Article from RV Daily
They may seem obvious when theyâre written down â and thatâs our point: to help you avoid these mistakes! Check out our top tips for a pre-trip checklist
Plus download the lists weâve compiled, print them out and use them so they become second nature â happy travels.
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1. TURN OFF THE GASThis is a big one, especially if youâve a three-way fridge on board. Itâs a big non-no to travel with the gas on. You carry a pilot light in there somewhere and thatâs the last thing you need, a naked flame in the van, unattended, particularly at the servo when thereâs fuel vapour around. Make sure all your gas cylinders are off at the bottle and any inline taps are closed too.
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2. RETRACT THE ENTRY STEPWeâve all done it. Maybe youâve done the inside check and youâre satisfied that itâs all okay to head off. You use the step to exit the van, close the door and walk to the vehicle to drove away and the step just sits there, invitingly, in anticipation of snagging or dragging over something, especially if youâre off-road somewhere. Itâs possibly an expensive oversight. Make sure you retract the step!
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3. LIFT THE STABILISER LEGSIf youâre someone who doesnât use these very often, theyâre more likely to be forgotten. Or if youâre used to quick overnighters and then stopover somewhere for a few days and drop the legs to steady the van. The last thing you need is that scraping sound and a spark shower as you leave the caravan park (never mind broken welds) and your neighbours will certainly be aware of your early departure because youâve a âlong drive aheadâ.
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4. REMOVE CHOCKS AND LEVELLING RAMPSIs the hitching operation not going to plan? Sluggish movement of the whole rig? Or perhaps youâre driving off and feel a sudden bump form back there? âI donât recall speed humps hereâ you mutter. Maybe youâve just driven off the levelling ramps! Or your chocks are conspiring against your efforts to leave your site. Like the stabilising legs, make sure you remember to check underneath⊠everywhere. Oh, and when you have hitched up and moved forward, re-check to make sure you havenât left a chock or two for the next occupant of your site!
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5. CLOSE ALL HATCHESAre other travellers passing you and pointing to the roof of your van, arms waving and them mouthing warnings you canât understand? Itâs likely youâve forgotten to close your roof hatch or hatches. Theyâre standing up there, shaking in the breeze, waiting to be ripped off or to let dust and rain pour into your pristine interior. If you opened the hatch last night for ventilation but closed the blind, then this is easy to do; same in the bathroom if youâd had a shower. Make the roof level part of your visual sweep before you head off to the next destination, so youâre equipped with hatches when you get there!
Click below to download the checklists.
Caravan Checklist 1 â Pre-drive inside