Preflight checklist

[nottfar]

Do any of you have a written checklist that you go through before you move your RV. Would you be willing to share it? Being new to RV'ing I'm afraid that I will forget some crucial something while getting underway. In the next two or three weeks I'm going to be picking up my new 19' Escape at the factory and I'm very excited.

[gbaglo]

This is mine. You may want to copy and paste and adapt. My tire pressure is for D-rated tires. Yours would be whatever it says on the sidewall.
I printed mine out and laminated. It hangs on a hook by the door.

Drive Away Checklist

SPARE KEYS

Inside Checks:

Loose Items Stored
Windows Closed
Blinds secure
Tank levels
Battery level
Thermostat OFF
Water Heater OFF
Water Pump OFF
Shower / Sink Drains CLOSED
Stove Cover DOWN
Screen Door FASTENED
Fridge Door Shelves LIGHT
Fan OFF
Roof Vents ( Bathroom / Fan ) CLOSED
TP and Paper Towels SECURED
Door LOCKED
Step STORED / SECURE

Outside Checks:

Tire Pressure 60-65 psi.
Note: Lower Pressure = Lower Load
Range Hood Vent LOCKED
Power DISCONNECT
Water DISCONNECT
Rock Shield DOWN AND LOCKED
Awning LOCKED
Stabilizer Jacks UP & TIGHT
Wheel Blocks STORED
Equalizer Bars LEVEL & SECURE
Chains IN PLACE
Hitch LOCKED
Brake / Signal Lights OK
Step STORED / SECURE

[Donna D.]

Drive away with a custom built Escape? My best suggestion is to make certain all the options you paid for and those placements are exactly as you expect and they all work. Standard stuff is standard stuff and ETI does a really good job for those, it's the out-of-usual that may be a problem. I had zero issues and spent a couple of nights south of Sumas just to check everything out. In the end, that was more for ME than it was for ETI. YMMV

[dunnet]

Here is the list we use, thank you to all who posted their lists.

[casejh]

Thanks for the checklist and for the advice!

[float5]

Our tire pressure and most is only 50 lbs. allowed. Some have different tires from what Escape installs.

I think Good Sam has a whole lot of lists for anything and everything that you could not possibly fit in your trailer.

Need straps on the awning. See one in photo.

[techfan]

People willing to share... this would be another good thing to add to files checklists and packing lists. Moderators... yea or nea?

[gbaglo]

I originally started with a camp list I copied from a member on FGRV. One item on the list that amused me was "Check list", and it wasn't even the first item.
I started out with that, but over time, I found myself deleting stuff, not adding. I mean, pots and pans were in the trailer, along with cutlery. I got tired of checking those items off.
I've ended up with several separate lists. One for fishing, another for canoeing or the pontoon boat, if I'm going to use it. Sometimes I print them all and sometimes only the one I need for that trip or activity.

I tried to attach, but file size exceeds what's allowed.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by float5

Need straps on the awning. See one in photo.

Yes, cheap insurance. I guess the first item on a list for me would be "make list"

Ron

[Anne H]

Fyi - when I picked up my escape in feb '16, there was a setup/move out checklist in the documentation.
The most important thing is to remember to look at your list before taking off somewhere (don't ask me why I emphasize this &#128527


Anne H

[jamman]

Inside
TV down
Table/Floor/Seats clear
Inverter off
TV antenna front
Vents down X2
Windows shut
Trash out
Shower drain shut
Bath holders empty
Bath door shut
Counter clear
Paper towels on bed
Microwave platter out
Thermostat off
Step stool under bed
Water pump off
Water heater off (both)
Check monitor panel

Hitch
Mirrors on tight/adjusted
Check controller
Hitch bar locked
Coupler locked
Safety chains
Break-away
Electrical connector
Jack up
Bars – 2 links free and pinned
Truck shell closed and locked
Check lights
Walk around – no danglers

Outside
Check awning
Rear side hatch locked
Disconnect cable TV
Disconnect sewer
Disconnect water
Disconnect electric
Stabilizers up
X locks out
Chocks out
Leveling blocks out
Trailer Tires 50 psi
Truck Tires 40 psi
Lug nuts
Storage bin closed and locked
Close front shield
Step up
Door locked x2

Storage
Food removed – under counter
pantry, microwave
Dump black/gray
Drain fresh
Pump off and depressurize
Fridge/freezer doors ajar
Main power off
Door locked x2
Check propane
Water batteries

[cpaharley2008]

I need a list of all my lists....

