Tip Checklists ARE important

[Neal]

It's been nearly 4 years to the day, June 5th was my factory pickup at Newmar, 2017. I almost did it, for the first time....leaving my connections CONNECTED. I can't blame anything such as habit patterns or sequence, it just happened. Campgrounds are always different, hookups are different (this was water and electric only), I had just walked the dog and moved the car out of the way so I could back out of my nose in site in Big Timber, MT. My RV has a checklist in the dash that guides you through checking tire pressure, basements locked, frig door locked, shower door locked, electric....WAIT...electric? [Input explitive] - I almost did it! Close call but I got out and stowed electric and water and avoided another Neal story!

I share this as all of my other stories for those that know me so others can learn as learning from each other is very important in the RV community. Not all RV's have checklists but it doesn't mean you can't create your own just like we have in airplanes that we stow in a side pocket. Pull it out, run the checklist, stow, proceed on your journey. Thankfully my RV has a checklist and I use it every time I startup. This time it saved me.

Create your checklists and use them!

 

[flyboy013]

Been there, done that!

The one things that I find is a must do EVERY time before the starting the engine when departing a site is a walk around the coach. Checking to ensure hookups are stowed, compartments securely closed, jacked fully retracted, coached aired up, slides closed, awning retracted, etc. I occasionally find things that were missed. I always start at the entrance door and if I am ever distracted (by DW), I always start over starting at the entrance door again.

 

[Neemer]

The mind is the first to go, @Neal. Kidding, but not really.

It didn’t take long for me to realize my ADD would not allow me to correctly get the coach ready for travel. I found an app called RV Checklist that I began to use very early on. I use it religiously and it has served me well.

 

[skychs]

My 2015 Ventana LE has a built in check list. When I start the coach the check list appears in the same area I set milage/leg time/MPG etc etc. With those same controls I can scroll through the checklist before I leave the campground.

 

[stang37]

Been there done that twice. So I purchased a set of these things from Amazon. Now I only have to remember to put them on the steering wheel. As I was reading this I looked and the bands were still beside the drivers seat. Got up an installed before typing this!

Camco RV Steering Wheel Check Bands​

 

["EZ"]

I don't use a check list but I do a complete walk around the RV before leaving. Looking to make sure everything is disconnected, and awnings are rolled up and stabilizers are up where they go.

 

[AbdRahim]

Been there, done that!

The one things that I find is a must do EVERY time before the starting the engine when departing a site is a walk around the coach. Checking to ensure hookups are stowed, compartments securely closed, jacked fully retracted, coached aired up, slides closed, awning retracted, etc. I occasionally find things that were missed. I always start at the entrance door and if I am ever distracted (by DW), I always start over starting at the entrance door again.

Exactly. Glad to hear no problems occurred. I try to think DOT pre-trip. Usually walk around and look under and over twice.

 

[Scooterfan]

I made and use a checklist. Place it right behind the steering wheel covering the instrument panel. It reminds me to do all the stuff necessary for safe travel. It makes life easier. Now...if I can only remember to put up the checklist after each stop...hmmm...

 

[STANDERSON]

We have slap its on the steering wheel. Pull one off and go check it. Rinse and repeat.

 

[NWIP]

Recently started coach, waited for pop off valve, brought slides in, disconnected electrics, locked and checked basement doors, proceeded to pull out of site to hook up the toad. Problem was coach never went to ride height, now I’ve added that to checklist, visually inspect at ride height. Pop off valve is not the indicator of ride height.

 

[Neemer]

Recently started coach, waited for pop off valve, brought slides in, disconnected electrics, locked and checked basement doors, proceeded to pull out of site to hook up the toad. Problem was coach never went to ride height, now I’ve added that to checklist, visually inspect at ride height. Pop off valve is not the indicator of ride height.

@NWIP , A nuance I’ve noted with mine is if I manually dump air, the travel mode indicator remains lit. When I start the coach, the pop off valve does it’s thing, but it’s not until I take the parking brake off that the “travel mode” light goes off and air begins to inflate the bags. These coaches are weird.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Checklists ARE important, as @Neal says. And, it is important to ALWAYS use them, even when you think you don’t need to. I just learned that lesson the hard way.

