RV Departure Checklist

[wnorton]

I’ll love to compare my checklist to yours. What have a forgotten?


Prior to Departure

[ ] Inspect Hitch to make sure it is secure, 7-way connected, safety wire
[ ] Fill Fresh Water Tank to desired level
[ ] Check Tire Pressure
[ ] Check Torque on Lug Nuts
[ ] Fuel Up Vehiclee
[ ] ReFuel LPG
[ ] Retract Table
[ ] Prepare and start refridgerator

Just Prior to Departure

[ ] Arrange breakable items in fridge
[ ] Collect and store all items outside, Chairs, BBQ, Rug, Tables, etc.
[ ] Secure all items in cupboards and cabinets.
[ ] Secure items on sick and counters
[ ] Secure items in bathroom sinks and counters
[ ] Secure items in Shower
[ ] Secure all other loose items
[ ] Latch shower and closet doors
[ ] Latch all cabinet doors
[ ] Set the refrigerator settings
[ ] Secure TV’s (all three)
[ ] Secure all TV Entertainment devices
[ ] Secure computers
[ ] Secure Printers
[ ] Close vents and windows
[ ] Retract awnings
[ ] Stow and secure awnings
[ ] Check slide tops for debris and water
[ ] Secure garbage
[ ] Move items in path of slides, prep to pull in slides
[ ] Move in Slides
[ ] Secure chairs
[ ] Turn off Air Conditioners
[ ] Empty Black Tanks
[ ] Empty Gray Tanks
[ ] Add Treatment to Black Tanks
[ ] Disconnect TV and Telephone Lines
[ ] Disconnect Sewage and stow hoses
[ ] Disconnect Electric and stow
[ ] Stow elect cable
[ ] Stow elect extension
[ ] Stow Power Surge Protector
[ ] Disconnect water source and stow hose and accessories
[ ] Discard all trash
[ ] Turn off all RV lights
[ ] Turn off water pump
[ ] Confirm refrigerator if running on LP, elect or 12 volt (desired)e
[ ] Shut off all other LP components
[ ] Shut off LP
[ ] Stow steps
[ ] Raise leveling jacks
[ ] Lower tail gate
[ ] Hitch to truck
[ ] Secure hitch
[ ] Attach safety connection cable
[ ] Connect electric 7-way to truck
[ ] Raise Jacks
[ ] Collect and stow all jack pads
[ ] remove wheel chocks
[ ] Confirm all jacks are up and do a walk around
[ ] Confirm all doors are closed and secured
[ ] Lock all external doors and compartments
[ ] Raise the Entry Steps
[ ] Check lights on Trailer
[ ] Check Back Up Camera
[ ] Perform final walk around
[ ] Check for clearance before moving RV

[YC1]

Clear for takeoff . Don't forget the passenger.

I set my AC's for the temps wanted so while traveling I can hit the generator and have them come on.

Just a tweak on your check point.

My GPS has a great checklist function.

[Cumminsfan]

Beer
Wine
Rum
Tequila
Food
Clothes
Hitch up and go.
Camping's about having fun, not itemizing.

[spsm]

Did we lock our slides or are they on auto? What about checking brake lights, turning signals, etc. Or did I miss that somewhere ? (May be trailer lights are sufficient)

[funjnt]

Toilet paper!

[Gigattime]

Nice list. The double walk around (final walk around you listed) is a great practice to get into.

Can't count how many times that second walk around caught something I forgot - hatch, wheel chock, something. [emoji12]

[PopBeavers]

Verify satellite and over the air antennas are retracted

[timjet]

OK, Here's mine:

Departing the Campground Checklist

Outside
1. Disconnect Utilities
2. Stow roof ladder
3. Window awnings stowed (3)
4. Turn off propane
5. Wheel Covers – Removed

Inside
1. Toilets - Empty
2. Windows - closed
3. Shower door – closed and locked
4. Water pump – off
5. Sliding doors (2) – closed and locked
6. Batwing TV antenna - stowed

Engine Start
1. Computer – On & Plugged In. Check Inverter – On
2. Tire Pressures – Check
3. ABS Modulator Test - Accomplished
4. After start – Oil pressure in operating range
5. Head Lights – On / Camera – On
6. Video Monitor - On
7. Dash alarms – Not illuminated
8. Parking brake – On
9. Air Dryer System – Check
10. Cat - Stowed
11. Slides – Retract
12. Leveling System – Travel Mode (After Slides Retracted)
13. Outside walk around visually checking Jacks, forgotten items, low hanging branches, slides, awnings, generator slide locked.
14. Curtains – Stowed
15. Air Pressure – Operating Range
16. Car Towing Procedure – Accomplished/ Car Engine - Off
16. Automatic Slack Adjustment – Perform

[Bob_C]

How to cure not using a list.....GO Camping more often!!....lol

[Cumminsfan]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

How to cure not using a list.....GO Camping more often!!....lol

[AKFlyboy]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

How to cure not using a list.....GO Camping more often!!....lol

I can't imagine not using some sort of list. I've seen too many mishaps in the short time I've done this so far. I woke up to no water at a campground in Gillette, WY because someone drove off with their hose still hooked up to the spigot. Fortunately, I had partially filled my water tank at the start of the trip and just had to turn the water pump on.

