Stress-Free Travel Trailer Setup Checklist

This travel trailer campsite setup checklist is provided by Randi at Randi’s Adventures on YouTube.

Travel Trailer Campsite Setup Checklist

Setting up your travel trailer gets much easier when you follow the same steps every time. This printable campsite setup checklist is designed to help you slow down, avoid missing important steps, and get your camper safely settled before you start relaxing.

Every camper and tow vehicle setup is a little different, so always follow your owner’s manual and use this checklist as a general guide.

How to Print or Save This Checklist

To print this checklist or save it as a PDF from your browser:

On a computer:

  1. Open this page in your browser.
  2. Press Ctrl + P on Windows or Command + P on Mac.
  3. Choose your printer, or select Save as PDF.
  4. Click Print or Save.

On a phone or tablet:

  1. Tap your browser’s share button.
  2. Look for Print or Save to Files.
  3. Choose your printer or save the page as a PDF.

Travel Trailer Campsite Setup Steps

Before You Back In

1. Preview Your Campsite

Before backing into your site, take a minute to walk it first.

Look for:

  • The most level area
  • Low branches
  • Rocks, posts, picnic tables, fire rings, or other obstacles
  • Soft ground or deep ruts
  • Where your camper door, awning, and slide-outs will be positioned

A few minutes of checking now can save you a big headache later.

2. Make Sure Your Hookups Can Be Reached

Before you unhitch, make sure everything will reach.

Check that your:

  • Electric cord can reach the power pedestal
  • Water hose can reach the spigot
  • Sewer hose can reach the sewer connection, if available

Also make sure you have enough room to open your slide-outs and awning.

You do not want to unhitch, level, and get settled only to realize your cord is too short or your awning is opening into a tree.

Leveling and Unhitching

3. Level the Trailer Side to Side

Place a level inside your trailer with the ends pointing toward the sides of the camper.

You want the bubble centered between the lines.

If the trailer is not level side to side:

  1. Place leveling blocks or curved levelers behind or in front of the tire on the low side.
  2. Slowly back up or pull forward onto the levelers.
  3. Recheck the level inside the trailer.
  4. Adjust as needed until the trailer is level.

Do this step before you unhitch from your tow vehicle.

4. Put the Tow Vehicle in Park and Set the Parking Brake

Once the trailer is level side to side, put your tow vehicle in park and set the parking brake.

5. Chock the Trailer Wheels

Place wheel chocks on both sides of the trailer wheels to help prevent the trailer from moving.

This is an important safety step before disconnecting from your tow vehicle.

6. Place Blocks Under the Tongue Jack

Put a block or jack pad under the tongue jack before lowering it.

This helps give the jack a solid base and keeps it from sinking into soft ground.

7. Remove the Weight Distribution Bars

If you use a weight distribution hitch, remove the bars before unhitching.

Tip: Raising the tongue jack slightly can take pressure off the bars and make them easier to remove.

8. Lower the Tongue Jack to Take Pressure Off the Hitch

Use the tongue jack to take pressure off the hitch connection.

You want enough pressure released so the coupler can safely come off the hitch ball.

9. Disconnect the Tow Vehicle Connections

Disconnect the following from your tow vehicle:

  • 7-way power cord
  • Breakaway cable
  • Coupler safety pin or latch pin

Keep the safety chains connected for now.

10. Release the Coupler and Lift It Off the Hitch Ball

Open the coupler latch and use the tongue jack to raise the trailer until the coupler lifts off the hitch ball.

Go slowly and make sure the trailer stays stable.

11. Remove the Safety Chains

Once the coupler is safely off the hitch ball and the trailer is stable, remove the safety chains.

12. Raise the Tongue Jack Until the Hitch Clears the Tow Vehicle

Raise the tongue jack high enough so your tow vehicle can safely pull forward without hitting the coupler.

13. Move the Tow Vehicle Out of the Way

Slowly pull the tow vehicle forward and park it where it will not block the campsite road, hookups, or your camper entrance.

After the Trailer Is Disconnected

14. Level the Trailer Front to Back

Now use the tongue jack to level the trailer from front to back.

Place your level so the ends point toward the front and back of the camper.

Raise or lower the tongue jack until the trailer is level.

15. Place Blocks Under Each Stabilizer

Place leveling blocks or stabilizer pads under each stabilizer jack.

This gives the stabilizers a solid surface and helps prevent them from sinking into the ground.

16. Lower the Stabilizers

Lower the stabilizers until they are snug.

Do not use stabilizers to lift or level the trailer. They are meant to stabilize the camper, not raise it.

17. Connect to Hookups

Connect your campsite hookups as needed:

  • Electric
  • Water
  • Sewer

For electric, it is a good idea to use a surge protector or electrical management system before plugging your camper in.

18. Turn the Propane On

Turn the propane on if you need it for your refrigerator, stove, furnace, or water heater.

After turning it on, check that everything is working properly.

Final Campsite Check

Before you officially call it done, do one final walkaround.

Check that:

  • Wheels are chocked
  • Trailer is level
  • Stabilizers are down
  • Hookups are secure
  • Awning and slide-outs have enough clearance
  • Steps are down
  • Propane is on, if needed
  • Tow vehicle is parked safely
  • Nothing is blocking the road or neighboring campsites

Now you can finally relax and enjoy your campsite.

✅ My Travel Trailer Setup Items on Amazon

If you need to purchase any of the items necessary to set up your travel trailer on Amazon these are the items I use or recommend:

Want to learn how to hitch your travel trailer? Click here.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a travel trailer or a travel trailer hitch expert – this is what works for me and your tow vehicle, trailer, weight distribution system, etc. may be different than mine – you are responsible to do your own research and read your owner manuals!

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