RV Checklists

(Revision A, 8/25/16)

Please do NOT make changes to the web copy. Download the file to your computer before editing.

Suggestions or comments, email Rick Blaher, ; 303/726-2934

HOME BASEPRE-TRIP CHECKLIST (Part Timer)

Print out Checklist for Ashley

Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to each toilet and sink drain. Close toilet lids and add just enough water to sinks to wash oil into drain traps. This will retard evaporation and contain odors.

Turn off hot water heater (shut off gas line or open circuit breakers)

Turn ice maker off

Turn off the main water to the house

Leave the refrigerator on. Prop door(s) open if turned off.

Turn AC/Heat off or set temperature. Set thermostat to about 80 summer or 50 winter if expecting temperature extremes.

Depending on length of trip,

  • Arrange for someone to check on house, water plants, pick up packages, etc.
  • Stop mail, newspaper, and trash pickup
  • Mail should be stopped or arrangements made for pick up for any trip that is more than 2 days
  • Make arrangements for bills that come while you are away
  • Arrange for lawn/yard care if necessary

Depending on circumstances and relationship with local police agencies, notify the local law enforcement that you will be gone and who is authorized to be on the property.

Remove any trash; clean dirty dishes or put in dishwasher; run dishwasher and garbage disposal (before adding vegetable oil to drain). Reduces probability of critters and unwanted odors.

All doors and windows closed and locked

Leave a few lights, TV, etc. on timers

Set or arm the security system if available

Posting on social media may advertise that you are gone. Exercise care with social media.

DEPARTURE CHECKIST

Leaving Home

Document box in RV

We have some bank checks

Check gas/smoke detectors

RV registration, insurance, (extended) warranty, pet (shot) records are in coach and current

Emergency window can be opened

Fire extinguishers are “green” and shake each one to loosen retardant

Water heater bypass is in NORMAL FLOW Position

Run water through hot side of faucet to verify that water heater is full and water flowing through it

Fill black tank 1/3 full of water; add water softener and dish soap. (Alternative: Tank Tech) This lets clean water slosh around in tank during travel to help clean it; drain upon arrival to site (assumes full hookup at destination)

Coach Interior

Turn water heater On/OFFas desired

Engine Block Heater OFF

Make sure have at ¼to 1/3tank of fresh water

All drawers/Doors fully closed and secured

Store microwave glass turn table

Refrigerator doors secured

Pantry Latch Secured

TV Retracted

Get anything needed in transit from back of coach if retracted slides will prevent access

Charge black tank after draining

Toilet lids down

Store or secureany items that may move about while in motion

Dispose of Trash

Satellite power OFF

Antenna down

Retract all motorized awnings

Move driver and passenger seats forward to allow slides to clear

Verify that nothing will interfere with slide retraction travel

1. Start Engine and set to high idle (1000-1200 RPM)

2. Retract slides(before jacks)

3. Move AIR switch from Dump to air to Auto

4. RETRACT JACKS BEFORE MOVING

5. Reduce idle speed and shut engine off

Test horn

DEPARTURE CHECKIST (Continued)

Coach Exterior

Clean extended jack shafts and spray with silicon

Engine oil level (level surface)

Trans fluid (warm - level surface)

Hydraulic fluid (warm – level surface)

Check DEF level if equipped - fill on next fuel stop when 1/2full

Engine coolant

Generator coolant

Generator oil

Connect Tire Pressure Repeater Power

Tire pressures (cold).Add proper pressures for your coach’s weight:

  • Front115 PSI
  • Rear 100 PSI

Stow external items, e.g., tire and wiper covers, chairs, grill

Tools stowed

All awnings retracted

Drain and rinse black water tank

Drain gray water tank

Disconnect sewer hose, rinse, and stow

Disconnect, drain, and stow fresh water hose

Disconnect, drain, and stow black water rinse hose

Secure all connections and covers in water bay

Co-pilot Start generator. If alone start after finishing outside.

If running generator, put dash air in RECIRCULATE to preclude fumes in coach

Disconnect and stow shore power and surge protector (Breaker off before disconnecting)

Visually verify all 4 jacks fully retracted and Pick up jack pads

Visually verifyall slides fully retracted and wall-slide is locked

Basement doors latched and locked

Final walk around before pulling out Use a spotter to pull out of site.

Pull forward slightly and pick up cutting boards

After exiting site, spotter is to check area for anything left behind and site for any unusual/suspect puddles or stains.

Lock exit door before entering roadway

*** DO NOT DEPART IF ANY BRAKE TEST FAILS ***

Air and Emergency Brake Test (before each day’s driving)

Air Brake Systems Test

Chock the wheels

Start engine and charge air to 120 psi

Set emergency brake if not already set

Shut Engine OFF

Walk around coach listening for leaks (hissing)

Have partner press and holdservice brake pedal

Walk around again listening for leaks while partner is holding pedal down

Turn key to ON position (do not start)

Rapidly apply and release the service brake pedal to cause air pressure to decay.

The low pressure alarm should sound before air pressure drops below 65 psi.

Continue rapidly pressing and releasing the service brake pedal until air drops below 60 psi. Parking brake button should pop out (note pressure when it happens)

Restart the engine

Running at high idle(1000-1200 RPM) the air pressure should build to85-100 psi within about a minute

Wait for normal air pressure

Reset the emergency brake

Remove Chocks

Emergency Brake Test: Try to move forward at about 1200 RPMs

Release the parking brake and move forward slowly.

Apply brakes firmly and note any pulling left or right or other abnormal (delayed) stopping action.