Created and used right, checklists are great memory-joggers. Just keep in mind that even checklists for commercial aircraft are not exhaustive lists. They just cover the major items that will cause major problems if forgotten. Any more then that and the important can easily get lost in the mundane.

Just for inspiration, here's a full checklist for a modern 737: New Normal Procedures
You'll notice how scant the items on even the original checklist before they pared it further down.

I find the OP's checklist to be too exhaustive, it's more procedural. Not that procedures are bad, just that checklists should simply remind you of procedures. Timjet's is pretty concise and reminds me heavily of an aircraft checklist. Still, there are some items I see that won't bite me if I forget before the next destination.

I'm still developing mine, but as it stands:

PRE-DEPARTURE
Latchplate........................GREASED AS REQUIRED
Tailgate..........................UP
Hitch.............................LATCHED, PIN INSERTED
Emergency Brake Cable.............ATTACHED
Trailer Harness...................CONNECTED, SECURED
Trailer Lights....................CHECKED
Landing Gear......................UP
Tires..............,..............CHECKED
Truck Fluids......................CHECKED
Truck Lights......................CHECKED

DEPARTURE:
Waste Tanks.......................DRAINED, CLOSED
Potable Water Tank................AS REQUIRED
Potable Water Hose................DISCONNECTED, STOWED
Sewer Hose........................DISCONNECTED, STOWED
Shore Power.......................DISCONNECTED, STOWED
Cable/Satellite...................DISCONNECTED, STOWED
TV Antenna........................DOWN, LOCKED
Interior Doors and Cabinets.......SECURED
Interior Walkaround...............PERFORMED
Slide Outs........................RETRACTED
Wheel Chocks......................REMOVED
Doors.............................CLOSED, LOCKED
Exterior Walkaround...............PERFORMED

ARRIVAL:
Wheel Chocks......................INSERTED
Shore Power.......................CONNECTED
Potable Water Hose................CONNECTED
Sewer Hose........................CONNECTED
Cable/Satellite...................CONNECTED
TV Antenna........................AS REQUIRED

[timjet]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

How to cure not using a list.....GO Camping more often!!....lol

If you support not using a list then I think you meant "How to cure using a list...

There are several things on my 40' DP that could get quite expensive to fix if I "forgot".

Some items on my checklist are included because of experience. Curtains - stowed for example. Came to a stop at a traffic light and the curtains slid forward on their track completely blocking my view of the road! I had lubed the track the night before.

[wnorton]

Originally Posted by AKFlyboy

I can't imagine not using some sort of list. I've seen too many mishaps in the short time I've done this so far. I woke up to no water at a campground in Gillette, WY because someone drove off with their hose still hooked up to the spigot. Fortunately, I had partially filled my water tank at the start of the trip and just had to turn the water pump on.

Created and used right, checklists are great memory-joggers. Just keep in mind that even checklists for commercial aircraft are not exhaustive lists. They just cover the major items that will cause major problems if forgotten. Any more then that and the important can easily get lost in the mundane.

Just for inspiration, here's a full checklist for a modern 737: New Normal Procedures
You'll notice how scant the items on even the original checklist before they pared it further down.

I find the OP's checklist to be too exhaustive, it's more procedural. Not that procedures are bad, just that checklists should simply remind you of procedures. Timjet's is pretty concise and reminds me heavily of an aircraft checklist. Still, there are some items I see that won't bite me if I forget before the next destination.

I'm still developing mine, but as it stands:

PRE-DEPARTURE
Latchplate........................GREASED AS REQUIRED
Tailgate..........................UP
Hitch.............................LATCHED, PIN INSERTED
Emergency Brake Cable.............ATTACHED
Trailer Harness...................CONNECTED, SECURED
Trailer Lights....................CHECKED
Landing Gear......................UP
Tires..............,..............CHECKED
Truck Fluids......................CHECKED
Truck Lights......................CHECKED

DEPARTURE:
Waste Tanks.......................DRAINED, CLOSED
Potable Water Tank................AS REQUIRED
Potable Water Hose................DISCONNECTED, STOWED
Sewer Hose........................DISCONNECTED, STOWED
Shore Power.......................DISCONNECTED, STOWED
Cable/Satellite...................DISCONNECTED, STOWED
TV Antenna........................DOWN, LOCKED
Interior Doors and Cabinets.......SECURED
Interior Walkaround...............PERFORMED
Slide Outs........................RETRACTED
Wheel Chocks......................REMOVED
Doors.............................CLOSED, LOCKED
Exterior Walkaround...............PERFORMED

ARRIVAL:
Wheel Chocks......................INSERTED
Shore Power.......................CONNECTED
Potable Water Hose................CONNECTED
Sewer Hose........................CONNECTED
Cable/Satellite...................CONNECTED
TV Antenna........................AS REQUIRED

Excellent!

[wnorton]

Great discussion and some great input. Thanks to all!