[Jim Bennett]

A list does not hurt, but we have found that after you have been doing it for a while no list is needed, as the it just becomes routine, no different then many other things in life. I guess to each, their own.

We do use a list of contents and stuff to bring. Our list includes just about everything imaginable. Some of it is standard outfitting of the trailer, and might need resupply (TP, garbage bags, towels, or something needing replacement). It also includes lots of activity items we might want to do like camera gear/bikes/fishing gear/canoe/games/bug shelter/wing suits/etc. What is not needed is deleted before the list is printed.

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by Anne H

Fyi - when I picked up my escape in feb '16, there was a setup/move out checklist in the documentation.
The most important thing is to remember to look at your list before taking off somewhere (don't ask me why I emphasize this ��)


Anne H

Yes Anne, ETI taped a complete checklist to the inside of our closet wall. Always there, Always handy! They put a duplicate in our paperwork.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

We do use a list of contents and stuff to bring. Our list includes just about everything imaginable. Some of it is standard outfitting of the trailer, and might need resupply (TP, garbage bags, towels, or something needing replacement). It also includes lots of activity items we might want to do like camera gear/bikes/fishing gear/canoe/games/bug shelter/wing suits/etc. What is not needed is deleted before the list is printed.

Jim, we do the same and have separate columns/areas for when we are planning to also canoe, or bike, or cross the border into Canada. I even put in reminders to myself like resetting the heat/AC at home, and charging up rechargeable batteries for cameras, etc, and stopping the mail. We've also got it stored in the cloud, so if we think of something while we are out that we want to pick up or change in the trailer when we get home, I can leave myself reminders.

Even with that all in place, there was the time we got to the campground near the bike trail network we wanted to use, and found out that neither of us had put the bikes' front wheels into the truck....

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

A list does not hurt, but we have found that after you have been doing it for a while no list is needed-

...It also includes lots of activity items we might want... wing suits/etc. ..

Wha - wing suits? So when someone tells you to take a flyin' leap you're ready, eh

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by techfan

People willing to share... this would be another good thing to add to files checklists and packing lists. Moderators... yea or nea?

As it will differ for everyone, it would be impossible to come up with a list to suit one and all.

Originally Posted by thoer

Even with that all in place, there was the time we got to the campground near the bike trail network we wanted to use, and found out that neither of us had put the bikes' front wheels into the truck....

Just pop a wheelie at the start and unicycle it around.

Originally Posted by Rossue

Wha - wing suits? So when someone tells you to take a flyin' leap you're ready, eh

LOL.....Was just seeing if anyone was fully awake this morning, good to see you are, Ross.

Actually, I would LOVE to do this, but would need pretty big wings to carry my weight.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Actually, I would LOVE to do this, but would need pretty big wings to carry my weight.

Given the fatality rate in that "sport" you might end up with a different set of wings.

[LDRay]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Drive away with a custom built Escape? My best suggestion is to make certain all the options you paid for and those placements are exactly as you expect and they all work. Standard stuff is standard stuff and ETI does a really good job for those, it's the out-of-usual that may be a problem. I had zero issues and spent a couple of nights south of Sumas just to check everything out. In the end, that was more for ME than it was for ETI. YMMV

I agree with Donna. Check that all the options are there and complete before leaving the factory.

They forgot to drill a hole and put in our cable hookup. The trailer was wired and cable was under the bed but they just forgot to finish it. We called to let them know when we discovered it the next day. ETI apologized, sent the part and instructions to fix it.

It didn't affect our enjoyment of the trip home at all but I wish we were given more time with the trailer to check the little things.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by thoer

Given the fatality rate in that "sport" you might end up with a different set of wings.

Not much chance I am in the running for a set of those.

Besides, I said I would love to do it, not that I was crazy enough (any more) to do it.

Originally Posted by LDRay

They forgot to drill a hole and put in our cable hookup.

Funny you mention this. I just sent them a note this past week asking that they don't do that. Weird, eh?