Setting Up a Pop-Up Camper

Pop up campers are the Swiss Army Knives of the RV world. They're practically bursting with tools and accessories, but they pack up small for ultimate convenience. So what exactly is the best way to take advantage of all your pop up camper's features? In this article, we'll show you how to properly set up your pop up camper so that you can spend more time camping and less time struggling with logistical details.

Here at Carolina Coach & Camper located in Claremont, North Carolina, we're passionate about RVing. We know the benefits and challenges of using a pop up camper and so we want to help our customers be prepared. If you're in the market for an RV or are looking for RV repair and services, stop by our dealership and service center!

Before you start setting up your camper, you'll want to spend a bit of time finding the right location. If you just pull into the campground at 6 pm on a Friday night, chances are you won't have much choice. So if possible, get out to your campground a little earlier than the rest of the crowd so you can have your pick of several spots.

You'll want to find a campsite that's as level as possible because the more level the spot is to start with, the easier it will be to level out your camper. If you're camping during the warmer months, you should also look for a spot that has minimal southern exposure. The reason for this is that southern exposed areas receive more direct sunlight. If you need to keep the temperature of your camper down, reducing direct sunlight is the best way. You should also try to find a spot with decent shade. Make sure not to park directly under trees, if possible. Trees can drop branches and limbs, but they can also cover your camper in sap, leaves, pollen, or needles, all of which can be a pain to clean off when it's time to pack up and head home.

Level

Once you've picked your spot, start leveling out your camper. Some people choose to use the wheel jack on the front tongue of their camper to pull the camper into the spot with the tongue facing away from the road instead of simply reversing the camper into the spot. This is a sort of anti-theft measure, although its efficacy is questionable. Regardless, you'll want to initially park your camper about a foot or two ahead of where you want its final position to be. Then, take a measure of how level it is on the side-to-side axis. Place boards or leveling blocks behind the tires to compensate for the amount of ground you need to make up, and then push the camper back onto the blocks. Check the level again and add or subtract height as necessary. Once you have the camper laterally leveled, measure the level from front to back. Change the level using the tongue jack. Once you have your camper totally level, deploy the stabilizers on the four corners of your camper. It's important to note that these can help your camper stay level but shouldn't be used to actually level the camper.

Set Things Up

Your next step will be setting up all of your camper's features. Follow your specific camper's instructions for setting up the roof and pulling out the bed slide outs. If your camper has an awning, set that up as well. Uncover the sink and stove inside, and if your camper has an outdoor grill or shower, set those up, too.

Hook Up Utilities

Finally, you'll want to hook up all of your utilities. Make sure your propane is connected and all the valves are open. Many campers have a switch inside that turns on propane access. If your campsite has electrical or cable access, connect that. Test out all of your appliances and make sure they're working. Give the fridge half an hour to cool down before you check it's temperature. If you'd tested your appliances recently and some aren't working, that likely means the problem is with your propane system, and not the appliances themselves.

Once you've gone through all these steps, your camper will be ready to go! Don't forget that regular maintenance is an important part of pop up camper ownership. Stop by Carolina Coach & Camper and let our skilled technicians perform a routine check up to make sure your camper is great shape. We're located near Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Asheville, North Carolina, as well as Spartanburg, South Carolina and we want to be your home for RV and pop up camper service.