These are the roughly ordered tasks for setting up the RV upon arrival at a new campsite. This list will change over time as omitted activities are added or a better process is identified.
Some of these tasks continue the day after (e.g., setting up personal and hobby stuff). Some of these tasks happen in tandem inside and out (e.g., arranging furniture and attaching utilities). Some of these things are seasonal (e.g., additional heaters).
These tasks are for getting the RV situated and slides extended.
- Stop at the campground front desk
- Check-in
- Pay any remainder due for the stay
- Get map to campsite
- Drive to campsite
- Park car to have someone watch for obstructions
- Ditches
- Rocks
- Site marker
- Picnic table
- Trees
- Overhead branches
- Side or back curbs
- Back-in or pull-through the site lining up roughly parallel to the utility (driver’s) side of the site. Check clearances and reposition, if not
- 4′ of clearance on the back half of the passenger side
- 2′ of clearance on the entire driver side
- 4′ of clearance on the driver side at the office
- Sewer connection at the center of the rear RV tire, if a full hook-up site
- Check the side-to-side level (front to back is leveled after disconnecting)
- Put the RV steps down
- Check the two side-to-side level values in manual mode on the console by the interior steps
- A negative side-to-side value means the driver’s side is too high, and a positive side-to-side value means the passenger’s side is too high
- The 2″x12″ leveling board is about 1.5 inches think and corrects for about 1.1-1.3 degrees
- The true 1″x12″ leveling board is about 1 inch think and corrects for about 0.6-0.8 degrees
- The RV levelers can correct for about 0.3-0.4 degrees without lifting the tires up too much
- Put the RV steps up
- If needed, setup leveling boards
- With a rock or stick, mark where the front edge of the front tire touches the ground
- Move the RV forward or back enough to place leveling boards
- Place leveling boards at the marks
- Move the RV slowly onto the leveling boards. Adjust the board angle or location, if needed
- Verify the RV location and clearance
- If slide clearance is not there, go back to “Back-in or pull-through …”
- If sewer line is not centered on the rear tire, moving is optional.
- If both dump connections are within 10′ – 20′ of sewer hookup, both hoses are required
- If back dump connection is more than 20′ from sewer hookup, limit the kitchen sink usage
- If front dump connection is more than 20′ from sewer hookup, limit the toilet, limit the bathroom sink usage, and no showers in the RV
- If both dump connections are more than 20′ from sewer hookup, treat it like an electric/water site, limit all water usage, and no showers in the RV
- Verify the RV is level
- Put the steps down
- Check the level in manual mode on the console by the interior steps
- Put the steps up
- If not level enough, go back to the “If needed, setup leveling boards” to correct
- Place chocks under the RV tires
- If there is a downhill side, place all chocks on the downhill side with a chock on each lower tire and one in the middle.
- If the site is level, put two chocks facing opposite directions on one side and against a tire between the two tires on the other.
- Put blocks down for the front levelers. Specifics (e.g., number of blocks and notches) may vary based on the slope of the site
- Adjust front stabilizer leg height
- Pull the side pin on the front stabilizer leg
- Drop the leg to 7 – 8 notches, including the half notch at the top
- Push the pin back in.
- Verify the pin sticks out about 1/4″ on the inside of the leg
- Two or three 1.5″ blocks are usually used for the front stabilizer legs.
- Steep front-to-back slopes may use one or four
- Side-to-side slopes might result in an extra block on one side
- Adjust the block height and alignment
- Adjust the blocks to be lined up under the foot pads
- Lower front stabilizer legs (raise RV) until the foot pads are about 2″ above the highest block
- Measure the difference in space between the front stabilizers on either side and equalize the difference with the 1/2″ yellow plastic pads
- Adjust front stabilizer leg height
- Raise RV front and disconnect the RV from the truck
- Lower the front levelers of the RV to raise the front of the RV until a slight gap shows between the receiver and hitch at the lube plate
- Lower the tailgate
- Disconnect the RV controller cable and set in hitch controller plug slot
- Disconnect the emergency brake cable and stow near plug slot
- Verify that bystanders are several feet clear of all sides of the RV
- Unpin the receiver handle
- Open the receiver handle; the RV and truck should settle apart slightly
- Pin the receiver handle open
- Slowly move the truck forward
- Watch the controller and emergency brake cable to ensure they do not snag while moving the truck
- Tailgate and rear of the truck should be far enough forward that lowering the front of the RV does not hit the truck bed or tailgate.
- Level the front of the RV
- Put the steps down
- Go inside
- Put the steps up (or someone lifts holds them up. Lowering the front of the RV with the steps down can damage the steps and/or doorway)
- Using the console by the interior steps in manual mode, lower (or raise) the front of the RV to +0.1 degrees.
- A positive front-to-back value means the front of the RV is too high. A negative front-to-back value at disconnect means the front of the RV is too low. This should be uncommon because it represents roughly 1+ feet of downward slope.
- Using auto-level with an uneven trailer is not always safe. It can lift the wheels off the ground
- Put blocks at the back stabilizers
- Two 1.5″ blocks are usually used for the back stabilizer legs.
- Steep front to back slope may only one or up to four
- Slide slopes might result in an extra block on one side
- Adjust the block height and alignment
- Adjust the blocks to be lined up under the foot pads
- Lower front stabilizer legs (raise RV) until the foot pads are about 2″ above the highest block
- Measure the difference in space between the front stabilizers on either side and equalize the difference with the 1/2″ yellow plastic pads
- Two 1.5″ blocks are usually used for the back stabilizer legs.
- Stabilize the back of the RV
- Lower rear stabilizers (raise rear of RV) until both rear stabilizers are firmly planted on the blocks
- Do not lift tires off the ground
- Raise or lower right and left side to fine tune
- Verify rear stabilizers are still firmly on the blocks
- Connect 50 amp power cable
- Verify power pole is connected properly
- Turn off power pole breaker
- Attach power tester
- Turn on power pole breaker
- Connect 50 amp power cable
- Turn off power pole breaker
- Attach power cable
- Turn on power pole breaker
- Verify power pole is connected properly
- Put out slides with an observer checking for obstructions
- Extend the living room slide
- Turn on interior power breaker
- Extend the kitchen slide
- Extend the office slide
- Extend the bedroom dresser
These tasks are for setting up the RV for living at the site.
- Turn on A/C or Heater, as needed
- Handle cats
- Put out cat food and water
- Bring cats into RV
- Connect utilities
- Connect water line and water filter. If cold enough, use heated hose
- Connect sewer line to the front sewer connection
- Setup internet mast
- Put out rugs
- Two living room rugs
- Kitchen rug
- Hall rug
- (Un)Welcome mat
- Setup living room/dining room
- Detach both straps for living room furniture
- Swap bench and recliner
- Unstrap cat stand and move cat to the living room
- Move spare chair to office
- Extend table
- Setup heater
- Bedroom
- Setup CPAP
- Setup chargers
- Setup heater
- Bathroom
- Put out the cat scratcher
- Put out shower supplies
- Put out bathroom supplies
- Outside
- Attach stabilizer to the hitch
- Setup propane grill
- Disconnect bikes from car
- Lock up bikes
- Stow bike rack
- Setup personal and hobby materials
These are things that are sometimes done the day after arriving
- Put up the mast for internet
- Disconnect bikes and stow bike rack
- Setup propane grill
- Connect sewer line
- Attach front stabilizer
- Setup personal and hobby items
- Move cat stand to living room
- Put away the cat water fountain