Pre-Trip Procedures

A good pre-trip routine is essential to having a successful outing. Doesn't matter if you're RVing, boating, or tent camping, whether you're going to be riding OHVs or just kicking back, being well-prepared will make things go smoother and you'll have more fun. It is way too easy to forget something you need if you're in a rush or aren't well prepared. I like to use checklists so I make sure I don't forget anything important.

First things first.   In order to plan a trip  you need to know several things to start with:  where are you going?  When?  How many people?  What activities are planned?  Any special equipment required?  Any special diet  needs?  Any special medical needs?  Any weather issues?  You will need to consider and address all of these issues in order to plan a trip.


RV/Vehicle Preparation. Hopefully you keep your RV and/or tow vehicle ready to go and only need to go over your final checklist to make sure everything is ship-shape before departure. Plug in your RV a day or two before departure and put the fridge on electric to cool down the fridge. Make sure your holding tanks are empty and your fresh water tank is appropriately filled for the trip. You only need a little water for a short trip to a full-hookups campground but the tank should be topped off if you're going to be dry camping in a primitive or remote camping area. Check your fuel levels. Make sure you have enough propane for your intended stay and top off your motor fuel. Remember you'll use more propane during cold weather than on summer outings. Check fluid levels (oil, coolant, brake fluid). Check tire pressure. Check your on board provisions: foods, cleaning supplies, medical supplies, linens, spare clothing. Check to make sure your tools are on board and accessible. Clean the windshield, all the windows, mirrors, and lights.   Check the windshield wipers and lights.  Of course if you are going boating you will also need to inspect your boat and associated equipment before heading out onto the water.

If you're tent camping, pre-cool your ice chest.  Since most of us don't have access to large freeze big enough to hold an ice chest the easiest way to pre-cool one is probably to sacrifice a bag of ice to put in a day or two ahead of your trip to cool it down.  Then dump out the melted water (keep any left over ice), add your provision, and a new bag of ice.  Make sure your car is ready for the trip (top off fuel, clean windows, check oil, coolant, tires, belts, hoses, lights, tools, spare tire, etc).

Menu planning. Plan your menus well in advance so you can build up your stock instead of waiting to the last minute and running up a big grocery bill. I often use a computer spread sheet to plan my menus. I set it up for the number of people and the number of days as variables so it can calculate quantities for my shopping list. Having a pre-planned menu may seem to take some of the spontaneity out of your outing, but in my experience it makes things easier and removes some of the hassle of deciding on and preparing meals in camp. Sometimes, if you've planned some special treats, it gives you something to look forward to.  If weather or personal preferences change you might want to switch things around to fit your needs but you'll at least have all the meals covered.

Camping gear. Even if you're camping in an RV you'll probably have some camping gear to get ready. And, of course, if you're tent camping, you'll need to prepare your tent and sleeping gear. Check to make sure all the poles and stakes are present and accounted for and that all the zippers work and that there are no un-mended holes or tears. Take time to set up your tent so you can be sure everything is there and in good shape -- and you remember how to set it up! Be sure you have your ground cloth and that it is in good condition. Check your camp chairs to see if they need cleaning or repair. Check lanterns and stoves. White gas powered units have manual pumps that sometimes need maintenance or repair.  Sometimes its as easy as adding a little oil to saturate the leather washer in the pump.  You'll want to find and fix anything that needs it now, not when you are ready to use it in camp.  Its a real pain to fumble around in the dark trying to service a lantern pump or get the stove going to cook dinner.  Check your sleeping bags to make sure they haven't gained any wanted insect or rodent inhabitants during storage.  If they've been properly stored (hanging up so they can air out and maintain loft of the fill), you will need to roll them up and put them in their bags.  If you stored them rolled up, unroll them and check the fill. If it is flattened out, the bag isn't going to keep you warm.  You might be able to restore loft by tossing them in the dryer with a few tennis balls for a few minutes so the warm and and tumbling can restore the loft.

Route planning. If you're headed to a favorite destination you probably don't need maps but you should check weather and traffic conditions. Accidents,  road repairs, and construction can deliver unwelcome delays on even your most familiar routes.  For new destinations, plot your course on a map or use an online map service like Mapquest or Google Maps or program it into your GPS navigation system. Be sure to look for possible attractions or side trips along the way and leave time in your schedule if you want to take advantage of these opportunities.  Check weather and traffic conditions before you leave home so you won't be caught by surprise when its too late to do anything about it except wait it out.

Leaving your home. You'll want to either stop mail and newspaper delivery if you're going to be gone for more than a day or two or have a friend or neighbor pick them up every day. If you have pets or other animals you'll need to arrange for their care during your absence. I like to set up at least one light on a random timer so the house looks lived in at night. If you're going to be gone more than say a weekend, notify your local police department so they can watch for suspicious activity while you're gone. Be sure to close and lock all the doors and windows before you leave and, if you have an alarm system, set the alarm. In hot weather you may need to arrange for someone to water your lawn and other plants if they're not on automatic sprinkler system.  Be sure to let the police know when you get home so they don't think YOU are suspicious!

Prepare your recreational equipment.  Whether its an OHV, personal water craft, or just fishing gear, sporting goods, or kid's toys, make sure you have everything you're going to need and that is in good repair and ready to use and no parts are missing.

Final loading. You will want to load food and needed clothing just before you leave. Leave any frozen or refrigerated foods in the freezer or fridge as long as possible. Avoid loading perishable foods or medicines way ahead of time, especially if your vehicle will be exposed to temperature extremes before your departure. Grab any CDs, DVDs, or VHS tapes you may want to bring along and stow them. Again, it is important not to load them way in advance if it would expose them to temperatures or humidity that could damage them.

Mental preparation.  Since most of us are so thoroughly ensconced in our daily ruts, it is worth spending a little time mentally preparing for an outing.  Try to wrap up and leave behind any loose ends at work and psyche yourself out toward just having a good time.  Its OK to look forward to each trip and go over planned activities in your mind -- as long as you don't obsess over it.

Have a good trip!