Author: Carrie Todd
Ah, relaxing—most agree that RVing is fun, and those that don't probably aren't going to do it. Setting up your area, breaking out the camping chairs, and enjoying a few beverages with good company is just part of what drives vacationers into the woods. When it's time to go, however, it's much more hectic.
Regardless of whether you camped for a weekend or have resided there for a season, when it's checkout time…it's checkout time. With late nights, even the most well-meaning might over-sleep. When that happens, it's easy to forget something. This may be as nonessential as a set of glass tumblers on the picnic table or as important as the off-board generator. Hopefully, the following information will help you more systematically prepare for your next departure.
Clear the Clutter
The first thing you want to do—and this is something you can do the night before to make your morning less hectic—is get rid of any clutter. Bag and take the garbage to the nearest dumpster, or bag it so you can dispose of it on your way out of the park. Pack away any decorative items you have out. Often, RVers use plants, lamps, and pictures to make their space homier, especially when they are stationary for a while.
Wash and put away any dishes you've used. Also, go ahead, and take the opportunity to do your laundry—if the campground has laundry facilities—so it's folded and put away before you leave. This is one last thing you must do when you arrive at your next location.
Related Read: Disposing of Trash While Boondocking
Clear the Exterior
Put away anything you've had outside including patio furniture, welcome mats, coolers, tablecloths, or outdoor plants. If it is detachable—in other words, not mounted on top of the RV—unhook and pack your satellite dish or TV antennae. If it is mounted, retract it; more than one traveler has lost their extended dish on the way out of the park. If you're using the campground-provided cable television, go ahead and unhook that now, as well.
Check the slide-out covers for any ice, twigs, leaves, or even birds' nests that may have accumulated during your stay. Of course, this is less important if your visit has been a short one. Then, assess the tires for cracks or any other signs of wear. Check the tire pressure, and if you have an air compressor, fill the tires to the recommended levels. Otherwise, plan to stop at the nearest filling station.
Secure All Blinds
Window mini-blinds can be fragile—especially if they've been frequently exposed to hot UV rays—and they're fairly expensive to replace. As you are driving down the road, they will swing side-to-side unless they are secured. This makes it more than likely that they will become damaged.
This is easy to avoid. Just pull them closed and attach them to the plastic tabs at both sides of the window. Another option is to pull them all the way up, so they don't swing. Truly, it depends on time of year, time of day, weather, and personal preference.
Related Read: DIY: Installing Insulating Blinds in Your RV
Secure the Cabinet Contents and Refrigerator
Generally—if this isn't your maiden voyage—you will have already established your preferred method of organizing your kitchenware for travel. Unfortunately, once they're behind closed cabinet doors, they are easy to forget until you hear your good Corelle crashing together on the road. A good "rule of thumb" is to handle this as soon as you're done washing the last of your dishes. That way, you know it's done.
Check the "riding" position of the contents of the refrigerator. Things that may fall over and roll should be put on one of the shelves on the door. If they won't fit there, they can be stowed in a crisper drawer. Place heavy items that are less likely to spill toward the front of the fridge with lighter items behind them. This way, if things shift—and they nearly always do—you're less likely to experience an avalanche of food when you open the door after stopping.
Another option—and this works within the kitchen cabinets, as well—is to use tension rods to keep everything in place.
Shower and Sinks (and Other)
In the hustle of preparing to leave, the shower is easy to overlook. When possible, the last person to use it (whether in the morning or the night before) should secure all the contents or place them on the floor of the shower and flip the door's latch. This keeps it from swinging open and banging during the drive.
Turn off the vent fan and make sure the medicine cabinet door(s) are latched, as well. Plug the drains to all the sinks, including the kitchen one, to avoid items falling down them while you're driving. Close the toilet lid, so nothing ends up in there, as well.
Securely Latch All Cabinets
Make sure to firmly latch all the cabinet doors. A visual inspection is not sufficient, as doors often have the appearance of being closed. When they aren't fully latched, they are likely to pop open during a sharp turn or a large bump, allowing the contents to crash to the floor. This is not only messy and potentially costly, but flying objects can be dangerous to the driver and any passengers. Double check each latch by pushing on the door.
Any latch that may not hold should be replaced. If you don't have any spares, or you don't have time to replace them, you can be otherwise fasten them. Using bungees or clothesline to keep them secure while in transit is another way to keep your doors closed and your belongings secure.
Retract the Slide Outs and Stabilizing Jacks
Once, the interior is done, retract the slide outs. The way this is done varies based on your RV. Some slides are automatic and other are moved in and out with a hand crank. Make sure to clear the tracks—inside and out—of anything that may have gotten wedged in there, as this can cause serious damage.
Then—if they're hydraulic—retract the jacks. Keep in mind that some RVs have safety features that require the Captain's chair to be pulled forward before they'll engage. If you have crank jacks, this will usually be done right before you pull out.
Check Your Basement Storage Area
Open your cargo doors to check for any stowaways, as well as the primary items' "riding" position. Then, carefully lock all the doors. Double check each even if generally relock them when you are done. If you don't make this a habit, then the one time you don’t recheck is the time you've forgotten to lock them.
Unhook Everything
The next step depends on personal preference. Some people prefer to save a bit of fuel by driving with their freshwater tank empty. Others prefer to fill up so they have access to water—and flushable toilets—during the trip. Either way, you should take the opportunity to empty the black and gray-water tanks. Disconnect and rinse out all hoses, and then put them away.
Unplug and retract—or wind up—the electrical power cord. Make sure to lock the access door and the water bay door, so nothing starts winding out as you drive.
Get Ready to Go
If you have a towed, you have a whole other set of preparations to attend to depending on whether it is a car, a trailer, a car on a trailer, etc. That's another story.
So, before you go, do one final walk around to make sure there is nothing that you don't see that you may run over. This is a very important step.
Then, check the mirrors—which often get bumped while you are stationary—make sure that your steps have retracted, and buckle up. If you haven't already done so, stop by the dumpster on the way out.
In Conclusion
Depending on how often you travel, this may be an easy set of steps to remember. If you primarily use your RV for seasonal vacations once or twice a year, it may be more difficult to keep things in mind. Printing off your own personal list that is specific to your trailer and your lifestyle is a good idea, especially initially. It can make the difference between making it safely down the road or dragging your satellite behind you. Happy trails!
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Boondocking, Campground Rules / Etiquette, Camping Gear + Accessories, Education, Hacks, Paperwork, RV Tips