Caravan Pitch Setup Checklist (No Fuss, UK)

Part of the Setup & Site Life – Without the Stress hub

You know that moment when you arrive on site feeling like a towing champion… and then immediately forget how legs work? The neighbours are already sipping tea outside their van, and you’re standing there holding a hitch lock like it’s a rare artefact.

This is where a calm, repeatable caravan setup checklist on site earns its keep. Not because there’s one sacred ritual everyone must perform (there isn’t), but because your brain is busy: tight turns, reversing, kids asking where the loo is, and the gentle pressure of an audience you didn’t request. A checklist turns that noise into a simple sequence.

Before you unhook: slow the whole thing down

The biggest setup mistakes rarely happen during the clever bits. They happen when you rush the basic bits because you want to “just get it done”. Give yourself two minutes to walk the pitch and make a few decisions.

Look at the slope, the direction of any drainage channels, and where the hook-up point actually is. If the pitch is soft or rutted, think about where the jockey wheel and steadies will sit - they love sinking quietly while you congratulate yourself.

If you’re on a serviced pitch, check the locations of water and waste. If you’re on a standard pitch, confirm where the nearest tap and elsan are now, while you’re still wearing shoes and optimism.

Positioning: aim for easy living, not perfection

It depends on the pitch, your awning, and how you like to use your space. You might prioritise the door opening onto the grass rather than the gravel, or you might want the lounge window facing the view.

The non-negotiables are simple: you need safe spacing from the next unit, the car must be parked as the site requests, and you must be able to connect your electrics without stretching a cable like you’re mooring a ferry.

Secure first, then fuss about levelling

Once you’re happy with position, do the “stop it rolling away” steps before anything else.

Apply the caravan handbrake properly. If you use wheel chocks, place them now. On a noticeable slope, chocking early is one of those tiny habits that quietly prevents drama.

Only then move to levelling.

Levelling: good enough beats endless

Side-to-side levelling usually comes first, using levelling ramps under the wheel(s). Front-to-back comes later with the jockey wheel.

A spirit level is helpful, but don’t turn this into a competitive sport. The goal is comfortable living and correct fridge operation if you’re using it on gas. If you’re within a sensible range, you can stop. Your holiday does not improve because your bubble is centred with surgical precision.

If you’re solo, ramping can feel like a comedy sketch: drive on, get out, check, drive off, repeat. Two tips help: make small adjustments, and agree with yourself that “close enough” is allowed.

Unhitching: do it in the same order every time

Consistency reduces errors. Your exact method can vary by equipment (AL-KO, Winterhoff, stabiliser hitch, motor mover), but the logic stays the same: the caravan must be stable before the car takes its weight away.

Raise the jockey wheel to take the load. Release the hitch mechanism. Then pull the car forward gently - confirm it’s fully free rather than doing the awkward half-unhitched shuffle.

Once the car is clear, lower the jockey wheel to fine-tune front-to-back level.

Steadies: they’re for steadying, not lifting

Drop the corner steadies onto pads or blocks. Wind them down until they’re snug, not until you’ve lifted the caravan like a forklift. Over-winding can twist the body and makes doors and lockers feel oddly stiff.

If the ground is soft, use larger pads. If it’s very uneven, accept that you might need blocks under one steady - again, “stable” beats “perfect”.

Electrics: connect safely, then test like you mean it

Now you can connect to the electric hook-up point. Before you plug in, check the cable for damage, unwind it fully (coiled cables can warm up under load), and keep it off standing water where possible.

If the bollard has a switch, switch it off before connecting. Plug in at the caravan end first if that’s your preference, then the bollard, then switch on. There are different schools of thought here; the important thing is avoiding live pins being exposed and keeping your hands out of puddles.

Once connected, do a quick test inside: a couple of sockets, your charger, and any key 230V appliances. If something trips, you’d rather know now than after you’ve set up the awning and put the kettle away.

Water: keep it clean and keep it simple

For standard pitches, fill your Aquaroll or water container using a food-grade hose or a dedicated container. If you use a hose, let the tap run for a moment first, then fill.

Connect to your inlet as your system requires. Prime the pump and check for leaks straight away - a small drip looks innocent until it’s been quietly soaking the carpet for three hours.

For serviced pitches, connect your direct water supply if you use one, but be honest about the trade-off: convenience versus the extra points of failure. If you’re new, containers are often the calmer starting point.

Waste: plan for the boring bits early

Waste feels like something you’ll sort later, until “later” is when the sink is full and you’re trying to remember which grey hose goes where.

Set your waste container in position and connect your waste outlet hose. Make sure it runs downhill with no belly in the middle that will collect water and smell like regret.

If you use a Wastemaster, don’t fill it to the brim before you think about how you’ll pull it out from under the caravan. This is one of those lessons most of us learn the heavy way.

Gas: only if you need it, and only if you’re happy

If you’re using electricity for heating and hot water on site, you may barely touch gas. If you are using gas, check the basics: bottle valve open, regulator secure, and any isolation taps in the right position.

If you ever smell gas, turn it off at the bottle, open doors and windows, and don’t “just see if it goes away”. Get site staff involved. This is one area where calm beats brave.

Inside checks: the five-minute sanity sweep

Before you get too cosy, do a quick lap that prevents the most common annoyances.

Check the fridge mode (mains, gas, or 12V as appropriate). Confirm the toilet flush works and the cassette is seated properly. Turn on the water pump and run a tap until the air clears. If you’ve towed with the TV bracket or microwave plate loose, now is when you’ll hear it.

Also, check rooflights and windows are latched the way you want. It’s astonishing how many “mystery whistles” at night are just a roof vent not quite shut.

Awning and outdoor setup: wait until the van is settled

Put the awning up only after the caravan is levelled and steadied. If you try to adjust level afterwards, you’ll be fighting the awning frame and wondering why everyone else looks so relaxed.

If the weather is lively, it may be smarter to skip the full awning and use a windbreak or canopy instead. There’s no moral victory in wrestling fabric during a gusty British afternoon.

A simple order you can repeat every time

If you like a single flow to follow, keep it as a “same steps, different pitch” routine:

• Walk pitch, decide position

• Handbrake, chock if needed

• Level side-to-side on ramps

• Unhitch, then level front-to-back

• Corner steadies down onto pads

• Electric hook-up, then test

• Water in and pump check

• Waste connected

• Gas only if required

• Inside sanity sweep

• Awning last

That’s it. Not glamorous, but it’s the difference between feeling settled and feeling like you’re permanently halfway through a task.

The bits people argue about (and why you can ignore most of it)

You’ll hear confident claims about the “correct” order for connecting electrics, the “only safe” way to use chocks, or whether you should always unhitch before levelling. Some of these debates are just preference dressed up as law.

What matters is your logic: prevent movement first, stabilise before unhooking fully, avoid risky electrical handling, and check for leaks and trips early. If your routine achieves those outcomes consistently, you’re doing it right.

If you want more calm, experience-led guidance like this, CaravanVlogger has plenty of practical explainers that focus on confidence rather than theatre.

A final thought: the best setup is the one that leaves you with enough mental energy to enjoy where you are. If your checklist gets you to “kettle on” without a spike in heart rate, it’s a good checklist.