After the recent windshield replacement was completed on Friday morning, our coach was delivered to the RV parking area. I asked if I could delay my departure for 3-4 hours as we were only going a short distance and the destination park check-in time wasn’t until 2:00 pm. I was told that would be fine and was asked if I wanted them to plug the coach into power until I was ready to leave. I said “no, the coach will be fine without power for 3-4 hours.”

You can see it coming…right? Yep…the tech that delivered the coach didn’t get the message and, trying to be helpful, plugged the coach in. I didn’t do a FULL checklist and walk-around before departing (assuming that it was ready-to-go) and dragged the power cord about a half mile. Fortunately, I stopped at an adjacent T/A for fuel and discovered the problem. The cable wasn’t badly damaged and after a little straightening of the prongs, it was fine. Had I not stopped for fuel, however, I would have arrived at the next destination with a frayed piece of electrical cable trailing me.

I have now resolved to do a full walk-around EVERY TIME prior to moving the coach. It will be the final item on my checklist, printed in LARGE, BOLD LETTERS!

TJ

 

[J&JD]

Checklists ARE important, as @Neal says. And, it is important to ALWAYS use them, even when you think you don’t need to. I just learned that lesson the hard way.

After the recent windshield replacement was completed on Friday morning, our coach was delivered to the RV parking area. I asked if I could delay my departure for 3-4 hours as we were only going a short distance and the destination park check-in time wasn’t until 2:00 pm. I was told that would be fine and was asked if I wanted them to plug the coach into power until I was ready to leave. I said “no, the coach will be fine without power for 3-4 hours.”

You can see it coming…right? Yep…the tech that delivered the coach didn’t get the message and, trying to be helpful, plugged the coach in. I didn’t do a FULL checklist and walk-around before departing (assuming that it was ready-to-go) and dragged the power cord about a half mile. Fortunately, I stopped at an adjacent T/A for fuel and discovered the problem. The cable wasn’t badly damaged and after a little straightening of the prongs, it was fine. Had I not stopped for fuel, however, I would have arrived at the next destination with a frayed piece of electrical cable trailing me.

I have now resolved to do a full walk-around EVERY TIME prior to moving the coach. It will be the final item on my checklist, printed in LARGE, BOLD LETTERS!

TJ

Sometimes you just can’t win @TJ&LadyDi , glad you caught it in time. Best of luck at Premier and let us know how the Girard awning situation resolves itself ( also, hopefully, the engine non shutoff).

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Sometimes you just can’t win @TJ&LadyDi , glad you caught it in time. Best of luck at Premier and let us know how the Girard awning situation resolves itself ( also, hopefully, the engine non shutoff).

I was born with Winning Gene Deficiency! I don’t think there is any cure.

Will post what happens with the Girard awing saga. As for the engine non-shut-off, I’m thinking it might be the ignition switch. We had it occur again when we arrived at Guaranty RV Park on Friday. I did the usual on-off cycles to no avail and was about to head for the chassis battery disconnect when I tried something different. With the key in the run position, I turned it lightly toward the start position. I didn’t want to engage the starter with the engine running, so just went to the point where I was feeling the spring tension push back, then let the key return to the run position. The engine turned off. I’ll be telling Premier RV Services about that.

Spartan has given me a phone number for the Premier RV Services tech to call for help in diagnosing the problem. And, they have created a case file to cover the repair under warranty. I’ve told Premier that if the Spartan warranty reimbursement doesn’t cover their full cost, I will pay the balance. I don’t want them to get stuck if the Spartan warranty payment is light.

TJ

 

[Neal]

Don't forget TJ, a video from your phone can go a long way too in proving a problem occurs.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Don't forget TJ, a video from your phone can go a long way too in proving a problem occurs.

Yeah, I know. And, it is the first thing I forget to do. Instead, I start trying to fix the problem.

TJ

 

[J&JD]

At our age we need a checklist to remind us to use a checklist?.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

At our age we need a checklist to remind us to use a checklist?.

Where can I get one!

TJ

 

[J&JD]

Where can I get one!

TJ

Get what??

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Get what??

I forget!

TJ