User Guide

How to Use HitchReady

A plain-English walkthrough for getting the app set up and using it on moving day — no tech experience needed.

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Step 1 — Downloading the App

This takes about two minutes on any iPhone or Android phone.

1

Open the Play Store on your phone

Look for an icon on your home screen that looks like a colorful triangle — it's usually labeled "Play Store." Tap it to open it.

2

Search for "HitchReady"

Tap the search bar at the top of the screen (it may say "Search for apps and games"). Type HitchReady — one word — and tap the search button on your keyboard.

3

Tap "Install"

You should see HitchReady in the results. Tap it, then tap Install (Android) or Get (iPhone). Wait for it to finish, it only takes a minute or two.

4

Open the app

Once it's installed, tap Open. You can also find the HitchReady icon on your home screen from now on.

💡 Helpful tip HitchReady is free to download and free to use. You don't need to create an account or enter any payment information.
📱 iPhone users HitchReady is available on both the App Store and Google Play. Search for HitchReady on either store to download it for free.

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Step 2 — Setting Up Your Rig

The app asks a few questions about your RV so it only shows steps that apply to you.

The first time you open HitchReady, it walks you through a short setup. This is how the app learns about your rig — what kind it is, how you hook up at camp, and what equipment you have. It takes about two minutes.

1

Choose your rig type

Tap the option that matches your RV — Fifth Wheel, Travel Trailer, Class A Motorhome, Class B/Van, or Class C Motorhome. If you have a toy hauler, pick either Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer (whichever matches your frame). You'll see a dedicated Toy Hauler screen later in setup where you can confirm this.

2

Answer the questions on each screen

The setup takes you through six short screens. Each one asks about your rig — things like how many slideouts you have, whether you normally hook up to electric and water, and what hitch type you use. Just tap the answer that matches your setup.

If you're not sure about something, go with the most common option — you can always change it later in Settings.

3

Tap "Let's go" when you're done

After the last screen, tap the Let's go → button. That saves your setup and takes you to the home screen.

💡 Helpful tip Don't worry about getting everything perfect on the first try. You can go back and change any of your answers anytime — see Section 5 (Settings) for how.

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Step 3 — Before You Leave Camp — Hitch Checklist

Use the Hitch checklist on every moving day.

The Hitch checklist is the one to use on moving day, before you pull out of your campsite. (Motorized rig owners will see this called Departure instead.) It walks you through everything in order, from securing the inside of the rig all the way through hitching up safely.

1

Open HitchReady and start the Hitch checklist

On the home screen, under YOUR CHECKLISTS, you'll see cards for each checklist — Hitch, Unhitch, and In-Transit Check. Each card shows when it was last run and how many items it has. Tap the green Start button on the Hitch card. If you drive a motorized rig (Class A, B, or C), this checklist is called Departure.

2

Work through the list from top to bottom

The checklist is organized into sections — Inside, Slideouts, Hookups, Exterior, and Hitch & Safety. Work through each section in order. The app is designed to match the order you'd naturally do things.

3

Tap the circle next to each step to check it off

When you complete a step, tap the empty circle on the left side of that item. It will turn green with a checkmark. You'll see a progress bar at the top filling up as you go.

4

Some steps unlock only after earlier ones are done

You may notice some steps are grayed out at first. That's on purpose — certain steps need to happen in a specific order for safety. For example, you need to connect your hitch before you can check the lights. Once you check off the step it depends on, the next one will unlock automatically.

5

Tap "Complete Checklist" when you're done

When all the steps are checked off, a button will appear at the bottom. Tap it to mark the checklist complete. The app saves a record of when you finished, which you can view in the History tab.

💡 Helpful tip Steps marked with a red dot are considered critical — these are the ones where a mistake could cause damage or a safety issue. Pay extra attention to those.
⚠️ Important reminder HitchReady is a helpful guide, not a substitute for knowing your own rig. If your setup has something unique that isn't covered, always handle it. See our full safety notice at the bottom of this page.

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Step 4 — When You Arrive at Camp

Use the Unhitch checklist once you've pulled into your site.

