Travel Trailer Teardown Checklist

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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]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.