RV Newbie: Setup Checklist
When we’re between seasons, it’s the perfect time to focus on creating highly requested videos. Now that we have over 100,000 miles of RVing experience, it was time to update our RV Setup checklist. This video covers the RV basics of setting up in an RV site, but it’s not designed to cover every detail. Rather, we wanted to draw attention to the required steps that must be done in order to set up safely.
What I learned from the comments ????
We create these videos to be helpful and teach but as always, we learn so much from the community. Below are some recommendations that should have been mentioned. We’ll add more as we learn more!
- Check to make sure the electrical and water are working before disconnecting. That will save you from having to reconnect and move sites (good tip!)
- The chocks are the last things to take off and the first things to put on, so keep them at the door to make it harder to forget.
- After connecting the surge protector to the panel to ensure the proper lights, turn the panel off and connect the power cord to your RV. Then turn the panel back on.
- Putting the filter on the RV side may filter any bacteria in the hose from sitting in the sun.
- I used to have a 90 degree elbow to connect the water and put less strain on the RV connection, but I haven’t replaced it yet. It’s a good thing to have.
**This checklist is designed for a travel trailer and may not be complete for your rig. Your RV may have other steps necessary to ensure the safety of you and your equipment.
Click the checklist to download!
RV Newbie Essential Gear List
If you’re an RV Newbie, the amount of gear needed to get started can feel overwhelming. We’ve added all the essential gear to help you get started and a few non-essential items that will help make RV Life a little easier.
It’s best to first get everything you need for water, electrical and sewer hook-ups (those are truly the essentials) and then take a look at some of the items such as chairs and wagons that are “nice to have”.
Visit the KYD Amazon page and then look for our Essential Gear Catagory.
*We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Guys,
We just brought home our first travel trailer and first thing we said was we need a checklist for things. I have been watching you guys and love your videos and now I love you guys for doing these checklists.
1st time with used camper dont know much abt it. Need check list I’m overwhelmed
I have a through detailed one for my Airstream but you can use it!
Opening List- Stationery
Turn Water on
Air Conditioner ( weather permitting) otherwise refer to step 3
if cool, then open Couch side window and Kitchen window then open the roof vent leave screen door open
Set up chairs rinse them all off including the chairs on fire pit
Weather permitting ( no rain or heavy wind) Open the awning. Undo the latch(es) get the rod hook the strap pull outwards drop rod when fully extended, hold onto the valence go to end flip the grey latch, make sure it won’t go back up. Take the rafter arm and put on wheel lock it into place repeat on other side. Raise Awning 4 holes on the front side and 3 on the backside. Roll up if rain or wind will be present.
Set up the umbrella
Set up a table ( it is in the bumper of Airstream.)
Clean off some things
Set the radio up
Get anything needed out of yellow/black storage chest in back
( at night turn on blue led lights outside
PACK UP LIST (STATIONARY)
Stack Chairs one by one against the “ Excella Part” of the Airstream ** DO NOT PUT AGAINST THE METAL LEAVE 1 inch of space in between.
Clean Up anything
Put the front leaning down on fire pit
Empty the Ice Chest
Put Radio away
Put anything that was in yellow/black chest back in it, put back where it was.
Put umbrella down put the cover on it ( in the passenger-side storage unit.)
Put the awning down. Refer to the setup list do the opposite of that.
Do a quick walk around
In the Morning make sure to turn the water off. Run the lines clean
Winter Pack Up ( Stationary)
Winterize (refer to the manual for how to do it)
Chairs stacked in the very back
The umbrella under the trailer
The table flipped upside down and put in the back
Radio take back home and yellow bucket back home
Take all things out of trailer that can be frozen
Bring out Woodburner
Fill Propane up
Pack Up ( Mobile)
Empty Tanks
Empty Water
Latch all cabinets
TVs on floor ( front) blanket over it
Tv backroom put in the very far corner with a blanket over it
Antenna down
All shampoo, soaps, etc put in sinks or showers
Disconnect electric
Disconnect water
Wheel chocks
Outside latch awning
Stairs
Lube ball and hitch
Tire pressure and lugnuts
Make sure all compartments are latched shut
Disconnect brake secured
The main door locked + all curtains shut.
Tug Test 15 feet pull ahead
Set Up Mobile
DO THE REVERSE OF EVERYTHING LISTED ABOVE
Thank you for the list.
Thank You for Guidance.
My wife and I are just now shopping for a trailer i have 2016 Ford Expedition, factory ready for towing.
How can we learn about quality trailer manufacturers. There Are so many, some with major brand names, others we are not familiar with. We would like to have a quality unit. We prefer a unit within a interior the dimention of 25 to 30′ for the 2 of us with one to to slide outs.
Your followers from Mesa, AZ
In our search (mainly my wife) we found that many manufactures have forums. We also went to independent travel trailer repair / supply stores and would inquire about different manufactures. We were fortunate to find an individual that refurbishes trailers and assisted us with our quest. We did purchase a used trailer similar to your requirements; 27RKSS which is 33.5′ total length. One warning! Although extremely pleased and blessed with our first trailer; we discovered that it is a little bit too much for our 1/2 ton (GMC Sierrra w/ heavy duty tow package). Although we were about 3500 shy of the GMC’s towing capacity; in the hills of the Ozarks we really felt the truck struggle. We are planning longer trips so out west so we upgraded to a 3/4 ton truck.
Thank you for the newbie setup video. I really like the no kink 50′ hose. I don’t see that hose referenced on your Amazon list. Please share the brand of the hose
Thanks
Tom
Same! Could you share a link to the no kink hose?
Here you go. It’s in our essential list. https://www.amazon.com/shop/keepyourdaydream
I found one at Bed Bath & Beyond
What order Does the surge protector, dog bone, and electrical cord go in?
