How to Set Up a Travel Trailer at a Campground

When you’re ready to upgrade from the life of setting up tents and sleeping on the floor or uncomfortable stretchers, you’re ready for a glamorous new way of camping. A travel trailer provides much-needed protection against the elements, it comes in a variety of sizes, and you can simply leave it behind at the campsite and drive around to explore your environment.

This nonmotorized camper allows you all the comforts of home while experiencing the wonder of the great outdoors. Before resting your travel-weary feet at the campsite, there are a few travel trailer setup tips worth knowing.

Choose a Great Spot

When you arrive at the campgrounds, it’s worth scouting them out to find the perfect spot. Look for an area that offers good views of your surroundings with easy access to campground amenities. If you like peace and quiet, don’t park too close to common areas such as pool sites or areas that may become rowdy at night or early in the morning. If you happen to camp during summer, shady spots are imperative for temperature control, especially if you don’t have air conditioning in your trailer. Your spot should be easily accessible and level for the best camping experience.

Park Your Trailer

A travel trailer is hitched to a towing vehicle and parking it can be a bit tricky. Some of the bigger campsites offer double parking bays that allow you to simply drive all the way through. You can then choose to leave the trailer hitched or to unhitch it. If this isn’t an option, you may have to back your trailer in. This can take some skill to master, and it’s worth practicing this in a vacant parking lot before the trip if you haven’t done it before.

Ensure Your Trailer Is Level

There are few things worse than a trailer that tilts to one side. Not only is it dangerous when you’re preparing a meal, but you also risk tipping the trailer if the soil shifts. Choose a level spot and once you’re parked, use leveling jacks to set it up right. It’s also important that you park in a spot that’s big enough to accommodate your slide-outs. If you park on uneven ground, you risk scraping or denting them.

Get Connected to Amenities

If you decide to glamp and choose a site with full amenities, this means you can hook up to the electricity, water, and sewer connections. You would need to park your trailer in line with the amenity connections.

Electricity: Before you even attempt to attach anything, you need to follow safety precautions first. Test the voltage to ensure it’s compatible with your travel trailer. Ensure that the breaker is switched off and that all the connections are present and in good shape. Once you’ve confirmed this, attach all the required connections. When this is done, switch on the breaker. If you notice any hissing or popping sounds, you may want to alert the campsite supervisor. If in doubt, switch off the breaker immediately.
Water: Not all water connections are equal. Some are good quality water that’s safe for drinking while others are purely to be used as waste water. Check to see the water source. Also check that the water pressure output matches your trailer’s input valve, as higher pressure can cause damage to your connections.
Sewer: Hooking up to the sewer line is simple, but it’s important to do it right. Wear protective gear to ensure you don’t get any waste matter on your skin. Ensure that all the valves are tightly closed. You would need to open the sewer cap first, and then connect the gray water and black water lines. Once you’re satisfied that these are connected securely and you’ve added your donut seal, flush out the gray water first, then the black water. The lines must be sloped to allow gravity to help along the waste matter so it doesn’t back up into the toilet.

Set Up Your Camp

There are plenty of accessories and add-ons for travel trailers that can turn a camping vacation into a dream trip. Some of these accessories include:

Battery string lights for added ambiance.
Travel fire pit if your campsite doesn’t have one already.
Bluetooth speakers.
Tent for the kids to play in or to accommodate overflow guests.
Camper mat.
Barbecue area.
Travel projector and screen for an epic movie night under the stars.

Keep it Neat

A campsite can quickly turn messy, especially if you’ve packed things that don’t necessarily have a designated space. A great hack is to take clear, stackable storage containers with you. This way, you’re able to clear things away every day before settling down for the evening. Not only will this help you limit the mess at your site, but it will also help keep wildlife away from your trailer, especially if these loose items happen to be food related.

You can also use these storage containers to pack for each area of the campsite and simply just carry them to that area when you park. For instance, if you’re setting up a tent for the kids, pack their stuff in a container or two and simply carry it directly to where they’re sleeping. At the end of the trip, they can just pack their stuff up in it and cut down on packing time.

Upgrade Your Travel Trailer

There’s nothing quite like being fully kitted out when going for a camping trip, but choosing the right mods isn’t always that simple. Here are a few options to give you an idea of what to expect:

Safety gear: These include emergency communication equipment such as satellite phones, roadside safety kits that include flares, low-clearance cushions, and wheel locks.
Comfort mods: Air-conditioners, space heaters, and inflatable furniture.
Convenience: Portable outdoor cooking stations and outdoor food cover tents.

Get Yourself a Travel Trailer With Bretz RV and Marine

View our fine selection of new and used travel trailers and discover a whole new world of adventures. Give us a call today to schedule a viewing.

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