Setting up a caravan is easier with a repeatable order: inspect the site, position and level the van, secure it against movement, unhitch using the equipment instructions, stabilise it, connect services and finish with a walk-around. Complete the essentials before unpacking the outdoor living area.
This checklist is for a conventional touring caravan. Automatic levelling, air suspension, unusual couplings and other equipment can require a different process. Use the manuals for your exact caravan, tow vehicle, coupling and levelling equipment alongside this guide.
The arrival sequence at a glance
- Stop and walk the site.
- Agree on the final position and reversing signals.
- Position and level side-to-side using the approved method.
- Secure the caravan with its parking brake and suitable wheel chocks before unhitching.
- Unhitch and level front-to-back to the equipment instructions.
- Lower ordinary corner stabilisers to steady the caravan.
- Connect and check the required services.
- Check steps, exits, weather, equipment and the space around the caravan.
1. Walk the site before reversing
Find the site boundaries, correct power outlet, water point and permitted waste connection. Look at overhead branches, ground firmness, slope, drainage, retaining walls and the exit route. Check that the door, step, storage hatches and any permitted awning or slide-out will have room.
Think about tomorrow’s departure as well as today’s view. If the space or ground is unsuitable, ask the site manager for another position before disconnecting. Our campsite selection and positioning guide covers this decision in more detail.
2. Agree on the reversing plan
Use one designated spotter, agreed signals and a clear stop signal. The spotter stays out of the vehicle’s path and away from pinch points. If the driver loses sight of the spotter or is unsure of a signal, stop. Keep children, pets and other people away from the manoeuvring area.
Take the extra minute to get out and look. Use the driver and spotter communication guide before practising; the campsite is not the place to invent a new set of signals.
3. Position and level side-to-side
Check level at the reference point specified for the caravan. If conventional levelling ramps or blocks are required, use suitable rated equipment and the manufacturer’s method while the caravan remains coupled where specified. Keep people clear while the combination moves.
Do not build unstable stacks or use ordinary corner stabilisers to lift a low side. Excessive slope may call for a different site rather than more improvised packing. Read how to level a caravan with blocks; the levelling calculator is a planning aid, not an instruction to exceed your equipment’s limits.
4. Secure the caravan before uncoupling
Stop the combination and secure the tow vehicle. Apply the caravan parking brake as instructed and fit suitable wheel chocks in the positions required by the slope, wheels and chock manufacturer. Do not put hands or feet near a tyre that could move.
The caravan must be secured against movement before it is separated from the vehicle. If a chock will not seat properly or the ground gives way, keep the combination secured and resolve the problem. A parking brake or a jockey wheel is not a substitute for a suitable chocking arrangement.
5. Unhitch using the coupling’s own sequence
Support the drawbar using the rated jockey wheel or support specified for your caravan, on suitable ground or an approved support pad. Identify and deal with weight-distribution equipment, electrical connections, breakaway cable and safety chains in the sequence required by their manufacturers.
Do not use a generic checklist to decide when to remove the chains. For example, Cruisemaster’s DO35 instructions require the safety chains to remain attached during coupling and uncoupling. Other equipment details differ; keep fingers clear and do not force a coupling that remains under load.
Once safely separated, move the tow vehicle only after confirming all connections are clear and the caravan remains secure. Adjust front-to-back level with the approved support within its working range. Never go beneath an unsupported drawbar.
6. Stabilise after levelling
Lower ordinary corner stabilisers onto suitable ground or pads until they steady the van as the manufacturer directs. Their job is to reduce movement when people walk inside. They are not lifting jacks. AL-KO’s corner-stabiliser guidance specifically warns against forcing them down to carry the vehicle’s weight.
If the door no longer works freely or a support begins to sink, stop and reassess the setup. A purpose-designed levelling system may operate differently; follow its manual instead of treating every leg as a conventional stabiliser.
7. Connect services without creating hazards
Electricity
For a standard Australian caravan mains inlet, use the appropriate compliant caravan supply lead and an approved site outlet. WA Building and Energy specifies a continuous 15 A lead, fully uncoiled, with damaged leads replaced and no double adaptors at the site outlet. Follow the site’s lead-length and connection requirements and check RCD protection.
Keep connections dry and route the lead away from vehicle tracks and walkways. Do not modify plugs, join unsuitable leads or improvise a 10 A to 15 A connection. Stop using equipment that appears damaged and ask the site manager or a licensed electrician for help. See WA’s camping gas and electricity guidance.
Water and waste
Identify the correct drinking-water supply and use the caravan’s specified hose, pressure-control equipment and inlet. Keep drinking-water fittings separate from waste equipment. Turn on the supply as instructed and look for leaks before leaving it unattended.
Connect waste only where the site permits it; a drain beside a site is not automatically a grey-water disposal point. Keep hoses secure and away from paths. For filling and hygiene, use the safe caravan drinking-water guide.
Appliances and outdoor equipment
Select the correct fridge and hot-water operating modes for the available services. Follow appliance instructions, including water-filling requirements before switching on a water heater. Keep required ventilation openings clear.
Check the weather before extending an awning. Outdoor gas appliances must remain in a suitably open outdoor location; do not operate them inside the caravan or an enclosed annexe. Use the awning and outdoor-area safety guide for cooking, leads and trip hazards.
8. Finish with a walk-around
- Caravan level and secure; chocks and supports correctly positioned.
- Coupling area clear and loose connections protected.
- Steps stable; door, exits and required ventilation unobstructed.
- No leaks, damaged leads or hoses across access routes.
- Appliances set correctly; fire equipment accessible.
- Weather and awning decisions checked.
- Everyone knows the site’s emergency arrangements and location.
If arrival becomes rushed
Pause when tired, interrupted or uncertain. Recheck the last completed step instead of assuming someone else did it. A queue behind you is a reason to ask for space, not to skip securing the caravan. Keep optional screens, lights, mats and furniture packed until the essential setup is complete.
Before the next trip, practise the sequence somewhere suitable in daylight. Give one person responsibility for reading the checklist and make each handover explicit. A short record of what caused difficulty will make the next arrival easier.
Continue through the Setup & Campsite Safety Hub. Before moving again, use the separate pack-down and departure walk-around.
Reviewed 5 September 2026. General Australian guidance. Site rules and equipment differ. Follow current manufacturer instructions and relevant local requirements; use licensed professionals for work that requires them.
For awning types, correct operation, drying, cleaning and damage prevention, read our caravan awning-care guide.