First-Trailer Essentials & Tires
Travel Trailer Setup Checklist
Fourteen steps in the order that works. The order is the point — several of these cannot be undone once you have unhitched.
By Mike M. ·
How this page is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we rank first. Prices come from Amazon and are read automatically — each one shows the date it was read. Full disclosure.
Quick picks
The gear each step needs.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Camco RV Wheel Chocks with Rope, 2-Pack Two plastic chocks with a pull rope so you can retrieve them without lying on the ground. Unremarkable, correct, and the first thing to buy. Step 5 | The basic chock every trailer needs before anything else | 7.9/ 10 | |
| 2 |  Camco FasTen RV Leveling Blocks, 10-Pack Interlocking plastic blocks that lock together instead of sliding apart, which is the whole difference between these and loose wood. They also go under a jack, which a curved leveler cannot. | The default: cheap, interlocking, use them for everything | 7.5/ 10 | |
| 3 |  Camco RV Stabilizing Jack Pads, 4-Pack Four plastic pads for under the stabilizer jacks. They stop the jack foot sinking into soft ground, which is the usual reason a leveled trailer is no longer level in the morning. | Keeping scissor jacks out of the dirt | 7.0/ 10 | $13.97View on Amazon
|
| 4 |  Camco RhinoFLEX 20 ft Complete RV Sewer Hose Kit The default sewer hose for a reason: a reinforced 23-mil wall that holds its shape, swivel fittings on both ends, and a complete kit so you are not ordering an adapter from the dump station. | A first sewer hose that will not need replacing in a season | 8.0/ 10 | $63.00View on Amazon
|
| 5 |  Camco Adjustable RV Water Pressure Regulator, Lead-Free Brass Adjustable lead-free brass with a gauge. Being able to dial pressure down to about 50 psi matters because a campground pedestal can deliver far more than your plumbing is rated for. | Setting your own pressure instead of accepting a preset | 8.2/ 10 | |
| 6 |  Progressive Industries EMS-PT30X Electrical Management System, 30 Amp A full electrical management system, not just a surge protector: it reads the pedestal and disconnects on low or high voltage, which is the fault that actually kills air conditioners. | Most 30-amp trailers — the one to actually buy | 8.7/ 10 |
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. Prices come from Amazon and are read automatically — see each product below for the date.
The short answer
Print this, laminate it if you are organized, and tape it inside a cabinet door. The mistakes that cost real money in trailer ownership are the boring, sequential ones.
The checklist
01Walk the site before you back in
Find the flattest part, note which side is low, locate the hookups, and spot the tree, the fire ring, the water spigot and the low branch. Thirty seconds now saves a long conversation later.02Back into position, still hitched
Hand at the bottom of the wheel: the trailer goes the way your hand moves. Slowly, small inputs, and pull forward to reset rather than recovering a bad angle.03Check side to side with a level on the frame
Not on the floor or a counter, which may not be parallel to the frame. Note which side is low and by how much — about 1.5 in of lift per degree.04Raise the low side, with the truck still attached
Blocks or a curved ramp, supporting both wheels on that side if the trailer is tandem axle. The detail. Do this before unhitching, because only the truck can move the trailer easily.05Chock all four wheels
Before unhitching. Downhill side first on any slope. Four, not two.06Block or pad under the tongue jack, then unhitch
Pad first — the tongue jack carries the most load of any jack. Release the weight distribution bars, unlatch the coupler, raise, and drive the truck clear.07Level front to back with the tongue jack
Level on the frame rail again, lengthwise this time. Level or very slightly nose down.08Lower the stabilizer jacks onto pads
Firm contact, not lifting. They steady the trailer and are not rated to carry it. Why.09Check the pedestal before connecting power
Look for burn marks, switch the breaker off, plug the protector in alone, switch on and read the diagnostic. Only then connect your cord. The 30-second check.10Connect water: regulator at the spigot, then filter, then hose
Regulator first so nothing downstream sees full pedestal pressure. Why that order. A 90-degree elbow at the trailer inlet stops the hose kinking.11Connect the sewer hose, both ends, then support it
Gloves on. Check both tank valves are closed before removing the outlet cap. Connect the trailer end and the sewer end, then set the support for a continuous downhill run — before opening anything. The sequence.12Open the vents and turn the fridge to electric
The fridge runs better on electric when you have shore power, and it needs the trailer close to level to cool properly — which is why the leveling came first.13Set out the awning, steps and anything else external
Awning last, and never leave it out unattended in wind. An awning caught by a gust is one of the more expensive avoidable repairs.14Re-check level after a couple of hours
Jacks settle on gravel and soft ground. A quarter turn is usually all it needs, and the fridge will thank you.
The three order rules behind the list
Side to side before unhitching. Raising one side requires moving the trailer onto blocks, and once the truck is parked that means re-hitching. This is the step people reverse and then regret.
Chock before unhitching. While hitched, the truck holds the trailer. The moment you uncouple, the chocks do.
Test the pedestal before connecting your cord. A portable protector exists so a wiring fault never reaches your trailer at all. Connecting first and testing afterward wastes most of its value.
The common mistake
And the other list
Leaving is a different job in a different order, and it is the one where people drive off with something still attached. The departure checklist is a separate page for exactly that reason.
What to remember
- Level side to side while still hitched. You cannot easily redo it afterward.
- Chock before unhitching, every time.
- Test the pedestal with the protector alone, before your cord is connected.
- Connect the sewer hose at both ends and support it before opening any valve.
- Re-check level after a couple of hours — jacks settle.
The picks in full
Camco RV Wheel Chocks with Rope, 2-Pack
Camco · Best for the basic chock every trailer needs before anything else
Two plastic chocks with a pull rope so you can retrieve them without lying on the ground. Unremarkable, correct, and the first thing to buy.
