Motorhome Drive-Away Checklist

Who this is for

The walk-round before you pull off. When the home is also the vehicle, a roof light left open or a step left down only shows itself once you are moving; this list covers inside, outside and the cab in the order you would walk it.

Motorhome and campervan owners and hirers, especially on a first trip, and anyone sharing the driving with a partner who packs up differently.

What this helps you track

• Roof lights, windows, doors and cupboards secured
• Gas, fridge, aerial and loose items dealt with
• Step, cable, chocks and levellers put away
• Tyres, lights and mirrors checked before moving
• The vehicle height noted for the journey

How to use it

1. Fill in the vehicle, the date and the driver, and write your vehicle's height from your own documents or measurement.
2. Walk the inside first, from the back to the cab, ticking each item as you do it.
3. Then walk round the outside, including the roof edge and underneath the step.
4. Do the cab checks last, once everyone is aboard.
5. Sign with the time, and keep a laminated copy by the door or use the browser version on your phone.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Why is the height on a drive-away checklist?

Because roof boxes, aerials and solar panels change it, and it is easy to forget on a height barrier or a low bridge. Write the height you have measured with everything fitted, not the figure in the brochure.

Should the fridge be on 12V while driving?

The list reminds you to switch it to whatever setting your own fridge and vehicle use on the move. Follow the fridge maker's and the converter's instructions; they differ between models.

Can I add my own items?

Yes. There are blank lines on the paper version and the browser version lets you add items, which is useful for bike racks, awnings, satellite dishes and anything specific to your vehicle.

How is this different from a pitch pack-down checklist?

Pack-down covers taking the whole camp apart. This is the final walk-round in the few minutes before driving off, and it works just as well after a lunch stop.