After you've pulled into your new site and are ready to set up camp, use the Unhitch checklist. It walks you through the Site Assessment, Unhitch, Leveling, Slideouts, and Hookups sections to get you fully set up.

1

Tap Start on the Unhitch card

Once you're parked and ready to set up, open HitchReady and tap Start on the Unhitch card. Motorized rig owners will see this called Arrival.

2

Start with the Site Assessment section

The first section, Site Assessment, has four steps that walk you through checking the site before you fully commit — low branches, soft ground, hookup locations, and a side-to-side level check.

3

Check off each step as you go

Same as the departure list — tap each circle as you complete the step. The list covers unhitching, leveling, extending slides, and connecting to power, water, and sewer.

4

Tap "Complete Checklist" when you're set up

Once everything is done and checked off, tap the Complete button. You're all set up and the record is saved.

💡 Helpful tip You don't have to complete the checklist all at once. If you need to stop partway through, the app remembers where you were. Just come back to it and keep going.

💡 In-Transit Check HitchReady also includes a third checklist — In-Transit Check. Use it at your first fuel or rest stop, about 50 miles into your trip. It covers a quick walk-around to make sure everything is still secure after the rig has had a chance to settle on the road.

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Step 5 — Changing Your Settings

Update your rig details or equipment options any time.

1

Tap the Settings icon on the home screen

On the home screen, look for the gear icon ⚙️ in the corner. Tap it to open Settings.

2

Adjust the settings groups

Settings are organized into groups. Under HOOKUPS, you'll find toggles for Shore power, City water, and Sewer — turn these off if you're boondocking at a site without hookups and those steps will disappear from your checklists. Under ON THIS TRIP, you'll see toggles for Travelling with pets, Bike rack, Starlink, and X-chocks — turn on whichever apply to your current trip. Under APPEARANCE, you can choose Light mode, Dark mode, or Match system to follow your phone's setting.

3

To change your rig type or hitch, tap "Re-run Rig Setup"

If you got a new rig, changed your hitch, or just want to go through the setup again from the beginning, tap Rig profile in Settings. On the Rig profile screen, tap Re-run Rig Setup to start the setup flow from the beginning.

💡 Helpful tip If your hookup situation changes at a specific campsite — for example, you're dry camping without power or water — you can turn those off in Settings before you run the checklist. It removes the hookup steps so you're not checking off things that don't apply at that site.

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Common Questions

Tap a question to see the answer.

No — HitchReady works completely offline. Everything is stored on your phone. You can use it at a remote campsite with no cell service at all. An internet connection is only needed to download the app or receive updates.
No account needed. HitchReady doesn't ask for your name, email, or any personal information. Just download it and go.
Go to Settings and make sure your equipment toggles match what you actually have. For example, if you don't have a bike rack, make sure the Bike rack switch is turned off under ON THIS TRIP. If a whole section doesn't apply — like sewer hookup if you're boondocking — turn off Sewer under HOOKUPS in Settings and those steps will disappear from your checklists.
Yes — just tap the green checkmark again and it will go back to unchecked. You can check and uncheck any step as many times as you need.
HitchReady covers the most common steps for most rigs, but every RV is a little different. If something important to your setup isn't in the list, always handle it anyway — don't rely on the app to remind you of everything unique to your rig. You can also send us a note at hitchready.com/feedback and we'll look at adding it.
Yes! HitchReady is available on both iPhone and Android. Search for HitchReady on the App Store or Google Play — it's free to download on both.
Send us a message at hitchready.com/feedback. Describe what happened and what phone you're using, and we'll get back to you. We're a small team and we read every message personally.

Safety Notice HitchReady provides general checklists based on common RV procedures. They are a helpful reference, not a substitute for knowing your own equipment. Checklist items may not reflect the specific requirements of your rig or manufacturer. It is your responsibility to understand your setup and follow all applicable manufacturer instructions. HitchReady and Noteworthy Nomads are not liable for any damage or injury resulting from use of this app. Always proceed carefully and consult your owner's manual when in doubt.

Ready to try it?

HitchReady is free to download on iPhone and Android. No account needed.

🍎 Download on the App Store ▶ Get it on Google Play
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