Flying my RV

[gpounder]

When I was kid, jumping on my bike was quick and simple. I would try to ride off on that flat tire or go as far as I could when it was real low. The consequences were not considered. Now as an adult I still do that in my car but a flat tire does get my attention.

Now when I fly an airplane that is whole different animal. Before I even get close I have my antenna up looking for any problems. A check list makes sure I have inspected it just to get inside it and it goes on from there. Lives are depending on my skills and this thing weighs less that my car.

I don't drive the motorhome everyday and when I do drive it, it is a whole new experience every time. It's like the rental car that is unfamiliar.

I MUST TREAT THE MOTORHOME LIKE AN AIRPLANE. There is walk around. Is the sat antenna stowed, are we unplugged, are all the lower doors lock and latched, slides in, tires checked, oil checked, water checked. I can go on. Inside I have to do the same thing with cabinet doors and stuff that can slide around. Is the inverter on to keep the fridge operating. And maybe I am ready to start the engine.

Air bakes and air suspension needs special attention and even when the gauge says good to go I must hop out and check to see if the RV is at ride height. I use this opportunity to do a light check, headlights on, emergency flasher on. Reset the trip gauge and make sure there is no red Xs on the display. Program the GPS and at least have a good idea where I am going because I can't land anywhere.

Oh yeh, is the toad attached and ready to roll.

I got my water in the cup holder and the candy bar within reach and the DW must be fully ready to fly or it's not going anywhere.

I am still not ready fly. The engine needs to warm up some more with the oil pressure not on the high side anymore and the water temp not stuck on cold. It may take a mile or more to get to operating temperature so easy goes it. It's taxi time before take off.

It's sterile cockpit time. No radio and DW is quiet (maybe). I am rolling down the runway coming to full speed, checking the gauges and listening for anything unusual. I'm in the zone.

I am coming up to speed. Wheels up and a smile emerges as we are on our way to a new adventure.

[marjoa]

You & I have the same DNA.

And my wife I always check each others work.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by gpounder

When I was kid, jumping on my bike was quick and simple. I would try to ride off on that flat tire or go as far as I could when it was real low. The consequences were not considered. Now as an adult I still do that in my car but a flat tire does get my attention.

Now when I fly an airplane that is whole different animal. Before I even get close I have my antenna up looking for any problems. A check list makes sure I have inspected it just to get inside it and it goes on from there. Lives are depending on my skills and this thing weighs less that my car.

I don't drive the motorhome everyday and when I do drive it, it is a whole new experience every time. It's like the rental car that is unfamiliar.

I MUST TREAT THE MOTORHOME LIKE AN AIRPLANE. There is walk around. Is the sat antenna stowed, are we unplugged, are all the lower doors lock and latched, slides in, tires checked, oil checked, water checked. I can go on. Inside I have to do the same thing with cabinet doors and stuff that can slide around. Is the inverter on to keep the fridge operating. And maybe I am ready to start the engine.

Air bakes and air suspension needs special attention and even when the gauge says good to go I must hop out and check to see if the RV is at ride height. I use this opportunity to do a light check, headlights on, emergency flasher on. Reset the trip gauge and make sure there is no red Xs on the display. Program the GPS and at least have a good idea where I am going because I can't land anywhere.

Oh yeh, is the toad attached and ready to roll.

I got my water in the cup holder and the candy bar within reach and the DW must be fully ready to fly or it's not going anywhere.

I am still not ready fly. The engine needs to warm up some more with the oil pressure not on the high side anymore and the water temp not stuck on cold. It may take a mile or more to get to operating temperature so easy goes it. It's taxi time before take off.

It's sterile cockpit time. No radio and DW is quiet (maybe). I am rolling down the runway coming to full speed, checking the gauges and listening for anything unusual. I'm in the zone.

I am coming up to speed. Wheels up and a smile emerges as we are on our way to a new adventure.

As I've only flown someone's else's Airplane, or Helicopter (Fun) they were required to to do all of your preflight above. That said I do look at every ride in the Car and the Motorhome as something that requires Preparation.

Interesting thing when my brother got s new to him Winny - it had a Preflight Check off on the dash read out. - - thought it was an interesting concept that would be good if it became a Verbal "App" on your phone. -

Interesting note to the OP - so few people "Listen" to the sounds as you roll down the road - other thing I do is "Feel" the ride as any vibration is usually just a "Warning Light" to your Body that something is not Right. A little clicking noise could just be a Rock in the Tread or a Nail in the Tire...................

Last note ----- oh how nice it is to Drive the House down the Road - - -

[EJW]

Well said. Same. I got my PP-ASEL well before getting into RV'ing. Glad I was fortunate to do that. It's totally influenced and helped how I approach, drive, and experience our coach. I'm always going through a flow or a checklist - it seems - in all phases from pre-trip planning to going to sleep to storing it. Thanks CFI's!

