Think about that moment just before you pull out of a campsite or driveway. Engine on, seatbelt clicked, mirrors adjusted… but before all that, do you take one last walk around your rig before taking off?
For today’s poll, we want to know if you always do a walk-around before hitting the road. Once? More than once? Or only if you remember?
For some of you, doing a walk-around is a non-negotiable part of your routine. It’s a habit built from experience—checking compartments, tires, hookups, slides, steps, awnings, and anything that could turn into a problem five miles down the road. You don’t trust memory, and you don’t trust shortcuts. A quick loop around the rig is cheap insurance. Or maybe you’ve learned the hard way…
Others are more situational. If you’re just moving a short distance, leaving a familiar spot, or know you didn’t set anything up, you might skip it. Convenience sometimes wins, especially when you’re in a hurry, or it’s raining, cold, or dark.
Then there are the lessons learned the hard way. Most RVers can tell a story about a forgotten cord, an open bay door, a loose item, or a step left down. After one of those moments, the walk-around suddenly becomes a lot more important.
So what about you? Is a pre-departure walk-around always part of your routine, or does it depend on the situation? Go ahead and vote in today’s poll—and if you’ve got a “learned it the hard way” story, we’d love to hear it.
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RVDT2830
I voted, Yes, More than once…unfortunately, that doesn’t mean I still won’t miss something. I walk around when I stop for rest…unfortunately, that doesn’t mean I still won’t miss something…
Yep, when we stop for fuel or other rests there’s another walk-around
Both of us do “walk-arounds”
Same here. We each do a walk around.
I circle my rig at least twice when leaving a spot. First lap is picking up all the outside stuff and storing it (if applicable). Second lap is when the slides come in and the leveler pads are picked up and a third time after connecting the toad and doing a check of all the lights and signals. It’s not intentional off a checklist, it just happens by how we set up and tear down.
My other default is to do a lap whenever we pull over to ensure no compartments have loose latched and the status of the safety equipment for towing is unchanged. That one is intentional. It’s much better to find a problem parked than have it reveal itself at highway speed.
I’m sure happy my rig is a lady of age with no slides..I’d probably end up spending another night where I was planning on leaving..
One selection should be I do now after I ______, fill in the blank.
Last thing when leaving is to pull out, stop, and look around again at the empty spot. Just in case some thing rolled underneath.
I’ve found more than one rug folks used before entering their rig.
Yes, at least twice. Are all compartment doors closd, antenna down, jack’s up, all lights working, etc.
Yeah, we all know what to look for. Doesn’t mean we won’t miss it.
While we walk around it several times while packing up, I do one last walk around as I check the lights, the jacks, the doors( both entrance and storage), and the area for anything that has been left out.
Absolutely I walk around our rig and tell my wife everything is good to go. Then she walks around and ALWAYS finds something I missed.
I walked around the rig at least twice before departing the campground and again after every stop…lunch, gas, etc.
We also check the brake lights on our toad, every time, and I always double-check that it is correctly set up for flat towing.
Saw a Class A flying down the Interstate. Noticed that he was dragging his power cord, water line and the pedestal that he had been plugged into. Expensive error.
I’ve caught two rigs leaving with their slides out. One’s daughter was also trying to catch “Pop” good thing I did..
Again. Good thing I don’t have slides. I’ve paid for my power cord and that won’t happen again. I was at home and just wanted to move a bit forward. My tires were hungry and chomped it.
Preliminary, intermediate, and final. Each focuses on something different. Yard, secured, lights. This also forces my eyes to really look at multiple elevations.
I have a written and memorized walk-around checklist which I do first, including the TV antenna. I also have steering wheel tags for some items. Then a 2nd cursory walk around looking for anything out of the ordinary. Check tire pressures also- even with a TPMS. I also look underneath for any leaks or items, balls, toys etc… Before leaving the parking site, we review the interior/exterior checklists. My greatgrandson reads the items, I respond with the answer. (It’s an aviation memory thing and it’s safer and fun too!)
I walk around one way then turn around and walk around the opposite direction. Sometimes the difference between seeing something or missing it depends upon the direction you’re looking.
Yup! I sometimes think folks watching me, think I’m nuttier than I am, not going to stop me from being stupid, on that issue.
YES, absolutely. Looking both up and down, and pulling on each storage door to make sure they are locked.
At least twice: Once looking down along the ground/bushes/tree trunks. Then up for tree branches/antenna up/roof vent open/etc. Then glance at the mirrors as I slowly pull ahead. Forty years of experience to avoid the expensive way [repairs] and do it the cheap way [just look at your surroundings].
My wife takes the first walk around to check and see if we missed anything. Before we pull out, I do the second walk.
I was a yard jockey for a large national bakery and part of my duties was to set up and break down the over the road tractor/trailer rigs. Also move other equipment around the yard. Did a check every time I moved each piece of equipment
Get many donuts?
I do a final walk around and lock the compartments, point at each place where I could have used a wood block or wheel chock I also comment(mutter) “jack is up” “chock stowed” or “block picked up” Check the strap on the ladder. then check the 7way plug and close the tailgate. Spouse waits for me to pull the rig out of the spot to do a final check to missing items or trash.
I figure if I walk around a couple of times and don’t trip over anything I’m good to go..
I have gotten to the exit of the campground and checked my mirrors and seen a door not totally closed. You know how I learned to walk around? Those who’ve been there know…..A bit costly a couple of times.
All the time. Growing up we left the campground. Got home and my dad forgot his tools at the campground. Drove 45 minutes back to the campground to the site we stayed at. Only to find the tools gone.