Planning a motorhome journey? Need to ensure you don’t neglect something? Observe my motorhome departure guidelines for all of the pre-trip checks that you must make to a motorhome, campervan or RV to make certain you set off on the best… foot.
Don’t neglect to obtain your FREE PDF motorhome departure guidelines under
*We work laborious to make this the very best motorhome journey weblog and highway journey web site attainable, stuffed with useful content material for you. The web site is supported by our readers, so in case you purchase by way of hyperlinks on this website we could earn a commission- at no further value to you. All opinions stay our personal.
For those who discover this put up helpful, you possibly can additionally deal with us to a espresso – we promise to get pleasure from it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we’d even take pleasure in a biscuit (or two!)
Motorhome Departure Guidelines- why you want one!
As soon as upon a time, I left my passport facedown on a printer… after which began a motorhome journey. We obtained about 5 hours down the highway earlier than discovering my mistake.
You’ll be able to think about my ex-husband’s absolute pleasure (!) and the comfortable ambiance within the camper once we needed to flip round to get it… after which drive again once more. Yep, 10+ hours wasted. Not my most interesting second. *doh*
Having a motorhome departure guidelines would have helped with this enormously. Which is why I then created one. Don’t neglect to seize your copy under.
Motorhome trip- what checks to do
There are two forms of checks that you must do in your motorhome or campervan earlier than leaving for a visit:
- the pre-trip checks to ensure your automobile is protected and road-worthy and you’ve got every little thing you want (a yearly motorhome habitation examine can be a good suggestion)
- the departure checks which have to occur on the day of departure, to ensure every little thing is away, no lockers are going to fly open as you drive and also you haven’t left a vent open to catch on a low-hanging tree.
Motorhome Journey- Pre Journey Checks
Making ready your automobile to your journey is important- whether or not you’re going for an evening down the highway or a motorhome tour of Europe. For those who’ve ever hung out damaged down on the aspect of the highway, you’ll recognize how just a little time now can prevent lots of time later. (Sadly, I’m not guaranteeing you’ll NEVER break down, however doing these checks can actually assist!)
It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re a full motorhome newbie or had one for years- if it’s been stood for some time, it’s essential to work by way of these checks earlier than you go. Don’t do it on the morning of departure- permit at the very least a day or two, simply in case you discover one thing which wants fixing.
RELATED: Planning a winter motorhome journey? Learn this too for further checks/ security recommendation.
Paperwork checks
- Is your automobile highway authorized? Do you could have a legitimate MOT?
- Is your motorhome insurance coverage in date and are you lined for the place you’re going (particularly if going to Europe)
- Is your driving licence/ passport in date?
- For those who’ve SORN’d your automobile over winter or a interval of disuse, keep in mind to un-SORN it.
- Examine your breakdown cowl is present you probably have it- and hold the main points handy within the cab.
- If travelling abroad with a pet, ensure you have the suitable paperwork.
Bear in mind to take all of the important paperwork with you, alongside along with your passports if going abroad.
Outdoors Jobs
It doesn’t make any distinction whether or not you begin with the within or the skin, or in what order you do these, so work by way of them nonetheless you see match.
Engine Checks:
- Oil ranges
- brake fluid ranges
- display wash
- Advert Blue ranges if wanted
- examine visible situation of engine bay- any clearly free or broken hoses?
- take away particles and leaves from drainage holes
- Flip ignition on- are there any warning lights?
- Examine all automobile indicators, reverse and brake lights are working, inc tow bar if towing
Tyre & Wheel Checks:
- Strain (seek the advice of your guide. Might be wherever between 40-80 psi)
- Situation (any signal of bulging, cracks or flat spots?)
- Brake pads, discs and put on. If unsure, get them checked and adjusted by knowledgeable.
- Be certain your tyres have ‘CP’, which implies they’re appropriate for campers. ‘Regular’ automobile tyres aren’t robust sufficient.
Gasoline Locker:
- Examine the degrees of the gasoline bottle(s). Refill you probably have a refillable gasoline system, change you probably have exchangeable
- Activate the system (you may have to prime it (utilizing surge button) and/ or press the anti-crash button if it’s reset)
- Pay attention and scent for any signal of leaks- come again in a couple of minutes to recheck. Bear in mind LPG sinks, so get low to the bottom
- Examine hoses for any apparent indicators of injury or loosening
Spare Wheel:
- You probably have a spare wheel, get it out and examine its visible situation.
- If saved in a cage below the van, lubricate the cage so it doesn’t seize.
- You probably have a tyre restore package, examine it’s in date and good situation.
Storage/ Outdoors lockers:
- You probably have a storage/ outdoors lockers, visually examine them for indicators or damp or leaks.
- That is additionally a great time to have a filter out and take away something you THOUGHT you’d use, however haven’t.
Different Outside jobs:
- Take away fridge vents or different vents you’ve placed on for winter
- Examine the situation on windscreen wipers- change if crucial
- Apply a coat of Rainex to the windscreen
- Wash and wax the motorhome and clear off roof particles
- Fill your contemporary water tank if attainable (keep in mind to shut any drain factors you opened to drain the system for winter!) Then examine for leaks below the van.
- For those who carry a motorhome generator, you’ll have to service it and examine it begins up.
- You probably have an exterior motorhome storage field, be sure that it’s closed and locked.
Inside jobs
Once more, there’s no explicit order to those. I love to do the tank cleansing/ in a single day jobs first, then transfer on to electrical stuff, but it surely’s utterly as much as you.
