RV Travel Day (Teardown) Checklist: 50+ Things We Do Before Hitting the Road

May 20

About Us

We’ve been RVing since 2019. We’ve owned (1) Sally, a travel trailer (2019 Coachman Spirit Ultra Lite 2245BH), (2) Birdie, a regular Class C RV (2019 Jayco Greyhawk 31F), and (3) Big Lady, a Super C RV (2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L). Two years ago, we made a huge decision (HUGE, I tell ya!) and decided to travel the country full-time in our RV. We aren’t RV experts, but by now, we think that we have a pretty good system for preparing our RV for travel day.

About Our Approach to RV Travel Days

Even though we now live in our RV, I don’t like RV travel days. Sure, it’s exciting to see a new part of the country. Yet, RV TRAVEL DAYS ARE INCREDIBILY STRESSFUL. I’m a worrier by nature, and the idea of barreling down the road in our home-on-wheels at 60 mph isn’t comforting. There are so many things that can go wrong, and we’ve learned from experience what some of those things can be. For me, a comprehensive RV travel day checklist for hitting the road is one way to help reduce the stress.

Disclaimer: Please note that WE ARE NOT RV EXPERTS! WE ARE JUST TRYING TO SHARE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR RIG. We do get a very small commission at no cost to you if you use one of the Amazon Links (a/k/a beer money).

Do You Need an RV Travel (Teardown) Day Checklist

In our opinion, the answer is: Yes. Yes. Yes.

And more “yes” for good measure: Yes, you need an RV Travel Day Checklist.

Did you forget to lock that outdoor TV? How about tighten all of the windows? Even if you’ve been RVing for decades, you are bound to forget something if you don’t have a checklist.

I realize that people travel differently, and there’s no judgment if you don’t have a checklist. Some people are type A preppers, and others are go-with-the-flow. Moreover, there are hundreds of different types of RVs on the road. As such, there’s a wide variety of ways that RVers prepare their RV before hitting the road. Heck, we know couples who own the EXACT SAME RV that we do (same year, same make, same model), and they prepare much differently that we do. For folks who don’t use a checklist, I hope some of the information in this blog is useful as general travel tips.

How Do We Manage Our RV Travel Day Checklist

PRO TIP: At the top of our RV Travel Day Checklist, we also note things like when we last replaced the water filter, last lubed the slide seals, etc. The mobile app is a handy way to keep track of routine maintenance items. More importantly, we are reminded that we need to do them every time we tear down our campsite.

We know some people that have keep a written “to do” lists. Several high-profile YouTubers use steering wheel wrist bands. For us, we just use a simple Google “Keep” list that we share on our Android phones. As we complete each item on the checklist, we mark it off on our phones. It’s really just that simple.

What I like about the Google Keep mobile app is that it is easily editable too. We may not be at the RV when we think of something that needs to be on the RV travel day checklist. We just pull out one of our phones, and voila!

(Apple probably makes a similar sort of mobile app for folks with iPhones.)

Our RV Travel Day (Teardown) Checklist

The floorplan of our current RV: a 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L

We organize our RV travel day checklist by living area. For ease of reference, we will start in the rear bedroom and work our way up. Keep in mind that we use a short-hand notation for many items. For better context and more information, you may wish to watch our video. Plus, our video is just so darn entertaining!

BEDROOM: RV TRAVEL DAY (TEARDOWN) CHECKLIST

1. Bring bed up
a. Move clock to bed
b. Raise window shades
c. Clear items from shelf above bed
2. Close washer (we leave it open when camping
3. Secure bedroom TV
4. Close all cabinet doors
5. Wedge laundry basket and/or dog food container near bed (after slides are retracted)
6. Close bedroom slide
7. Move scale to bunk area
8. Latch bedroom door

BUNK AREA: RV TRAVEL DAY (TEARDOWN) CHECKLIST

9. Secure filament
10. Take down magnetic light
11. Move/secure electric bike batteries

BATHROOM: RV TRAVEL DAY (TEARDOWN) CHECKLIST

12. Move shampoo / razers & showerhead to floor (place towel on shower floor)
13. Latch shower door
14. Latch bathroom door
15. Address vanity items
16. Place treatment in toilet
17. Shut toilet seat lid
18. Close exhaust fan

KITCHEN: RV TRAVEL DAY (TEARDOWN) CHECKLIST

19. Place pool noodle in microwave
20. Switch Instant Pot lids
21. Take off paper towels
22. Place soap/bottles in sink
23. Organize refrigerator
24. Turn off ice maker
25. Lock refrigerator
26. Close all kitchen drawers properly
27. Place ottoman by bottom kitchen drawer (after slide is retracted)

LIVING ROOM: RV TRAVEL DAY (TEARDOWN) CHECKLIST

28. Secure living room TV
29. Velcro remotes
30. Close overhead cabinets
31. Move security cameras
32. Tape dinette drawers
33. Tighten windows
34. Pick up rugs
35. Move dog leashes
36. Place dog water in sink
37. Tear down baby / dog gate
38. Turn off lights, AC, heat, & tank heaters
39. Turn on water pump
40. Secure cabover bunk area for loose items

EXTERIOR: RV TRAVEL DAY (TEARDOWN) CHECKLIST

41. Check slides for loose bolts, etc
42. Check mudflaps for issues
43. Retract awning
44. Store Starlink
45. Lock tool chest
46. Lock exterior storage bays
47. Lock outdoor TV
48. Air up and retract jacks
49. Store wheel stops / leveling tools
50. Store electrical cord, sewer hose, water hose
51. Inspect tires
52. Check tire pressure (use TPMS once traveling)
53. Clean RV mirrors and windshield

MISCELLANEOUS: RV TRAVEL DAY (TEARDOWN) CHECKLIST

54. Blow main slide prior to retracting any slides
55. Count dog bones
56. Double lock main entry door
57. Take out trash
58. Medicate dogs (if needed)
59. Check campsite for items left behind

TOWED VEHICLE: RV TRAVEL DAY (TEARDOWN) CHECKLIST

60. Attach towed vehicle
61. Engage RVi Brake
62. Check lights & brakes on towed vehicle
63. Make sure tow bar engages
64. Watch towed vehicle roll properly

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR TRAVEL DAYS?

Hopefully our check list may be a useful starting point for your travel days. More importantly, did we miss anything? Any advice? Please leave a comment or email me (Lana) at ClassCBroads@gmail.com.

Lana Knedlik