So you've decided to hit the road full time and want to know what to do when you're siting in one place workamping? I've given you tools to pack in your rig, I've given you advice on budgeting and expenses when full timing. Sitting in a place for several months without driving the Mothership, or the RV you're living in full time, could lead to problems. Before hitting the road I'm going to explain what I do for my "systems check" in this blog. If you're enjoying this and all my other life and RV blogs, please, please please, click the coffee mug, leave me a $5 tip to show your appreciation and by all means, keep reading...
Start the motorhome or Tow Vehicle and take it out on the road. Since I was in the DMV area, a very busy metropolitan scene, it was not ideal for me to take her out and drive through traffic. Not a replacement for taking it out on the road, but a good option, I put STABIL in the gas tank, to keep the fuel fresh. Before starting the engine, I check my oil, transmission fluid, and antifreeze (check the manufacturer of your motorhome before filling with fluids to see where fluid levels need to be). After starting the motor I let it run for about thirty minutes. I hold the brake, put it in gear, and then, still holding the brake, shift to drive, and then to park again. This will keep the fluids flowing and charge your coach battery. While doing this listen for squeaky belts, hard shifting or any other noises not normal for your rig/tow vehicle. It's also good practice to bring your leveling jacks, especially the hydraulic jacks so that the O-rings do not dry out and start leaking (be sure that the hydraulic fluid is full before doing this).
Start the generator. Remember if you have a generator, check the oil before starting. Run your generator on a load (air conditioning, heat pumps, anything that will draw power). Running it without can lead to damage that you don't want. I always unplug the motorhome's shore power before starting the generator, not necessary, but I do for my own peace of mind. I let the generator run for about an hour.
While the generator is running, I typically bring my slides in. One at a time. The Mothership has three slide outs (which I lube with a silicone spray to help them stay quiet and protect the gears) I start with the back bedroom slide, bring it in, and then let it out. I work my way to the side door slide and then the large slide of the living room. I do this so that on the day we take off I don't run into issues, i.e. the slide motor doesn't work, or something happens where I may need to fix or call a tech for something I could have done before lift off.
Check Tire Pressure. I get my tire gauge out for my tow dolly and the car, check the pressure for all six tires. I also have a large tire gauge(truckers gauge) for the motorhome to ensure all six tires are up to the PSI they need to be. If not, make a plan to get the tires aired up to required pressure.
Cleanliness is next to godliness? I wash the motorhome outside. Maria and I run through the interior and scrub. I like a good cleaning of all bedding, sheets, carpet, and to be dust free (RV's collect a lot of dust). This is more a personal thing because I advertise on my rig, timeaglefiction.com and want my brand to look good, after all, I'm trying to sell my fiction! hint, hint. When we leave, the tires are shining, the MOTHERSHIP sparkles and I feel we're off to a clean start to our next adventure.
The day before leaving I do a final check of all fluids and start the engine for another fifteen minutes. That about sums up my preparations before hitting the road. I hope you learned something and join the RV journey safely on your next trip. Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to leave me a tip, (buy me a coffee), pick up my newest book Scion, or just grab a t-shirt and sport your favorite author. Thanks for coming back.
Thanks for reading.
Tim Eagle
Tim Eagle is an author of the novellas Stolen Seed, Life Ship, and the Vasectomus Collection. He lives full time, on the road, with his wife, Maria and their dog, Cocoa. He grew up in Michigan and is inspired by the dysfunction of America. His books are available on Amazon, godless and this site timeaglefiction.com
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