much as you do). You get to know each other over a few days or weeks. With each campfire conversation, you’ll grow closer. Before long, you’ll realize that we’re not all that different from each other.
But What about Breaking Camp?
Well, if you look back through our checklist, you’ll notice it’s not just an RV setup checklist. It functions as both an RV setup and take take-down checklist. All you have to do is read it in reverse with special attention to a few areas.
- Double-check all hatches to be sure they’re secured for travel – including your shower doors.
- If you don’t want your air conditioner running on battery power, be sure it’s switched off.
- After shutting off the water, turn on your faucets to remove the excess.
- Dump gray water
- Dump sewage at the dump station on your way out, if necessary.
When breaking down camp, you may want to draft up a separate checklist. That way, you don’t forget to test trailer lights before you pull out or overlook crucial elements like the breakaway cable (if you pull a travel trailer). It will all depend on your personal setup.
Summary
Do you know the single most important step in setting up your RV? Having everything you need, when and where you need it.
I know it sounds like a pipe dream. But it’s possible!
After you get back from your trip, store your RV properly, and your next adventure is already off to a smooth start. That means finding a place that is covered, nearby, and preferably not going to break the bank.
That’s where Neighbor Storage can help.
Neighbor is a peer-to-peer storage marketplace where you can find safe, affordable storage close to home.
And if you’re an RV beginner who’s excited to embrace RV life, check this out.