Thanks, Loved your Set-Up CHECKLIST & Newbie Essential Gear List and video! I really enjoy your positive attitude and the way your lovely family makes the RV lifestyle look like So Much Fun. B-T-W, you may want to check the spelling on Checklist #10 (slides vs. sides, maybe?).
how do I find you on Amanon
This is the link to their RV Essentials list… https://www.amazon.com/shop/keepyourdaydream
Have been following and learning with you from the beginning of your adventures. Such great information and experiences! We are on our way now too! Just bought our 1st Home, it is a 2019 Grand Design Reflections 337RLS and LOVE it! Safe travels to you and thank you for the check list. Hope we meet you on the road!
Tom and Brittany
We pick up our new (and first-ever) Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108ds this weekend. Finding info from experienced travelers like you is so helpful! Thanks much for creating and posting the checklists for gear, setting up, etc.
In our search (mainly my wife) we found that many manufactures have forums. We also went to independent travel trailer repair / supply stores and would inquire about different manufactures. We were fortunate to find an individual that refurbishes trailers and assisted us with our quest. We did purchase a used trailer similar to your requirements; 27RKSS which is 33.5′ total length. One warning! Although extremely pleased and blessed with our first trailer; we discovered that it is a little bit too much for our 1/2 ton (GMC Sierrra w/ heavy duty tow package). Although we were about 3500 shy of the GMC’s towing capacity; in the hills of the Ozarks we really felt the truck struggle. We are planning longer trips so out west so we upgraded to a 3/4 ton truck.
We are first time RVers and your RV Newbie Set Up Video and Checklist are the best!
Question: can the regulator be attached to water source before the the y-splitter?
My wife and I just bought our first RV a week ago. I stumbled across your videos on YouTube and I just wanted to say “Thank You” for all the great videos for newbies !!! You two Rock !!!
Question! Is that hose good for drinking water?
Hi there: This setup checklist is simple and perfect! Do you have one written for when it’s time to head out?
Nevermind: I found it! Fantastic! I figured out to search using “tear down”. Thanks!
I’m pretty sure you can download it on the blog. Link in the video description.
Thank you for Newbie lists. Much appreciated.
My husband and I just found you all about two weeks ago and have become addicted as we watch you while shopping for a used rig on-line. Hope to gut an older model (we like that kind of thing…) and hit the road in 2021.
what TPMS system do you recommend?
we are waiting to get our Trailer. We have been scouring the Interwebs watching all sorts of Travel Trailer videos. We really enjoy and appreciate what you put out. Thank you
I didn’t see any reference to the hot water heater on the setup checklist. Is that not an essential item?
shouldn’t you level the trailer side to side before disconnecting it?
Thanks for the helpful videos.
Just a thought:
3A should be level the trailer side to side before un hooking.
Thanks for the fantastic videos.
We are renting our first trailer in 3 weeks. I saw you You Tube video for Newbies and have watched it twice; downloaded the checklist and made notes from the gear list.
We are going from the Houston area to Big Bend State Park. Will let y’all know how we made out. we will rent for a year or so to be sure we want to buy our own, then if no catastrophes, we will probably buy.
Thanks for your help.
I really like your FB page, and find it very useful. Although I had a toyhauler TT a while back, I still consider myself a newby, especially since I will start full-timing in the near future.
I found this site because I was looking for a campground setup checklist. I really like the list you have, it helped immensely in building one for my use. I just so happen to have a gooseneck toyhauler, so modified it to meet what I hope are my specific needs. There are some things on here many will not need but Some may. I added checking the power pedestal as one of the first items. Wouldn’t want to backtrack too much it it’s jacked up. Feel free!
Upon Arrival
Check to make sure you can reach the water & electrical connections
Check to make sure slide(s) have enough room to clear obstacles
Check for good, clean power at pedestal. Make sure circuit breaker is off, connect surge protector, and turn breaker on. If surge protector shows good, turn breaker off. If power is unacceptable, contact management
Level RV side to side
Chock tires
Use landing gear to raise trailer from hitch. Watch for side to side shifting
Disconnect 7-way connector from tow vehicle
Disconnect camera cable from tow vehicle
Disconnect safety chains
Pull tow vehicle from under trailer
Outside Setup
Level trailer front to back
Connect power cable to surge protector. Turn pedestal circuit breaker on
Connect all filters and water hoses. Turn on spigot
Connect sewer hose
Inside Setup
Check for obstacles before deploying slide(s)
Deploy slide(s)
Check for any loose items that may have been jostled during transit. CLEAN IT UP!
We LOVE your videos! We are SUPER RV Newbies and your videos have been such a huge help to us! Thank you so much for your videos. Please keep them coming!
we have our first RV Trailer after tent-camping for YEARS.
IT is so overwhelming
Still sitting in our driveway
We hope to get over the first time jitters and actually take it out.
Have to figure out how to de-winterize it first.
ugh
Surfing the net looking for a simple set up checklist. And of course the one I immediately liked best was from you guys!!! Thanks for the list and for videos that make learning fun and inspirational. Safe travels and happy camping.
We love your checklists and have used them faithfully for 2 years. However, we’ve found we need to add/change some things here & there. Is there any way your checklists can be edited?
Export KYD List as a pdf and save to your computer. Open it in a pdf editor.. I like Adobe if you don’t have one (they allow you to modify almost any document, and fill and sign forms digitally!). Edit the list at will, save and print. Update it as often as you need.
This is a great checklist for RV newbies!
This is a great checklist for RV newbies!
Your updated RV Setup checklist video offers essential guidance for newcomers, emphasizing crucial steps for safe setup. Community feedback enriches the learning experience with practical tips and reminders, making your channel a valuable resource for RV enthusiasts. Keep up the fantastic work!