We all have our own way of setting up the motorhome once we get into camp. Some of us have very elaborate and specific rituals that we follow to the letter, others just wing it and play it by ear (not actually the best course of action), and some of us have created our own checklist based on our preferences and years of experience (read: lessons learned the hard way). If you’re a newbie, or in the winging-it category, check out MotorHome’s 12 Steps for Setting Up Camp, below, and if you are an RV veteran — you know who you are — how about adding your wisdom to the Comments section below.
And, hey, while we’re at it, our resident experts have thrown in a bonus list: Leaving the RV Site. Sorry, but that one is twice as long (we don’t know why), and not as much fun (’cause nobody wants to say goodbye to s’mores) 🙂
- Disconnect dinghy vehicle/stow equipment
- Unlock slideout travel locks (if equipped)
- Extend slideout rooms after leveling motorhome
- Set electric step to extended off position
- Shut engine off
- Plug AC cord into power
- Connect sewer hose
- Connect water pressure regulator, water hose and water filter
- Open water faucets, showerhead and toilet to remove air in lines
- Hook up satellite or cable TV
- Turn on water heater
- Get comfy and enjoy!
- Check roof and top of slideouts/slideout toppers for large debris
- Retract awnings
- Stow patio items
- Dump and flush holding tanks
- Disconnect and rinse sewer hose, stow properly
- Disconnect water-pressure regulator, water hose and water filter
- Disconnect cable TV and/or portable satellite antenna
- Lower broadcast TV antenna (if so equipped)
- Turn off TV antenna booster
- Secure refrigerator items and lock door(s)
- Close roof vents without covers
- Clear items in way of slideouts
- Start engine
- Check interior for any items that may need to be stowed away
- Retract slideout rooms and lock (if so equipped)
- Retract leveling jacks
- Set electric step to on position
- Turn off water heater
- Confirm proper air pressure (diesel pushers)
- Check tire pressure
- Check clearance, tail and signal lights
- Connect dinghy vehicle in safe place
- Check dinghy brake operation and lights
- Make plans for your next motorhome trip!
Since I don’t like crawling under the slide on my class C, I take everything out of the basement I expect to use before I put my slide out.
I agree 110%.
Agree 111%.
Since I don’t like crawling under the slide on my class C, I take everything out of the basement I expect to use before I put my slide out. I also connect the sewer before putting the slide out.
Get equipment out of basements before extending slideouts
Have number seven (connect sewer hose) come after number eight so that you do not contaminate your water supply items.
You forgot about opening the awning in your 12 steps.
Great catch, Wilfredo! Thanks 🙂
Usually when we are preparing to leave, the awning is one of the last things to retract so that you have some shade while stowing your gear.
Many RV’s have sliding glass shower doors.
One needs to make sure the door is properly secured before traveling.
Failure to do so can be disastrous.
After I disconnect our dingy, I first level then make all my connections before I extend my slide outs. Using shore power keeps from putting a strain on the batteries and also, I hate moving up and down around the RV when the slides are out. After the slides are out I put my corner protectors on each corner of the slides. I made the protectors from the kids tubes used in the pool. While I am outside my wife is inside switching from drive mode to living mode. When I go inside the only thing I need to do is tune the TV.
I never (any longer) put the main awning out until we plan on using it and always retract when we are not using it. We learned that lesson the hard way in Branson, MO when after a beautiful evening went to bed with the awning left out. At 3:00AM heavy winds blew in unexpectedly and before I could get up and retract it the wind got under it and folded it up and across the top of the RV. Thanks to the park (USA Campground) maintenance man for aiding me in removing it.
I would never connect the sewer hose before connecting the water. Just the thought of touching the end of the water hose after handling the sewer hose makes my skin crawl.