Set up routine??

[sherman12]

The great suggestions keep on coming. Great point by CNYCamper! Perhaps the OP will make themselves a check list based on the responses and this thread.

[RollingDownTheHighway]

Pull/back into the site
check the sewer connection, make sure I can reach it (I have a mid front drain)
check side to side level - level if needed
disconnect
connect electric
put slides out
level front to back
connect water
cable
put awning out
put rug out
bring out and setup chairs
get the kids bike
open up outside kitchen
get a cup
fill cup with ice
pour whiskey in cup
sit in chair and relaxing listening to some music


when we leave, I just reverse everything with the exception electric, I disconnect electric last

[David 01]

As a seasonal camper, this is an easy one. Turn on the water. Hit the button to put the awning out. Drink a beer and watch DW empty the car. Run the electric blower on the patio to get rid of the leaves and then drink another beer. Ask DW if she got everything put away yet? Go chat with the neighbors. Grab another beer and ask DW what she is cooking for dinner? Grab another beer and ask DW if she will mow the lawn tonite or tomorrow? Go visit the neighbor with the hot wife up on the corner while DW mows. Return to trailer and grab ice pack for my head and drink another beer trying to figure out where the flying fry pan came from? pretty much a routine now!

[DKRITTER]

Pretty much like most folks;

• Get a beer
• Pull TT into spot and get TT where we want it
• Check level E/W
• Get a beer (if you go real slow you can drink more beer)
• Little bit out of level –yellow blocks Lot out of level Andersen Levelers
• Block tires as needed (I like the Fastway OneStep chocks)
• Unhook from the truck
• Get a beer
• Level N/S
• Hookup Electric, Water, then sewer
• Get a beer
• Put the slides out
• Hook up the satellite
• Setup the patio
• Get a beer

If you do it right it should take 3 hopefully 4 beers to get done. You’ll need a good large ice chest.

For the tea toddlers this will take 10-15 minutes, for the heavy drinkers you can easily stretch this into a hour.


disclaimer: we traded our TT back in August for a 5th wheel so the routine is a little bit different but not much.

[CHICKDOE]

it's all been said before but here's mine.


get situated:
check that the slideouts can be extended
place wheel chocks
unhitch and park truck


get the cat situated:
connect electrical
unfold steps
extend slides (we have no access inside without them extended)
start a/c (wife wants it going so we can move cat from truck to trailer)
move cat to trailer
turn off inverter - check that refrigerator is running properly on 110


next things:
auto level
connect water
connect park cable
turn on propane
turn on water heater


this is pretty much all that is needed at this time. other things can wait until needed (priority usually set by what wife wants)
aim satellite
do tv channel scans
connect sewer
unload chairs / pop-up / barbeque / etc
light oven pilot light
etc.


all of this is subject to change based upon circumstances - we've pretty much got it down to a routine.

[Windjammin]

Being retired military, I am used to using checklists. Did not use one for the RV until one day I left the site with the antenna still up. Luckily someone spotted it and flagged me down before I damaged anything. After that instance I developed an arrival and departure checklist for my trailer and use it every time. That way I don't forget anything which is important for me as I get older.

[sherman12]

Windjammin your antenna occasion is why I suggested to the OP to tie a sash of some type to either the antenna crack up handle or to the TV steering wheel. I find the sash's more visual than waiting to check off a check list.

[Wayne Joan]

All of the checklists, routines, flags, strings etc. are good but, don't un hook from your trailer until you are sure all of your slides will clear all obstacles. I have not done this a few times and it is not only embarassing but, your DW doesn't appreciate either.

[Campingwithsophie]

Be ready to laugh at yourself. Forgot to chalk once. Will never forget that again, that could have turned out much worse. Didn't check slideout/awning clearance once, won't forget that again.

[blwnsmoke]

We've only camped now 4 times so far so there is nothing set in stone as far as a routine but it basically goes like this

- Back up to spot
- Push button for jacks to drop
- unhook
- push button to auto level
- while auto leveling, get electrical and water hooked up with filter.
- wife then turns on electric hot water tank.
- by this time, auto level is normally done, wife pushes slides all out as well as power awning.
- Put x-chocks on tires
- setup grill and mat.
- setup sewer
- wash hands

It is then all minor stuff there after like unloading the bikes, grabbing the chairs, unloading the firewood etc. Nothing that we necessarily do right away but still needs to be done.

[tenttotrailer]

Without repeating...all good ideas and suggestions. Go slow and develop a routine. I am military so there is a checklist and it never changes without a ministrial order. Just like every storage space has a thing and that thing never changes. It is when something happens and you get out of your routine is when something bad happens With us, nothing happens until the tires are chocked.....yes there is a bad story that goes with that and thank goodness for my 115 pound wife who saved a huge accident when the TT almost rolled away on us. Stick to your plan....

Kevin