One of the first sales people we approached told us that people often trade in their first purchase within a year or two. She recommended that we try-before-you-buy and go to lots of RV shows.
After my head injury, my speech and memory therapist found me awash in LISTS. My concussed brain struggled to organize and process.
With her patience and guidance, over time I found which lists help and how to keep lists from overwhelming me into a permanent procrastination.
We began with a simple list for leaving the house.
During the months reorganizing my brain and my immediate environment, I had to travel around the country to consult specialists.
We learned that I no longer travel well in cars and our quest for an RV motorhome began, of course, with a LIST.
Developing an RV purchasing checklist
After our first RV show and subsequent test rental of a Class C, we developed a checklist that would suit our peculiarities and especially consider my disability.
For instance, a huge deal-breaker for us? headroom hazards or tripping hazards…
Huge plusses? Ride stabilizers, adjustable seats…
We are sharing our list for you to use and adapt as you see fit.
We ask only that in return you like us on one of our social media.
If you would prefer an editable spreadsheet file for Open Office or MS Excel, contact us.
Checklists for RV set up and travel prep
Recently an article in FamilyRVing magazine suggested that airline pilots go through checklists before departure (CIGAR anyone?), so why not RVers.
Experience is that thing you discover you needed right after you got it.
we say, a lot
We also have such a checklist, that now includes LOWER THE TV ANTENNA.
We recall that the last words we spoke about our first antenna were, “oh no, tree limbs over road, did you lower the ____”
CLUNK
And suddenly there it was, scraping along the passenger window like the monster William Shatner’s character sees on the plane wing in the famed Twilight Zone episode “Nightmare at 20,000 feet.” Eeek!
So we made departure lists.
Outside
Each RV will vary but you could use ours as a guide to creating yours.
- Check roof / slide tops
- Awnings in
- After slides, levelers up
- Water off hose stowed
- Sewer rinsed stowed
- Electric off stowed
- Leveler blocks stowed
- Bins shut and lock
- Run car 5 minutes
- Connect car and check lights
Inside
- Close fans
- Close windows
- Fill drinking water
- Refrigerator turn to gas?
- Water heater and pumps off
- Antenna down
- Take trash to dumpster
- Slides in
- Lock slide arms
- Inverter on
- Side and cargo lights off
- Tank treatments
- Charged walkie talkies
If you do use any of our checklists, we would love it if you would comment on this (below) and share your stories with us about the items you added to your checklists.
Additional list resources
Here are links to checklists / apps listed in the FamilyRVing article we mentioned:
Follow this link to learn more about Family RVing magazine.
Let us know in the comments if you have tried any of these Family RVing recommended websites, and if we try any of them, we will update this post.
We also reduced paper consumption and gained control over supply lists with the app BRING.
Traveling with a disability is no picnic regardless your choice of transportation. We hope our experience and this article helps you find the best RV to meet your needs.
RVoyager 