Cleansing:
- Rinse out your water tanks and sanitise in a single day (Use one thing like Puriclean, which you utilize by filling your tank at the very least midway, including the powder (or tab) and leaving to sit down for just a few hours, ideally in a single day. Then rinse THOROUGHLY (we rinse at the very least twice)
- Gray Waste tank. The exact same- fill and rinse. You’ll be able to fill both through a devoted entry hatch or pour water with the cleansing answer in down a sink (or each sinks, so it will get into the pipes.) Fenwicks waste tank cleaner is nicely advisable and straightforward to make use of.
- Clear rest room cassette. Fill with water, add answer and go away to soak in a single day. Thetford Cassette cleaner is an efficient choice.
- Examine and wipe down all lockers and cabinets. You’re on the lookout for rodents and bugs, but additionally indicators of damp, cracks, injury or the rest ‘not proper’.
- You’ll most likely wish to do a full clear of sofas, seats and carpets. I like to recommend doing this final, after every little thing else, however in case you’re washing down seats permit loads of time to strive.
Inside Techniques:
- Examine your motorhome leisure battery– unplug your van from mains energy and use some home equipment to ensure the battery(s) is holding cost.
- Activate 12v inside lights (and examine the one for out of doors the hab door)
- Change on fridge on each mains and gasoline if possible- does it get chilly? Wipe down fridge too
- Flip in your camper heating– does it get heat (you are able to do this even with out water in your system)
- Activate gasoline and lightweight all burners, grill and oven. You probably have an electrical hob or microwave, examine that too when you reconnect energy
- You probably have water accessible, fill tank and activate scorching water system and examine it will get scorching.
- You probably have a photo voltaic panel fitted, guarantee it’s working and the battery is charging (even when it’s only a tiny quantity on a cloudy day)
- Examine your fuse field for any indicators of injury or blown fuses or every other signal which could trigger a motorhome hearth.
- Examine security appliances- hearth blanket and extinguisher- are they in date?
- Take a look at and alter batteries in smoke alarm and CO2 detectors
- Examine your motorhome TV is working you probably have one
- Examine your emergency kit- spare bulbs, fuses, torch, batteries, spare glasses and the contents of your first support package.
- You probably have web in your motorhome, examine it’s nonetheless working. Generally, SIM playing cards have an expiration date, particularly in case you’ve not used it for month.
Pre-trip checks (day of departure)
Now, your automobile is prepped, every little thing is packed (and hopefully rattle free!) and also you’re able to go! For those who’re something like me, you’re in an excited rush to depart and simply get out on the highway.
That is most likely the purpose the place I remind you that I left my passport within the printer… Be taught from our (my!) errors. Take the time to work by way of your pre-departure checks for the van, your self and your home earlier than you permit.
These are the identical departure checks to do whether or not you’re leaving a home or leaving a campsite. (Some won’t make sense, however I’ve included all of them anyway, simply in case!)
Exterior Checks:
- Are all exteriors lockers/ storage closed and locked
- Gasoline bottles full, turned off (if not wanted for heating**) and locked
- Have you ever put your awning and out of doors furnishings away (together with retractable steps!)
- Is the canine/ youngsters/ partner on board? (If not, go away rapidly. They gained’t discover… ?)
- Have you ever unhooked your electrical cable/ water/ waste?
- Is your motorhome generator shut down and saved away?
- Is your TV/ satellite tv for pc aerial down?
- Is your windscreen clear and thermal display away?
- Is your bike rack/ rear storage safe?
- If in Europe, have you ever fitted the crimson/ white board correctly?
- For those who’re towing along with your motorhome, is your trailer connected and locks/ clamps eliminated?
- Are you on chocks/ electrical legs?
** In lots of fashionable motorhomes, it’s attainable to make use of the gasoline while driving with the intention to present heating to passengers sitting behind the cab. We’ve achieved this for our daughter on a number of journeys and it makes use of a LOT of gasoline, however at the very least she was heat.
Nevertheless, you possibly can solely do that you probably have the suitable hoses and anti-crash security cutoff fitted. Many vans have it as standard- if not, you may get knowledgeable to suit it for you. For those who don’t have this, be sure that your gasoline is off once you’re driving.
Inside Checks:
- Make a scorching drink for the road- then go away the hob to chill
- Are your vents/ hatches/ sunroof closed? Together with within the lavatory??
- Are your motorhome home windows locked?
- Is the habitation door closed and locked?
- Is every little thing within the kitchen put away and rattle-proof?
- How concerning the oven shelf/ hob/ microwave plate?
- Is the fridge door closed and safe?
- Examine the toilet for something loose- together with if the bathroom is closed
- Double-check the bed room, wardrobe or wherever the youngsters have been (and probably left drinks!)
- Are the youngsters/ canine belted into their seats and safe?
- Put away the TV
- Are all cabinets and lockers closed and locked?
- Examine your dashcam/ rearview digicam and mirrors
- Put your route into your motorhome sat-nav and get particulars handy of your first cease
- Bear in mind to place your scorching drink someplace protected within the entrance, together with simple to eat snacks
- Put something on cost on the inverter which wants charging as you drive (laptops, digicam/drone batteries and so forth)
- Put telephones/ iPads/ headphones on cost
- Double-check the canine/ youngsters once more…
- DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR PAPERWORK? Together with your passport…
- Then relax- you’re able to set off.
Motorhome Pre-Journey checks video
Watch the video of the motorhome pre-trip checks:
Need extra suggestions for motorhoming?
Listed below are some extra concepts you may discover helpful:
Need FREE checklists, eBooks and extra suggestions to assist? Go to our useful resource web page
Final replace on 2025-11-25 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API