How to Set Up Your RV at a Campground

Remembering everything you need to do to set up an RV at a campsite for the first time can be overwhelming! A checklist is helpful to have so that you don’t forget anything. Depending on what type of RV you have, your list will vary. Here is what we do when we arrive at a site with our 42-feet fifth wheel!

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Check in

There will be signs explaining where to park while checking in. During check-in, you will most likely get a map of the property, info about the park, and a site assignment.

Campground map

Scout the space

As we pull up, we get out and walk around the site. We make sure there isn’t any broken glass or debris in the site that could damage the rig. We take note of where the hookups are, so we know where to place the rig in the space. If you have slides, you’ll want to make sure you notice where trees, large rocks, or electrical posts are. You have to make sure your slides will have room to open fully!

Two RVS in a campground

Pull in

The way you pull in will vary, depending on whether you have a pull-through site or a back-in site. Pull-through sites are the easiest to get into. You literally just pull on in! For back-in sites, having a backup camera is extremely helpful. If you don’t have one, hopefully you have a partner with you that can assist you! Your passenger should have a walkie talkie (because phones don’t always work in spotty service areas) and stand in the back of the site, helping guide the driver in.

Person holding a walkie talkie

Disconnect the tow vehicle

We manually lower the two front jacks and chock the wheels. Using our automatic leveling system, we raise the RV so the weight is no longer on the truck. We then disconnect the truck and pull away.

Level the RV

We push the “auto level” button and our automatic leveling system levels the rig and brings the rest of the jacks down. Every once in a while, we will get an error code and have to use a level on the back bumper to manually level it.

Connections

First, plug the surge protector into the electric panel. Next, turn on the breaker to make sure it works. Then turn it back off. Plug in the power cord. You now have electricity! Connect the water hose and turn on the water, then the sewer hose, and your outside connections are complete.

Person plugging in an RV at a campground

Accessories

While one person is hooking up the connections, another can unload any chairs, rugs, or outdoor accessories you want to set out.

Slides

If your RV has slides, someone can go inside and start opening them up as soon as the rig is level. We like to have one person push the button to open the slide while another person watches the space that is opening up to ensure nothing has fallen or is in the way of the slide opening up. We usually have a few things that need to be straightened up and put back in place once we arrive, so someone has the job of setting up the inside.

As mentioned earlier, setting up will look different for different RV types. I hope this glimpse into our family’s fifth-wheel setup is helpful as you make a checklist for your RV!

And while you’re at it, download our Ultimate RV Checklist bundle to make sure you don’t forget anything!

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You might also be interested in this free video: Proper RV Campground Etiquette: Being Good to Your Neighbors.

Other Related Videos:


RV Checklist for Camping: Checking the Campground Source

How to Add an RV Water Filter at the Campground Source

Woman smiling with a camera outside

About the Author: Lauren is a wife, mother of two, photographer, blogger and lover of nature and adventure! Currently traveling around the U.S. in a fifth wheel, Lauren and her family seek to live life to the fullest and continue to look for ways to simplify their lives in order to live larger with less. Follow along on their journey by visiting their family travel blog.

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38 Responses to “How to Set Up Your RV at a Campground”

  1. Bradford O'Neal

    Failed to mention using a water pressure regulator valve. Blown lines in side the camper are the worst,

  2. Norma Bravo

    Turn your outside lights off before you go to bed instead of having them shine into your neighbour’s rig all night. :-)

  3. Mark Robbins

    Before connecting into your power supply, I strongly urge that you take a voltmeter and make sure that the power coming in is correct. For example, you do not want to plug-in if you have more than 125 V on each leg of a 50 amp connection. Nor do you want to plug-in if you have less than 105 boats on each of those legs, I learned the hard way, and after plugging in my search protector turned on the power and burned up my surge protector— basically sacrifice itself to save the electronics in my RV. But that sacrifice cost me over $300 to buy a new surge protector. Best to always check your voltage before plugging in your surge protector.

  4. STEVE

    Take some photos of your site before you pull into the spot. Then when you break camp you can look at the before photos to restore the site as it was when you arrived. This was a good video.

  5. Mike Womer

    Don't forget to turn the power back on after testing and plugging in.

  6. Michael Wood

    Thank you SO MUCH for the good tips cuz we’re NEWBIES with our 2007 23’ Skyline

  7. Rick Rose

    How to properly level my 29’ Motorhome properly

  8. ROSELLEN

    Water hook up

  9. Carl Matthews

    Proper way to set up

  10. John

    "Connect the water hose and turn on the water, then the sewer hose and your outside connections are complete." Unless you need to connect a coax TV cable (or other rare connections like a phone line or ethernet cable).