pre departure checklist

[joe direnzi]

Hello everyone.Rained all day and about 50degrees .Not to bad for end of January.Better rain than snow.Has anyone ever posted a pre departure checklist.So many things to remember.Thanks .Old brain ain t what it used to be:

[prndl]

Antenna down?
Cupboards strapped?
Everything clear of the slides?
&tc........

[mtlakejim]

That's actually a good idea. Especially on the older style antennas and of course your vents!


I have seem some of the pilots making their preflight checklists on smart phones....


For me a sticker with the couple of critical things to do on the dash of the tow truck would be a good idea too. You know the stuff like those vents that you aren't obvious when your looking because they are on top of the 5er....

[joe direnzi]

Thanks MT .I know on our 3721rl if you don t close the bedroom door before you close the slides you will hear a loud explosion.

[joe direnzi]

I meant to say ,if you closed the bedroom door.

[mtlakejim]

Yes I had to replace a cabinet door on our last 5er after it lost a fight with the slide!

[masterdrago]

Something like this?

[Lucky23]

There's a good one in the the file section made up by old fogie

[Loneoak]

Masterdrago's list is very good. I have something similar. As he(she) said, some items are specific to their unit. This is very important.

I print my list to pdf and put it on my iPad. I can then check things off (I use GoodReader app), and when I am done, erase the checks and use the list again. I can also make adjustments or changes to the list as time goes on and things change.

[The Old Fogies]

Originally Posted by masterdrago

Something like this?

Great List
There is one hing I do when hitching up. After backing under the hitch DW hands me a flashlight out the window and I shine in at the pin to make sure the hook closes around the pin.

[JandC]

When we bought our first used Montana I had a list I went by which evolved during our first year of full timing. It ended up being pretty specific to us and our unit.

To this day I have a long list in my I-phone that I still check specific to the RV we currently travel in. I usually try to read through it right before I think we are ready to take off. I try to take my time also.

Coming back to Florida from our unplanned hurricane Irma vacation we left a northern Florida CG before it was light out. It threw me off and I failed to check my list. Three hours later we stopped in a rest area and as I was walking back toward my RV I discovered my Winegard Travler standing up! Both of us had forgot to lower it prior to leaving.

[Loneoak]

We do one little test before heading out. After hooking the trailer up to the truck, we raise the front jacks an inch or so off the ground. We move the truck ahead a few inches. If the trailer follows, we raise the jacks the rest of the way. If for some reason the hitch is not right, the trailer will not fall on the rails of the truck.

This little test costs us nothing but a few minutes of time and can save thousands of dollars if there is an issue.

[timandsusan]

We have a very specific check list--one for inside and one for outside. I suggestion--regardless -- always slowly walk around the tow vehicle and Monty while looking up, down, and under to make sure you are really ready for the road. Yes even if is raining and in the 40's as it was last fall in Salt Lake City.

[masterdrago]

Originally Posted by Loneoak

Masterdrago's list is very good.

I did not make that list. When we were getting near to making the call on the Monty, I was searching PDI checklist and ran by it somewhere on net. All I have is the jpg image, no text. Look at https://rv-roadtrips.thefuntimesguid..._rv_checklist/ for a large listing of Checklists.

[masterdrago]

Originally Posted by Loneoak

We do one little test before heading out. After hooking the trailer up to the truck, we raise the front jacks an inch or so off the ground. We move the truck ahead a few inches. If the trailer follows, we raise the jacks the rest of the way. If for some reason the hitch is not right, the trailer will not fall on the rails of the truck.

This little test costs us nothing but a few minutes of time and can save thousands of dollars if there is an issue.

That was one that got added to my clipboard early on from this forum somewhere. I do it b4 removing the chock blocks. Just a little tug. Our B&W 3600 hitch cannot open when closed with pin in place.

[PSFORD99]

Originally Posted by Loneoak

We do one little test before heading out. After hooking the trailer up to the truck, we raise the front jacks an inch or so off the ground. We move the truck ahead a few inches. If the trailer follows, we raise the jacks the rest of the way. If for some reason the hitch is not right, the trailer will not fall on the rails of the truck.

This little test costs us nothing but a few minutes of time and can save thousands of dollars if there is an issue.

Thats one procedure I definitely do not miss. Some even hold the trailer brakes on to do the pull test. I eliminated that procedure long before I even bought the Andersen hitch. I fabricated a bedsaver, I copied the blue ox bedsaver. If it does happen to come off the hitch it just drops a couple inches into the bedsaver.

It doesn't eliminate any of my hitching procedures, other then the pull test.

Now with the Andersen ,none of that stuff is needed. All I do is make sure the handle is locked.

[joe direnzi]

Thanks to everyone.These lists are going to help greatly.Now just have to remember to bring list.

[Donmacky]

Masterdrago......PM sent

[mtlakejim]

A list is ok but I had a sticker on the dash of my old truck for our previous camper to remind me of a couple things that were not obvious on a walk around (which I always do right before pulling out). Namely the old style crank up antenna, manual vent covers and manual rear stabilizers! That was the things on the old camper that were not out in plain site.

Fortunately no such worries on our new unit