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Our Step-by-Step Breakdown Process for our Travel Trailer
Packing up after a weekend at the campground always comes with mixed feelings—excited to hit the road, but not thrilled about the teardown process. Luckily, having a solid RV teardown checklist makes all the difference. This is the exact process we follow when getting our Jayco 32BHDS ready for departure. It keeps things stress-free and ensures we don’t miss anything important.
Use this as a guide for your own travel trailer teardown routine. We’ve broken it down into interior and exterior steps for easy reference, and included a few bonus reminders to keep you rolling safely.
📄 Download the Travel Trailer Setup Checklist [PDF]
📄 Download the Travel Trailer Setup Checklist [DOCX]
Interior Teardown Checklist
- Store loose items in the cabin – Secure anything that might roll or shift while driving (remotes, dishes, toys, etc.).
- Secure rooms – If you have sliding doors or room dividers, latch them in place.
- Clean floors for slides – Sweep or vacuum to avoid damage when retracting.
- Reverse TV mirror – Flip or stow mirrors on swivel TV mounts to prevent bouncing.
- Secure bedroom doors – Close or latch doors so they don’t swing during transit.
- Check cabinet doors – Ensure all overhead and base cabinets are closed tight.
- Check the bathroom for loose items – Stow soaps, toothbrushes, and anything on counters.
- Close bathroom vent cover – Keep weather out and protect the vent.
- Close bathroom door – Prevents the door from swinging and hitting fixtures.
Exterior Teardown Checklist
- Empty black tank – Start with the black water tank for best flow order.
- Flush black tank – Use your tank flush system if you have one.
- Empty gray tank 1 – Follow with kitchen or bathroom gray tank.
- Flush gray tank 1 – Clear out soap and residue.
- Empty gray tank 2 – If you have a second gray tank (like for an outdoor kitchen), drain it too.
- Flush gray tank 2 – Finish strong with a clean sewer hose.
- Secure black hose – Rinse and stow the hose in a dedicated bin or carrier.
- Wash hands – Keep sanitizer or a portable wash station nearby.
- Disconnect city water – Turn off water and disconnect hose.
- Store clean water components – Keep drinking-safe hoses, regulators, and filters separate from sewer gear.
- Check the top of slides for debris – Brush off sticks or leaves to avoid slide seal damage.
- Pull in slides – Once everything is clear, retract your slide-outs.
- Check the living room for loose items – Do a final walk-through before travel.
- Close entrance doors – Make sure all doors are fully latched and locked.
Hookup and Final Departure Steps
- Connect truck to trailer hitch – Align and lower the trailer onto your tow vehicle.
- Raise hitch – Lift front jacks to prep for towing.
- Hook up hitch and sway bars – Attach weight distribution and sway control components securely.
- Disconnect electric – Unplug your 30 or 50 amp shore power connection.
- Remove chocks – Only after the trailer is secured to the tow vehicle.
- Check all locks – Confirm all storage bays, windows, and doors are locked.
- Double-check area – Look around your site for forgotten gear or trash before pulling out.
Helpful Tips
- Take a photo of the site – Helpful if you return or want to review what worked.
- Check tire pressure – Make sure tires are road-ready.
- Review GPS route – Confirm your next destination allows trailers and has no low bridges or restrictions.
