Last Updated on October 8, 2024
Embarking on an RV adventure is always exciting, but it comes with its fair share of preparations. Ensuring that everything is in order before hitting the road is crucial to having a smooth and enjoyable trip. Even seasoned RV travelers can overlook essential steps, which is why having a comprehensive checklist is indispensable. We found a great video that outlines a detailed RV travel day checklist. Make sure you follow this checklist to make RV travel a lot more enjoyable.
1. T-minus 24 Hours: The Day Before Departure
Before you even think about hitching up, it's essential to start your preparations a day in advance. The first step is fueling up your truck. Trust me, nothing ruins the excitement of hitting the road like realizing you're running on fumes. Plus, it's easier to find cheaper fuel in town than when you’re towing a behemoth down the highway. After fueling up, inspect your hitch and suspension. Grease what needs greasing and tighten what needs tightening. It’s like giving your RV a spa day—without the cucumber slices.
Detailed Steps:
- Fuel Up the Truck: Fill up your truck with gas or diesel to avoid searching for fuel stations while towing.
- Inspect Hitch and Bolts: Grease any necessary parts and make sure all bolts are tight.
- Check Suspension: Inspect leaf springs, axles, and brake wires for any signs of damage or looseness.
- Tire Inspection: Torque down all lug nuts, visually inspect tires for wear, and check tire pressure.
2. T-minus 12 Hours: The Night Before Departure
The night before you leave, focus on getting everything outside packed up and stored away. Trust me, packing up wet chairs and soggy mats in the morning is no one’s idea of fun. Bring in grills, chairs, dog fencing, and anything else that’s been lounging outside. Also, deal with your water tanks; fill up your freshwater tank and empty the black and gray tanks. Think of it as tucking your RV in for a good night’s sleep, except it’s more about preventing a wet mess in the morning.
Detailed Steps:
- Pack Up Outdoor Items: Bring in grills, chairs, dog fencing, lights, signs, and flags to avoid dealing with wet items in the morning.
- Water Tanks: Fill up the freshwater tank with about 5-10 gallons and empty the black and gray tanks.
- Charge Devices: Ensure all electronic devices are fully charged.
- Plan Route: Confirm your route and set it in the GPS.
- Prepare Inside of Truck: Get travel bags ready and set up the truck for pets and any other necessities.
- Make Ice Blocks: Fill Tupperware containers with water and freeze them to keep the fridge cool during travel.
3. Morning of Departure: Final Preparations
The morning of your departure is all about securing the interior. Start in the bedroom by securing closet doors and stowing away any loose items. Move to the bathroom and kitchen, ensuring that everything is locked, loaded, and ready for transit. Don’t forget the roof! Use a blower to clear any debris and water before retracting the slide-outs. It’s like playing a high-stakes game of Tetris, but instead of blocks, you’re dealing with dog beds, shower heads, and Tupperware ice blocks.
Detailed Steps:
- Bedroom: Secure closet doors, put away loose items, and ensure dog beds are clear of slide-outs.
- Bathroom: Place the shower head on the floor, secure shower doors, and clear counters.
- Kitchen: Secure items in the fridge with curtain rods, wrap dishes, and clear countertops.
- Roof: Use a blower to clear debris and water from the roof before retracting slide-outs.
- Slide-Outs: Bring in slide-outs while ensuring no obstructions.
4. Hitching Up: The Main Event
When it’s time to hitch up, drop the tailgate and back up to the pin box. Use alignment tools like Reese Power Tower balls to ensure everything lines up perfectly. Connect your breakaway cable, safety chains, and make sure your mirrors are in towing mode. It's the RV equivalent of a synchronized swimming routine, but with more grease and less glitter.
Detailed Steps:
- Drop Tailgate: Lower the tailgate to avoid damage when backing up.
- Back Up to Pin Box: Use alignment tools like Reese Power Tower balls to line up correctly.
- Connect Breakaway Cable and Safety Chains: Ensure these are securely attached.
- Fill Reese Airbag: Inflate the airbag if using a Reese Goose Box.
- Adjust Mirrors: Set mirrors to towing mode.
- Tow-Haul Mode: Engage tow-haul mode on your truck.
- Retract Landing Gear: Use the auto-leveling system to retract all landing gear.
- Disconnect 50 Amp: Shut off the power at the pedestal before disconnecting.
- Connect Sway Adapter: Attach the sway adapter for brake lights and brakes.
- Close Tailgate: Ensure the tailgate is securely closed.
- Store Jack Pads and Blocks: Put away any pads, blocks, and chocks.
5. Final Walkaround: The Last Check
Before you finally hit the road, do a thorough walkaround of your RV. Check that all storage compartments are locked, the tires are inflated, and your brake lights and blinkers are working. It’s like the final scene in a heist movie where you double-check everything before making the getaway—except you’re stealing memories, not money.
Detailed Steps:
- Lock Storage Compartments: Ensure all compartments are locked.
- Tire Check: Confirm tire pressure and condition.
- Brake Light Test: Verify that brake lights and blinkers are working.
- Visual Inspection: Look for anything out of place or forgotten around the campsite.
- Check Windows and Doors: Make sure all windows and doors are securely closed and locked.
By following this comprehensive RV travel day checklist, you can ensure a smooth and safe journey. To get the full details and more tips, make sure to watch the entire video:
