Last Minute Checks for a Motor Home Before Driving

It might be fair to assume that only those to new to motor-homing would need any sort of check-list to ensure they have remembered everything before driving off in their van. The truth however, and I can say this as a motor-homer of many years standing, is that every so often something vital is forgotten. My classic was overlooking retraction of my fitted doorstep and then driving oblivious through the incredibly narrow streets of St Ives in Cornwall. We must have missed hundreds of tourists’ legs  by bare centimetres and were only saved from inflicting carnage by the intervention of a concerned bystander.

The following is a list of everything big and small to be included in your ‘cabin check’ and it may be helpful for you to make your own abbreviated list to place somewhere in your motor-home – I keep mine in the sun visor. Additionally if there are two of you with responsibility for the vehicle it may prove helpful to assign certain tasks to each of you to avoid an ‘I thought you’d done it’ scenario.

1. Electricity lead disconnected and stored in the vehicle.
2. Awning retracted and secured (if fitted)
3. Steps to door retracted.
4. Gas bottles turned to off position. Some people also like to disconnect hoses although this isn’t normally necessary.
5. Roof light and any ventilation flaps closed.
6. All external lockers and compartments closed and locked.
7. TV aerials removed or retracted.
8. Fitted steadies or jacks for levelling vehicle wound back to driving position.
9. No obstacles or any of your possessions stored under the motor home.
10. All windows and doors locked.
11. Fridge switched to driving mode (in order that it keeps working in transit).
12. All inside lockers and drawers closed and latched including the fridge which makes a particular mess if it swings open while driving.
13. Any loose items secured and placed safely away in cupboards or lockers. If you have any items where this is not possible then store them down low. Bear in mind that in even quite minor accidents any loose items will become free flying missiles with momentum changing their weight from normal to enormous.
14. Ensure switches on control panels are turned to ‘off’ or ‘drive’ position and may include leisure batteries supply, water pump and heater switches.

As all motor-homes are different there may be extra things you would like to add to your own personal list. One of the non-vital things on mine is to place a tea towel under the glass lid of our stove top. Not only does it stop it rattling in transit but it protects it should we pass over any bumpy surfaces. Many motor-homers also include a basic road-worthiness check too such as oil, tyre pressure, windscreen washer etc.

As weight is so often an issue for my partner and myself I make a point of travelling with our fresh water tank only minimally filled and ensure that out grey waste tank is empty. Not only do both these things add many kilograms when full but they also affect fuel efficiency and vehicle handling.