RV Teardown Checklist


These lists are the (roughly) ordered activities for tearing down in preparation for moving to a new site. This list will change over time as omitted activities are added or a better process is identified.

Some of these tasks start the night before (e.g., stowing personal and hobby stuff). Some of these tasks happen in tandem inside and out (e.g., cleaning roof and retracting slides).

These are common tasks performed the day before moving

  • Check car, truck, and RV tire pressure
  • Clean truck litter pan and litter rugs
  • Charge FatMax (Emergency jump starter and air pump)
  • Move cat food box to car
  • Put bike rack and bikes on the car
  • Dismount and stow internet mast
  • Stow and secure the cat stand
  • Dump kitchen grey tank and cover faucet handle
  • Dump black tank and flush with part of main grey tank
  • Clean dishes
  • Sweep RV
  • Clean under interior slide edges
  • Put away the cat water fountain

These tasks are organizing, stowing, and cleaning in preparation for retracting slides and hitching.

  • Stow interior personal and hobby materials
  • Dining
    • Remove bench
    • Attach 2x retainer straps
    • Collapse table and secure flap
    • Stow 2x kitchen chairs under table
    • Strap down kitchen chairs
  • Living Room
    • Attach 2x retainer straps
    • Move bench beside couch
    • Move recliner between bench and chairs
    • Put weights and PT gear inside bench
    • Strap down bench and recliner
    • Lock TV
    • Clear TV Mantle
    • Move coats and hats to couch
    • Move cat stand into office
  • Kitchen
    • Clear counters
    • Put toaster in the sink
    • Clean and stow splash guard in loft
    • Lower stove top cover
    • Insert and secure 2x cabinet locking boards
    • Stow plants in car
    • Switch fridge to boon-docking mode
  • Office
    • Stow office stuff
    • Secure cat stand
    • Secure desk chair
  • Loft
    • Stow any items previously removed from the loft
    • Stow loft ladder
  • Bathroom
    • Verify the bathroom vent is closed
    • Tie down shower head
    • Put bathroom supplies in the sink
    • Remove heavier items from shower rod
    • Stow cat scratcher
  • Bedroom
    • Clear and stow nightstand items (CPAP, chargers, etc)
    • Verify nightstands are clear
    • Verify nothing impedes dresser slide
    • Stow items removed from under bed (tools, heaters, etc.)
  • All
    • Transfer cats and a hat to the truck
    • Shake out rugs
    • Stow rungs in car
    • Sweep floors
    • Vacuum under interior slide edges

These tasks are for retracting the slides and hitching.

  • Unlock, collapse, and stow front stabilizer tripod
  • If site has a sewer hookup:
    • Drain primary grey tank
    • Drain primary black tank
    • Cap main sewer and switch hose to auxiliary grey tank
    • Drain auxiliary grey tank
    • Cap auxiliary grey tank
    • stow sewer hose, sewer elbow, and auxiliary sewer gate
  • If site has a water hookup:
    • Turn off spigot
    • Disconnect, drain, and stow (exterior) white fresh water hose
    • Disconnect and stow pressure reducer and elbow, if used
    • Disconnect, drain, and stow (interior) water filter
    • Drain (interior) blue fresh water hose outside compartment
    • Disconnect and stow (interior) blue fresh water hose
    • Place towel to collect any remaining drips from the city water hookup
  • Retract slides
    • Sweep slide roofs: dresser, office, kitchen, and living room
    • Retract dresser slide
    • Retract office slide – make sure lights are off before retracting
    • Retract kitchen slide
    • Switch main breaker to Off
    • Move office cargo to avoid sliding
    • Retract living room slide
  • Disconnect power
    • Turn off camp site breaker
    • Disconnect power from campsite
    • Disconnect power from RV
    • Remove and stow Power Watch Dog
    • Coil and stow the power cable – wipe down cord with towel
  • Prepare truck
    • Lower tailgate
    • Roll and secure Tonneau cover with attached straps
    • Open hitch handle and pin handle open
    • Back truck up lined up with hitch, if RV is high enough. Stop about 6″-12″ from kingpin
  • Vertically align trailer
    • Lift steps to prevent damage
    • Lower back of trailer (i.e., retract rear stabilizers)
    • Raise and stow steps
    • Raise or lower front of RV to align with hitch (i.e., front stabilizers)
  • Connect Hitch
    • Backup until hitch seats (adjust height as needed before kingpin is in hitch V)
    • Verify plastic disk is sitting on hitch head
    • Verify hitch jaws closed
    • Close hitch handle and pin handle closed
    • Connect emergency brake to hole in front (cab side) of hitch. Screw should tighten down instead of up. Make sure cables run over the handle versus under
    • Connect power connector to truck
  • Verify Hitch (9 points)
    • Inside bed
      • Check left hitch base pin is locked (secures two handles on lower left side)
      • Check right hitch base pin is locked (secures two handles on lower right side)
      • Check left saddle pin is in place with locking pin (secures saddle to base on left)
      • Check right saddle pin is in place with locking pin (secures saddle to base on right)
      • Verify hitch handle is pinned with lock (center of hitch on cab side)
      • Verify emergency brake is connected to hitch
      • Verify emergence brake plug is aligned with space in metal bracket in king pin
    • At tailgate
      • Verify hitch jaws are closed (tailgate side of truck)
      • Verify power is connected with the plug and cap wedges aligned
  • Clear path
    • Remove rear stabilizer blocks
    • Remove any loose chocks
    • Remove welcome mat
  • Test RV
    • Lower RV until truck takes the weight and stabilizers are about 1″ off the blocks
    • Pull slightly forward or back, as needed, to remove chocks
    • Hold manual trailer brake and verify it stops truck/trailer from rolling.
    • Finish retracting front stabilizers
    • Manually retract stabilizer leg extensions (make sure pin goes through)
  • Stow
    • Stow front stabilizer blocks
    • Stow rear stabilizer blocks
    • Stow chocks
    • Stow welcome mat
  • If level boards were used
    • pull forward off leveler board(s)
    • Collect and stow pins/leveler board(s)
  • Verify 4x compartment and 1x entry doors are locked

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