Key specifications
- Pack
- 2 chocks
- Feature
- Pull rope
- Material
- Molded plastic
- Origin
- Made in USA
Capacity figures read from Camco wheel chock specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Holding force (35%)7
- Fit range (25%)8
- Everyday usability (20%)9
- Build quality (10%)6
- Price for capability (10%)10
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- The rope saves you crawling under the trailer
- Light and stackable
- Cheap enough to buy four
What it is bad at
- Plastic slides on wet smooth concrete
- Sized for standard trailer tires, not oversized ones
- Two is the bare minimum; most trailers want four
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Camco FasTen RV Leveling Blocks, 10-Pack
Camco · Best for the default: cheap, interlocking, use them for everything
Interlocking plastic blocks that lock together instead of sliding apart, which is the whole difference between these and loose wood. They also go under a jack, which a curved leveler cannot.
Key specifications
- Block size
- 8.5 in x 8.5 in x 1 in
- Pack
- 10 blocks
- Interlocking
- Yes
- Origin
- Made in USA
Capacity figures read from Camco FasTen specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Lift range (25%)7
- Grip / stability (25%)7
- Packed size (20%)8
- Build quality (20%)7
- Price for capability (10%)10
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Interlock, so a stack does not shear sideways under load
- Do double duty under jacks and stabilizers
- Cheapest route to usable leveling
What it is bad at
- Stacking to the right height is trial and error
- One inch per layer means coarse adjustment
- They crack if you drive onto an unsupported overhang
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Camco RV Stabilizing Jack Pads, 4-Pack
Camco · Best for keeping scissor jacks out of the dirt
Four plastic pads for under the stabilizer jacks. They stop the jack foot sinking into soft ground, which is the usual reason a leveled trailer is no longer level in the morning.
Key specifications
- Pack
- 4 pads
- Use
- Under scissor and stabilizer jacks
- Material
- Molded plastic
- Origin
- Made in USA
Capacity figures read from Camco jack pad specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Lift range (25%)4
- Grip / stability (25%)7
- Packed size (20%)9
- Build quality (20%)7
- Price for capability (10%)10
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Cheapest fix for a trailer that settles overnight
- Spread load on gravel and soft ground
- Stack flat, take almost no space
What it is bad at
- Not rated to lift anything — these spread load, they do not level
- Plastic cracks under a jack that is already over-extended
- Four is not enough if you also want pads under the tongue jack
Camco RhinoFLEX 20 ft Complete RV Sewer Hose Kit
Camco · Best for a first sewer hose that will not need replacing in a season
The default sewer hose for a reason: a reinforced 23-mil wall that holds its shape, swivel fittings on both ends, and a complete kit so you are not ordering an adapter from the dump station.
Key specifications
- Length
- 20 ft (two 10 ft hoses)
- Fittings
- Bayonet and 4-in-1 adapter included
- Caps
- Translucent elbow in the kit
- Origin
- Made in USA
Capacity figures read from Camco RhinoFLEX specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Crush resistance (30%)8
- Fittings (25%)9
- Storage (20%)6
- Build quality (15%)8
- Price for capability (10%)9
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Holds its shape instead of collapsing in a sag
- Complete kit — nothing else to buy on day one
- Fittings are the industry standard, so parts are everywhere
What it is bad at
- Twenty feet is bulkier to store than most bumper tubes allow
- The accordion wall traps residue and needs rinsing properly
- Not the thickest-walled hose Camco makes
Camco Adjustable RV Water Pressure Regulator, Lead-Free Brass
Camco · Best for setting your own pressure instead of accepting a preset
Adjustable lead-free brass with a gauge. Being able to dial pressure down to about 50 psi matters because a campground pedestal can deliver far more than your plumbing is rated for.
Key specifications
- Type
- Adjustable
- Material
- Lead-free brass
- Gauge
- Yes
- Connection
- Standard garden hose thread
Capacity figures read from Camco regulator specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Material safety (35%)9
- Flow rate (20%)8
- Kink resistance (20%)7
- Build quality (15%)9
- Price for capability (10%)7
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Adjustable, so you can trade flow against pressure
- Gauge tells you what the pedestal is actually doing
- Brass body survives being stepped on
What it is bad at
- Costs several times a preset regulator
- The gauge is the first thing to fog or fail
- Adjustment screw needs a wrench, not fingers
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Progressive Industries EMS-PT30X Electrical Management System, 30 Amp
Progressive Industries · Best for most 30-amp trailers — the one to actually buy
A full electrical management system, not just a surge protector: it reads the pedestal and disconnects on low or high voltage, which is the fault that actually kills air conditioners.
Key specifications
- Service
- 30 amp
- Function
- Full EMS with automatic disconnect
- Protects against
- Surge, low voltage, high voltage, miswiring
- Display
- Scrolling diagnostic display
How it scored
- Protection coverage (30%)10
- Diagnostics (25%)9
- Weather sealing (20%)6
- Auto shutoff (15%)10
- Price for capability (10%)7
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Disconnects on voltage faults, which is what saves the air conditioner
- Readable display shows actual voltage and amperage
- The reference product in the category
What it is bad at
- Three times the price of a plain surge protector
- Portable units are a theft target — lock it to the pedestal
- Not weather-sealed to the degree a hardwired unit is
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Common questions
Walk the site, back in, level side to side while hitched, chock, unhitch, level front to back, stabilizers onto pads, then power, water and sewer in that order.
Side to side before, because raising one side means moving the trailer onto blocks. Front to back after, with the tongue jack.
Power first, after testing the pedestal. Then water, with the regulator at the spigot. Then sewer, connected at both ends and supported before any valve is opened.
Sources
- Camco published product specifications — read October 2026
- RV Industry Association — standards and compliance program — read October 2026