Time Taken Packing Up Caravan

When I first started travelling around New Zealand in a caravan, I stayed at a lot of campgrounds. The checkout time was usually 10am. I’d give myself 45min to pack-up the caravan and move on, but would always be ready sooner. I eventually learnt that I could be driving out of the campground if I started packing up half and hour before check-out time.

In this video, I show the steps I take when packing up the caravan – with a nifty timer. I didn’t empty the toilet or fill up with more water, and I wasn’t plugged into the power, so that took my pack-up time to 20 minutes.

Steps for packing up a caravan

Inside caravan

• Put everything that might move away.
• Make sure all windows and vents are properly closed.
• Turn off fridge, and all items at control box.

Outside caravan

• Turn off gas at valve.
• If connected to power, unplug power cord (I was running off my solar panel in this video).
• Wind up stabilising legs.
• Put gas cover on.
• Disconnect grey water hose.
• Dump grey water in designated area.
• Put away fresh water connector and store tank.
• Wind up caravan so room for cars tow-bar.
• Reverse car and connect.

Learn how I found my first time setting up the caravan here.

Tips for packing up a caravan

• You can hid items behind the cushions.
• You can put light items on bed and throw your duvet over the top.
• It’s best to have the main heavy items sitting over the wheels. Otherwise it puts pressure on tow-bar connection.
• This is the best time to clean surfaces as everything is away.
• I store my freshwater connector in the kitchen sink to keep clean.
• Depending on surface the caravan is sitting on, you can push and pull caravan to be over the car tow-bar. Long grass does make it harder…

So this is a good taster of what packing up a caravan is like.

Do you have any questions or extra tips? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.