My daughters, on the other hand, love it when I say, "Taxi without delay." if they're lallygagging. They give me a big ol' eye roll.

[MN_Traveler]

Boy that sounds familiar. I dont have the pilot’s license, but the rvchecks and awareness when starting down the road are almost identical to what i do.

( btw,saved me once. Once and only once i missed putting the toad in neutral. Starting slowly, i could feel the drag)

[Lt Dan]

Same here. I do a "pre flight" check and walk around, usually twice to make sure I didn't miss something. When I get interrupted in my check, I start over from scratch since my memory bank is running out of storage these days.

[Ivylog]

Easier to pull over to the side of the road and they are not pilot and co-pilot seats up front. Other than a walk around I do not do a preflight ever morning. I do check all the tire pressures on the TPMS before putting it in gear.

[gpounder]

Originally Posted by Ivylog

Easier to pull over to the side of the road and they are not pilot and co-pilot seats up front. Other than a walk around I do not do a preflight ever morning. I do check all the tire pressures on the TPMS before putting it in gear.

So when you decide to hit the road with your 30,000 or 40,000 + pound object, let me know because I don't want to be around you.

I once stopped a old guy from taking off because he left the cover on the air speed indicator, a check list item. [moderator edit]

[Ivylog]

Originally Posted by gpounder

So when you decide to hit the road with your 30,000 or 40,000 + pound object, let me know because I don't want to be around you.]

It’s 45,000+ lbs and you are in luck, as I’m fairly certain I’ll never be in CA again.
I doubt you “preflight” your car every time before driving it?

[timjet]

I've seen guys try to leave their campsite with the power cord plugged in and OTA antenna up.
I developed a checklist and it's still evolving over time. I use it religiously just like I used a checklist when I was flying.

So far no screw ups.
The walk around just before leaving is the most important step.

[Dan and Ann]

I really like this approach (no pun intended). I always wanted to learn to fly an airplane. And we do approach driving our coach like that, when getting ready to leave, he checks the outside stuff, I check the inside stuff and then we switch - I do the walk around and watch then watch the roll away to make sure all is good. Thanks for the post!

[richard5933]

I approach this in the same way - even use a pilot's checklist binder to hold the daily "pre-flight" checklist. My CDL training from decades ago emphasized the pre-trip inspection, and to my thinking that should be the case for any large vehicle.

Originally Posted by Ivylog

...Other than a walk around I do not do a preflight ever morning. I do check all the tire pressures on the TPMS before putting it in gear.

Hopefully you at least perform the daily air brakes check if you have air brakes. Takes about 2 minutes and will prevent you from losing your brakes down the road. Things can go bad during a trip that aren't noticed until the next day during a pre-trip inspection, especially leaks in the air brake system.

Originally Posted by Ivylog

...I doubt you “preflight” your car every time before driving it?

There are many more systems in a motor home than a car. Unlikely your car has the number of items an RV has to check, both inside and out. In addition to the chassis' mechanical systems, my pre-trip checklist includes mundane things like: fasten shower door, close roof vents, secure sink cover, etc. These are not directly related to the coach's mechanical systems, but a shower door swinging and banging while driving is a distraction that can be avoided.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by richard5933

I approach this in the same way - even use a pilot's checklist binder to hold the daily "pre-flight" checklist. My CDL training from decades ago emphasized the pre-trip inspection, and to my thinking that should be the case for any large vehicle.



Hopefully you at least perform the daily air brakes check if you have air brakes. Takes about 2 minutes and will prevent you from losing your brakes down the road. Things can go bad during a trip that aren't noticed until the next day during a pre-trip inspection, especially leaks in the air brake system.



There are many more systems in a motor home than a car. Unlikely your car has the number of items an RV has to check, both inside and out. In addition to the chassis' mechanical systems, my pre-trip checklist includes mundane things like: fasten shower door, close roof vents, secure sink cover, etc. These are not directly related to the coach's mechanical systems, but a shower door swinging and banging while driving is a distraction that can be avoided.

Boys, if you have Followed Ivy for any time you might have picked up he is an Independent sort - And he really like to stir the Pot on occasion - But that Said, he Knows His Coach - and likely just from his Feel and Touch will Know more than Most as to the readiness to be road ready. Some of us have done the "Mundane " things so many times there's no list - and honest it is still just like a car just Bigger, and unlike an Airplane it will not fall out of the sky - it will just coast to a stop on the side of the road. -

JMHO, -

[Randy125]

Originally Posted by gpounder

So when you decide to hit the road with your 30,000 or 40,000 + pound object, let me know because I don't want to be around you.

I once stopped a old guy from taking off because he left the cover on the air speed indicator, a check list item. [moderator edit]

I’m thinking you mean he left the pitot cover on not the airspeed cover.