DEPARTURE CHECKIST (Continued)

Hitching Towed

NOTE: NEVER BACK UPWHEN TOWED IS CONNECTED TO COACH

Verify hitch is properly secured in motor home receiver

Position car behind coach (using dots makes this easy)

Connect tow bars to car.

Make sure keeper pin is secured in each tow bar-to-car connection.

Connect wiring harness. Tug on plugs (not wires) to ensure secure connections

Connect safety cables

Connect emergency brake away cable

Carefully inspect hitch to make sure nothing was missed

Check operation of towedtail lights: headlights on; left turn, right turn, flashers, brakes

Set up drive train per below

Set up auxiliary brake unit per below

TowedDrive-Train

** Use owner's manual (EVERY TIME), to prepare car’s drivetrain

OR copy instructions from owner’s manualverbatim here

Auxiliary Brake Unit

** Add applicable owner’s auxiliary brake instructions here

FORD (FOR EXAMPLE)

Use owner’s manual every time OR copy the instructions verbatim from the owner's manual.

Owner’s Manual page number: 229

Put climate control in Recirculate - helps keep exhaust fumes out of the car

  1. Release the parking brake

With foot NOT on the brake pedal, press the Start/Stop button (should be in the ON position, not in ACC)

Press brake pedal and move gearshift to NEUTRAL position (Must have battery power)

DEACTIVATE the ignition by depressing the Start/Stop button, but NOT the applying the brake pedal.

Disconnect the NEGATIVE (Black) cable from the battery

  1. Maximum Towing speed 70 mph; no distance limit

NOTE: Start engine within 15 minutes of reconnecting the battery cable.

ARRIVAL CHECKLIST

NOTE: Use spotter(s) if possible for backing or any other parking or RV movement where contact with obstacles (e.g. fuel island) is possible.

Un-Hitch Towed

Use instruction manual every time OR copy the instructions verbatim from the owner's manual

Owner’s Manual page number: 229

Remove or disconnect Auxiliary brake system

Disconnect Towed (add instructions below)

Use owner’s instruction manualevery time OR these instructions, which are verbatim from the owner's manual.

FORD (FOR EXAMPLE)

  1. Connect battery
  2. Start the carwithin15 minutesand place shift lever in PARK
  3. Disconnect light plug and break-away at both ends
  4. Disconnect safety chains or cables
  5. Disconnect tow bars. Place keeper pins back in towbars
  6. Stow tow bars and cover them (Power cord goes in motor home next to last bay on passenger side)
  7. Park the car

Exterior

Put tire covers on before air is dumped; snap on overs either before or after.

Unlock basement doors

Disconnect Tire Pressure Repeater Power if required

Have voltage proximity checker and polarity checker before connecting shore power

Shore power circuit breaker OFF

  1. If you have portable surge protector

Plug surge protector into pole

Shore power circuit breaker ON

  • Check that appropriate lights display.
  • If any issue is indicated, request a different site.

Shore power circuit breaker OFF

  1. If NO portable surge protectorwith test lights (may have built in surge protector – do this step to verify shore power is properly wired)
  2. Plug suitable polarity tester into site power (Build your own at Camp Discovery)

Shore power circuit breaker ON

  • Check for appropriate display (refer to tester directions)
  • If any issue is indicated, request a different site.

Turn breaker OFF and unplug tester

Plug in shore power

Turn shore power circuit Breaker ON at power post

Before touching coach: Test metal on coach for potential(voltage)on metal presence using proximity checker(If any indication of potential, Don’t touch the coach) Shut off site circuit breaker and disconnect power. Move to another site)

Verify slide path clear for extension. Spot extension if possible.

Run water out of site faucet forabout5 seconds to clear any residue.

Connect fresh water, turn on, and test for leaks

Verify hot water heater is NOT in BYPASS position if valve is outside coach

Connect black water rinse hose if using Y-Connector

Connect sewer line

Check Propane external shut off is in ON position

Tow bar cover on

ARRIVAL CHECKLIST (Continued)

Interior:

Run small amount of water out of hot water faucet in coach to verify water heater full

Turn ON water heater on (there must be water in the heater) after shore power is connected and presence of water in the heater verified.

Dump the Air (after rear tire covers are on)

Level Coach (Engine Running – high idle, 1000-1200 RPM for auto-level)

Open slides (Engine Running – high idle, 1000-1200 RPM)

Shut engine OFF

Turn ACs OFF

Shut Generator OFF

Check that water heater is NOT in the BYPASS position if valve is inside coach

Test smoke, propane, and carbon monoxide detectors

FIRST AID CHECKLIST

You can purchase pre-packaged kits in various sizes or build your own. Following is a list of items to consider if you build your own.

Verify that everyone in party knows location of kit.

Elastic bandages, adhesive bandages (for minor cuts and scratches)

Adhesive and butterfly bandages (for more serious wounds)

Roll bandages (for compression)

Non-adhesive sterile gauze pads - different sizes

Blister dressing

Adhesive cloth

Ice pack (in RV freezer)

Splinting materials

Safety pins

Scissors

Tweezers and needles

Antiseptic wipes/alcohol pad

Cotton swabs/cotton balls

Thermometer

Non-latex gloves

Topical antibiotic cream

Oral antihistamine, e.g. Benadryl

Acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen and/or Aleve

Hydrocortisone cream (1%)

Diarrhea/vomiting medication

Antacids

Eye drops

Motion sickness medication

Personal medications for each occupant

Other medications to consider, depending on the time of

year and where you’re going

Bee sting kit, e.g. Sawyer’s Extractor

Sun block

Sunburn medication

Allergy medications

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