You have just checked into your campsite. The sun is setting, you’re tired from driving, and all you want to do is crack open the cold one and get into your camp chair.
I get it. Indeed, I do.
But here’s the thing: if you skip the first important steps to setting up a campsite, you will regret it. Maybe not tonight. Maybe not tomorrow. But what if your RV rolls off the leveling blocks at 2 AM or your stabilizer jack punctures the soft ground? Yes. You will remember this time.
So let’s talk about what you should do FIRST when you get to the campsite, and what happens if you don’t.
Step One: Level Your RV (Seriously, Do This Before ANYTHING ELSE)
I cannot stress this enough. Rating comes first. Before connecting the water. Before connecting the power. Before you even THINK about getting those slide-outs out.
Why? Because a luxury RV is a disaster waiting to happen.
Your refrigerator? It needs to be level for it to work well (especially if it’s an absorption refrigerator). Your sleep? Good luck getting quality rest if you roll over to your partner all night. Your idea? It’s gone.
Here’s the quick and dirty process:
- Drag to your site and perform a visual scan. Look for debris, low branches, fire pits, and anything you might accidentally crush.
- Find a flat surface available. Less balancing work = more fun.
- Use a bubble level checking side-to-side AND front-to-back. Don’t look at it. Your eyes are false.
- Move your measurement blocks or measurement system. Drive on it slowly if you use stackable blocks.
If you don’t have measuring blocks yet, fix that right away. Check Price on Amazon – soil is cheap and non-perishable. There are no excuses.
And if you want more guidance on essential leveling gear, check out our guide to leveling blocks and RV foundations.
Step Two: Chock Those Wheels (Or Watch Your RV Go)
Okay, you’re level. Good!
Now spin your wheels. Immediately. Before you climb, before you ride your travel buddy, before ANYTHING.
Wheel chocks prevent your RV from rolling. Seems obvious, right? And yet… people skip this step ALL THE TIME. Then physics happens.
Look, your parking brake is inadequate. The world may look flat but it has a small distance. A windstorm, a shift in weight for a person walking inside, doesn’t take much.
Chocks go behind AND before the wheels. Both sides. Each time.
Check Price on Amazon – mounting chocks that fit between your tandem tires and actually tighten up when your RV tries to move. They are smart. I will not stop without them.
For single axle trailers or as a spare, the Basic Check Price on Amazon does the job well.
The bottom line? Chock your tires regularly, no exceptions. These are non-negotiable safety features.
Step Three: Use Stable (The Right Way)
This is where people get confused.
Reinforcements are NOT levels. Read that again.
Stability jacks are designed to reduce shaking and shaking when walking inside. They are NOT intended to lift your RV or fix a balance problem. If you lower your stabilizers to try to balance your weapon, you will bend or break them. And that is an expensive lesson.
So here is the correct order:
- Level your RV FIRST (see above).
- Chock your wheels (see above).
- THEN plant stabilizers to reduce instability.
Lower it until it makes firm contact with the ground. That’s all. You should NOT be lifting the tires off the ground.
Pro tip: Place a stabilizer pad or small piece of wood under the foot of each jack. This prevents them from sinking into soft ground or hot asphalt. Check Price on Amazon – cheap insurance for the worst day.
If your balance is crank style and your back is screaming, consider the price test on Amazon. A game changer. Your spine will thank you.
Step Four: Fire Safety (Don’t Be That Person)
Okay, let’s talk about fire safety.
Campfires are amazing. S’mores are a gift from the camping gods. But every year, people burn their instruments: or worse, start wildfires: because they are careless.
Before flashing OTHER:
- Check if fires are allowed. Seriously. Fire prevention exists for a reason.
- Use a designated fire ring or pit. ONLY.
- Clear the area around your fire of dry leaves, grass, and debris.
- Keep water or a fire extinguisher within arm’s reach. Not “somewhere in the RV.” ACCESS TO CULTURES.
- NEVER leave a fire unattended. Not even “just a second.”
Speaking of fire extinguishers: do you have one? Is it charged? Do you know where it is right now?
If in doubt on any of these questions, Check the Price on Amazon and put it somewhere within reach. The one that came with your RV may be small, old, or both.
Also: and I really wish I could say this: don’t throw hot coals on the floor and walk away. Wait until everything is completely cool. Drown it. Wake it up. Drown it again. Feel with your hand (carefully) that it is cold.
Fire safety is no laughing matter. But he also does not explain to the guard why he burned the forest.
For more first-time trip essentials including safety gear, check out our 15 Must-Haves for New RVs.
Step Five: Set Up Your Outdoor Seating Area
That’s right! Your RV is level, locked, stable, and you’ve managed your fire safety. NOW you can set up fun things.
Outdoor carpet: Drop a price check on Amazon at your door. This keeps dirt, mud, and debris from being tracked in. Your floors (and your mind) will thank you.
Camp seats: Obviously. But here’s a tip: get chairs with cup holders and maybe a side table. You will be sitting outside A LOT. Check Price on Amazon – comfortable, compact, and have pockets for your phone and snacks.
Awning: If your RV has one, use it. The shade is brilliant. Just make sure you don’t expect wind: awnings and wind are mortal enemies.
Set up your outdoor space to flow naturally from your RV door. Mat first, chairs facing the view (or fireplace), accessible table. This is your living room now. Make it good.
Complete Setup Sequence (Your Cheat Sheet)
Let’s put it all together:
- Pull slowly. Scan for obstacles.
- Park your RV. Account for slide-outs and awning clearance.
- RV level. Use blocks and bubble level. Front-to-side first, then front-to-back.
- Chock the wheels. Both sides. Every time.
- Use the stables. Contact only: do not suggest!
- Combine hookups. Water first (with a pressure regulator), then electricity (with a surge protector: don’t skip this!), then sewage.
- Expand slide-outs.
- Set up an outdoor area. Carpet, chairs, sunshade in the house.
- Fire safety assessment. Know the rules, prepare the fire extinguisher.
- THEN relax. You’ve earned it.
If you want to avoid common newbie disasters, be sure to read our post on 5 Foolish RV Mistakes. Learn from the pain of others.
Don’t Skip Steps. Just Don’t.
Look, I know it’s tempting to rush to set up when you’re tired. But to prevent safety and set the way for bad things to happen.
A few extra minutes to do things RIGHT means you sleep better, your RV stays intact, and you don’t become a cautionary tale on another RV forum.
Follow the sequence. Level first. Chock regularly. Settle properly. Respect the fire. THEN enjoy your campsite.
You got this.
Camp is safe, campers!