Campground Setup Checklist for RVers

October 03, 2018

One of the biggest annoyances that comes with camping is trying to remember everything that you were supposed to bring with you on the trip. It's pretty frustrating when you can't light a fire and you don't have any candles just to find out that you didn't bring a flashlight either. Or if you need to go to the bathroom, find out that somebody has already used the last roll of toilet paper, and that you failed to bring extra. While these are minor situations, bigger problems, like the mechanics of your RV, can also pop up while you're camping.

Your checklist should be broken down separately by category as you don’t want to be out on the road without being able to mark these off.

Know the Details of Your Campsite

Aside from checking your tire pressure and making sure that your oil is at the appropriate level, your RV has needs that are very different from a regular car.

Inspect the location: Remember to check the park amenities to see if your site has water, sewage hookup, or electric. Sometimes only checking the site map can be tricky as it may appear that you have access but in reality you don’t.

Figure out if you need to back it in: Doing this early on will prevent you from struggling to leave the park if it is not a pull-through-friendly location.

Is the ground level: If not you'll need to set the parking brake and chock your wheels so your RV does not roll away.

Make Sure Your RV is Functioning

Owning an RV can be great, but it also has its own set of problems, from electrical to mechanical.

Get a voltage meter: A short circuit can mean trouble for your entire RV no matter where the outlet is. Voltage readings should remain between 105 and 135, anything outside this range could be dangerous.

Bring an extension cord: Since you're camping, there may be times when you can't park close enough to an outlet or hookup. You should always keep an extension cord on hand, even if you aren't using it for anything else. Remember to bring an adapter as not all parks have the same plug configuration.

Disconnect Your Battery: Motorhomes that have a chassis battery should be switched to off to prevent any excess drainage.

Septic System and Water Usage Checklist

If you want anything to be functioning properly, it's your septic system.

Turn on your water faucets: Do this before you go so that you can see if there are any leaks and fix them before you get to the campsite.

Make sure that your water heater is working: Unless you plan on taking cold showers and eating cereal everyday you're going to want your RV to be able to produce hot water.

Bring a water pressure meter: Putting more pressure on your water pipes than they can handle is sure to cause a break in the line. Always use a water pressure regulator to avoid a break in your water lines.

Of course, these shouldn’t be the only items on your checklist. They are some of the most important things to keep in mind, though!